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which was so long and so pertinaciously maintained no longer exists; we no longer speak in an arbitrary and, in a certain sense, disparaging manner, of the art of surgery, as though it were distinct from, and inferior to, the science of medicine; the simple chirurgeon, the mere xep and pyov, is heard of no more, indeed, is not to be met with; and although it is true we do find, in consequence of the prejudices or predilections of individual members of the profession, that the separation between medicine and surgery is apparently fostered for the mere convenience of practice, it is, nevertheless, beyond all question that the most enlightened members of the brotherhood of physic give no countenance, in this our day, to any such unwarranted and unwarrantable division.

"The unity of medicine" may be said to be at this period everywhere accepted and firmly established, whilst most, if not all, of our most distinguished surgeons are so distinguished by the circumstance of their being in the van of the profession as regards their attainments in "scientific medicine."

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But what, it may be asked, about specialism and specialists? Is there no ground for lamentation here? Are these divisions indicative of the "unity of physic"? Does "united medicine foster the multiplication of such things? Is it necessary, can it be desirable, that there should be hospitals for stone, for cancer, for consumption, for diseases of the throat, for fistula, for paralysis, for deformities, &c. &c.? Does the circumstance of this one being an oculist, that one a lithotomist, some other one a lithrotitist, and others dermatologists, ovariotomists, liver doctors, kidney doctors, fever doctors, &c. &c., seem likely to promote the true interests and advancement of the profession? Sown broadcast as the specialities now are, one would almost be inclined to think the public will infer that each organ and part has an independent and separate existence, and that the interdependence of each upon the whole is a mere figment of the imagination. Well may some inquire whether there can possibly be anything like "unity" in a science which is so obviously, and, at the same time, so preposterously practised, in such a fragmentary manner.

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The book we have under notice certainly lends no countenance to such unseemly and ridiculous disruptions of practice; based upon principles which comprehend the very latest views and discoveries both as to physiology and pathology, it affords an admirable example of what a work on surgical pathology and therapeutics should be.

It carves out no particular segment of the human frame as being something of itself distinct from, and to be treated without reference to, that aggregate of functions which alone constitutes and maintains the life of the individual; but whether dealing with descriptive pathology or practical therapeutics, it never loses sight of the fact that those aberrations of function which (whether caused by

mechanical violence or constitutional dyscrasia) we characterise as disease, are still under the influence of what may be fitly designated "biological force," and that such aberrations of function, occurring in any part of the human body, are most likely to be corrected by such an application of therapeutics as shall be most likely to promote and restore physiological action.

The fifty lectures are spread over six hundred and sixty-four pages, and are illustrated by one hundred and fifty-two woodcuts, many of these being admirably executed, and all of them exceedingly well adapted to make clear the meaning of the author. Whether looked at as a text-book for students or as a work of reference for the hard-worked and busy practitioner, it deserves to be spoken of in high terms of commendation. We must not omit saying that, in our judgment, the translator has performed his task in an exceedingly creditable manner.

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Sydenham Society's Publications.-We have to note the publication of the fifth volume of Trousseau's Clinical Medicine,' the third of Stricker's Human and Comparative Histology,' and the second of Rindfleisch's Pathological Histology,' under the auspices of the Sydenham Society. The members of that society may be congratulated on the addition of such valuable treatises to their libraries; and without making odious comparisons, and with full recognition of the great value of the other volumes, we feel persuaded that no one of the many works issued has secured to itself so general appreciation as the work of Trousseau on medicine, or has surpassed it in its influence for good.

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The third volume of Stricker's Histology,' ably translated and edited by Mr. Henry Power, is occupied chiefly with the structure of the special organs of sense; but it contains, besides, the histology of the uterus and appendages and a history of the development of the simple tissues, and two articles, in an appendix, the one on synovial membranes, the other on the non-pedunculated hydatid.

The second volume of Rindfleisch's Pathological Histology' comprehends the morbid anatomy of the lungs, liver, and kidneys, of the osseous, nervous, and muscular systems, and of the ovaries, testicle, and other organs. It concludes with a bibliographical and an alphabetical index.

The society ought to flourish whilst it caters so well for its members. They have every reason to be content, both with the quantity and quality of the matter supplied.

Elam on Cerebria.1-Two orders of facts, as the author very justly

1 On Cerebria, and other Diseases of the Brain. By CHARLES ELAM, M.D. London, 1872.

observes, are "conspicuous by their absence." These are minute morbid anatomy, and the revelations and evidence of the ophthalmoscope. To have pursued the former Dr. Elam thinks would have led him away from his special object, the clinical history of certain forms of disease. To have pursued the latter would, if we understand our author aright, have demanded more practical skill in the use of the ophthalmoscope than he professes to possess.

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Possibly the absence of these trifles may account for the fact that the author finds that inflammatory affections of the brain occupy so small a portion of works devoted to diseases of that organ. Reynolds's 'System of Medicine,' and Dr. Aitken's Science and Practice of Medicine' being cited in support of this general statement. It is probable that had the author included the microscope and the ophthalmoscope among his means of investigating the "clinical history" of diseases of the brain, he would have arrived at a conclusion that has been reached by most pathologists of the present time, viz. that the brain tissue is specifically indisposed to take on the simple, non-suppurative form of inflammation. That inflammation of the brain implies inflammation of the membranes and connective tissues of that organ is familiar to pathologists, and is amply shown by the references of the author to the writings of the host of investigators to whom he refers, or from whom he quotes.

Dr. Elam has recorded three cases of what he regards as pure and simple inflammation of the substance of the brain, as contrasted with meningitis, and upon these he founds his new word "Cerebria," in favour of which he urges "that it is short; that it is not very uncouth, although not strictly correct; that it suggests its own meaning, by its terminal relation to other inflammations, as pneumonia, metria, ophthalmia, &c.; and, finally, that as names are only 'to know things by,' and as he has vainly sought for one more classically appropriate, this will answer the purpose, and avoid constant periphrases, as well as any other" (p. 33).

For our own part, having had the advantage of studying many of the treatises named by Dr. Elam, we are not able to follow him in his arguments for his new nomenclature.

With reference to "other diseases of the brain" treated of by the author, we fail to discover any actual novelty in observation or treatment to which to draw the attention of our readers.

Proceedings of the Dublin Obstetrical Society.1-This report reached us too late to include it with the notice of the transactions of the London and Edinburgh Obstetrical Societies, printed in our last number. Had it been otherwise, we should have been disposed to

1 Proceedings of the Dublin Obstetrical Society for Session 1871-72. Dublin. Pp. 164.

have taken the three to serve as the basis of an analytical review of the progress of midwifery during the year. This we hope to accomplish on another occasion, should the needful volumes come to hand.

The Dublin school of midwifery is second to none in this empire; this may well be so, seeing that it possesses a lying-in institution exceeding in magnitude every other elsewhere, and that its practice has been thrown more fully open to learners, and turned to better account in the advancement of obstetrical knowledge, than any like institution we possess. The report of the practice of the Rotunda Hospital, by the Master, Dr. Johnston, forms one of the articles included in the volume before us, respecting which it is incumbent on us to state that it is the first issued by the Dublin Society, although this society has been thirty-four years in existence. We congratulate the members on their resolution no longer to hide their light under a bushel, but to hold it forth that it may be seen of all.

The volume opens with the address delivered by the President, Dr. Kidd, who takes occasion to review the doctrines and practice of the present day in the management of difficult and tedious labours. Transfusion in post-partum hæmorrhage is the subject of two dissertations by Drs. A. H. and John Ringland, in which the apparatus invented by Dr. Robert M'Donnell is commended. The last-named physician, in the discussion that ensued, gave his own account of the instrument, and of his experience with transfusion, an operation he advocates more frequent recourse to. Dr. J. More Madden contributes an essay on spurious, feigned, and concealed pregnancy; Dr. A. H. M'Clintock a description of the "use of a hemp-saw for the excision of polypoid growths;" and Dr. John Ringland the history of a case of sudden death, seventeen days after delivery, from embolism of the pulmonary artery. The use of ergot of rye was examined in a lengthy paper by Dr. Denham, the reading of which called forth an instructive discussion, as fully recorded in these pages. The report of private obstetrical practice for thirty-nine years by the veteran writer, Dr. Fleetwood Churchill, is one that cannot fail to awaken the interest of other obstetricians. The same may be said of Dr. Kidd's practical contribution on fibrous tumours of the uterus, which is accompanied with illustrations of their growth in certain of the cases spoken of.

This very practical volume concludes with some brief communications, detailing cases of uterine tumours, by Drs. Darby and Cranny.

Wood's Epistles of Horace.-As the production of a learned and estimable physician, we would direct our readers' attention to this metrical translation of the 'Epistles' and 'Art of Poetry' of Horace, by

1 The 'Epistles' and 'Art of Poetry' of Horace, translated into English metre. By ANDREW WOOD, M.D. Edinburgh, 1872. Pp. 140.

Dr. Andrew Wood. It is a sequel to the translation of the Satires ' of Horace by the same author, which appeared in 1870, and was reviewed in our July number of 1871. As such purely literary labour as is represented by the works of the classic writers of Greece and Rome, their commentators and translators, is beyond the scope of a strictly medical review, we shall enter here (and the less so as space forbids) on no critical examination of the manner in which Dr. Wood has performed his difficult though loving task, but repeat the concluding remarks of the previous notice referred to, that " see in every page proofs of loving industry and intelligent appreciation of his author, which justify us in giving a hearty welcome to this latest attempt to introduce English readers" to the wit and wisdom of this great Latin poet.

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The translator's modesty is worthy of all praise. He writes, as he tells us, for recreation and relaxation from the labours and anxieties of an arduous profession, and publishes his translations "in the diffident hope that haply a few readers may experience some degree of that pleasure which I myself have derived from writing them." In the "Introduction" he takes the opportunity of giving a brief sketch of the life of Horace. It is rather too short to satisfy the desire of any reader who has it alone to inform him; but this brevity is the less regrettable as those who want to know more of Horace, his life and works, can so readily avail themselves of the excellent little volume by Mr. Theodore Martin in the popular series of classics for English readers now in course of publication. Another acceptable portion of the "Introduction" is that occupied by those passages most frequently quoted by writers and speakers as examples of concentrated thought and wit, and most pithy and apposite to their purpose. It will be seen that a considerable proportion of these are borrowed from the Ars Poetica.'

Waring's Hospital Prayer Book.-It is enough in this notice. to call attention to the publication of this book of prayers and to recommend it to those for whose use it is specially designed. We can highly commend it for the truly devotional character of the prayers, in the composition of which the influence of the Prayer Book of the English Church is everywhere perceptible, although more particularly so in the suggested form of public service. This fact in itself will speak in favour of Dr. Waring's composition.

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