254  Reviews  and  Bibliographical  Notices.  \  A^y™;  £}!**' 
pages,  containing  special  medical  and  surgical  reports,  by  Dr.  J.  M.  Toner,  Dr. 
J.  M.  Woodworth,  and  other  surgeons  of  the  Marine  Hospital  Service. 
Contributions  to  the  Study  of  Yellow  Fever.    Washington,  1874.    8vo,  51 
pages. 
A  reprint  from  the  annual  report  noticed  before,  and  containing  a  paper  by 
Dr.  J.  M.  Toner,  entitled  The  Distribution  and  Natural  History  of  Yellow 
Fever  in  the  United  States ;  with  chart  showing  elevations  of  localities  where 
it  has  appeared  from  A.  D.  1668  to  A.  D.  1874;  also  a  paper  by  Dr.  J.  M. 
Woodworth,  entitled  The  Yellow  Fever  Epidemic  of  1873  ;  Reports  from  Med- 
ical Officers  U.  S.  Marine  Hospital  Service,  with  Notes  by  the  Supervising 
Surgeon. 
Dictionary  of  Elevations  and  Climatic  Register  of  the  United  States;  contain- 
ing, in  addition  to  elevations,  the  latitude,  mean  annual  temperature,  and  the 
total  annual  rainfall  of  many  localities  ;  with  a  brief  introduction  on  the  olo- 
graphic and  other  physical  peculiarities.  By  J.  M.  Toner,  M.  D.  New 
York:  D.  V^an  Nostrand,  1874.  8vo,  pp.  130.  Price,  S3  in  paper,  $3.75  in 
cloth. 
When  it  is  considered  how  completely  altitude,  in  every  part  of  the  world, 
controls  the  natural  productions  of  a  region,  and  modifies  or  limits  the  types 
and  species  of  animals  and  plants  that  exist  and  thrive  there,  it  will  not  be 
thought  strange  that  elevation  should  powerfully  affect  the  health,  vigor,  hab- 
its, pursuits,  and  longevity  of  man.  The  student  of  social  science,  in  fact, 
every  intelligent  person,  is  therefore  no  less  interested  in  this  work  than  the 
physician,  for  whom,  as  the  author  tells  us,  the  work  of  compilation  has  been 
undertaken,  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  placing  within  the  reach  of  the  medical 
profession  a  record  that  may  enable  and  induce  professional  men,  in  different 
localities  of  the  United  States,  to  observe,  record  and  contrast  the  influence  of 
elevation,  if  it  has  any,  on  health  and  disease. 
Among  the  places  enumerated  in  the  dictionary,  we  observe  quite  a  number 
located  beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  in  Mexico,  Guatemala,  Canada 
and  even  Europe.  The  introductory  part  abounds  in  valuable  facts  and  sug- 
gestive ideas  in  relation  to  the  influence  of  altitude,  and  deduced  from  all 
periods  of  history  and  all  sections  of  the  globe.  The  data  referring  to  the 
percentage  of  deaths  and  the  prevalence  of  pulmonary  and  other  diseases  are 
particularly  interesting,  and  should  excite  to  extended  observations,  and  to  the 
collection  of  statistics  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 
Discours  sur  Us  reactions  chimiques  de  la  Picrotoxine  dans  la  Bilrt.  Par  H. 
Bonnewyn,  pharmacien  a  Ixelles.  Bruxelles :  H.  Manceaux,  1874.  8vo,  16- 
pages. 
A  discourse  on  the  chemical  reactions  of  picrotoxin  in  beer. 
A  former  paper  on  the  same  subject  was  noticed  on  page  384  of  this  journal 
for  1871.  Mr.  Depaire  has  objected  to  the  sulphuric  acid  test  for  picrotoxin, 
proposed  by  the  author,  on  the  ground  that  a  similar  yellow  color  is  produced 
