The meetings will be held on the evening of the first Monday of each month, excepting July and August. CLARICE J. PAKSONS,

Secretary.

VALUE OF RADIOGRAPHS. - Dr. T. H. Myers said that he had tried, but usually in vain, to detect abscesses, tubercular foci, and other lesions in the bones by means of skiagraphy. In a case of abscess of the head of the tibia an area of diminished density at the site of the abscess had been clearly revealed, with increased density about it, similar to the contrast seen between the centre and the periphery of a long bone in any skiagraph.

Dr. Phelps said that a radiograph would usually show a shadow where there was a lesion, but it could not tell what it was. He had been deceived by pictures taken by good machines, and had cut down upon lesions which did not exist. It was not possible to diagnosticate lesions of the soft parts by means of radiography, but if an abscess was known to exist it would aid in locating it.

Dr. H. L. Taylor said radiographs could not, until further improved, be expected to more than indicate certain physical changes in bone. If the structure had become so attenuated by disease that the X-ray could pass the focus of disease would be indicated, not otherwise. Intelligence and experience should be brought to the interpretation of these pictures which are subject to all the distortions of shadows and the errors of photographic processes. A radiogram which was said to reveal the epiphyseal line had really shown a crack in the photographic film. He had a picture of tuberculosis of the carpus, in which the diseased foci were shown with the greatest clearness. A cyst of the bone would be revealed if the walls were sufficiently thin to allow the rays to pass.

Dr. Whitman thought that all X-ray pictures should be interpreted. They were of great service to one who had clear ideas of what he was looking for. From the January Proceedings of the N. Y. Academy of Medicine.

ANNUAL REUNION OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE HAHNEMANN MEDICAL COLLEGE, PHILADELPHIA, WEdnesDAY, MAY 10, 1899. — The Annual Reunion and Banquet of the Alumni Association of the Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 1899.

The business meeting will convene at 4.30 P.M., in Alumni Hall, Hahnemann Medical College, Broad Street above Race, Philadelphia, and the Banquet will be held at 9.45 P.M., at the Walton," southeast corner Broad and Locust Streets.

The Trustees and Faculty of the college extend a cordial invitation to all the members of the Alumni and their friends to attend the Fifty-first Annual Commencement, to be held the same evening, at 8 o'clock, at the Academy of Music, southwest corner Broad and Locust Streets, Philadelphia.

Banquet Cards can be secured by notifying the Secretary. Requests received after Wednesday, May 9, 1899, cannot be considered.

W. D. CARTER, M.D., Secretary.

1533 South Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia.

Officers.

President, William R. King, M.D., '81, Washington, D. C. Vice-Presidents, A. M. Cushing, M.D., '56, Springfield, Mass.; J. S. Hoffman, M.D., '85, Jersey City, N. J.; Chas. C. Cresson, M.D., '55, Germantown, Phila.

Treasurer, William H. Keim, M.D., '71, Philadelphia.

Permanent Secretary, Woodward D. Carter, M.D., '94, Philadelphia.

Provisional Secretary, F. Walter Brierly, M.D., '94, Philadelphia.

Necrologist, T. Elwood Parker, M.D., '80, Woodbury, N. J. Executive Committee, one year: Isaac G. Smedley, M.D., '80, Philadelphia; Daniel P. Maddux, M.D., '83, Chester, Pa.; Joseph C. Guernsey, M.D., '72, Philadelphia. Two years: Carl V. Visher, M.D., '87, Philadelphia; Edward W. Mercer, M.D., '84, Philadelphia; James H. Closson, M.D., '86, Philadelphia. Three years: J. Nicholas Mitchell, M.D., '72, Philadelphia; Alfred W. Baily, M.D., '86, Atlantic City, N. J.; Edmund H. Kase, M.D., '88, Philadelphia.

REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS.

THE SEXUAL INSTINCT: ITS USES AND DANGERS AS AFFECTING HEREDITY AND MORALS. By James Foster Scott, B.A., M.D., C.M. New York E. B. Treat & Co. 1899. Price, $2.00.

This book, the author says in his preface, " is to furnish the nonprofessional man with a sufficiently thorough knowledge of matters pertaining to the sexual sphere-knowledge which he cannot afford to be without." But in our judgment it should be carefully read by all physicians and the knowledge and facts therein contained known by all mothers. The work is divided into thirteen chapters as follows:

I. Introductory. The Sexual Instinct and the Importance of a Just Appreciation of Its Influence.

II. Physiology of the Sexual Life.

III. A Proper Calculation of the Consequences of Impurity from the Personal Standpoint.

IV. Woman and the Unmanliness of Degrading Her.

V. Some of the Influences which Incite to Sexual Immorality. VI. Prostitution and the Influences that Lead a Woman into such a Life.

VII. The Regulation of Prostitution.

This book fills a need. On no subject does the present condition of society need more enlightenment and on none has it been more difficult to obtain reliable and proper information without consulting a large array of medical authorities. This knowledge has the author gathered, together with the results of his own observation and study, and has treated the whole subject in a most dignified manner and from the highest ethical standpoint. Every physician, every minister, every schoolmaster should read this book and then spread abroad its truths. To our mind such knowledge is by far more needed in the higher classes of our schools than much of the balder-dash they are obliged to teach by law under the guise of "Hygiene."

ANNUAL AND ANALYTICAL CYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL MEDICINE. By Charles E. de M. Sarjous, M.D., and one hundred associated editors, assisted by corresponding editors, collaborators, and correspondents. Illustrated with chromolithographs, engravings, and maps. Vol. II. The F. A. Davis Company, Publishers.

1899.

This is the second volume of the Encyclopedia which has succeeded the publication of the old Sarjous Annual. We had occasion last year to comment most favorably on the first volume and this is its counterpart. The subjects range alphabetically from bromide of ethel to diphtheria, each subject being prefaced by authors especially interested in that branch of medicine. Especially to be noticed are the articles on "Cerebral Hemorrhage," " Cholelithiasis," "Chorea," "Cinchona," "Deaf-mutism," and "Diphtheria." No reference is made in the preface to the continuance of the monthly encyclopedias in magazine form which are supplementary and necessary to the integrity during the time of publication of the work. We judge, therefore, that they will continue.

As a convenient and at the same time thorough reference work, this book is the equal of any publication we are acquainted with. It contains a vast amount of knowledge, "boiled down" to meet the daily need of the busy practitioner.

DISEASES OF THE EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT AND THEIR ACCESSORY CAVITIES. By Seth Scott Bishop, M.D., D.C.L., LL.D., Professor of Diseases of the Nose, Throat, and Ear in the Illinois Medical College; Professor in the Chicago Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital; Surgeon to the Post-Graduate Hospital; one of the Editors of the Laryngoscope, etc. Second edition. Thoroughly revised and enlarged. Illustrated with 94 chromolithographs and 215 half-tone and photo-engravings. 61⁄2 x 91⁄2 inches. Pages xix-554. Extra cloth, $4.0 net; sheep or half Russia, $5.00. 1914-16 Cherry Street, Philadelphia: The F. A. Davis Co., Publishers.

That a second edition should be called for so soon is reliable evidence of the popularity of this book, and also of the author both as a writer and teacher. The book was written originally for students, or those desiring to devote some special attention to these disorders while following general practice. This prompt issue of a second edition has enabled the author to correct where faults were evident,

change somewhat the subject matter, adding largely to it, while at the same time bringing up to date the latest thought on many points which have received special attention and investigation within the past few years.

Of the 554 pages, 200 are devoted to the ear, and the remainder to the nose and throat. Over 21,000 clinical cases form the basis for practical deductions in diagnosis and treatment.

The two most interesting chapters written in a judicial and unbiased tone are those relating to "Hay-fever" and the use of "Anti-toxine in Diphtheria." Reference is also made to " Related Disease of the Eye and Nose" and "Life Insurance Affected by Diseases of the Ear, Nose, and Throat," which are important subjects, involving responsibility on the part of the family physician, as well as medical examiners. A very large part of the matter contained in this book is necessarily found in the many volumes issued upon these subjects in the past ten years, but in none is the subject presented in a more terse and readable form, while apparently covering every point with the skill of a master. It is this happy facility on the part of the author which has enabled him to produce so much in so compact a space.

It is a book which can confidently be recommended to students and general practitioners for study in detail, and even to the specialist for ready reference in case of forgotten or overlooked technique of local or hygienic treatment.

The name of the publisher is a guaranty of the quality of the press work. T. M. S.

AN AMERICAN TEXT-BOOK OF DISEASES OF THE EYE, EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT. By fifty-eight prominent specialists. Edited by G. E. de Schweinitz, A.M., M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia; Consulting Ophthalmologist to the Philadelphia Polyclinic; Ophthalmic Surgeon to Philadelphia and Orthopedic Hospitals; and B. Alex. Randall, M.A., M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Diseases of the Ear in the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Polyclinic; Ophthalmic and Aural Surgeon to the Methodist and Children's Hospitals. Illustrated with 766 engravings, 59 of them in color. pp. 1,251. 925 Walnut Street, Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, Publisher. Cloth, $7.00 net; sheep or half morocco, $8.00 net. This large volume is meant to rank as one of the "American Text-book" series, so well and favorably known, which are a credit