496 
EDITORIAL. 
and  of  an  intermediate  class,  known  as  Narcotic  Stimulants  (or  in  looser 
phraseology,  as  Narcotics),  all  three  classes  acting  upon  the  nervous 
system  ;  the  stimulants  having  the  power  of  exciting  its  action  ;  the  seda- 
tives of  depressing  the  same ;  and  the  narcotics,  or  narcotic  stimulants  of 
producing  both  kinds  of  effect.  It  is  to  the  latter  class,  as  forming  the 
meeting  point  of  the  two  kinds  of  physiological  action  that  our  closest  at- 
tention will  be  required,  and  it  is  to  this  class  that  the  three  substances 
which  have  been  chosen  for  detailed  investigation  belong  ;  as  do  also  tea, 
coffee,  tobacco,  and  the  whole  genus  of  soothing,  <  care  breaking7  luxuries 
(to  use  an  expression  of  Von  Bibra's)  so  freely  used  in  every  day  life.  All 
these  classes  act  upon  the  nervous  system,  either  directly,  as  when  the 
nerves  affected  lie  close  beneath  the  skin  or  mucous  membrane  to  which 
the  agent  is  applied,  or  indirectly,  as  is  more  usually  the  case,  by  being 
absorbed  into  the  blood,  and  carried  by  the  circulation  to  all  parts  of  the 
nervous  apparatus." 
The  author  considers  so  much  agreed,  but  believes  that  difficulties  begin 
when  it  is  undertaken  to  show  what  effects  are  referable  to  stimulation 
and  what  are  not.  He  gives  a  history  of  the  doctrine  of  stimulus — fol- 
lowed by  criticism,  and  in  a  long  chapter  discusses  a  reconstruction  of  the 
doctrine  from  the  stand  point  of  modern  physiology,  which  he  believes  will 
greatly  modify  the  doctrine  from  its  present  aspect.  He  then  defines  nar- 
cosis and  discusses  its  doctrines  and  facts  and  draws  his  conclusions. 
The  work  then  closes  with  his  experimental  researches  on  the  three  agents, 
ether,  chloroform  and  alcohol,  entering  very  freely  into  the  subject,  from  a 
practical  familiarity  with  it,  due  to  his  having  for  a  series  of  years  been 
in  the  habit  of  producing  anaesthesia  to  the  extent  of  several  thousands  of 
cases  in  which  records  were  kept.  We  have  not  space  to  give  the  notice 
this  book  deserves,  it  is  full  of  interest  even  to  the  general  reader,  but  to 
the  physician  its  views  and  results  appeal  for  a  careful  study  to  see  how 
far  they  throw  light  on  his  own  practice  and  to  what  extent  the  reasoning 
will  modify  his  views  of  the  phenomena  of  life  and  disease.  We  shall 
look  with  interest  in  the  pages  of  our  medical  cotemporaries  for  an  earnest 
review  of  Dr.  Anstie's  work  in  the  spirit  of  true  progressive  medical  philo- 
sophy. The  publishers  have  done  their  part  well,  and  in  point  of  execution 
and  paper  it  is  all  that  need  be  desired. 
The  Physician7 s  Visiting  List,  Diary,  and  Book  of  Engagements,  for  1866. 
Philadelphia,  Lindsay  &  Blakiston.  h 
Our  medical  friends  are  reminded  that  this  little  annual  is  again  ready 
to  yield  its  useful  fruits  of  order  and  satisfaction  to  the  practitioner  who 
may  engage  its  services ;  and  we  might  say  who,  now,  does  not  avail  him- 
self of  this  or  some  other  similar  work,  to  make  punctuality  the  rule,  and 
save  hundreds  of  dollars  annually  by  the  certainty  of  recording  visits?  It 
is  found  of  two  sizes,  for  25  and  50  patients  and  in  pocket-book  form  with 
pencil  ready  for  immediate  use. 
