362 



NATURE 



[August 20, 1896 



carcinoma and sarcoma by injection of a glycerine 

 extract (50 per cent.) of the respective growth, was also 

 without result, as was also treatment with Fehleisen's 

 fluid. 



The Principles of Drug Therapeutics are considered l)y 

 Prof. Leech. Dr. Herman Weber, assisted by Dr. M. G. 

 Forster, writes upon Climatology. The article comprises 

 a consideration of some of the principal elements of 

 climate, the chief climatic regions and health resorts, and 

 the use of climate in the treatment and prevention of 

 disease. The essay on Balneologyand Hydrotherapeutics 

 is from the same author, and is divided into two parts : 

 (A) balneo-therapeutics, or treatment by the internal or 

 external use of mineral waters ; under this section the 

 chief mineral waters are described, and their therapeutic 

 use indicated. The second (or B) section is termed 

 hydrotherapeutics : by this is meant the therapeutic use 

 of water considered especially in its external application 

 to the body ; in this section the author is assisted by Dr. 

 Parkes Weber. .Artificial /Erotherapeutics is treated by 

 Dr. Theodore Williams, the varieties of qualitative and 

 quantitative differences in the constituents of the atmo- 

 sphere are described, as are also the effects of atmospheres 

 •of varying barometric pressure. Dr. Lewis Jones writes 

 upon the Medical Applications of Electricity. The units 

 of measurement are explained, and the apparatus 

 necessary for the application of electricity described. Six 

 ■excellent diagrams of the motor points in the different 

 parts of the body are given. The diagnostic use of elec- 

 tricity is fully discussed. The article closes with a 

 consideration of the conditions in which the medical 

 application of electricity has been of therapeutic value. 

 Dr. Mitchell considers the technique, physiology and 

 therapeutic uses of Massage. Under the head of physio- 

 logy a n'sinm' is given of the work of Lombard, Brunton 

 and Tunnicliffe, Winternitz, and others. The varieties of 

 massage, the duration and frequency of its application, are 

 described, and the diseases in which massage has been 

 useful enumerated. The Feeding of the .Sick is the 

 subject of an article by Sir Dyce Duckworth. The 

 general principles of invalid dietetics are first clearly 

 enunciated, and then all the experience of the clinician 

 is brought to bear upon the subject of the diets suitable 

 to various diseases. A most valuable addition to this 

 subject comes from the pen of Dr. Eustace Smith, who 

 writes upon the Diet and Therapeutics of Children. The 

 very special way in which children react to different diets 

 and forms of treatment, baths, drugs, &c., is described, 

 and the way to obtain a maximum benefit from the 

 remedies prescribed is clearly indicated. The editor has 

 wisely included an article on Nursing, which is written by 

 Miss Amy Hughes. The Hygiene of Youth is treated by 

 Dr. Clement Dukes, in a paper which it would be well to 

 place in the hands of every schoolmaster. The medical 

 aspect of Life Assurance is considered by Dr. Symes 

 Thompson. With this article Division i. of the work 

 closes. 



Division ii. is devoted to the consideration of the 

 Fevers, and includes two parts. Part i. consists of an 

 article from the pen of Sir Joseph Fayrer, on Insolation 

 or Sunstroke. The Infections form the contents of Part 

 ii. The subject is introduced by an article on the general 

 NO. 1399, VOL. 54] 



pathology of infection, by Dr. Kanthack. The Infections 

 are then divided as follows : (i) diseases of more or less 

 established bacteriology, (2) diseases of uncertain 

 bacteriology, (3) infective diseases communicable from 

 animals to man, (4) diseases due to the protozoa. The 

 first group is divided into local or general diseases 

 due to pyococci, and the infective fevers, with which the 

 volume ends. 



Dr. Kanthack, in his article on the general pathology 

 of infection, first considers the morphology of micro 

 organisms and the conditions necessary for their existence; 

 he then passes on to the products of bacterial activity. 

 Ferments and enzymes, the ptomaines, toxalbumins, and 

 the products of fermentation are fully discussed. The 

 question whether the toxines are the result of the action 

 of the bacilli on the tissues (Martin), or whether they are 

 a true excretion or secretion of the bacilli themselves, is 

 discussed, as are also the views of Klein on extra- 

 cellular and intracellular poisons. .A consideration of 

 infection, contagion, and predisposition follows. The 

 author then proceeds to the subject of natural and 

 acquired immunity, and the article concludes with the 

 history, principles, methods, and scope of serum thera- 

 peutics. Two admirable monographs on septic;cmia and 

 py;emia, and erysipelas, are written by Mr. Watson 

 Cheyne. The aetiology and general pathology of 

 ulcerative endocarditis is dealt with by Dr. Dreschfeld ; 

 Puerperal Septic Disease by Dr. Playfair. The articles on 

 boils and carbuncles are written by Dr. Melsome, that 

 on Epidemic Pneumonia by Dr. Whitelegge. Epidemic 

 cerebro-spinal Meningitis is considered by Dr. Ormerod, 

 who adds an appendix describing the outbreaks of the 

 disease in this country since 1807. Dr. Goodhart writes 

 upon influenza. The article includes a description of 

 Pfeiffer's bacillus, and the methods for its identification and 

 cultivation. The article on Diphtheria is divided into 

 four parts. The clinical aspects of Diphtheria are dealt 

 with by Dr. Gee, its letiology and prophylaxis by Dr. 

 Thorne Thorne, its bacteriology and pathology by Dr. 

 Kanthack, while Dr. Herringham gives the results of the 

 serum treatment. The subject of Tetanus is also divided 

 between two authors — Sir G. Humphrey contributing^ the 

 clinical part. Dr. Sims Woodhead the pathological. The 

 relatively unfavourable results of the antitoxine treat- 

 ment in this disease, as compared with those in Diphtheria, 

 are explained by Dr. W^oodhead as being due to the fact 

 that the treatment in tetanus is not begun until the effects 

 of the poison on the general system (central nervous 

 system), as distinct from its local effects, ha\e manifested 

 themselves ; whereas in Diphtheria, the antitoxine is 

 injected at a period at which the disease is practically a 

 local one. Enteric Fever is treated in an exhaustive manner 

 by Dr. Dreschfeld. The article contains a description of 

 Eberth's bacillus, with the characteristics distinguishing 

 it from the B. coli communis, and the methods for Us 

 detection. Extensive mortality tables form an appendix. 

 Fi\e authors are responsible for the article on .Asiatic 

 Cholera. Mr. Ernest Hart and Dr. Smith deal with the 

 origin and mode of propagation of the disease, Drs. 

 Kanthack and Stephens with the bacteriology, and Dr. 

 Kenneth Macleod with the clinical, pathological, and 

 therapeutical aspects of the subject. 



