Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
June,  1884.  / 
Reviews,  etc. 
347 
the  principal  portion  of  the  additions,  as  was  to  be  expected,  having  been 
made  to  organic  chemistry,  in  which  department  many  new  facts  have 
been  elicited  of  late  years. 
Shakespeare  as  a  Physician.  By  J.  Portman  Chesney,  M.  D.,  ex-Secretary 
Medical  Society  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  etc.  St.  Louis,  Chicago,  and 
Atlanta  :  J.  H.  Chambers  &  Co.,  1884.    8vo,  pp.  226.    Price  $2.25. 
When  we  first  read  the  title  of  this  work,  we  were  surprised  and  wondered 
what  new  discoveries  might  have  established  the  fact  that  the  immortal 
bard  had  in  reality  been  a  practitioner  of  medicine,  and  had  written  his 
grand  works  during  the  leisure  hours  between  visiting  his  patients.  But 
on  turning  over  the  leaves  it  became  apparent,  that  the  collection  of  his 
references  to  any  science  or  specialty  of  the  present  day,  would  be  calculated 
to  show  the  poet  in  the  light  of  an  observer  and  thinker  on  subjects  in 
which  he  was  not  specially  skilled  either  by  education  or  vocation.  Such 
a  collection  from  Shakespeare's  works  has  been  made  by  the  author  and 
arranged  in  nine  chapters,  which  are  entitled  obstetrics,  psychology,  neu- 
rology, pharmacologia,  etiology,  dermatology,  organology,  chirurgery  and 
miscellaneous.  This  seems  to  be  quite  a  formidable  array,  and  it  is  interesting 
indeed  to  have  the  expressions  or  dialogues  relating  to  these  subjects  com- 
mented upon  in  the  light  of  the  medical  knowledge  of  the  present  day ; 
interesting  not  only  to  the  physician  but  to  intelligent  persons  generally. 
Of  particular  interest  to  us  has  been  the  pharmacological  chapter,  which 
contains  the  remedies  and  poisons,  mentioned  or  referred  to  in  Shakes-  , 
peare's  works.  In  our  opinion  it  is  futile  to  base  upon  the  symptoms 
described  in  the  text  of  his  works,  opinions  as  to  the  knowledge  in  those 
days  of  nicotine,  chloral,  chloroform,  oxalic  acid  and  other  compounds, 
which  chemistry  has  furnished  us  in  modern  times  ;  it  is  rather  to  be 
wondered  that  the  poet's  descriptions  should  accord  in  so  many  cases  with 
the  observations  of  modern  physiology. 
It  should  be  mentioned  yet  that  the  author  has  carefully  compared  the 
text  of  different  editions  of  Shakespeare's  works,  and  has  pointed  out  errors 
which  were  introduced  by  "  emendations,"  but  not  committed  by  the  poet. 
It  has  undoubtedly  been  a  troublesome  labor  for  the  author  to  compile,  sift 
and  comment  upon  these  particular  subjects,  but  it  was  evidently  a  labor  of 
love.,  which  has  been  laudobly  performed. 
Sexual  Neurasthenia  (nervous  exhaustion)  its  hygiene,  causes,  symptoms 
and  treatment,  with  a  chapter  on  diet  for  the  nervous.  By  George  M. 
Beard,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  etc.  Edited  by  A.  D.  Rockwell,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  etc. 
New  York:  E.  B.  Treat,  1884.    Pp.  270.    Price  $2.00. 
This  work  is  published  from  a  posthumous  manuscript  of  the  author, 
arranged  and  edited  by  his  former  associate,  Dr.  Rockwell.  It  considers 
the  subject  in  all  its  bearings,  and  dwells  fully  on  the  requisite  hygienic 
measures  and  the  medical  treatment.  Coming  from  the  pen  of  an  eminent 
writer  on  a  subject  upon  which  he  was  one  of  the  keenest  observers,  the 
book  will  be  duly  appreciated  by  physicians  who  desire  to  profit  from  the 
extensive  experience  of  the  author. 
