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Reviews and Notices of Books.Cmime and Criminals Being the J?trispr?4denee of Crinae-

Medical, Biological, and Psyohological. By CHARLESMBRCIER, M.D., F.R.C.P.,F.R.C.S. With an Introductionby Sir BRYAN DONKIN, M.A., M.D. Oxon., F.R.C.P.,Member of the Board of Directors of Convict Prisons;late one of H.M.’s Commissioners of Prisons. London:

University of London Press, Ltd. 1918. Pp. 292. 10s. 6d.ACCORDING to Austin, I I the matter of the science of juris-

prudence is law, strictly so-called," a definition which neednot prevent a writer on jurisprudence from including in atreatise upon crime and criminals the consideration of conductnot punishable under the criminal law, but which he wouldwish to see so punished. Dr. Mercier claims in an earlychapter more than a licence or qualification to instructthe Legislature as to what acts and omissions ought to bepunished and what ought not, declaring that "a jurisprudentwould neglect his duty, a book on jurisprudence would lackits most important factor, if this instruction were not im-parted," for to him, not unreasonably, jurisprudence is*1 the science of law which discusses not only whatthe law is, but also what it ought to be." " He accord-ingly turns to first principles to discover the foundationupon which the law rests, and to determine in whatdirections it may be improved. It does not follow, how-ever, that the Legislature, or, indeed, the reader will be

brought to the same conclusions as Dr. Mercier, bystudying his chapters on the nature of crime, on kindsof crime, on private and racial offences, and on criminals.Every reader must find these chapters of interest, togetherwith those on the prevention, detection, and punishment ofcrime, even though he may not accept all the views to whichthe writer gives the weight of his approval, or of which heclaims to be the originator, but Dr. Mercier is a learned,stimulating and amusing writer. One of the most con-

vincing chapters is that in which a comparison is drawnby Dr. Mercier between his own doctrine of the causation ofinsanity as due in varying proportions to the two factors ofheredity and stress, and the proposition, equally his own,that crime is due to ’’ temptation or opportunity, the environ-mental factor or stress, acting upon the predisposition of theoffender, the inherent or constitutional factor." "The morepotent the one factor the less of the other will be needed tobring about the result," he says, and he works out the thesisin an eminently clear and readable manner.

If it be a legislator, however, or, shall we say, an averageMember of Parliament, whom we imagine as turning to Dr.Mercier’s work, with a view to bringing in a Bill for theamendment of the criminal law, we picture him as a littledisappointed by the nature of the advice given, as theresult of psychological analysis of the criminal and hiscrimes. Sir Bryan Donkin, in an appreciative preface,prepares us for what we venture to regard as the principalrecommendation which Dr. Mercier desires to make, and oneof more importance than the suggestion to treat as larcenythe "stealing of the use of a thing." " Dr. Mercier," writesSir Bryan Donkin, " considers that breach of contract andfalse imprisonment also should be crimes: and he seems tohave reason on his side." On pages 172 and 175 will befound the author’s statement of his opinions, or rather hisassertion that breach of contract" undoubtedly ought to be acriminal offence, and that’. the exclusion of false imprisonmentand breach of contract from criminal offences is a blemishin English jurisprudence." This will be rather startling tothose who deprecate the tendency of modern legislation toincrease the number of acts in respect of which proceedingsin criminal courts may be taken. It may also strike themfrom a merely practical point of view that the criminaldocks of the country would not be able to contain the

persons charged with this new vast class of offences, whilethe Bar would be seriously depleted by the appointmentof the necessary number of stipendiary magistrates. Breachof contract may satisfy every definition of crime. Dr. Merciersays it does. It may also be injurious to society ; buteven this does not prove, nor does he, that it is, in fact,desirable to treat what has hitherto been regarded as amatter concerning the two parties to the contract, as anoffence against the State. Why, also, it may be asked,

should breaches of contract among civil causes of actionbe rendered crimes, and not torts as well; or, rather,why of all torts should false imprisonment alone be selected?This cannot be in order to diminish the number of trivial

prosecutions that would certainly follow if breaches ofcontract were made criminal, for in that case maliciousprosecution would have been included with false imprison-ment. However, we can express entire agreement with theopinion, also to be found on p. 172, that the criminalising ofwrong acts now remediable only by civil proceedings is notlikely to be resumed, though whether this is due to a lack oflogical completeness and systematic order, inherent in Englishlaw and the English character, is more doubtful.

Dr. Mercier is given to statements of a character whichchallenges contradiction. He devotes many of his observationsto the expression of contemptuous dissent from the doctrinesof Lombroso and his school, but gives no references to theworks of Lombroso such as would prove that a particularcriticism is deserved. For example, at p. 38, he refers to theprevalence of smuggling at one time among the inhabitantsof our coasts. These, he points out, became criminals underthe then existing laws, and he describes the physical charac-teristics which, " if the doctrines of Lombroso, Garofalo, andthe rest of the continental criminologists are true," theyought to have developed. "But did they?" he askstriumphantly-a, "num" question, as the Latin grammarwould have it. Well, first, the rejoinder might be made,11 Did Lombroso and the others, in writing of criminals,define them in such a way as inevitably to include the earlynineteenth century smugglers of our southern counties "

And secondly, the inference which he would have us draw isnot justified by the writings alluded to-at least, in our

opinion.Dr. Mercier has written an able, useful, and original book,

which has deservedly earned for him, and for the secondtime in succession, the Swiney Prize. His teaching gains byhis clearness and well-justified self-assurance, but its accept-ance is sometimes rendered unpalatable by his methods ofdemonstration.

-Report of the Work of the Invalided Soldiers’ 0Mnmi88ion,Oanada. May, 1918.

THE experiment of giving to the Army Medical Corps themedical work in the hospitals and institutions of the Com-mission charged with the care of discharged soldiers wasfound to be unworkable, and since the early part of 1918 thesemen have been placed under the direction and control of theMinister of Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment. The Commission,in addition to caring for all officers and soldiers suffering fromdiseases either incurable or likely to be of long duration,such as tuberculosis, epilepsy, paralysis, and mental dis-orders or relapses of their former complaint, retains thecontrol of vocational training in the hospitals before the menare discharged and of subsequent re-education. The Com-mission will develop the vocational branch, establish a distinctmedical service of its own, and will arrange to secure closercooperation with the various Provincial Commissions chargedwith the duty of finding employment for returned men.The total number of hospital beds retained by the Com-mission is 5575. A novel feature is the employment ofdietitians; three organising dietitians have been appointedand dietitians have been placed at a number of the Com-mission’s hospitals ; ladies who have taken University coursesand have specialised in this subject are employed. Theyfurnish detailed returns as to the consumption of the variousarticles of food ; in this way a check is maintained on thequantity of food consumed and the supply of the correctamount of fat and other essentials to curative diet ensured.At all the larger institutions a recreation building has beenprovided ; the main hall is equipped with a stage and akinematograph, the lower floor being given over to class-rooms, workshops, and bowling alleys. One permanent homewith accommodation for 50 disabled men has been establishedat Toronto.A factory for the manufacture of artificial limbs is main-

tained by the Commission. The artificial legs are made ofwood obtained from the brittle willow and golden osier ; thewood is cut into bolts about 22 inches long and bored throughthe centre in order to season without "checking." The barkis removed and the ends painted ; the bolts are then left toseason in the shade in the open air for two years. Afterthis they are kiln-dried and kept absolutely dry till made up

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into an artificial limb. At present the Commission issues anartificial arm with a working hook capable of holdinga knife, fork; or pen, and with which a man can pick uparticles and dress himself. The hook can be exchangedfor a gloved hand with a movable thumb which enables theman to hold an umbrella or valise or carry his coat on his arm.

Splints, braces, orthopaedic shoes, and other orthopaedicapparatus are made at the factory. Several returned soldiersare being taught various branches of the making of artificiallimbs and orthopaedic shoes. Men who have incurred dis-abilities on service which require appliances, such as ortho-paedic shoes, trusses, spectacles, rubber bandages and belts,are granted an annual credit for renewals.Reference is made to the difficulty of diagnosing epilepsy.

Convulsions, apparently typically epileptiform, are oftenfound to be due to other conditions than epilepsy, themost frequent of these being hysteria. " Those cases

developing seizures following exposure at the front, butwithout a previous history of epilepsy, and in which,on being invalided home, the seizures tend to diminish,should be regarded with great suspicion." A numberof feeble-minded were enlisted. Certain of the highergrade defectives who had been able to carry on thesimpler forms of manual labour, including farm work,proved totally incapable of carrying on in the Army. Thewriter of the report points out that the war has resulted inthe medical examination and supervision of a large propor-tion of the male population, and has furnished informationconcerning a considerable number of defectives. Use shouldbe made of this and definite after-care plans formulated forat least two well-defined groups of ex-soldiers, epileptics andfeeble-minded.

8urgioal Aspects of Typhoid and Pa1’atyphoid -Fevers. Foundedon the Hunterian Lecture for 1917, amplified and revised.By A. K. WEBB-JOHNSON, F.R.C.S., D.S.O., TemporaryColonel, A.M.S. With Foreword by Lieutenant-GeneralT. H. GOODWIN, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., Director-General,A.M.S. London : Henry Frowde, Oxford UniversityPress ; Hodder and Stoughton. 1919. Pp. 190. 10s. 6d.THIS volume is an amplified account of the surgical aspects

of typhoid and paratyphoid, which formed the subject of aHunterian lecture published in our columns on Dec. 1st,1917. Numerous illustrations, both black-and-white and

coloured, embellish the text, and the book can be confidentlyrecommended as a trustworthy guide to a new and interestingsubject.

Diseases of the Hea’J’t and Á{)rta. By Dr. A. D. HIRSCHFELDER.Third edition, revised. London : J. B. Lippincott Co.1918. Pup. 732. 30s.

IN the preface to the first edition the author says that hisaim has been "to present side by side the phenomenaobserved at the bedside and the facts learned in the labora-tory in order to show how each supplements the other inteaching us how to observe the patient and to direct thetreatment." " This principle has been elaborated throughoutthe book, and in this third edition Dr. Hirschfelder hasfaithfully correlated the fruits of recent research with theclinical facts upon which they bear. The result is a volumein which the reader in search of light on problems of thepathological physiology of the circulation may be sure

of finding help. It is an industrious and exhaustivecompilation, and one which will be welcome to every-one interested in the study of cardiology. The student ofclinical medicine, however, will find that the facts are

presented more from the viewpoint of the laboratory thanfrom that of the bedside. Under such circumstances it isnot surprising that a large proportion of the writers quotedare Teutonic. Dr. Hirschfelder has indeed done his best toinclude the researches of America and Britain. but it is alittle disappointing to find no reference to the work of ThomasLewis and his colleagues in the chapters which discuss themilitary heart.A striking feature of the book is the wealth of diagram-

matic illustrations. Many of these are of the utmost value,and express in a lucid form that application of physiology tomedicine which is the dominant purpose of the author. Dr.Hirschfelder is to be congratulated on the success of his ibook. If in his next edition he were to secure the collabora-tion of a clinician, he might give us the best account ofcardiac disease in the English language.

Pye’s 6’Myyt<*< SoiMM. Edited and largely rewritten byW. H. CLAYTON-GREENE, F.R.C.S. Eighth ’edition,fully revised, with some additional matter and illustra-tions. Bristol: John Wright and Sons, Ltd. 1919.Pp. 640. 21s. net.A NEW and revised eighth edition of this useful manual

has just been published. The author has taken advantageof the work of Sir Robert Jones in the section dealing withorthopaedic cases. In this and other sections the letterpressis full of information invaluable to the student, the housesurgeon, and the general practitioner. The book is exceed-ingly well got up ; the illustrations are clear and helpful.

&Aring; Mediaal Field Service Book. By C. MAX PAGE, M.S. Lond.,F.R.C.S. Eng. With a Foreword by Sir GEORGE MAKINS,G.C.M.G., C.B. London: Henry Frowde, Hodder andStoughton. 1919. Pp. 160. 6s.THIS is a very useful vade mecum for a medical officer in

the field, dealing as it does with cases of disease and woundsprior to the entrance to the casualty clearing station. Similartext-books have been peculiarly conspicuous by theirabsence. The book emphasises the wide sphere of know-ledge required by a medical officer in a forward area,and in giving samples of the information needed the authorhas produced a useful volume. He has quite rightlydealt with minor ailments met with in the line and themethod of their treatment, and has not overburdened thereader with the more elaborate methods of dealing withwounds, the principles of treating which are much the samein every zone of activity. The book is a valuable additionto war literature.

A Treatise on Clinieccl Medicine. By WILLIAM HANNATHOMSON, M.D. Second edition. London and Phil-adelphia : W. B. Saunders Company. 1918. Pp. 678.24s. net.IN the second edition of this large work Dr. Thomson lays

particular stress on the application of different kinds of raysin the diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma and sarcoma.Another special feature is the classification of diseases adoptedby the author. Under the heading, I Infections Communic-able by Intermediate Carriera," are included (together withtyphoid and Asiatic cholera) pneumonia, tonsillitis, chorea,cerebro-spinal meningitis, beri-beri, and meat poisoning.This is the arrangement of a zealot or a prophet, and thereader is driven to the former assumption on finding scurvy,infantile scurvy, and cyanosis classed under Diseases of theBlood, I I hiccup " under Diseases of the Respiratory Appa-ratus, dysentery under Intestinal Disorders: And the

surprises could be indefinitely prolonged. The bookis designed with the object of "serving the physicianwhile he is actively engaged in the performanee of his pro-

fessional duties," but little space has been given to thepathology of the various conditions, without a sound know-ledge of which the’ significance of the important symptoms,upon which such stress is laid, cannot well be appreciated.Some trained observation and some original ideas are to befound in the book, but it is not one for the practisingphysician to read without discrimination.

-diabetes and its IJietetic Treatment. By B. D. BASU, Major,I.M.S. (retired). Ninth edition, revised and enlarged.Allahabad: The Panini Office, Bhuvaneshvari Ashram.1918. Pp. 104. Rs. 1.8.

’, A NEW edition of this little book has lately appeared, theninth since 1909. In it the author develops his view thatdiabetes is, in a large proportion of cases, caused byalimentary toxasmia produced by (1) errors in diet; (2) dis-ordered conditions of the digestive juices ; and (3) toxinsdischarged by the bacteria in the alimentary canal. Heregards the increase in the incidence of diabetes among thepeople of India as due to factors such as the increasedexport of wheat from India to the United Kingdom, and con-sequent dependence of the people of India on inferior foodgrains for their bread; the importation into India of potatoes;tea drinking; the nervous strain connected with modernlife, which is a well-known cause of disordered digestion.With regard to the last-named he writes suggestively :-

l "India is a country where, from time immemorial,people were accustomed to take their principal meal in themiddle of the day, after which they used to spend an hour

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or two in siesta, which allowed for the proper digestion offood. Under the altered conditions of their existence theydo not find time properly to chew and masticate theirfood, which they are obliged to bolt down as soon as theycan, to attend to the studies or business in the middle of theday."The Tribune (India) suggests in this connexion that " itmight be worth while to make a change, at least experi-mentally, in the office hours, restoring the time-honouredmid-day meals at leisure," stomach disorders being practi-cally unknown among people not used to modern officehours of business and hurried meals. Among the variousforms of treatment which the author has found useful arethe exclusion of meat from the dietary ; starvation and

pargatives; gastric lavage; banana flour ; unpolished rice,from which the water has not been strained; green vege-tables. One outstanding idea running through all themethods of treatment is the urgent need for foods rich invitamines.

_______________

Reports and Analytical RecordsFROM

THE LANCET LABORATORY.

ANIODOL.

(THE ANGLO-FRENCH DRUG Co, LTD.. GAMAGE BUILDING,HOLBORN, LONDON, Ni.C. 1.)

ANIODOL is stated to consist of a stable combination oftri-methanal with allyl sulphocyanide in a solution of

specially distilled glycerine. Much a compound, we find,is described in Thorpe’s " Dictionary of Applied Chemistry

"

as the subject of a French patent in use as an anti-septic. According to our examination aniodol is a clearcolourless fluid miscible with water in all proportions,which gives off a pungent gas on boiling. Tri-oxy-methylene(tri-methanal), as is well known, is a polymer of formal-dehyde, and exhibits powerful germicidal properties.Associated with allyl sulphocyanide these properties are

increased in aniodol. The liquid is a strong reducingagent, and the presence of the sulphur group was proved inour examination by the formation of black lead sulphide onheating aniodol with lead acetate and caustic soda. Its

gexmicidal efficiency, according to particulars furnished,is remarkable, varying with the organism tested, thecarbolic acid coefficient ranging from 25 as a maximumin the case of Baoillus typhosus to a minimum of1 in( the case of cholera vibrio. Aniodol may be used both

externally and internally, the dilution being non-toxic, whileorganic matter does not appear to impair its germicidalefficiency.. We have also examined aniodol powder, whichcontains the same antiseptic combination, starch, accordingto our findings, being used as an absorbent. It is practicallyodourless and is suggested as an efficient substitute for

iodoform and similar applications.

(1) DIGALEN; (2) OMNOPON; (3) SEDOBROL;(4) THIOCOL.

(THE HOFF’MANN-L6$OCHE CHEMICAL WORKS, LTD., BASLE;AND 7 AND 8. IDOL-LANE, LONDON, B.C.3.)

These preparations are well known, and were noticed inthese columns some years ago. Certain changes in formand advances have been made, however, which may brieflybe recorded in view of our examination of specimens recentlysubmitted to us.

(1) Digalen was prepared from digitalis with the view ofsecuring uniformity of pharmacological action of this mostimportant drug. It thus represents the active principle ofdigitalis with all inert matter completely removed. Digalenis supplied in the form of a sterile, colourless standardsolution of amorphous digitoxin upon which the therapeuticaction of digitalis depends. There are also available tabletsand ampoules containing standard amounts of this activeprinciple.

(2) Omnopon contains the soluble hydrochlorides of thetotal alkaloids of opium in the proportion present in thedrug itself, the principal alkaloid, morphia, occurring ineach dose to the extent of about 50 per cent. Apart fromits ordinary administration as an opium derivative free fromunpleasant after-effects, its employment in combined anses-thesia is well spoken of. Omnopon is also supplied withscopolamine, a combination approved by some anxsthetists.

(3) Sedobrol is the outcome of a novel suggestion tocombine a sedative with a nutrient. It occurs in tabletform containing sodium bromide, with chiefly soluble proteinsof vegetable origin and fat. It makes a palatable cup, withsaline taste, and may prove an acceptable means of

administering a sedative and nutrient to the patient under,of course, the guidance of the physician. It is, in short, abromide bouillon ; it is said to be useful in insomnia, andthis action may be expected.

(4) Thiocol is a soluble guaiacol derivative (potassium-guaiacol sulphonate) which has been employed in pulmonaryaffections and as an intestinal antiseptic. It is a non-toxicgermicide. The tablets submitted gave a characteristicreaction with perchloride of iron, a deep violet colourationresulting.(1) SOLUTION POT. IODIDE (SOUFFRON);

(2) STROPHANTHUS AND STROPHANTHINE(URISTALLLSEE).

(MODERN PIIA.RMACALS, 48, MORTIMER-srREET, LONDON, W. 1.)(1) Importance is attached to the employment of chemically

pure iodides in medicine, and this preparation is simply adistilled water solution of pure iodide of potassium, the saltoccurring, according to our analysis, to the extent of about7 per cent. ’IV/v. We found it to be entirely free from thecommon impurities of the iodide, while it proved stable.

(2) The use of strophanthus as a cardiac tonic has beendiscredited in some quarters, which, according to the Frenchchemist, M. Catillon, is due to the fact that the usualtinctures have shown considerable variations in regard to theamount of the active constituent, strophanthin, present. Thisdrawback has been overcome by the preparation of astandardised extract of strophanthus in granule form, eachcontaining 1 mg. of the extract with the diuretic principle.In addition, we have examined granules containing strophan-thin in crystalline form (1/10 mg.), the diuretic principle inthis case being excluded. French authorities and clinical

records are quoted showing the reliability of these pre-parations.

__

THE BELGIAN DOCTORS’ ANDPHARMACISTS’ RELIEF FUND.

THIS Fund was officially closed by the Executive Committeeat their meeting on Jan. 30th, the formal date of closurebeing Feb. 10th. Since the date of the meeting the followingsubscriptions have been received :-

2 s. d. , B s. d.

It will be seen that the Fund benefits by generous monthlysubsci iptions for January and February, and has alsoreceived from the South Australian Belgian Relief Fund,through the Agent-General for South Australia, a munifi-cent donation of .6500. In view of the terms ofthe letter published on Feb. 8th from Dr. V. Pech&egrave;rethe Fund was closed, but these handsome augmenta-tions are none the less extremely gratifying to theExecutive Committee who know full well in how manydirections the money can still be splendidly used. Dr.Pechere, as President of the Comit&eacute; National de Sec()urset d’Alimentation (Aide et Protection aux M&eacute;decins etPharmaciens Belges Sinistres), called our attention, whendeprecating the sending of further subscriptions, to the factthat his society had throughout practised the severest

economy in order to keep funds in reserve, inasmuch as gravenecessity would continue for some time. The Fund will stillbe able to do a little more to decrease the toll of misery.