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chapters dealing with intratracheal insufflation,spinal analgesia, and Crile’s system of anoci-association have been added, composed mainly ofextracts from the writings of those responsiblefor the introduction of these newer methods, andMr. Gardner has ventured little upon criticism oftheir efficiency or desirability. The chapters uponshock and upon the treatment of emergencies arealso, we think, a little meagre, and for the purposesof the student and practitioner these might withadvantage have been increased at the expense ofthe very interesting chapter on the history of anoes-thetics. This chapter, indeed, is the most completeof all in the book and is likely to remain long ofvalue to anyone compiling a work upon anaesthesia.

Pathological Technique: A Practical Manitat forWorkers in Pathological Histology and Bacterio-logy, including Directions for the Performanceof Autopsies and for Clinical Diagnosis byLaboratory Hethods.

BY FRANK BURR MALLORY, A.M., M.D., Associate Pro-fessor of Pathology, Harvard University Medical School ;Pathologist to Boston City Hospital; and JAMES HOMERWRIGHT, A.M., M.D., S.D., Pathologist to the Massa-chusetts General Hospital ; Assistant Professor of Patho-logy, Harvard University Medical School. Sixth edition,revised and enlarged, with 174 illustrations. London andPhiladelphia : W. B. Saunders Company. 1915. Pp. 536.Price 13s. net.

A WORK that has been before the medicalpublic for nearly a score of years can scarcelyneed the assistance of commendatory notice fromthe reviewer to ensure a continuance of itssuccess. Four years ago we reviewed the fifthedition of this useful work. Two years ago theedition being exhausted, it was reprinted as itstood, but now, again revised and again enlarged(by the addition of some 30 pages and a dozen newillustrations), it comes before us for notice oncemore. On previous occasions we have dealtwith the book as a whole, and with the excep-tion of the few instances where our own opinionhas not coincided with that expressed by theauthors we have marked our appreciation of thesuccess with which the authors have carried outtheir self-imposed labours in no uncertain manner.On the present occasion it only remains for us

to refer to the added matter. The most importantaddition (pp. 237-245) outlines the main facts inconnexion with the better known pathogenicblastomycetes and hyphomycetes. Seven excellentphotographs and some semi-diagrammatic sketcheswhich are inserted in this section convey a veryclear impression of the morphology of Sporotrichumschenckii and the appearance of the cells foundin dermatitis coccidioides.The description of the technique for obtaining

blood during life for cultivation purposes from casesof suspected bacteraemia has undergone some

expansion to include McJunkin’s tube, which is

figured, but which we venture to believe has few,if any, advantages over an ordinary all-glass anti-toxin syringe and sterile citrate or oxalate solution,in preventing clotting. Bensley’s method for thedemonstration of mitochondria is given in full,whilst the undoubtedly superior Herxheimer’salcohol acetone solution of scharlach R. is nowrecommended in place of the saturated solutionin 70 per cent. alcohol in previous editions. Im-

portant additions are the complement-fixation testfor gonococcus infections and the similar test forhydatid disease, although in the last mentioned

1 THE LANCET, Jan. 27th, 1912, p. 236.

the worker is not warned of the fact that notevery cyst fluid nor every alcoholic extract of cystwill yield a workable antigen. As a final quibble,may we suggest that to the British eye " pipet" "looks unnatural ?

Rural Sanitation in the 1rop,ics.By MALCOLM WATSON, M.D., C.M. Glasg., D.P.H. With56 illustrations. London : John Murray. 1915. Pp. 320.Price 12s. net.

THIS is a most interesting book, and one whichinculcates many useful lessons on the subject ofrural sanitation in the tropics. It contains the

personal experiences of the author in the FederatedMalay States, along with an account of visits toPanama, British Guiana, and Sumatra, wheremarked progress had been made in dealing withmalaria and other tropical diseases by modernmethods. The first half of the book describesthe sanitary circumstances of the Panama CanalZone, which the author calls the " Mecca of themodern sanitarian," and the measures taken toeradicate yellow fever and other insect-bornediseases in that region. The steps taken in theMalay Peninsula to improve health conditions arenoted, especially at Klang and Port Swettenham,where successful attempts, among the earliest ofthe kind, were made under his direction to reducemalaria on the lines formulated by Sir RonaldRoss, to whom the volume is dedicated. Descrip.tion is given of the conditions under which coolieslive in the Dutch plantations of Sumatra. The

question of malaria in Italy, India, the StraitsSettlements, Ceylon, Hong-Kong, and the PhilippineIslands is fully discussed. In a final chapter theauthor furnishes an "epilogue" on the place ofsanitation in tropical colonisation.

Dr. Watson was formerly one of the medicalofficers in the service of the Government of theFederated Malay States, and acquired a considerablereputation as a sound and trustworthy adviser. Hisefforts to ameliorate the health of the coolies onthe plantations attracted attention, and he becameadviser to an association of leading planters in

Malaya on the best means of improving the healthof the labourers on their estates. As a resultof his efforts death and sickness rates were

greatly reduced and much useless jungle turnedinto wealth-bearing plantations. When in 1911a malaria advisory board was constituted forthe Federated Malay States he was appointedone of its medical members. A desire to broadenhis views and sense of responsibility for the healthand efficiency of the large force of tropical labourersunder his charge led him to visit other lands tosee what was being done in tropical sanitation onmodern lines. The results of these travels are

presented in his book, which all interested in thesuppression of malaria and other tropical diseasesshould carefully study. Dr. Watson found therôle of a sanitarian in the tropics one of deepinterest, and the lessons he draws in his book canhardly fail to excite a similar enthusiasm in someof his readers and a desire to go and do likewise.

JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES.

The Monthly Bulletin ot the International Obice of PublicHygiene. (Office International d’Hygiène Publique crée àParis par 1’arrangement international du 9 Decembre, 1907.Bulletin Mensuel.) Paris: 195 Boulevard Saint-Germain.Price 10 francs per annum, postage included.-Thisjournal is rendered more than usually interesting byits regular consideration of questions made topical bythe war. The menace to the whole European community

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created by the unwholesomeness of the battlefields ofthe trench warfare, and the prevalence of epidemictyphus fever among some of the armies engaged are thetwo principal topics discussed in recent issues, and it is

quite clear that these are matters with which no nationcan deal single-handed. We in this country dependjust as much on what our allies, indeed to some extent onwhat our enemies, are doing as on the precautions weourselves are able to apply, and the international characterof such matters is apparent. We have no battlefieldsin England, but epidemics connected with the disposalof, the killed, with the exposure of bodies lying in

places where they cannot be reached for removal andburial, may spread to our shores. The Bulletin bringsto our notice debates in the French Academy of Scienceson the contamination of subsoil waters through the

hasty burial of the dead in the nearest convenient spot.The December number deals with the whole question of thedanger of thus contaminating the water-supply of largetowns, notably of Paris. It has been found necessary toremove some of the dead to more suitable burial grounds, andit is easy to realise that we have here a very serious sanitaryproblem.In regard to typhus, it is useful to have a record of whatthe nations that are situated between us and the epidemiccentres are doing. The Bitlletin publishes the text ofthe new French and Italian laws and regulations, preparedand issued since the grave Serbian epidemic of typhusrendered the application of such rigorous precautions neces-sary. The French and Italian regulations do not trust inthe least to the technical knowledge of those who have tosee to their practical application. Everything is minutelyand clearly explained, so that a functionary, or be ita simple attendant, would know just what ought to bedone. The main thing is to kill the lice and to preventanyone, whether in good health or a patient, enter-

ing a hospital or any other inhabited place when thereare still any vermin on his person, clothes, or belongings.It may be interesting to note that, though the objectin view is identical, the method of procedure varies some-what. The French instructions which were issued by theMinister of the Interior on May 31st, 1915, stipulatethat the receiving, examining, and cleansing room shouldstand apart from any hospital, huts or main building.It should be provided with the most powerful light available,should be constantly washed with hot water containing5 per cent. of carbonate of soda, and occasionally fumigatedby burning 20 grammes of sulphur for every cubic metre ofspace. Naturally the attendants must be protected byoveralls tightly fastened round the ankles, wrists, and neck.Such portions of the skin that still remain exposed must berubbed with an ointment of petrol, xylol, camphor, or turpen-tine, so as to keep the parasites away. But the process differsin dealing with the clothes as they are removed from the lice-infected person. According to the French regulations,these, including boots and hats, should be placed in ametallic box and sprayed with 40 to 50 c. c. of benzene.The lid is then fastened down, and after 15 to 20 minutesthe lice are either killed or so stupefied as to be inoffensive,and the clothes can then be handled and washed without

danger. The rules issued by the Italian Minister of theInterior are dated June 24th, 1915, and are as carefullyexplained and elaborate as the French. But there are differ-ences in matters of detail. Thus, we have the suggestionthat one or two large newspapers should be placed on thefloor and that clothes should be removed gently so as not toshake off the lice. But as some are nevertheless likely tofall off, the newspapers on which they fall could be rolled upand burnt. All clothes that would not be injured by theprocess are to be at once immersed in boiling water, andother objects placed in a waterproof sack or metallic box andconveyed to the disinfecting stove. Doubtless all this can bedone at Bari, Brindisi, and other places where fugitives andothers coming from the Balkans may land, but it is to befeared that the necessary accommodation may not always beforthcoming. However this may be, the Bqtlletin does helpin making known from tin international standpoint whatare the difficulties that have to be overcome.

Archives of Radiology and Electrotherapy (Archives of thoRoentgen Ray).---This journal continues to maintain itsusual high standard in spite of the fact that many sources ofcontributions are cut off by the crisis from which the world is suffering. Formerly there were contributions from most I

continental countries, but under necessity British writers arerising to the occasion. In the number for December. 1915,Dr. George Ward gives an interesting paper on the value ofthe electro-cardiograph in the diagnosis of diseases of theheart, as a result of his extensive work at the Middlesex

Hospital. The paper is fully illustrated with a series oftracings which add very materially to the worth of an alreadyvaluable and important communication. -Dr. J. M. WoodburnMorison’s paper on gas in the tissues shows by excellentradiographs how the presence and distribution of gas canbe demonstrated in the vicinity of wounds by shell andother missiles used in war. Its presence can be shown

frequently before being discovered by other methods, andthe importance of this is obvious to those who have hadto deal with such wounds as this war has furnished in

prodigious numbers.-Professor H. Bordier, of Lyons,describes how the alternating current from the main can bebest used for the treatment of many of the cases ofneuritis and muscular atrophy that are so common in

military hospitals. He controls the current with what hecalls the "chloroform bottle rheostat," a simple andefficient appliance that can be improvised by anyone andat any time.-The number for January, 1916, opens witha paper by Mr. Archibald McKendrick on the radio-

graphy of normal parts, which is evidently meant forbeginners.-Dr. Hugh Walsham and Dr. Walker Overendrecord investigations on the movements of the colon.This contribution is of greater importance than mayat first sight appear, for it is encumbered with manyunfamiliar, and perhaps improvised, terms. The followingsentence from the authors’ conclusions will explain our

criticism : ’’ With regard to the two functional variationsfrom the average progression of the opaque meal, the tachy-kinetic modification may be due to an increase in the numberand the amplitude of the megadiastaltic waves (vago-pelvichypertonia) and probably associated with a reduction ofanastalsis." This is one of the more simple sentences, andsuch free use of unfamiliar words makes the study of thearticle unnecessarily tedious.-We note a new departure inthe institution of an inquiry column, which should be ofgreat value in a branch of medical research that is in itsearly and most busy stages of development. This, withsections devoted to reviews and notes and abstracts, makesthe journal one of great value to radiologists. With regardto the illustrations, they do not appear to be up to the

previous standard.

CORNWALL COUNTY ASYLUM.-The medicalsuperintendent in his annual report for 1915 states that onJan. lst there were 1039 patients (496 males and 543

females) in the institution. During the year 49 males and59 females had been discharged, and 52 males and 77females had died. Of the 108 patients discharged, 71 wererecovered, 31 relieved, and 6 not improved. The recoveryrate was 37’15.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.-Messrs. H. K. Lewisand Co., Limited, announce the following books for earlypublication :-" Localisation by Röntgen Rays and Stereo-scopy," by Sir James Mackenzie Davidson, illustrated withstereoscopic and other pictures. ’’ The Pathology of Tumours,"by Dr. E. H. Kettle. With 126 illustrations from originaldrawings and photographic material. A new volume of essaysby Dr. T. B. Scott (author of "The Road to a HealthyOld Age ") entitled "Modern Medicine and Some ModernRemedies," to which Sir Lauder Brunton has contributed apreface. "Notes on Galvanism and Faradism," by Dr.

Magill, with 66 illustrations, intended for masseuses andthose employed in the practical administration of electricaltreatment. ’’ The Adolescent Period: Its Features andManagement," by Dr. Louis Starr. A new edition (thefourth) of "Mentally Deficient Children," by Dr. G. E.Shuttleworth and Dr. W. A. Potts ; this has been revised andin part rewritten, while the illustrations have been increased.A new (seventh) edition of Gould’s well-known ’ PocketMedical Dictionary," containing an additional 1000 words(35,000) is also just ready. A new and revised edition of

Binnie’s "Operative Surgery" will be published, it is

expected, in March. A small book by Dr. C. Russ on "ANew Treatment for Gonorrhoea" is also nearly ready. A

thoroughly revised and greatly enlarged edition of Dr.Herbert Tilley’s Diseases of the Nose and Throat" is inthe press.