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most unconvincing necromancer. Bulwer Lytton’s Arbacesis worth twenty Raaths and Meinhold’s incomparable Sidoniais superior to both. Mr. Forbes has descriptive power and Ithe account of the battle in Chapter XX. is very good. I

JOURNALS.

Annales de Gynecologie et d’ Obstétrique. August-September. Paris: G. Steinheil. 1899. Price 8 francs.-This double number contains some of the more importantreports and papers read before the Amsterdam Congress ofGynmcology and of Obstetrics. Professor Pinard presented areport upon the Indications for Cassarean Section comparedwith the Indications for the Operations of Symphysiotomy,Craniotomy, and the Induction of Premature Labour. His con-clusions are as follows : In the treatment of contracted pelvesand the induction of premature labour, all operations suchas the application of forceps or version, implying the extrac-tion of the foetal head by force against the bony resistanceof the pelvis, whether the bony resistance situated at the

brim, in the cavity, or at the outlet, and embryotomy uponthe living child, should be given up. His view is that

in such cases the treatment should consist of momentaryenlargement of the pelvis by symphysiotomy, pubiotomy,ischio-pubiotomy or coccygotomy, conservative Csesareansection or partial or total hysterectomy, and embryotomyupon the dead child. Further details are given of the casesof symphysiotomy at the Clinique Baudelocque from 1897 to1899, bringing the total number up to 100 with 12 maternaldeaths. Professor Lebedeff and Dr. P. Bartoszewicz pre-sented a report upon the Variability of the Pelvic Measurementsin Different Attitudes of the Body. Professor Porak read a

paper upon Omphalotripsy, advocating the application of

pressure forceps applied for from 10 to 15 minutes as a certainand sufficient means of arresting haemorrhage from thecord. Professor Baldy’s paper upon the Surgical Treat-ment of Fibroids of the Uterus and Professor Hartmann’s

paper upon the Relative Value of Antiseptics and ofPerfection of Technique in the Actual Results of Opera-tive Gynaecology are given in full. The rest of the

number, consisting of some 370 pages, is of greatinterest and value, containing as it does the pro-

ceedings and full reports of the discussions and papersread at the Congress. The editors are to be congratulatedupon presenting so full an account of the proceedings of theCongress to such of their readers as will not have access tothe complete Transactions.

THE TYPHOID FEVER EPIDEMIC AT TRING.-A site at Tring has been given by Lord Rothschild for anisolation hospital which the urban district council hasresolved to erect, at a cost of f,2500, in consequence of theoutbreak of typhoid fever in the district.

THE PFAUDLER VACUUM SYSTEM OF FERMENTA-TION.-The application of this system to the production oflager beer on a very large scale has recently been commencedat the brewery of Messrs. Allsopp at Burton-on-Trent. Wehope shortly to return to this subject, inasmuch as thedeparture is quite new in regard to the English brewingindustry and has an important bearing upon the beve-rage of the people. We have often confessed surprisethat English brewers did not pay attention to thebrewing of lighter - beers like those consumed on theContinent. We are confirmed in our opinion by the

important step which Messrs. Allsopp have recently takenthat there is a growing demand for a lighter. beverage. Ina future number we propose to publish an account of themachinery at Burton which was inspected last Wednesday bya very large company of visitors from London. At the sametime we think that it will be instructive to our readers if we

print the result of a series of analyses, which will be under-taken in THE LANCET laboratory, dealing with the com-position of the new English lager beer. -

New Inventions.IMPROVED OVUM FORCEPS.

THE Ovum Forceps depicted in the accompanying illustra-tion has been made for me by Messrs. Allen and Hanburys,48, Wigmore-street, W. I think it meets a felt want. The

ordinary ovum forceps is well known, having a pair ofblades which meet at a point at the end, the only place at.which they are in contact, and the theory of its actionseems to be that the egg-shaped ovum will fall into the ovalaperture of the blades and, lying there, be easily extracted.In fact, as all practitioners know, it does nothing of the

,SV1 U. VLöU fjjjultgil iiii V Y fAlL1 1;,0-

torn in the act of extracting it andtorn in the act of extracting it andthen a portion being left and beingbesides attached to the uterus, can-not be removed by the ordinaryovum forceps which grasps it onlyby the extreme tips of the blades.Finding this difficulty in many ofthe cases in which I was asked tcassist practitioners I first got theordinary ovum forceps flattenedout, so that the blades should be incontact all the way along and not’

merely at their tips. The serrationat the blades gave a rather bettergrip and a little more power of ex-traction was gained. Still, however,too often the blades slipped over a.portion of the attached placenta, andother means had to be used to ex-tract it. Curetting is objectionablerin many of these cases because itinjures the delicate mucosa. So Isuggested the instrument shown, a.

kind of evolution of the ordinaryovum forceps and a considerable im-provement on it. The edges ofthe blades, whose general curve andshape have been retained, as theyrequired no improvement, have=been bevelled, so as to avoid injuryto the uterine mucosa. After theirintroduction the blades are openedand moved in the direction of theoattached placental tissue which canoften be just touched but cannot beextracted by the tip of the index ormiddle finger. When the bladesare opened the placenta or ovum’can be grasped between them andthen the projected teeth, projecting

on the other, each fitting into the openings on the

opposite side when the blades are closed, grip theovum or placenta and extract it. I have found thisinstrument serve me well on several occasions. Practi-tioners are usually struck by its adaptability to the,intended purpose, and more than once have I heard it saidthat it was the " very thing." Messrs. Allen and Hanburyshave suggested and carried out the further improvement ofan aseptic joint which allows of thorough cleansing of theblades each one separately after use. It is, of course, usedwith strict aseptic and antiseptic arrangements. By its useI have often been able to obviate the necessity of widely andforcibly dilating the os and cervix, which it is better toavoid when Dossibln in the management of these cases.

A. RABAGLIATI, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.S. Edin.,Honorary Gynæcologist, Bradford Royal Infirmary,

I Bradford, Yorks. -

THE DUNKLEY (GAS) MOTOR CAR.THE motor car represented in the accompanying illus-

tration is intended for two adults, as a phaeton, or for twochildren and a governess, or for one adult. It is driven by aDunkley gas motor, which is constructed either so as to I)ecapable of taking in gas from any ordinary gas-pipe, with agas-bag attached, or to work with gas that is generated as

1105

required while the car travels along. The spted of the car 1::1from two miles to 20 miles per hour; it measures 5 feet long,.4 feet 6 inches high, and 2 feet 8 inches wide, so that it can gothrough any ordinary doorray and stand in any ordinaryroom. It weighs about four and a half hundredweight, hastwo brakes, can be stopped instantly, and will turn in the

marrowest streets. It is claimed for it that it is easily’controlled by a youth or a lady ; is entirely free fromsmell, vibration, and noise ; and is guaranteed to be fire-

iproof. The price is L55 net. The patentee and manu-facturer is Mr. W. H. Dunkley, of Dunkley House, Houns-,ditch, E.C., and 61, Jamaica-row, Birmingham. Our readerswill recollect that THE LANCET of Oct. 14th (p. 1027) con-tained an annotation on the expenses of a medical man’s*motor car.

A URINE TEST CASE (MARTINDALE).To perform with appreciable accuracy the determination

’of glucose, urea, and albumin in, and the specific gravity of,urine with a set of apparatus contained in smaller compassthan is provided in this outfit is, we should imagine, hardlypossible. The test case when closed measures six inches

by two and a half inches by four inches. When open, as-shown in the accompanying illustration, it serves as a

test-tube rack, and attached to the lid is a convenient table

showing at once the percentage of the constituents soughtin accordance with the readings of the graduated instru-ments. The case contains an albuminometer (Esbach’s), graduated tube for glucose determination, a ureameter forthe determination of urea, a urinometer for reading off specific.gravity, spirit lamp, test tubes, test-tube brush, four stoppered bottles of reagents with patent rubber stopper bands,funnel, graduated pipette, litmus papers, filter papers, cloth,calculation tables, and a little book of instructions andcharts. We have carefully tested the apparatus, using- entirely the materials provided in the case, with standardsolutions prepared in THE LANCET Laboratory, with the fol-lowing results: a 1 per cent. solution of glucose recordedby Martindale’s test case 1-10 per cent. ; a 1-7 per cent. solu-tion of urea recorded 1’40 per cent. ; a solution of specificgravity 1030 showed by the urinometer provided in this casea specific gravity of 1029’5. The tables were used in arrivingat these results and the instructions generally followed. The

test case, therefore, may be relied upon to give an account forcliBioal purposes sufficiently accurate to be a guide to thepractitioner. The advantage of an apparafus which is so

compact and yet which enables a rapid and fairly accurate

analysis of urine being made at the bedside will be verygenerally appreciated. This mahogany test case cabinet hasbeen designed by Mr. W. Martindale of 10, New Cavendish-

street, Portland-place, London, W.

AN IMPROVED X RAY TUBE.

MESSRS. HARRY W. Cox, Limited, electrical engineers, of10, 11, and 28, Cursitor-street, Chancery-lane, W.C., haverecently introduced an important modification in the con-struction of the vacuum tube which enables the tube to be

used more satisfactorily with the Wehnelt interrupter. Asis well known it has been

found difficult hitherto to

employ a tube which wouldstand the enormous energy ofthe current so derived. Theanode terminal becomes over-heated till, in fact, it getsabove red heat. Under theseconditions it is not possible torun the current for any lengthof time. The tube shown inthe accompanying illustrationhas a cone-shaped metal anodewhich is hollow. Into thesmall glass bulb at the topof the anode is poured a littlecold water which fills thehollow cone-shaped anode, sothat during the passage ofthe current the water pre-vents the anode from melting,and a much stronger currentcan be used without over-

heating the anode. Aftersome time the anode gets hotenough to boil the water.The advantage thus gainedis very marked. The raysimpinging on the fluorescentscreen are steadier and givea maximum degree of illu-

mination, and the shadowsobtained are remarkably sharpand well defined-indeed, we

-

uctve not seen better rcauma,

the tube being specially adapted for the exploration of

deep cavities. It shows perfectly well the shadow ofthe heart and the movements of respiration, and givesthe best result yet attained towards arriving at a

diagnosis by means of the x rays. The tube is some-

what expensive, but this is a small consideration whereaccurate deductions are desirable. With this tube thereis no difficulty in working with the Wehnelt interrupter, andMessrs. Cox supply x ray apparatus which is specially madeto work with this ingenious and simple electrolyticbreak.