Notices of Books. 
1879.: 
127 
acids in the urine has also received special attention at the 
author’s hands. 
With mention of these we conclude our notice of what for 
convenience may be termed the “ organic ” normal ingredients 
of the urine. Space precludes a similar notice of the “ inor- 
ganic ” matters. We must be content with mere enumeration 
of their divisions ; to 'frit, carbonic acid, chlorine, chlorides of 
sodium and potassium, sulphuric acid and sulphates, hyposul- 
phurous and sulphurous acids (a chapter full of new and original 
matter), hydrothion and hydrosulphocyanic acid, phosphoric 
acid and phosphates (also a most important chapter), ammonia, 
trimethylamin, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and 
iron. 
Chapter XXXII., on the o:currence of the anatomical elements 
of the blood, and that following on Cruenturesis, will repay 
careful study, especially on account of their spedtroscopical data. 
The chapters on albumen and grape sugar are also of first 
importance. 
The rest of the volume is occupied with the consideration of 
specially morbid aspects, and of substances of slight, less fre- 
quent, or abnormal occurrence in the urine ; and the book is fitly 
brought to a close by two chapters on the systematic qualitative 
analysis of urine, urinary sediments, and calculi. The average 
composition of normal urine given in the table on p. 563 is par- 
ticularly useful for purposes of comparison. 
The slight exposition here given of this work will be sufficient 
to show its importance both to the medical and chemical pro- 
fessions. 
Etna ; a History of the Mountain and its Eruptions. By G. F. 
Rodwell. London : C. Kegan Paul and Co. 
We have here a monograph of what must be recognised as the 
greatest plague of Sicily, always excepting the Maffia and the 
police of “ Italia redenta.” The work is an expansion of an 
article prepared for the “ Encyclopaedia Britannica,” but although 
accessible authorities have been consulted it must not be regarded 
as a mere compilation, since the author ascended the mountain 
during the summer of 1877, and obtained much information on 
the spot. 
The first chapter is devoted to a notice of the principal writers, 
ancient and modern, who have given an account of the mountain 
and its eruptions, among whom Lucretius, Brydone, the Canon 
Recupero, Dr. Jos. Gemellaro, Elie de Beaumont, Baron Walters- 
hausen, and Sir C. Lyell are the most prominent. 
The physical features of this celebrated volcano are next 
described. The circle of vision from the summit has the enor- 
