236 REVIEWS AND NOTIOES OF BOOKS.-NEW INVENTIONS.

Professional Secrecy, by Dr. A. G. Bateman ; and Degenera-tion, its Causes and Prevention, with Reference to the

Proposed Sterilisation of Certain Degenerates, by Dr. R. R.Rentoul. Some of the above formed the basis of interestingdiscussions.

Methods in Plant Histology. By CHARLES J. CHAMBER-LAIN, A.M., Ph.D., Instructor in Botany in the Universityof Chicago. Second edition. London: T. Fisher Unwin ;Chicago: The University Press. 1906. Pp. 262. Price

10s. 6d. net.-The first edition of this book was published in1901 and embodied the results of a course of histologicaltechnique conducted by the author in the University ofChicago. Since that time laboratory methods in planthistology have been much improved and as a consequencethe present edition of the book will be found to containmore detailed information than its predecessor. It isdivided into two parts-the first dealing with the prin-ciples of the preparation of specimens such as section

cutting, staining, mounting, and so on ; while in the

second part these principles are applied to specificcases. This latter portion of the book will be found of

particular use to the beginner, for the types selected aresuch that he will not only find useful practice in the methodsof microscopic technique but will be able to form at thesame time a satisfactory collection of specimens for studyillustrating plant structure from algae to angiosperms. Thedirections for collecting and growing laboratory materialwill also be found helpful. Full details are given withregard to the somewhat tedious Venetian turpentine methodof mounting-a method, however, which has been practisedwith much success by the author and his students. Hestates that "the surprising beauty of successful prepara-tions will compensate for the large proportion of failureswhich are likely to occur." The book is well illustrated.The curriculum of the medical student takes up so muchof his time that he is not very likely to devote himself toa study of botany in its higher branches, but the book willat any rate prove useful for reference.

JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES.

The West London Medical Journal.-The July number ofthis journal contains the Cavendish lecture delivered by SirWilliam Macewen on Some Points of the Surgery of theLung in which the physiological doctrine that collapse ofthe lung takes place directly an opening of any kind is madein the pleura is combated and cases are quoted in whichthe lung remained in contact with the chest wall even afterextensive wounds. An instance is recorded in which surgicalinterference in a case of pulmonary tuberculosis practicallysaved a patient’s life- Under the heading of Proceedings ofthe Society is recorded an interesting discussion on influenza,dealing especially with the sequelse and the complications ofthe disease.

The Medical Olwoniole.-The June number of this journalis devoted mainly to the subject of syphilis. It opens witha paper by Dr. W. Hale White on the Clinical Aspects ofVisceral Syphilis, which is followed by one on the PresentTreatment of the Disease, chiefly from a military point of view,written byLieutenant-Colonel E. Butt, R.A.M.C. Continuousrather than interrupted administration of mercury is recom-mended, intramuscular injection being advised as the mostconvenient method, while local application of mercurial

preparations is deprecated. Dr. G. H. Lancashire writes of ’,tuberculous and syphilitic affections of the face. A brief note z’

by Dr. 1. Walker Hall and Dr. J. Randal Hutchinson pointsto the inefficacy of such drugs as ammonium hippurate,citarin, and thyminic acid in controlling the endogenous uricacid in gout.

The Bristol Medioo-Okirurgical Journal.-The June

number of this journal contains three articles of ggnaeco-

logical interest. Dr. E. W. Hey Groves writes on the

structures forming the pelvic floor and on the relation of painto pelvic displacements ; Mr. C. Hamilton Whiteford on

diagnosis and treatment of tubal pregnancy; and Dr. ElizaL. Walker Dunbar on the new theory and prophylaxis ofeclampsia. This last article is in commendation of thyroidextract as a prophylactic measure and as a remedy aftersymptoms have set in. Dr. 1. Walker Hall records somenew methods of clinical pathology, including modes ofexamining gastric contents, urine, and fsoces.

New Inventions.THE "RASTILON " AMBULANCE SPRING.

Messrs. J. and A. Carter of Great Portland-street, London,W., have fitted to some ambulances built for use in the service-of the Portuguese Government over rough roads in connexionwith a military expedition in West Africa, a specimen ofwhich is shown in the illustration, a new spring which theyhave invented and named the Rastilon." " The springs are-mounted in a circular box and connected with iron rods

carrying the stretcher. The circular box protects them in agreat measure from atmospheric influence and they are soconstructed as to adju,t themselves automatically to theweight which they may be carrying. Their resiliency is

very great whether that weight be 8 or 18 stones while at the

same time there is practically no oscillation. The ambu-lances are probably the largest that have yet been made.Each contains eight stretcher beds and there is ample pro-vision for attendants. The steam lorries which carry thebodies of the ambulances are of a particularly heavy make,weighing five tons each. The driving engines are of 45 horse-power. The lorries are made interchangeable with freight-carrying wagons for store haulage. Of course, the testingof springs on the floor of a workshop is a different thing fromtesting them in actual use but if they bear out the claimsthat are made for them by the inventors in the roughcountry of West Africa their adoption for ambulance work inour own and other countries will be very desirable.

237"CHRISTIAN SCIENCE" AND THE DEATH OF MAJOR WHYTE.

THE LANCET.

LONDON: SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1906.

"Christian Science" and the Deathof Major Whyte.

THE Attorney-General has ordered that a nolle prosequishould be entered in the case of Mr. GEORGE ROBERT

ADCOCK, formerly a medical practitioner and still uponthe Medical Register, who was recently put upon his trialfor manslaughter at the Old Bailey, with the result that the

jury disagreed as to his conduct. The course thus taken

will evidently commend itself to Mr. Justice BIGHAM whoconducted the lengthy trial referred to, for he intimated his

opinion upon the subject to counsel representing the prose-cution soon after the jury had failed to arrive at a verdict,and there is no reason to believe that his lordship’s esti-mate of the law and evidence was not in every way correct,

Mr. ADCOCK was tried not as a "Christian Scientist" "

who had assisted at the bamboozling of Major WHYTE, andwho, by holding out delusive hopes of restoration to

health by means of " Christian Science," had brought him toa lingering and a painful death ; he was charged with man-

slaughter on the ground that, standing to Major WHYTE inthe relation of medical attendant, he had failed to exercise i

care, attention, and proper skill towards him, in consequenceof which his patient had died. Had the jury been able toarrive unanimously at the conclusion that. the accused wascalled in and had acted as the deceased’s medical attendant

the second portion of the question propounded to themwould probably have afforded them little difficulty. That

point, however, is not under discussion; but the generalcircumstances of the case demand some notice from us

apart from the unsatisfactory legal result.We need not recite the circumstances which led up to

Major WHYTE falling into the hands of the " Christian

Scientists " or describe the "treatment" " meted out to him

by others besides Mr. ADCOCK. They are familiar to any ofour readers who may be interested in the case from the

reports of the inquest in the daily newspapers, and theyhave been briefly referred to in THE LANCET. It is enoughto say that the " treatment," so far as Mr. ADCOCK was

responsible for it, was such that, had he been acting in the

capacity of the patient’s medical attendant, he would havedeserved, and doubtless would have received, very severe

punishment. It seems, however, to be tolerably clear thatalthough there was evidence that those nearly related to

Major WHYTE knew the accused to have been a qualifiedpractitioner, and were basing hopes upon this, the patienthimself did not so regard Mr. ADCOCK and did not employhim as his medical attendant, but, on the contrary, wouldhave refused any treatment inconsistent with" Christian

Science." At all events there was sufficient doubt in th{

eye of the law as to the guilt of the accused to justifythe division of opinion in the jury which tried him, anca second trial upon the same facts was thus mad.

undesirable. The result of the case is not encouraging tothose who see with regret lives needlessly sacrificed, but atall events it makes the situation clearer. Mr. ADCOCK could

not be convicted and the other persons censured by thecoroner’s jury which found a verdict of manslaughter againsthim cannot be prosecuted. Captain BAYNSS, Mr. SMITH,Mrs. GRANT, and all those, from Mrs. EDDY downwards,who are morally responsible with them for such deaths

as that of Major WHYTE, are safe, so far as the criminal lawat present stands, from conviction for manslaughter. If,however, we are satisfied that the law has no power to

punish those who act as the accused acted and as those oflike thinking would act, it does not follow that we need regardthe law as satisfactory, however difficult its amendment maybe. If a medical man’s patient dies, and there is evidence

that he has been wrongly treated, the medical man may be

put upon his defence : he may be convicted and punished,or may be acquitted, according to the degree in which wantof skill and care on his part has contributed to the death.If a foolish or designing person, who has abandoned

Christianity and has avowed a disbelief in science, calls

himself a "Christian Scientist" he may pretend to heal

disease by a mumbo-jumbo the absurdity of which places it

beyond the reach of reason ; yet when his victim dies thelaw cannot touch the "healer" " or the propagandist who has

paved the way for him. If a needy and unscrupulouswoman rents rooms in the fashionable quarters of greatcities and cajoles other women more foolish than herself

out of a few sovereigns by the pretence of " telling theirfortunes," she may be fined ; if a wandering gipsy obtains

shillings from servant-maids by similar devices, the"fortune-teller " can be, and is, fined or imprisoned. But as the law

stands apparently the " Christian Science healer can cozenhis victim out of life itself by falsely pretending that hehas the power to cure disease, and can earn a living bydoing so with perfect safety-to himself.

Legislation to meet such a case presents grave diffi-

culties, and the question at once arises for practicalpersons as to whether such difficulties should be faced or

whether we should regard the loss of life which results

from Christian Science" as so trifling that it may be

treated as a negligible quantity. The deaths may not be verynumerous; "Christian Scientists " are not quite as whole-hearted fanatics as the members of the sect known as the

Peculiar People. " Christian Scientists " avoid the awkward

consequences which follow the manslaughter of a child

through the withholding of medical aid from one not oldenough to summon it; and we should probably hear moreoften of the absence of a medical certificate when adult

"Christian Scientists" die if they always unflinchinglycarried their professions into practice in the face of greatpain or of imminent danger to their lives. Nevertheless,instances of deaths with inquests, and sometimes with

abortive prosecutions following them, have been sufficiently, numerous during the past few years for the matter to be

worthy at least of serious consideration, and the case ofMajor WHYTE may be taken as illustrating the difficulties to1be encountered. He was a man in the prime of life, 44

years of age, an officer in the army who had earned the

distinguished Service Order, and who, unless we assume

t that the accident which had befallen him and the sufferingwhich had ensued had affected his mental capacity, might