REVIEWS 539 



Dr. Lane-Claypon has gone into the subject with her well-known care, with 

 the result that in one volume there is comprised not only the results of her own 

 investigations, but those of a very large number of British and foreign workers. 

 The facts are stated clearly and succinctly, and are presented in an interesting and 

 a readable manner. 



Variations in general composition of milk, and their causes, whether of breed 

 of cow, influence of diet, period of milking, and so forth, the writer deals with fully. 

 Reasons are assigned for practical and important conclusions arrived at : on the 

 question of lactation in the human subject, there is no necessity to wean an infant 

 should pregnancy supervene, unless the health of the mother requires it ; the 

 practice in regard to farming is almost universal in allowing cows to become 

 pregnant within a few weeks or months of parturition. In ordinary lactation, 

 feeding a baby every two hours by day, and every four hours by night, is too 

 frequent— the infant is not hungry, consequently the gland is not emptied and the 

 due allowance of fat is not received. 



The so-called " biological properties " of milk form the subject of several 

 important chapters which are deserving of careful study, that relating to the 

 substances concerned in the production of immunity being especially interesting. 

 Our knowledge upon the transference of immunity by suckling demonstrates the 

 immense value to the young of the colostrum of the mother, and emphasises the 

 need for breast feeding ; the artificially fed infant, although it does not die, and 

 may even show no outwardly detrimental effects from early artificial feeding, leads 

 a much more precarious existence than its fellow who has received its natural food 

 after birth ; the difference in progress made by infants fed at the breast, as com- 

 pared with those fed in other ways, is obviously to the advantage of the breast-fed 

 infants. 



No one doubts the advantages of breast feeding, where it can be carried out, 

 but in instances in which mothers are unable to suckle the infants there is no 

 question that cow's milk, so altered as to most closely resemble human milk, is the 

 best alternative. Dr. Lane-Claypon's previous investigations into the relative 

 nutritive value of " raw " and " boiled " cow's milk adapted for the food of infants 

 are well known. Many authorities are quoted upon the subject. 



It is, perhaps, to be regretted that owing to the paucity of published material, 

 the author has not been able to quote more fully the results of the use of humanised 

 sterilised milk in this country, as well as of its use abroad. Many towns have now 

 had a prolonged experience of the use of this food, and its value is beyond all 

 question. Dried milk is also having a wide use, and its value is of considerable 

 importance, provided that sufficient intelligence is applied in preparing it for the 

 infant's use. The electrical sterilisation of milk is fully described. 



The text is well illustrated by plates, and the volume contains much valuable 

 information which will pave the way to further advance in this country. 



E. W. HOPE. 



Medical and Veterinary Entomology : a Text- Book for use in Schools and 



Colleges as well as a Handbook for the use of Physicians, Veterinarians, 



and Public Health Officials. By William B. Herms. [Pp. xii + 393, 



with 228 text-figures.] (New York : The Macmillan Company, 191 5. Cash 



price in Great Britain, 17s. net.) 



ALTHOUGH many works relating to medical entomology have been published 



during recent years, there exist but few text-books on the subject. Prof. Herms' 



volume, while dealing more intimately with the American fauna, yet provides a 



