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B6presentative Procedures in Quantitative Chemical

Analysis. By FRANK AUSTIN GOOCH. New York : JohnWiley and Sons, Inc. ; London: Chapman and Hall,Limited. 1916. Pp. 262. Price 8s. 6d. net.-We havepresented here by a well-known authority on the subject avaluable series of analytical methods applied to inorganicsubstances ; the particulars of procedure described givetrustworthy and accurate results in the light of the latestexperience. We are glad to note the author’s appreciation of"the beauty and accuracy" of the iodometric processes, andhe has given a much more extended treatment of this sectionof the subject than is usually the case in analytical text-books. The clear and careful directions set out mark the

experienced hand at analytical work. Useful ground iscovered in regard to procedures in both gravimetric andvolumetric analysis, but in the latter section we find noreference made to the convenient reduction methods in whichtitanium salts are used as reducing agents.The Motor-ear. By T. O. A. LAWTON and R. J. HARVEY

GIBSON. London: Edward Arnold. 1917. Pp. 87. Price ls. -This is a simple little primer that takes the intending driverby the hand, so to speak, like "Little Henry’s Guide toFrench," and leads him step by step to knowledge and, ifcoupled with practical instruction, to the confidence thatshould justify him in taking the road unaided. It is all veryelementary. Whether such aids are more easy to understandthan the usual text-books is a question.

Orgaran-therapeutic Prodnrcts. Issued from the Bacterio-

logical Research Laboratories of Evans Sons Lescher andWebb, Limited, Higher Runcorn, Cheshire. February, 1917.Pp. 60.-With this catalogue and price-list of their organo-therapeutic products the manufacturers have incorporated10 pages of text describing the principles of hormonetherapy and 40 pages more on the preparation and uses oforgan extracts. The notes are well printed and well

arranged, and will afford the busy practitioner useful infor-mation on the therapeutic material available in this stillsomewhat obscure region of medicine.

JOURNALS.

The Philippine Journal of Science, Section B, TropicalMedicine. Vol. XL, No. 3.-Dr. Edward S. Ruth writes onthe development of twins and other polyembryos withspecial reference to four sets of duck twins. After reviewingthe work done already on the subject, this observer, in aseries of approximately 500 duck eggs that were incubatedfor embryological material, found four sets of twins. Oneset had developed to the 3-somite stage and the otherthree sets respectively to the 9-, 11-, and 12-somite stage.In only one set were the embryos completely separated fromeach other ; in the others the embryos were joined along theirlateral sides and would in all probability have developed intojoined twins. The underlying causes involved in the forma-tion of twins and other polyembryos are obscure. It has,however, been definitely shown that in some anamniotestwins, triplets, quadruplets, &c., can be produced bymechanical and chemical changes. These definite resultshave been obtained by altering the environment by externalagents. If the intrinsic factors be considered, Dr. Ruththinks that little imagination is needed to conceive ofdistorted embryos, twins, &c., as being due to a faultymetabolism or to some physical law that is so wrapt up inphysio-chemical processes that it is still impossible to solvethe mystery. This paper is illustrated by three plates.-The influence of fresh and autoclaved cow’s milk on thedevelopment of neuritis in animals is discussed in an articlefurnished jointly by Dr. R,. B. Gibson and Dr. Isabelo

Concepcion. They were led to make experiments by thefact that the use of "canned whole cow’s milk " for feedinginfants is rapidly increasing in the Philippine Islands, andthey sought to obtain information as to whether or not theantineuritic vitamines of milk are destroyed by heating. Itwould appear from previous experiments that antineuriticproperties, if present in milk, exist only in very small amounts, and in none of the observations already reportedhas milk prevented the development of neuritis. Accord-ingly, the authors directed their attention to ascer-

taining by feeding experiments whether or not antineuriticsubstances were present in milk, and to what extentthese would be affected by autoclaving the milk fortwo hours at 125° C. The first observations were made

on fowls, but subsequently on young dogs and pigs.The results on the latter animals indicated that autoclavingthe milk did not affect appreciably either the growth pro-moting principles in it or the nutritive value of the casein-ogen. The antineuritic vitamine is present in milk in slightamount, and continued feeding of dogs and pigs with eitherfresh or autoclaved milk, without suitable additions to thediet, induced certain beri-beri-like symptoms, such as’

degeneration of the peripheral nerves, persistent cedema,and aphonia. There was no evidence that autoclaving milkfor two hours at 125° C. affected in any way its nutritivevalue. The authors remark, in conclusion, that at the bestthe antineuritic powers of the milk are so slight that ininfant feeding the diet should be extended as soon as

possible. They further suggest that the young of healthymothers probably come into the world with a reserve supply ofthe vitamine substances sufficient to tide them over nutritivelyuntil the time when, under natural conditions of life, they wouldbegin to eat other food. This article is illustrated by two plates.-The remaining contribution to this number of the Journaldeals with the blood pressure picture of the Filipinos, andis supplied jointly by Dr. Isabelo Concepcion and Dr. EmiloBulato. Little work on blood pressure has previously beendone in the Philippine Islands. The authors give details ofthe observations they made by the graphic method with theErlanger sphygmomanometer on 717 persons whose averageage was 28-5 years. Their findings showed that the systolicpressures of Filipinos were very much lower than those ofAmericans. The average pulse pressure was 36 4 millimetresin males and 32 6 in females; there was a general rise ofsystolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure with age. For a givenage the systolic pressure is more variable than the diastolic.The pulse pressure does not differ very much between thedifferent ages, and persons with blood pressure below 20 orabove 50 millimetres are probably abnormal. Hypertensionis not a necessary accompaniment of old age. The pulse-rate of Filipinos averaged a few beats above the usualstandard of 72 per minute. Examination of 65 personsaddicted to the opium habit showed that in all of them theblood pressure averages were lower than normal.

The British Journal of Ophthalmology. Vol. I., Nos. 2and 3 (February and March).-These numbers of the newjournal contain several interesting original papers. ColonelR. H. Elliot publishes a paper read at the Oxford Ophthalmo-logical Congress on Some Eccentricities of Indian OphthalmicPractice. It deals with the grave injuries to the eyesinflicted by the use of primitive methods of treating con-junctivitis, trachoma, corneal opacities, and so on, andits debonair style is somewhat ill-suited to the recording oftragedies.-Captain J. A. Pringle reports a good case ofmultiple aneurysms of a retinal artery, associated with

opaque nerve fibres. This paper is illustrated by an excellentcoloured plate.-The report of a case of quinine amaurosis byDr. Arthur J. Ballantyne is particularly noteworthy in that anearly stage was observed in which the retinal arteries were notconstricted, as is almost invariable in this form of poisoning.The case is very carefully discussed and good reason isshown for the view that the blindness is due to the directtoxic action of the drug upon the retinal elements, and not,as has been generally thought, toischæmia.-There is a note-worthy sketch of the life of William Mackenzie (1791-1868),the great Glasgow ophthalmologist, by Dr. J. FreelandFergus. The author writes his name McKenzie," thoughhe is generally known as Mackenzie, and this is the mode inwhich his name appears upon the title page of his owntreatise on Diseases of the Eye. The facts of Mackenzie’slife are well set forth, but the paper gives the impression ofa somewhat grudging tribute to his genius. To state that he’’ has left practically nothing which will be permanently asso-ciated with his name " is an admission of the shortness ofhuman memory and of the transitoriness of fame. To say that"he was not an investigator " is to detract from one of thegreatest clinicians that ever lived. His original observationswere far more numerous than Dr. Fergus gives him credit for,and they were so accurate that they are taught as the common-place knowledge of to-day. Amongst the many abstracts ofpapers contained in these two numbers there is a valuableseries on war injuries. The proprietors of the British Journalof Ophthalmology are to be congratulated on the success oftheir magazine in spite of the unusual difficulties producedby the war. That it is indispensable to ophthalmic surgeonsand is not without its appeal to a wider circle are matters onwhich we congratulate the editor and his supporters.

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Endocrinology. Vol. I., No. 1. January, 1917.-The firstnumber of this new quarterly, published by the Associationfor the Study of Internal Secretions (secretary, Dr. Henry R.Harrower, Glendale, California; subscription $5 a year inadvance, single copies$150 post paid), contains an intro-ductory article by Lewellys F. Barker, of Baltimore, whobelieves that its appearance will be welcume to clinical and

laboratory investigators, as well as to the "more alert

general practitioners, for these men already, realise the

profound importance of an intimate knowledge of theductless glands and their functions for everyday work indiagnosis and therapy." C. E. de M. Sajous, of Philadelphia,contributes an editorial article on the Future of the InternalSecretions, in which he describes organotherapy as openingup avenues of thought to a new conception of medicinewhich will satisfy the longing for logical reasoning and irationalism. He believes with Abderhalden that the tissuecell disposes of the same or similar ferments to thosesecreted by the digestive glands and that the leucocytes arethe carriers of theiae ferments. Other brief editorial articlesare written by Tom A. Williams, of Washington, andHenry R. Harrower, of Los Angeles. Three original articlesfollow: the first by Dr. Emile Sergent, physician to theCharité, Paris, calling attention to the ’’ ligne blanchesurrénale.’’ which sulgests to him the search for other signsof ’’hypoadrenia.’’ The rest of the volume is occupied by60 pages containing nearly 200 brief abstracts and reviewsof articles on internal secretions in the medical journals ofthe world.

THE CONTROL OF VENEREAL DISEASES.

Civilian Treatment Centres in France.IN his recent book on the problems of syphilis under

French military regime (" La Syphilis c-t 1’Armee." Paris :Masson et Cie. 1917. Price 4 fr.), Dr. G. Thibierge devotesa section to the creation of treatment centres for the civilian

population. In Paris medicaments for the treatment of syphilishave long been distributed on a large scale at the specialhospitals of St. Louis, Broca, and Cochin. From 1902, whenmercurial injections became general, Dr. Thibierge and Dr.Brocq greatly extended the out-patient treatment of syphiliticwomen at the Hopital Broca, other hospitals following suitwith similar polyclinics. Sunday and evening consultationswere arranged to suit all, and no pressure was placed on thepatients to attend. Similar services were arranged in moatlarge towns. In March, 1916, these services were stillfurther extended on the advice of Inspector-GeneralVaillard and M. Brisac, director of assistance and publichygiene, and it was decided to institute dispensaries,called services annexes des hôpitaux, in every district wherethere was a call for them, gratuitous treatment to be pro-vided under conditions of strict secrecy a d with the helpof military doctors if civilian practitioners were not avail-able. In a circular dated May 31st. 1916, the Minister ofthe Interior instructed departmental prefects to bringpressure on local sanitary authorities to institute centres, andassured them of financial help from the State. Dr.

Thibierge states that only in a few cases were the authoritiesrecalcitrant, and that the number of patients attending thecentres ha increased with great rapidity. He mentions Dr.Pautrier, of Buurges. as an enthusiast whose example hasset the tone of the work in general.

Port of London.The City Corporation is starting a treatment centre at the

Royal Albert Docks at an estimated cost of 9600.- Publioit1l.

Dr. Harold Kerr, medical officer of health for Newcastle-on-Tyne, has issued a circular, published in full by the localpress, calling attention to the facilities provided for treat-ment as well as to the need for such treatment. He asks allinto whose hands the circular may come to use their’’ personal inflnence to promote the knowledge of good andevil that alone can save many from the consequences of

ignorance," and to assist the sanitary authority by makingthe facilities provided widely known.-Following on anaddress given bv Sir Francis Champneys at a public meetingin Glasgow on March 12th, a local branch was formed of theNational Council for Combating Venereal Diseases. The

suggestion was made that further branches should be estab.lished at Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee.-Sir MalcolmMorris and Sir Thomas Barlow addressed a meeting ofministers of religion at the Small Queen’s Hall on March 9thon the necessity for their cooperation in the campaign ofpublicity and enlightenment.

New Inventions.AN ELECTRODE FOR THE IONIC TREATMENT OF

PROSTATIC ENLARGEMENT.I HAVE found that the enlarged prostate can be treated

successfully by ioni-ation, and have designed an electrodefor the purpose. The negative wire from the battery passes.by a terminal right through the tube conveying the fluiddown to the bulb of the instrument. The stem of it isinsulated as far as the bulb, thus ensuring that no contact

is made with thelower part of therectum. The bulbis lubricated withglycerine and

passed into therectum well on tothe prostate. Thecurrent I use is 26miiliamps for half,increasing to one,hour on alternatedays. As some

irritation may becaused bytheintro-duction of the bulbI have occasionallyfound it necessaryto have the patientintroduce a gr.morphia 8upposit;ory half an hourbefore coming to

me. Three to six months are required to effect the reduction,according to the age of the tumour. One case of ten years’standing took nearly twelve months. I was able to sendaway a man of 50 with a perfectly normal prostate and ableto urinate freely, after only three months’ attendance, buthis condition was of only eighteen months’ duration.The instrument illustrated (Fig. 1) is designed to carry out

the principle that there should be a constant supply of thefluid from which it is proposed to derive the ions at the seatof application. The face, w’ich is perforated with a numberof small holes (Fig. 2, shown on a larger scale) is pressed onto the prostate, and the hollow bulb (which unscrews in thecentre) is packed lightly with cotton wool sufficient to ensnrea steady trickle of fluid from the reservoir (the cylinder of a2-ounce syringe inverted), on which a vulcanite tap regulatesthe outftow so that just sufficient runs down to last forthe period of the sitting. Ten grains of potassium iodidedissolved in 2 on noes of sterilised water is the usual quantity.

Sydney, N.S W.__ LEIGHTON KESTEVEN, M R.C.S. Eng.

BRISTOL HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND.-Up to thepresent £2252 have been received as a result of the HospitalSunday collections in Bristol, and of this sum £2000 have beenawarded to the local medical institutions.

THE FOOD PROBLEM.-Lecturing on the "FoodProblem" at the Institute of Hygiene on March 15th Mr.J. Grant Ramsay, principal of the institute, said that bothhealth and money would be t-aved by a better knowledgeof food values, while, in addition, the public must bebrought to realise that internal waste-i.e., food that couldbe done without-represented a squandering of health aswell as of food. Mr. Ramsay detailed his proposal of a ration-book which had been submitted to toe Ministry of Foods.This was to be a compulsory housekeeping book issuedofficially, in which all foods bought would be entered bythe tradesman. The housekeeper would be saved frommaking the entries and the tradesman from drawing upany other account. Such a ration-book would provide anexact record of food bought, induce care and economy, andallow each individual to claim his fair share of rations.