mark a crisis in his career, and all that prevention can suggest is made available. We have known more than one applicant to remark that it was worth more than the expense incurred, to know his condition of health.

To the beneficent advantages of life insurance can well be added occasional prophylaxis of great value.

WOOD'S CLINICAL AND SURGICAL MONOGRAPHS.-The series for 1890 contains a great deal of valuable material for present use of future reference. The January number contains, "Neuralgia," by Gowers; "Prognosis of Disenses of the Heart," by Leyden; "The Sputum," by Kaatzer; "Hypnotism," by Forel; "Nasal Obstruction," by McDonald. The February number: "Action of Uric Acid in the Causation of Disease," by A. Haigh, M.D.; "Initial Stages of Consumption, their Nature and Treatment," by Horace Dobell, M.D.; "Ectopic Pregnancy and Pelvic Hæmatocele," by Lawson Tait, M.D.. The March number: "Treatment of Cancer by Electricity," by Dr. Inglis Parsons; "The Dreadful Revival of Leprosy," by Sir Morell Mackenzie, M.D.; "Diseases of Old Age," by Dr. A. Seidel; "Urinary Neuroses of Childhood," by Dr. Guinon; "Varicose Views of the Lower Extremities," by William H. Bennett; "Uses of Electrolysis in Surgery," by W. E. Stevenson, M.D. Many of these contributions are important, and if neglected may lose to the reader who is conscientiously trying to "keep up" with the current of scientific literature some of the most essential utterances of the day. Such a paper as Dr. Haig's on the "Action of Uric Acid in the Causation of Disease," is a physiological and pathological statement which covers the most recent knowledge on this important topic. The observation that lithia, although very soluble in the form of water of lithia, does not promote, but retards, the excretion of uric acid, the reason being that, given internally, it forms a nearly insoluble triple phosphate with phosphate of soda, or with the triple phosphates of ammonia and soda, salts generally present in animal fluids. In fact, lithia, by uniting with the phosphate of soda of the blood to form an insoluble compound, it derives the blood of this well-known solvent of uric acid. Sir Morell Mackenzie's warning against the spread of leprosy should be circulated the world over, notwithstanding its tartness in reviewing the action of the Royal College of Physicians in their attempt to investigate the disease. It is time to speak out about leprosy, and agitation should be kept up until the disease is exterminated by confining all lepers in colonies. The folly of discussing the contagiousness of a disease that is increasing in every direction where there was the weakest focus !

REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES.

THE NATIONAL MEDICAL DICTIONARY, Including English, French, German, Italian and Latin Technical Terms Used in Medicine and the Collateral Sciences, and a Series of Tables Useful Data. By John S. Billings, A.M., M.D., LL.D., Edin. and Harvard; D. C. L. Oxon, etc., etc., etc., with Collaboration of W. O. Atwater, M.D., Frank Baker, M.D., S. M. Burnett, M.D., W. T. Councilman, M.D., James M. Flint, M.D., J. A. Kidder, M.D., Wm. Lee, M.D., R. Lorini, M.D., Washington Matthews, M.D., C. S. Minot, M.D., H. C. Yarrow, M.D. In two volumes-Vol. I. A to J, Vol. II. K to Z. Philadelphia: Lea Brothers & Co.,

1890.

This work since it has been announced has been almost impatiently expected by students all over the country. The wide fame. of the author, his abundant facilities for linguistic research, a learned profession to draw upon for special investigation, gave assurance that the completed volumes would afford a practical dictionary for the daily needs of the profession. In the quality of the book there is no disappointment, but rather we have a work which affords what it formerly took many volumes to give us. A student could not find in any one dictionary the multitude of new terms, especially those from the German and French, occurring in current literature, and his table had to be lumbered with foreign dictionaries in two or three languages, one for German medical terms, so making his working outfit ponderous and laborious. It has been many years since Dunglison's Dictionary appeared, and the subsequent editions have done very little towards meeting the requirements of the present wants of the profession, but as Dunglison's great work made an era in medical study, as a substitute for Quincy and Motherby, so does "The National Dictionary" mark an era in American medicine.

The typographical excellence of these volumes is a marked feature, and although the large print has swelled it into two volumes, had it been compressed into one the book would have become burdensome.

The author-in-chief asks his readers for errors and omissions, but

we doubt if any eye will be quicker to catch them than his, and that subsequent editions will make up whatever it lacks now of correctness and completeness. We rather think, though, whatever of revision will be made will be in the elision of obsolete or useless words.

One now can hardly go into his library without being reminded of the author who has furnished Index Catalogue, Index Medicus, and now a ponderous dictionary, monuments, any one of which would be more enduring than any score of authors has erected for themselves in a life-time.

MANUAL OF SKIN DISEASES, with Special Reference to Diagnosis and Treatment, for the Use of Students and General Practitioners. By W. A. Hardaway, M.D., St. Louis. Theo. F. Lange, 1890. [Price $3.00.]

This small volume of 434 pages is most conveniently planned. The first part gives us a section on symptomatology, the causes of skin diseases, diagnosis, including a very convenient help to diag nosis in the local distribution of skin diseases, a section on treatment, one on classification. This classification is based upon that of Hebra modified by the classification of the American Dermatological Association. The last section gives statistical tables of the skin diseases as occurring in the West excluding the exanthemata. The second part of the volume is devoted to the description and treatment of diseases of the skin, arranged alphabetically.

The volume concludes with an appendix of additional formulæ and a good index. The author is a dermatologist of acknowledged ability, and his experience in teaching has enabled him to present a work suited to the necessities of students and practitioners. Its arrangement for ready reference, its copious and good formulæ, its terse diagnostic descriptions, all make it a practical and serviceable

manual.

PRACTICAL ELECTRICITY IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY. By G. A. Liebig, Jr., Ph.D., and George H. Rohé, M.D. Philadelphia : F. A. Davis, 1890.

Our authors have given the profession a well-considered treatise on electricity, in which the elementary principles are elaborated predominantly, but perhaps not to a greater extent than the profes

sion needs. The volume is divided into three parts, the first part dealing with electricity and magnetism only, the second with electro-physiology and electro-diagnosis, and the third with the applications of electricity and magnetism to medical and surgical practice. Apparatus is fully described, the illustrations are, many of them, at least, the old standards, and good, and the book well printed. It seems now that we have good books enough, what we lack is apparatus which is so durable, easy to manage, easy to replenish, that the general practitioner can test the therapeutic values alleged by writers. Many of them repeat problems and principles which others deny as strenuously, so that it must be settled by the clearheaded general practitioner-that class in our profession to whose honesty and ability for practical investigation the vast majority of therapeutical means have been established or rejected. Electric mechanism is approaching the desired condition, but is too costly at this stage. In the meantime, we must survey the field diligently by the aid of such books as this.

THE MEDICAL ANNUAL AND PRACTITIONER'S INDEX: A Work of Reference for Medical Practitioners. 1890. New York : E. B. Treat & Cempany, 5 & 13 Cooper Union. [Price $2.75.] The profession need not get tired of medical annuals, and all the other condensed records of new remedies, new appliances, new notions, for it pays the publishers, and as long as it does they will keep their presses at work.

The thirty-six contributors to this volume are mostly Englishmen. More care in the selection of material has been shown than in the volume of 1889. Much old ground is gone over, but this seems to be necessary to give the needed connection. We find much that is good, much that needs the application of sound judgment, and some that is "stale, flat and unprofitable." But the best editors can only give us the summary, and this they have done, adding a section on La grippe. The ready reference arrangement of this little volume is admirable. The first gives us the new remedies, the second new treatment, both given alphabetically, one by the drug, the other by the name of the disease. Friends who have used this volume speak in higher terms than we have formerly estimated it, and their opinion is rather to be taken than that of the reviewer who has not made it a working implement.

PRACTICAL SANITARY AND ECONOMIC COOKING ADAPTED TO PERSONS OF MODERATE AND SMALL MEANS. By Mrs. Mary Herman American Public Health Association, 1890.

Abel.

This is a prize essay, for which Mr. Henry Lomb, of Rochester, N. Y., gave as a prize $500. An examination of the volume convinces us that the award made by the committee was just. We unite with Dr. Irving A. Watson in his wish "that this essay may be placed in the hands of every family in the country." We believe that an examination of its contents by house-keepers will sustain the assertion that it is so far without a rival for practical simplicity and economy.

PRACTICAL ELECTRICITY IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY. By G. W. Overall. Memphis Printing Company. 1890. [Price $1.00.] This monagraph of 130 pages is a practical essay on Electricity, divided into electro-Physics, electro-Physiology, electro-Therapy, electro-Surgery, and a concluding chapter on the care of batteries. With the gnawing interest this subject is attracting, the number of books and essays multiply. This essay has the advantage of giving, in cheap form and small compass, much of the sort of information on electricity in general that would satisfy general enquiry. It does not impress us as being the complete treatise one would desire who wanted to go deeply into the subject.

THE YEAR-BOOK OF TREATMENT FOR 1890.

Messrs. Lea Brothers & Co., publish this year a continuation of this popular series. It consists of a well-digested abstract of the best authenticated therapeutical means and methods, all from the pens of British writers. There is not to be found in so small a volume more that is worth preserving, and we commend it as one of the most useful of the resumés.

"LA MONA," the so-called new disease in Italy, having fatal somnolence as a characteristic, as alleged, when traced to its source officially, turns out to be a disease of newspaper making, the New York Herald having been the officious organ.