188 The Philippine Journal of Science isie . 



men in the clinical branches would be more frequent if the "post- 

 mortem operator" could see more of the doctor's cases that do 

 not come into his hands. At any rate, the book is one which 

 cannot be unconditionally recommended for medical students. 



The publishers deserve very great credit for the appearance 

 of the book. 



B. C. C 



PeUagra | an American problem | by | George M. Niles, M. D. | [4 lines] 

 I second edition | illustrated | Philadelphia and London | W. B. 

 Saunders Company 1 1916 1 Cloth, pp. 1-261. Price, $3 net. 



This book on pellagra is the second edition of one of the best 

 American treatises on a condition which, previous to 1907 and 

 1908, was seldom recognized in the United States. Since that 

 time it has increased and spread so alarmingly that it has become 

 one of the serious American problems. Under these conditions, 

 when much of the medical profession is unsatisfactorily informed 

 as to the disease, a book such as that under review is particularly 

 of value. It is intended for the physician and is written by a 

 physician who has evidently been embarrassed in his efforts 

 to keep in touch with all features of so many-sided a question 

 as pellagra. 



The work takes up the historic and other considerations; 

 various phases of the etiology controversy are detailed; the 

 symptomatology and clinical course are discussed and followed 

 by an illustrative chapter of case reports; the pathology and 

 morbid anatomy are briefly considered ; the diagnosis, treatment, 

 and prophylaxis are thoroughly discussed; and certain reports 

 of animal experiments are added as a final chapter. 



The book as a whole is written in a somewhat chatty style 

 which often makes for pleasant reading, though occasionally 

 it is carried so far as to detract from the seriousness of the 

 work. The sections of the book which deal with phases familiar 

 to the author exhibit a confidence and authority in contrast to 

 other sections covering less familiar territory. The discussion 

 of such subjects as diagnosis and treatment are valuable con- 

 tributions in which the work of others is considered judicially, 

 from the standpoint of much experience. Upon other features, 

 however, the author sometimes contents himself with more or 

 less extensive quotations and excerpts, outlining various hypo- 

 theses which are often antagonistic with little or no expression 

 of opinion or personal experience. 



The various theories of etiology are outlined, and a preponder- 

 ance of evidence is shown to be in favor of the idea that pellagra 



