and a median plate of the same kind placed between the bases of the feet-jaws. Lastly apodemic prolongations occur in the interior of the thorax. As regards the abdomen its tegument remains soft and only rarely presents feeble traces of segmentation; at its subterminal part, however, the articulated appendages are found which enter into the composition of the secretory apparatus of the silk, and which are comparable to the members of which the genital arinature of insects are formed."

He then compares the conformation of the skeleton in Phrynidæ, Scorpionidæ, and Thelyphonidæ. Amongst the authors that M. Milne-Edwards quotes in this section are Claparède, Herold, Blanchard, and Bourguignon. The author appears to have spared no pains to make the present as complete as the previous volumes, many of the references being to essays published during the last year or two, and some, as in the case of Dr. Carpenter's paper on the Eozoon Canadense, published in journals (The Intellectual Observer,' for instance) which were scarcely likely to come under the notice of a foreigner. We trust the work will now proceed uninterruptedly to its conclusion.

Nicholson's Introduction to Biology.'--This is a well-conceived, and, as it is almost needless to say to those who know the character of Dr. Nicholson's previous works, a well-executed production, well fitted for its purpose as an introduction to the study of biology.

The author virtually disarms the criticism that might be exercised in the way of pointing out omissions on one or other topic adjudged to belong to the subject-matter of his book, by remarking in his preface that "many important subjects have, of course, been necessarily treated very superficially, or altogether omitted, as unsuitable for a merely elementary work." Nevertheless, he cannot expect his critics to forego entirely the exercise of their craft; and if we object that some further use might have been made of vegetable anatomy and physiology in elucidation of biology, and that some more notice might have been taken of the encysting process and of the resting stage among the lower organisms, we are confident he will accept the criticism with the best grace. The taste thus secured to ourselves in the exercise of our natural function begets, unhappily, a further desire to find fault, to gratify which we fall foul of some of the illustrations, which are coarse, hard, and indifferent copies of engravings previously produced, and also not so accurate in the delineation of details as could be wished.

It is also right to observe, what, indeed, is candidly stated in the preface, that much matter is here reproduced which has appeared in previous works of the author, and particularly in his Manual of Zoology.'

1 Introduction to the Study of Biology. By H. ALLEYNE NICHOLSON, M.D., &c. London and Edinburgh, 1872. Pp. 163.

However, we have read the book with much satisfaction, and find in it just that sort and amount of information needed by students when first taking up the subject of biology. The writer has taken great pains to fairly exhibit the leading doctrines of the science without obtruding upon his readers too much of the controversial matters that now divide and somewhat embitter antagonists. His own opinions are essentially eclectic, and prove him to be not a disciple of the advanced pangenesists and evolutionists, nor a partisan of other extreme views. Such a quality especially befits a writer for students.

The Half-Yearly Abstracts.'-It is enough to announce to our readers the regular appearance of these well-known and much valued retrospects of the medical sciences. We are pleased to observe in Dr. Stone's abstract a fair sprinkling of extracts from foreign authorities, a feature that renders it of wider interest and a more fitting representative of what is passing in the medical world than the rival publication by Dr. Braithwaite, which is a reflex of British medicine almost alone. In general, however, the latter presents what will be considered in the eyes of very many practitioners somewhat more detailed abstracts, and a selection of papers distinguished by more attention to practical questions and to matters of treatment. In short, each publication exhibits, as it should do, an individuality of its own, and the length of time the two works have been in circulation proves that each has its appreciative clientèle.

Principal Varieties of Pulmonary Consumption.2-As the substance of this small treatise appeared in the form of a series of papers in our contemporary The Medical Times and Gazette,' and, consequently, many of our readers are conversant with the views of Dr. Powell on pulmonary consumption, there is no need for a lengthened notice. But it is at the same time with much satisfaction that we call attention to this volume. It presents a carefully drawn up history of the several varieties of pulmonary phthisis, now generally recognised, illustrated by cases and accompanied by remarks on treatment; and its teachings, both pathological and therapeutical, will be received with the deference due to them as coming from a physician who has made phthisis a special study and had special opportunities for studying it.

He urges more attention to the recognition of the different forms of the disease as a practical desideratum; for, as he remarks, the usual view of it arrived at by students during their hospital career,

The Retrospect of Medicine. Edited by W. BRAITHWAITE, M.D., and JAMES BRAITHWAITE, M.D. Vol. lxv, January to June, 1872. London. Pp. 415. The Half-Yearly Abstract of the Medical Sciences. Edited by W. DOMETT STONE, M.D. Vol. lv, January to June, 1872. Pp. 372.

2 On the Principal Varieties of Pulmonary Consumption, with Practical Comments on Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment. By R. DOUGLAS POWELL, M.D. &c. London, 1872. Pp. 96.

that it is "a disease of long duration and of ultimately fatal issue, in which, the diagnosis once made, the prognosis is a matter of common inference," is insufficient for the exigencies of future practice and leads them to annoying errors, particularly in the matter of prognosis. He enters upon his subject by a general review of the processes concerned in the production of phthisis, and gives an excellent sketch of catarrhal pneumonia and of the tissue results consequent thereon. He considers the evidence now collected is sufficient to uphold the doctrine "that tubercle is a morbid growth of the lymphatic-gland class, and that it may be a mere hyperplasia of the gland tissue normally minutely disseminated through the organs the body," and consequently that it is not to be classed among the ordinary products of inflammation. He moreover entertains the solacing belief that tubercle is much more commonly a secondary disease; and that though hereditary tendency has some effect in its development, it has far less than supposed. To respiration considered as a muscular act he assigns a much higher importance pathologically than is usually done, making the muscular movements of the chest, when disease is going on in the lung tissue, accountable for pleuritic thickening.

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The following chapters are taken up with the descriptive pathology of alveolar catarrh, catarrhal pneumonia, and the specially named forms of phthisis, viz. fibroid and hæmorrhagic, consumption with recurrent hæmoptysis and tubercular phthisis.

On the subject of fibroid phthisis Dr. Powell is inclined to accept the opinion of Dr. Wilson Fox that pulmonary fibrosis occurs as an occasional morbid change without tubercle, and as a form of chronic pneumonia. There is no question that such a pathological condition exists, particularly as a consequence of the mechanical irritation of dusts inhaled, and having a clinical histology of its own. This chapter on fibroid phthisis is chiefly occupied by the details of a case, with accompanying clinical remarks and a diagram. There is some confusion in the descriptive part of this case between the left and right side, which should be corrected in a future edition. A proper distinction is made between hæmorrhagic phthisis and phthisis with recurrent hæmorrhage, restricting the former term to cases in which the disease appears due to antecedent hæmorrhage.

Sufficient has been said, we believe, to justify the opinion expressed at the commencement of this notice.

Natural Philosophy for General Readers and Young Persons.1Many are the attempts now a day to find out a royal road to learning, to smooth down the difficulties surrounding every science, and to help the student over every impediment in his course. Such

1 Natural Philosophy for General Readers and Young Persons. Translated and edited from GANOT's Cours élémentaire de Physique. By E. ATKINSON, Ph.D., &c. London, 1872. Pp. 522.

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attempts are, on the whole, commendable, although we are not sure but that learning is better learnt when the student is less helped and is thrown more on his own resources. We believe that one so placed gains in mental discipline and in power to grasp every subject which he encounters.

However, this is not a question to be debated on the present occasion. We have before us a work which places before the student the great facts of natural philosophy in a manner most readily to be received and comprehended.

It is profusely illustrated; scarcely a fact, however simple, in which some ordinary process can give experimental evidence failing to be figured, whilst the mode of experimenting in every subject treated of is largely shown.

The work comprises an account of the general properties of matter, motion, and force, with the mechanical powers, hydrostatics, the physics of gases, acoustics, heat, light, magnetism, and electricity. "In range" (as Dr. Atkinson observes in the preface) "the book may, perhaps, be fairly taken to represent the amount of knowledge required for the matriculation examination of the London University."

Should its sufficiency in respect of this particular examination as a text-book be found deficient, it would be, we apprehend, in the subjects included under the head of "Mechanics," problems in which are sometimes given which require more mathematical treatment than this treatise places before its readers. On the other hand, in regard to this self-same examination, the chapter on acoustics, magnetism, and electricity, would be redundant.

However, although Dr. Atkinson has kept in view the wants of students preparing for the London University examination, his work addresses itself to a still wider class of readers-indeed, to every intelligent individual who desires to understand something of the phenomena of nature incessantly passing before his eyes, as well as something of the many applications of natural forces devised by man for his convenience and happiness.

As a book for beginners in the study of natural philosophy, we do not know a better.

Observations upon the Climate of Uckfield. The production of this treatise is a praiseworthy undertaking on the part of its author. For twenty-eight years he has assiduously observed and noted the meteorological conditions of the rural district in which his lot as a surgeon has been cast, and this work he has done heartily and with scientific care and accuracy. He has had the advantage of a properly constructed observatory, and has been able

1 Observations upon the Climate of Uckfield, constituting a Meteorological Report for the District from 1843 to 1870, Prognostics of Atmospheric Changes, and some Vital Statistics. By C. LEESON PRINCE, M.R.C.S., &c. London, 1871. Pp. 239.

so to place his instruments as to secure their readings from error, and from the whole tenor of his book it is evident that the work he has done has been one of love, and very rightly he looks upon such work as of very high importance, and worthy of finding imitators among medical men at large by reason of its many bearings upon health and life.

He justly observes, "The atmosphere and its changes which immediately surround us, and influence to a great extent our daily pursuits and avocations, are really less understood than many other subjects of far less interest and importance."

There is so much information given in the several chapters on the barometer, the hygrometer, and other instruments, and on the nature and influence of atmospheric changes, that the treatise has to some extent the value of an introduction to meteorology. Nevertheless it is obviously not his intention to make it such, but rather to restrict his undertaking, and make it a record of observations made by himself.

After some introductory remarks on the earliest efforts in meteorological science, on the situation and surroundings of Uckfield, and on the arrangements made for conducting his observations, Mr. Price gives a very instructive chapter on the barometer and atmospheric pressure, accompanied by tables for calculating altitude by means of barometers. He then commences his record of the general meteorological character of the several months of the year, and adds thereto various tables relating to local temperature. Moisture, rain-fall, and wind constitute the subjects of the next chapter, and are illustrated by tables of results of observations.

The next chapter, the longest in the book, is occupied with "Monthly remarks respecting atmospheric phenomena from the year 1843 to 1870, both inclusive." This may be regarded as the transcript of his diary. Although this section of the work is chiefly occupied with the local meteorology of Uckfield, it contains frequent references to that of other regions, and now and then notes on incidental circumstances connected with the seasons, such as the first appearance of certain birds. This portion of the work will be of most interest to those who have kept similar records, by way of comparing observations.

Chapter V will have a wider interest. It is on prognostics of atmospheric changes, and introduces the teachings of the very little known ancient Greek poet Aratus, who wrote about 270 years before Christ. Every reader will peruse the translation given with much pleasure; and with respect to the lists of prognostics of the weather, not a few readers will be prepared to add some of their own. concluding chapter is occupied with health statistics of the district, which, if on the whole is indicative of a generally healthy state of the population, show an excessive death-rate with regard to certain maladies, among which pulmonary consumption may be cited.

The