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NEW BOOKS AND BOOK NOTICES.

All books received by the JOURNAL are deposited permanently in the Library of the Medical Society of the County of Kings.

ANNUAL OF THE UNIVERSAL MEDICAL SCIENCES.
Sajous, M. D., and seventy Associate Editors.
Publisher.

Edited by Charles E.
O. c. F. A. Davis,

The five volumes of this "Annual," which constitute the "Issue of 1890," are the most complete which have as yet been issued. One of the most noticeable improvements consists in the creation of departments on subjects heretofore considered under general heads. Syphilis, edited by Prof. White, of Philadelphia, appears as a special section; as does also Thoracic Surgery, under the editorship of Prof. Gaston, of Atlanta. These are but illustrations of a principle which has been adopted by the editor and which makes the "Annual" much more valuable as a book of reference. Editors and publisher are alike to be congratulated that they have succeeded in bringing the “Annual" to so high a state of perfection. A PRACTICAL TExt-Book of the DISEASES OF WOMEN. By Arthur H. N. Lewers, M.D. London. Second edition, with 146 illustrations. D. c. P Blakiston, Sons & Co., 1890.

In this little manual we find some things which are to be commended, as, for instance, the method which the author advises in the investigation of a case, with the exception of the manner in which he speaks of Sims's speculum. This instrument he regards as essential for operations on the vagin and cervix, but does not even mention its use in ordinary examinations; in fact, he declares that "Fergusson's is the one which will be found most generally useful." Nor does he adequately describe or figure “Sims's position," nor the manner of introducing Sims's speculum, although he advises the use of this speculum in dilatation of the cervix both with Hegar's dilators and with tents. In the description of the method of employing these dilators he advises putting the patient in the lithotomy position and thoroughly washing out the vagina with some antiseptic solution, then introducing Sims's speculum and seizing the anterior lip of the cervix with a volsella. The only other reference to the manner of introducing Sims's speculum is in the matter descriptive of Sims's retractor. This, he says, presses "forwards the anterior vaginal wall, while the speculum presses back the posterior vaginal wall and perinæum. An assistant at the same time should draw the patient's right buttock upwards." We should like to see the manipulations of one who, having read this entire chapter, should endeavor for the first time to introduce a Sims's speculum, his patient being placed in the lithotomy position, the retractor pressing forwards the anterior vaginal wall, the speculum pressing backwards the posterior vaginal wali and perinæum, and an assistant drawing the patient's right buttock upwards! It is true that the author does not say just this; but any one, reading his description as a whole, could draw no other inference than that this was the method of using Sims's speculum.

The author speaks of Apostoli's method of treating fibroids, in the following language: "That this treatment has failed to accomplish a great deal that was originally claimed for it by its introducer is certain. It is also certain that the treatment in question is attended with considerable danger; and, in short, it is

very doubtful whether it will ultimately find any place in legitimate practice." And this statement in face of all that has been done by Apostoli himself, and said by such authorities as Keith and Skene!

In the preface to this edition the author speaks of Tait's operation for rupture of the perinæum, in the following commendatory terms: "So far as my own experience of it goes, this operation, both as regards the mode of making the raw surface and the mode of passing the sutures, is a great improvement on the older methods." From such a statement as this one naturally expects that the author's experience has been considerable with this operation, and yet on page 114 he says: "I have only tried this operation in one case quite recently. I had read the description of it some years ago; it was, however, a description without figures, and I did not understand from it the exact modus operandi. The figures, which I only saw lately, make the description plain. The result in the case referred to was so very satisfactory that, so long as the operation is followed by similar results, I shall certainly prefer it to that described on pages 107-112." An opinion based on a single case cannot be expected to have much weight.

In its present form we should hardly advise the use of this manual as a textbook for students.

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Those who desire, in a concise form, the method of Lawson Tait for restoration of the perinæum will find it in this brochure of twenty-two pages. We regret to say, however, that the description is not as clear as might be; in fact, this operation has always labored under the disadvantage of having been, even by its author, imperfectly described.

MINERAL SPRINGS AND HEALTH Resorts of CALIFORNIA: with a Complete Chemical Analysis of every Important Mineral Water in the World. By Winslow Anderson, M.D. Q. c. The Bancroft Company, 1890.

An admirable book of reference: giving as it does analyses of so many mineral waters.

MASSAGE AND THE ORIGINAL SWEDISH MOVEMENT. By Kuwe W. Ostrom. Illustrated. S. c. P. Blakiston, Son & Co., 1890.

This little book describes the various movements employed in this system, The massage, etc., and their application to all parts of the body, in disease. author draws the following conclusions from his experience:

1. That the massage and movement treatments should be applied only by educated and properly trained persons, with due regard to the physician's directions.

2. That the operator (if not a medical doctor) should, as a rule, be of the same sex as the patient.

3. That there should be a place where skilful and trained operators could have an opportunity of passing an examination and of registering, thus protecting not only themselves and the profession, but the general public also.

RAILWAY SURGERY: A Practical Work on the Special Department of Railway Surgery, for Railway Surgeons and Practitioners in the By C. B. Stemen, A. M., M.D., LL.D. With numerous illustrations. O. c. J. H. Chambers & Co, 1890.

General Practice of Surgery.

This volume covers a great deal of ground, and would, we imagine, be of much value to the railway surgeon not only, but also to the general practitioner. The topics of special interest treated are: Transportation of injured railway men, temporary treatment in cases of railway injury, shock in railway injuries, hæmorrhage from railway injuries, color-blindness, railway concussion of the spine, and the method of taking care of the sick and injured on foreign railroads. We notice that the author favors ether as an anæsthetic, giving it as his opinion that it should be used in all cases, as being much safer and just as certain to produce complete anæsthesia as chloroform. The other topics discuss d are such as are found in

treatises on general surgery.

CORRESPONDENCE.

CENSUS OF HALLUCINATIONS.

To the Editors of the Brooklyn Medical Jurnal.

May I ask for the publicity of your pages to aid me in procuring co-operation in a scientific investigation for which I am responsible? I refer to the Census of Hallucinations, which was begun several years ago by the "Society for Psychical Research," and of which the International Congress of Experimental Psychology at Paris, last summer, assumed the future responsibility, naming a committee in each country to carry on the work.

The object of the inquiry is twofold: Ist. To get a mass of facts about hallucinations which may serve as a basis for a scientific study of these phenomena; 2d, to ascertain approximately the proportion of persons who have had such experiences. Until the average frequency of hallucinations in the community is known, it can never be decided whether the so-called "veridical" hallucinations (visions or other "warnings" of the death, etc., of people at a distance), which are so frequently reported, are accidental coincidences, or something more.

Some 8,000 or more persons in England, France and the United States have already returned answers to the question which heads the census sheets, and which runs as follows:

"Have you ever, when completely awake, had a vivid impression of seeing or being touched by a living being or inanimate object, or of hearing a voice; which impression, so far as you could discover, was not due to any external physical cause?"

The "Congress" hopes that at its next meeting, in England in 1892, as many as 50,000 answers may have been collected. It is obvious that for the purely statistical inquiry, the answer "No" is as important as the answer "Yes."

I have been appointed to superintend the census in America, and I most earnestly bespeak the co-operation of any among your readers who may be actively interested in the subject. It is clear that very many volunteer canvassers will be needed to secure success. Each census blank contains instructions to the collector, and places for twenty-five names; and special blanks for the "Yes" cases are furnished in addition. I shall be most happy to supply these blanks to any one who will be good enough to make application for them to (Professor) WM. JAMES, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Yours truly,

A POSITIVE ELECTRODE.

BROOKLYN, Sept. 16, 1890.

To the Editor of the Brooklyn Medical Journal. .

Permit me through the columns of your journal to recommend to gynecologists the use of a warm poultice in place of the large clay conductor heretofore used in the application of electricity by the "Apostoli method."

All who have had occasion to prepare and apply the latter have realized that it requires time and care to keep it in order; that it is cold and uncomfortable to the patient, and more or less uncleanly.

I began the use of an indian-meal poultice in place of it several months ago, and find its preparation simple, its application very comfortable to the patient; it is an excellent conductor of electricity, moreover it is cleanly.

My mode of application is this: I have in readiness always a number of "butter cloth" poultice bags, made as wide as my metallic plates for abdominal use, and twice as long.

Before consulting hours begin, my attendant prepares a quantity of rather thick indian-meal mush, and keeps it warm for use. A sufficient amount of this to make a layer an inch thick is placed in a bag of suitable size, and pressed evenly over the metal plate. A layer of "spongio-piline" is placed over the patient's abdomen, under which the electrode can be slipped with ease. A sand-bag the same size is applied over both. By this method I have been able to do all that can be done with a clay electrode, and the comfort which is experienced by the patient alone would make it a better appliance.

181 Joralemon St., Brooklyn.

ELIZA M. MOSHER, M. D.

UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

LAW AND MEDICAL STUDENTS' EXAMINATION, 1890.

GEOGRAPHY-TIME, ONE AND ONE-HALF HOURS, ONLY-56 CREDITS; NECESSARY TO PASS, 42.

1. How many miles are there in a the latitude of a place on the equator? of the torrid zone? ....

degree of latitude? What is What is the width in degrees

2. Why is the capital of a State so called?....

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3. What is the gulf stream? What is its general direction? How does it affect the climate of adjacent places?......

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4. Which is the largest State in the Union? Which is the most thickly populated?....

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5. Name the States and territories that border on Mexico?..... 6. Name two large cities on the Mississippi River near the head of navigation......

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7. What is the capital of Ohio? Give the name and location of its metropolis...... .. 3

8. What are the two great mountain systems of North America? Give the general direction of each ..

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Into the Gulf

9. Name a large river of North America that flows into the Arctic Ocean. Into Behring Sea. Into the Pacific Ocean. of Mexico. Into the Gulf of St. Lawrence...

10. Name the three principal rivers of South America....

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3.

11. Which empire of the world is largest in area? Which has the greatest population ..

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12. To what natural division of land does Florida belong? Ireland? Sahara?..

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13. Where is the Cape of Good Hope? Cape Horn?.. 14. Name three islands in the Mediterranean Sea.... 15. What countries form the Scandinavian peninsula? 16. Give the location of Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester, Lyons, Brussels; and tell for what industry each is noted. . . . . .

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17. Where are the Sandwich Islands? Where is the island of St. Helena?

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18. What is the form of Government in France? In Spain?.. 2 AMERICAN HISTORY-TIME, TWO AND ONE-HALF HOURS, ONLY 44 CREDITS; NECESSARY TO PASS, 33.

1. Name two noted French discoverers and the region discovered by each.....

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