June 13, 1918] 



NATURE 



283 



Landingf-stages " contains some excellent notes 

 md illustrations of the more modern methods of 

 onstruction of these structures. River quays and 

 \ harves are well described, and the-Liverpool float- 

 ing- landing-stage is discussed and well illustrated. 

 The various tables in the book will prove of 

 i^reat value to the maritime engineer, especially 

 those indicating (on pp. 66 and 67) the tidal rises 

 at certain harbours. The specification for cement 

 and concrete (on pp. 149-59) 's also most useful, 

 and some of the larger plates give a great deal 

 of detail as to the planning of harbours. Fig. 36a, 

 which is a plan of the Aberdeen Harbour, is excfep- 

 tionally good. The illustrations generally are 

 excellent; it is seldom that one meets with a 

 technical work so well illustrated. 



The second edition of this standard work should 

 certainly find a place on the shelves of the library 

 of every maritime engineer; as a book of refer- 

 ence it is second to none. E. R. M. 



RADIO-THERAPY . 



Radiography and Radio-therapeutics. By Dr. R. 



Knox. Second edition. Part ii., Radio-thera- 



p.eiitics. Pp. x + 387-606. (London: A. and 



C. Black, Ltd., 1918.) Price 155. net. 

 *T^HE second edition of Dr. Knox's work, 

 ^ "Radiography and Radio-therapeutics," is 

 -completed by the appearance of part ii., "Radio- 

 therapeutics." Part ii. leaves on the mind of 

 the reader very much the same general impression 

 as that of part i., namely, that of an excellent 

 production. A perusal of the book shows an ever- 

 widening range of utility of X-rays and radium 

 in the treatment and alleviation of disease. They 

 are agents which, under expert guidance, are 

 beneficial in the treatment, not only of superficial 

 ailments such as intractable skin diseases, but also 

 of deep-seated conditions; and of these the treat- 

 ment of internal growths, benign and malignant, 

 claims much of the author's attention. 



Apart from the above-mentioned applications 

 there is evidently a place for the radiations in the 

 treatment of the several varieties of blood diseases 

 and other somewhat obscure pathological 

 conditions. 



A special chapter is devoted to the use of X-rays 

 and radium in injuries and diseases among the 

 wounded, and a following chapter, which illus- 

 trates the value of radiations in plastic surgery 

 ■of the face and jaws, is contributed by Mr. 

 Percival P. Cole. The fearful nature of some of 

 the.se wounds would lead many to despair of 

 betterment, but the combination of surgery and 

 ■ the administration of some form of radiation have 

 I in many cases resulted in a veritable transforma- 

 • tion of the patient. 



The physical properties of the rays from radium 

 and its emanation therefrom are very clearly dealt 

 -with in a chapter contributed bv Mr. C. E. S. 

 Phillips. 



The thorough way in which the application of 

 These agents to the appropriate pathological con- 

 dition is set forth in this volume is in itself a 

 reassurance as to their utility; but what pleases 

 NO. 2537, VOL. lOl] 



us most is the general outlook upon the subject of 

 radio-therapeutics adopted by the author. A con- 

 fidence in the utility of the agents he handles is 

 tempered by a realisation of (i) the lack of pre- 

 cision in their administration, and (2) the little 

 that is known as to the real nature of the changes 

 set up in cell life under exposure to the rays. 

 Moreover, he shows a keen appreciation of the 

 service which the investigator may render to the 

 future development of the subject of medical radio- 

 logy, for on p. 39^ we find : " By a combined 

 attack from the physical and clinical aspects, we 

 may hope in the near future to produce a marked 

 improvement in our methods of treatment by 

 radiations, which should result in material benefit 

 to patients suffering from malignant disease." 



The range of X-radiation which is at hand for 

 clinical application covers several octaves, and the- 

 fact that one variety of cells may respond in a 

 totally different manner from another, according 

 to what type of radiation it is exposed to, is 

 clearly in the author's mind when he writes, as 

 on p. 540: "The reason why one case responds 

 and another fails to do so is one of the profound 

 problems which the radio-therapist is striving to 

 fathom, and when the solution is arrived at it 

 will go a long way to establish radiation treatmant 

 on a sound basis. In all probability the* explana- 

 tion is a biological one, a condition of cell, 

 physical or other, which responds to a particular 

 type of ray. ..." 



The book will undoubtedly do much towards a 

 fuller recognition of the clinical utility of these 

 radiations, and also towards placing radio-therapy 

 on a surer scientific footing than it holds at the 

 present day. 



OUR BOOKSHELF. 

 Field Sanitation. By C. G. Moor and E. A. 



Cooper, in collaboration with other Officers and 



Men of the ,ist London Sanitary Company. 



Pp. viii + 220. (London u Bailliere, Tindall, and 



Cox, 1918.) • Price 25. 6d. net. 

 When the history of the war comes to be reviewed 

 and all the marvellous achievements of our Army, 

 none will be more noteworthy than the wonderful 

 health record. This is, to a great extent, due to 

 the work of the Sanitary Companies, and the 

 volume under review, written by two of their 

 officers, is intended to hand on the results of their 

 experiences and those of their colleagues. It is 

 written in simple and readable form, and will 

 make a very useful text-book, not only for the 

 highly trained but perhaps less experienced sani- 

 tary officers, but also for the men under their 

 command. 



The opening chapter deals with general hygiene, 

 and includes notes on many, if not all, of the infec- 

 tious disea5?cs liable to attack the troops. Chapters 

 follow on flies and other insect pests ; disposal of 

 refuse ; latrine and urinal construction ; baths and 

 laundries ; brickwork, wooden buildings, and 

 metal work ; disinfection ; drainage and sewage 

 disfXDsal ; water; ventilation; food; camping; 

 economy ; and the work of sanitary sections. 



