No. 379.] REVIEWS OF RECENT LITERATURE. 523 
The intention that the book shall be used by those preparing for 
medicine has led the author to devote considerable space to the rela- 
tions of the bones in the human skeleton to those in the cat. In 
most instances these comparisons are in every way commendable, 
but in one or two cases they seem to us misleading. The sphenoid 
bone in man is known to be formed by the fusion of some eight 
elements, all of which may exist as separate bones in the lower verte- 
brates. In the cat these sphenoid elements are not united to form a 
single bone, as in man, but fuse into two distinct groups, the poste- 
rior of which usually unites with the occipital bone. The cat, there- 
fore, does not possess a sphenoid bone, though, like many other 
vertebrates, it has the elements out of which one might have been 
formed. It is to be regretted that descriptive human anatomy has so 
biased the author that he has been unable to appreciate this differ- 
ence, but has ascribed to the cat a sphenoid which he then states is 
composed of two parts. 
Notwithstanding what seem to us the shortcomings of the volume, 
the substantial body of facts which it contains will insure for it the 
respect of investigators, and while we do not anticipate its extensive 
use as a class book, we believe that it will find its way to the book- 
shelf of every working anatomist and to the laboratory table of many 
students. We need only add, in conclusion, that the publishers are 
to be commended for their excellent presswork and binding. 
G. H. P. 
Rabbit Anatomy.! — Dr. F. Clasen, whose article on the muscles 
of the shoulder and arm of the cat appeared some three years ago, 
has just published the continuation of his work on the corresponding 
parts in the rabbit. The article, which is illustrated by some ten 
clearly drawn figures, gives in a thoroughly satisfactory way the origin, 
insertion, form, and innervation of the muscles of the shoulder and 
arm as far as the elbow in the rabbit. It is concluded with a table, 
showing the innervation of the two dozen muscles described. The 
author reserved for a later publication the general conclusions to be 
drawn from his study of the shoulder and arm musculature. To 
teachers accustomed to use Krause’s well-known book on the rabbit 
this article will be a welcome supplement for the parts under 
consideration. GHP. 
1 Clasen, F. Die Muskeln und Nerven des proximalen Abschnittes der vorderen 
Extremität des Kaninchens: Nova Acta. Abh. der kaiserl. Leop.-Carol. deutschen 
Akad. der Naturforscher, Bd. Ixix, Nr. 3, 1897. 
