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Reviews and Notices of Books.a4 Text-book of Physiology. By M. FOSTER, M.A., M.D.Lond.,

F.R.S., assisted by W. H. R. RIVERS, M.A., M.D.Lond.Sixth Edition Revised. Part IV. The Senses. London :Macmillan and Co., Limited. 1900. Pp. 322. Price10s. 6d.

IN the preceding editions of Sir Michael Foster’s excellenttreatise the present volume, the fourth, contained the

special muscular mechanisms, such as voice, speech, andlocomotion, and also included an account of the male andfemale organs of generation. It is now restricted to thesenses and so many of the additions have been made by Dr.W. H. R. Rivers, the University of Cambridge lecturer inphysiological and experimental psychology, that his nameappears on the title page with that of Sir Michael Foster.If the subjects now omitted are dealt with in anothervolume and Dr. Sheridan Lea’s Physiological Chemistry beregarded as an integral part of the work Sir MichaelFoster’s Text-book of Physiology in one volume will haveexpanded in the course of 2 years into six volumes andis still defective in omitting the large topic of embryology.

This part ha, been very carefully revised and though manypages are reprinted with scarcely any alteration yet most ofthe recent additions to our physiological knowledge havebeen introduced. In the section on the accommodation ofthe eye to objects at varying distances it is pointed out thataccording to some observers the curvature of the anteriorsurface of the lens does not increase uniformly duringaccommodation, and on the next page it is added that thereare several points in the whole action of accommodationwhich still require to be cleared up. We should havebeen glad to have had the opinions of the authors onProfessor Tscherning’s theory to the effect that accommoda-tion is effected by compression of the lens changing its formto one remotely resembling an hour-glass.The afferent path conducting impressions that lead to the

pupil reflex is stated to consist of fibres that are at first

mingled with the visual fibres, but near the corpora quadri-gemina they collect into a fasciculus which leaves the uppermedian edge of the optic tract and enters the roof of theanterior corpus quadrigeminum. The vexed question of thepresence of radially arranged dilator fibres in the retina,which was strongly opposed by Mr. Jessop in his lecturesat the Royal College of Surgeons of England, is very fullydiscussed, but no positive answer is given.The subject of Astigmatism is fairly well.given, but the

distinction between simple, compound, and mixed astigma-tism might have been brought out more clearly and with theaddition of only a few lines. A woodcut has been added tothe section on the Structure of the Retina illustrating theviews of R30mon y Cajal and others.Many recent observations have been introduced-such, for

example, as the adaptation of the eye for light anddarkness and the fusion of images with varying illumination.The fields of the different colours have been carefully workedever and a new and better woodcut has been introduced

showing the relation of the various colours of the spectrum.The different explanations of colour-blindness are fullygiven and it is shown that on the Young-Helmholtz theory inone of the two classes of red-green blindness-namely, thatin which the spectrum is shortened at the red end-the redprimary sensation is absent, the two colours in which the

spectrum is seen being green and blue. In the other classthe green sensation is supposed to be absent, the spectrumbeing seen as red and blue. These two classes have there-fore been called "red-blind" and "green-blind" respectively.The former class sees red as a dark colour, whilst by thelatter that colour is seen as of its normal brightness. Hence

the authors propose that the red-blind may be called" scoterythrous " and the green-blind I I photerythrous. OnHering’s theory the red-green substance is supposed to bemissing, and the dichromic vision of such persons to bemade up exclusively of the changes in the yellow, blue,and white-black substances. The opinion of the authors,which is supported by a case in which one eye was, and theother was not, colour-blind, seems to be in favour of the

theory of colour and colour-blindness advanced by Hering,though much obscurity still hangs over the whole subject.

In the section on the Auditory Sensations the same carein the revision of the work is everywhere observable, and thestructure both of the middle ear and of the labyrinth is

very completely given. The treatise, as it now stands, is avery satisfactory epitome of the present state of physio-logical knowledge, and must be regarded as the text-bookto be read and consulted wherever physiology is seriouslypursued as a branch of science and not for the mere purposeof enabling a student to answer a few questions at an

examination for a diploma.

Lessons in Elementary Physiology. By THOMAS H. HUXLEY,- LL.D., F.R.S. Enlarged and Revised. London : Mac-LL.D., F.R.S. Enlarged and Revised. London: Mac-millan and Co., Limited. 1900. Pp. 611.SIR MICHAEL FOSTER and Dr. Sheridan Lea, who have

undertaken to edit the present edition of this well-known manual, state in their preface that their taskhas been one of great difficulty. The work was

originally written by a master of exposition for beginnersand therefore contained but little of a controversial

character, but aimed at giving a clear and connectedaccount of the fundamental truths of physiology. Whenit first appeared it obtained a ready sale from the

accuracy of its statements, the excellence of the style inwhich it was written, and the high position of its author.But after the lapse of 34 years, in a progressivescience like physiology, some well-assured advances havebeen made, some errors have been corrected, and somedoubtful points have been cleared up. The author him-

self, as long as he lived, kept the work abreast of the

knowledge of the day, and now that he has passedaway the long experience of the editors into whose handsthe recasting of the volume has fallen may serve to

assure the student that if he renders himself thoroughlyfamiliar with the contents of this volume he will possesssuch knowledge that he will not only have nothing to

unlearn, but will be well prepared to understand and

appreciate the larger treatises of Michael Foster, Waller,and Stewart. The early editions of the work were butlittle altered from the first edition published in 1866. The

present edition is nearly double the size of the second, third,and fourth, whilst the number of woodcuts has increasedfrom 103 to 185. The editors have striven to retain as far as

possible the language employed by the late Professor Huxley,but in such additions as they have found it necessaryto make-as, for example, in the subject of blood-pressureand vaso-motor nerve influence, the structure and functionsof the spinal cord, and other subjects-they have endeavouredto present the student with an account of recent work writtenin the same easy and perspicuous style that is so character-istic of the original. The subject of Reproduction is omitted.There is an excellent index. It is a work eminently adaptedfor the higher classes in schools.

LIBRARY TABLE.

Lessons on Prescriptions and the Art of PresMibing. ByW. HANDSEL GRIFFITHS, Ph.D., L.R.C.P.E., Professor ofChemistry in the Ledwich School of Medicine, Dublin. Newand revised edition. London : Macmillan and Co. 1899.

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Pp. 148. Price 3s. 6d.-In the first days of professional .life, after a student has become qualified, he frequently iexperiences difficulty in writing prescriptions at full length.He has become so accustomed to writhe 11 Mist. Gent.

Alk.," or "Haust. Ipecac. Co.," that he forgets the exactingredients of the mixtures. Again, some of the examiningboards require that prescriptions should be written in un-abbreviated Latin, and the student naturally wishes to obtainin as small a compass as possible information on this point.The above difficulties are well met in the little work beforeus. It is arranged in a convenient manner for reference.The chapter on Incompatibility should prove especially valu- Iable. Numerous examples and exercises are given which ]would yield good practice to students about to enter for 4their examinations. ,

The Use of the S p7byg,ntograp7t in Clinical Medicine. B yGRAHAM STEELL, M.D. Edin., F.R.C.P. Lond., Physician to 1the Manchester Royal Infirmary, Lecturer in ClinicalMedicine and in Diseases of the Heart, Owens College.Manchester: Skerratt and Hughes. 1899. Pp. 57.-Thislittle book gives a good account of the use of the sphygmo-graph in clinical medicine. The study of the working ofthis instrument is a fascinating one, but requires a con-siderable amount of time and attention. Moreover, thereis a good deal of the personal element in the results

obtained, which makes the interpretation of the tracingsobtained by different observers rather uncertain. Notthat we would disparage its use or value. The informationthat can be obtained from sphygmograms in skilled handsis great ; and there is a further advantage that the recordsare permanent and can be retained for purposes of com-

parison. Dr. Steell maintains that the sphygmograph is ofgreatest value as an aid to treatment, of less value in

prognosis, and of least value in diagnosis. We quite agreewith his statement. The book is freely illustrated with

sphygmograms, and we can cordially recommend it to thosewho intend to make a systematic use of the instrument.

JOURNALS.

Edinburgh Medical Jozcrn2l.-In the April number Mr.C. W. Mansell Moullin strongly recommends preventive opera-tion in acute inflammation of the appendix. The words "pre-ventive operation " must, he says, be understood in the strictsense and must not be confused with what is called earlyoperation. Gangrene of the whole appendix may make itsappearance within 24 hours of the time when the symptomswere first noticed. In such a case an operation to be pre-ventive must be performed before the expiry of this period,but in some other cases it may not be too late after 48 hours.Dr. W. S. Fenwick writes on Perigastric and PeriduodenalAbscess, and Dr. F. W. N. Haultain on Amenorrhoea.

Altogether there are seven original articles.

Scottish Medical and Surgical Journal.-The greater partof the April number is occupied by a paper on Heredity inDisease, read before the Edinburgh Medico-ChirurgicalSociety on March 7th by Professor D. J. Hamilton (Aber-deen) ; the discussion which followed the reading of thepaper is also published. Professor A. R. Simpson (Edinburgh)writes on Levurine, a dried extract of beer yeast whichseems to have proved useful in some cases of puerperalsepticaemia, and in carbuncle. The dose is a teaspoonfulgiven before food until suppuration is arrested and the tem-perature reduced. There are three other original articles.

bi4blin Journal of Medical Science.-The original com-munications in the April number are as follows : on a fatalcase of Congenital Bullous Eruption in an Infant, by Dr. R. H.Kennan; on a case simulating a Perforating Gastric Ulcer,by Dr. W. J. Thompson and Dr. F. C. Dwyer; and on

Digitalis in Heart Disease by Dr. R. C. Peacocke. A

further instalment of the clinical reports of the RotundaHospital is given.

New Inventions.THE "ALLENBURYS" MILK PASTEURISER.

’ THis apparatus, designed by Dr. R. T. Hewlett for thePasteurisation of a pint of milk at a time, is extremelysimple in its action and does not contain any parts which arelikely to get out of order. It consists essentially of adouble-jacketed cylindrical tin-plate case measuringexternally about seven and a half inches both in height andin diameter. Half a pint of milk being placed in each of thetwo tin cups shown in the illustration, the cups are covered

with their lids and supported in the perforated shelf, andboiling water is then poured in until it begins to flow overthe shelf. The lid is now placed on the apparatus and thewhole is allowed to stand undisturbed fcr from 25 to 30minutes. The milk is then ready for use ; it may be cooled,if desired, by filling the container once or twice with coldwater. One half-pint only of milk may be Pasteurised if oneof the two milk vessels be filled with cold water. The

apparatus may be used to keep food warm during the night,and if filled with ice it will also serve as a cooler. Theprice is 6s. 6d. The makers are Messrs Allen and Hanburys,Limited, Plough-court, London, E.C.

BATH RURAL DISTRICT.-At the meeting of theBath Rural District Council held on April 14th Mr. C.Harper, the medical officer of health, presented his annualreport. This showed that during 1899 the number of deathsregistered for the 19 parishes of the union, comprising anarea of 27,266 acres with a population of 28.285, amountedto 345, which was equal to a death-rate of 12 19 per 1000 ascompared with 13 40 in 1898. Eliminating deaths at publicinstitutions the death-rate was 11-87 per 1000, the lowest onrecord. The birth-rate of 24 32 per 1000 was also the lowestrecorded.