September 9, 1920] 



NATURE 



43 



notification of malaria became compulsory in this 

 country, no fewer than 14,000 demobilised soldiers 

 were, up to November, 1919, notified as suffering 

 from relapses. These figures alone show the im- 

 portance of the subject at home, while it is no less 

 so abroad, for it is well known that malaria has 

 become even more prevalent abroad than it was 

 when Sir Ronald Ross made his epoch-making 

 discovery as to the r6le of the mosquito in the 

 ? spread of the disease, and wrote his classical work 

 on its prevention. 



Col. James has had a large experience of 

 malaria in its endemic and epidemic forms, and 

 he evidently possesses the gift of being able to 

 impart his knowledge in an interesting way. 



Lucidity and the maintenance of interest are 

 essential in a book of this kind, for otherwise 

 the many facts and details set forth in connection 

 with the causation, spread, clinical features, 

 pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention 

 of the disease would appeal only to a few special- 

 ists, whereas we hope this book will be read by 

 every medical man and by our administrators in 

 Topical countries. The volume is divided into ten 

 vhapters. The first is devoted to the life-history 

 of the parasite and to the mode of spread of the 

 disease ; the second to the factors concerned in 

 the spread of malaria. The next two chapters 

 I deal with the practical work necessary for inquiry 

 into malaria, followed by chapters on a malarial 

 survey in Kngland and the tropics, and epidemio- 

 logical observations in each. The remaining four 

 chapters give an account of the symptoms, patho- 

 logy, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and 

 • radication of malaria. 



The illustrations number 104. They are a 



feature of the book, and very helpful to the 



lader, leaving less to the imagination than many 



1 1 her monographs. For instance, the photographs 



depicting the rot-holes in trees; roof gutters with 



blind ends where water lodges; cut bamboos and 



I common water plant are likely to give a truer 



:iid more lasting impression regarding the nature 



pf certain breeding places of larva; than any long 



description. 



When giving an account of the clinical onset, 



ourse, and termination in ordinary cases of 



malaria. Col. James very properly points out that 



'he primary illness does not always commence 



vith very characteristic symptoms and signs, and 



le remarks that an atypical onset has been ob- 



irved so frequently in primary cases of malaria 



ontracted during the war that it is advisable to 



-oep in mind the possibility of malaria as regards 



ilmost every illness in which, after proper clinical 



lamination, some doubt as to the diagnosis re- 



■n.-iins. This requires to be borne in mind in view 



NO. 2654, VOL. 106] 



of the frequency with which soldiers who have 

 served in the war have not suffered from their 

 first attack of malaria until after their return home. 

 This warning is repeated when describing the 

 pernicious symptoms which may appear in in- 

 fections with the malignant tertian parasite, and 

 more rarely with either of the other two species 

 of parasites. In such cases there may be in a 

 patient who is obviously very ill an almost com- 

 plete absence of what are known to be the usual 

 clinical signs of malaria, and unless the blood 

 is examined the malarial attack may be mistaken 

 for sunstroke, alcoholism, acute heart failure, 

 dysentery, cholera, appendicitis, etc. It is because 

 of the protean character of this disease that Sir 

 Patrick Manson, to whom this valuable book is 

 dedicated, states in the preface that "no man 

 has a right to practise in malarial countries or 

 as a consultant in this country who cannot use his 

 microscope in the diagnosis of malaria and other 

 blood parasites." 



The Oil Industry. 



Animal and Vegetable Oils, Fats, and Waxes: 

 Their Manufacture, Refining, and Analysis, in- 

 cluding the Manufacture of Candles, Margarine, 

 and Butter. A Practical Treatise. By Dr. 

 Geoffrey Martin. (Manuals of Chemical Tech- 

 nology, ix.) Pp. x-)-2i8. (London: Crosby 

 Lockwood and Son, 1920.) Price 12s. 6d. net. 



SINCE the death of Dr. Lewkowitsch there 

 have appeared quite a number of books on 

 the oil industry, mainly based on his work. The 

 present volume shows the advances made, inas- 

 much as more attention is devoted to recent in- 

 dustrial developments. Dr. Martin has produced 

 a very valuable compilation of recent patents and 

 improvements, which is well worth the perusal of 

 anyone interested in the oil industry. Excellent 

 chapters on the extraction (including that from 

 waste products), refining, and hydrogenation of 

 oils and fats, and on the candle industry, are given 

 with profuse illustrations. Perhaps too much 

 stress is laid on the volatile solvent process for 

 the extraction of seed oils. Up to a few years 

 ago oils extracted by this process were rarely to 

 be found on the market, due no doubt to the 

 difficulty found in the filtration of the extracted 

 oils. 



Coming to the general and analytical sections of 

 the work, we do not find these entirely up to date. 

 The portions dealing with linseed oil (oxidised 

 and polymerised) and with the action of driers 

 take no note of the recent work of Morrell, Ingle 

 (J.S.C.I., 1911 and 1913). and Mackcy (J. S.C.I. , 

 1916 and 1917). Lender linoleum the .tuthor states 



