gences, the warning voice must be as the sound of a trumpet, with no faltering notes.

The title of the work is, it must be granted, a taking one for the public, but to its fitness as indicating the subject-matter exception may be taken. It possesses a sweet ambiguity; it leaves it open to surmise whether the author is to write about diseases prevailing at the present day, or only about such as are peculiar to it and new, and induced by the habits, vices, and employments of the existing generation. However, we have it soon made clear to us that Dr. Richardson has no new diseases, or such as are peculiar to our times, to write about, for he says (at p. 15)—

"In brief, the more deeply we study the past history of medicine the surer is the conviction that, throughout the whole of the known period of human existence on the earth, not one new disease has been added, not one withdrawn ;" ergo, there are no diseases peculiar to modern life.

On the other hand, it is not within the scope of his treatise to write about diseases in general prevalent in "modern life," for that would be tantamount to discoursing at large on general and special pathology. And, indeed, when we examine the chapters of the volume we see at once that no such grandiose scheme has presented itself to the author; but rather the more modest and useful one of placing before his readers, in perspicuous and very comprehensible language, an outline of the causes of our commonest diseases, with particular reference to those causes which luxurious and evil habits, over-work, and unhealthy employments, engender amongst us.

But these causes, almost without exception, are not new or peculiar to modern life; and the dictum, that there is no new disease known in the history of mankind, does not surpass in comprehensiveness the assertion we make as to causes of disease. We have hitherto dwelt on what the book does not deal with; it will be advantageous to state what it does contain, but, for reasons already given, this statement will not comprise an analysis of the subjectmatter, but simply an enumeration of the principal contents.

The author's opening chapter is, on "natural life to natural death -euthanasia," but its chief reference is to death by "natural decay," a result due, in his opinion, to the ultimate triumph of "gravitation" over vital or physiological action. For our own part, we do not quite apprehend this fact, not understanding how and why the simple mechanical force of gravitation becomes the subvertor of all living processes, and the consequent prime factor in producing disease and death. Dr. Richardson, moreover, refers to death by old age as euthanasia, and as a natural physical process akin to birth, but, in an after section of this first part of the book, has a chapter on the "phenomena of disease incidental to old age and natural decay," which, when read in connection with the first chapter, somewhat

modifies the impression there given, and detracts from the pretty picture of the old man's exit from the world and the welcome euthanasia.

The other chapters in "Part First" are:-on "the phenomena of disease; classification and distribution;" "disease antecedent to birth," a chapter well calculated to stir up the curiosity of the general public; "external origins and causes of disease; phenomena of disease from causes external and uncontrollable," and "phenomena of disease from causes external and communicable." This Part First is, therefore, occupied with the consideration of the general etiology of disease. "Part the Second" deals with particular causes of disease, indicates their mode of action, and suggests means for obviating it. Amongst these special causes the author includes some which, if not new to the world, are probably more active and more widely diffused in the present than in past days; so far, therefore, he may claim to fulfil the design of his treatise in harmony with the title.

In this portion of the work we have reproduced much of what Dr. Richardson has previously written-and well written in a series of essays on excessive mental work and worry, on excessive physical strain, and on the abuse of alcohol; and in the chapters devoted to these and other subjects, such as the use of narcotics-e.g. tobacco -late hours, errors of dress, &c., reads the public some valuable lessons that ought to be taken to heart. A critical medical reader, however, cannot go to the full length with him in all that he aversin all the conclusions and lessons he advances. In his efforts to be pictorial and incisive, to round off his sentences well, and to be comprehensive in his portraiture and summaries of phenomena, and of the courses and consequences of disorders, he is, at times, betrayed into doubtful assertions and hazardous conclusions. His strong assertions respecting the use of alcohol have been subjected to criticism in the first article of this present number of the 'Review,' and his counterblast to tobacco is open to animadversion on the part of those well versed in the uses and abuses of "the weed." Indeed, in reference to the terrific picture he draws of the state of the stomach, implied as produced in its interior when the learner to smoke makes his often painful first efforts, it becomes us to protest against it as a portraiture greatly exaggerated, and such as should not be depicted as conveying a general truth to the non-professional public, based on actual physiological knowledge.

It is an ungracious and unwelcome task to point out defects in a work of so much value as an instructor of the public in what relates to its best interests, as well its sanitary as its social and moral; we shall, therefore, forbear singling out any other remarks of the author for criticism, having much greater satisfaction in commending his work to our medical readers as well as to the

"intelligent public," being fully persuaded that all may gather from it useful information and lessons of value, and that if society will act up to its precepts the world will be all the better for its publication.

Nicholson's Text-Book of Zoology.1-The character of Professor Nicholson's work in promoting the study of natural history is thoroughly well known and appreciated; and, as a matter of course, we receive the marks of appreciation in the form of new editions called for by the public. It is enough to make known to our readers the appearance of a second edition to this first of the series of three text-books on zoology, by which he leads his pupils onwards in the science of animal forms, organization, and modes of existence. The only point we would remark upon is that the present edition is "revised and considerably enlarged." Now, revision is a necessity by reason of the advance constantly made in science, but the enlargement of each new edition is neither necessary nor an advantage. A perpetual growth in size is an evil in an introductory treatise. If new discoveries necessitate new paragraphs, they will also render invalid or incorrect other paragraphs, and these should be excised, and the new matter be inwrought and not merely added to.

Fagge's Catalogue of Skin Diseases.2—As a pathological museum that of Guy's Hospital is not equalled in this kingdom for the number, value, and rarity of its specimens. The catalogue now before us shows how rich it is in models exhibiting the numerous forms and varieties of skin diseases, and consequently how admirable. a field for the study of those diseases is therein offered; one indeed only second to that afforded in the living subject, and superior in teaching power to any collection of plates. In fact, from the attentive examination of these models the eye can take in and infix on the mind, within a short period, a more accurate and lasting conception of the diseases illustrated, than can be gained by a prolonged course of reading of the most accurately and well-described features of those maladies. At the same time the looker on wants an interpreter, and a most efficient one is found in Dr. Hilton Fagge, who has catalogued the specimens and made them tell their own tale. The term catalogue applied to this volume by no means conveys a proper idea of its character. It is not a dry, uninteresting list of the barbarous and semi-barbarous Greek and Latin derivatives, by which skin doctors apparently delight to designate the various rashes and discolorations that deform the surface of the

1 An Introductory Text-Book of Zoology for the use of Junior Classes. By H. ALLEYNE NICHOLSON, M.D., &c. Second Edition, revised and considerably enlarged. Edinburgh, 1875.

2 Catalogue of the Models of Diseases Hospital. By C. HILTON Fagge, M.D.

of the Skin in the Museum of Guy's London, 1876. Pp. 269.

body, but a descriptive account of the special features of disease which each model is designed to represent, coupled with notes on the pathology. Moreover, to further elucidate both the specimen and the character of the disease it represents, a case is often recorded, in which is noted the course of the malady, the history of the patient and the treatment adopted, with the result.

The numerous additions made of late years to the collection, and the novelties introduced into the nomenclature of skin maladies, has rendered it necessary to re-number the models. To maintain, as it were, the continuity of the present with past catalogues, Dr. Fagge has given a table setting forth the former and the present numbers and names. By means of this table, therefore, references which have, in various previous publications, been made by numbers to the specimens in the Guy's museum can still be confirmed or checked; and where a new name has been given its equivalent in the old nomenclature is at once made apparent.

The artistic merit of the models is due to Mr. Towne; and, as Dr. Fagge remarks, "it is, indeed, a remarkable and most fortunate circumstance that, during the whole of a period of at least forty years, the models of skin diseases for our museum should have been made by a single artist, the same who supplied our splendid series of anatomical models."

Some very just and practical observations are made on the subject of the classification of skin diseases. Hebra's system is considered the best yet offered, but Dr. Fagge believes that it will not maintain itself for any great length of time. He gives his reasons for this opinion, and proceeds to express a conviction that a natural and perfect classification of skin diseases is not to be looked for, if we take a comprehensive view of them "as merely forming one branch of general pathology. It is not possible to classify the affections of any other organs. .. Indeed there are not wanting good reasons why cutaneous eruptions should be more difficult to classify than the recognised diseases to which the different internal organs are liable." Nevertheless as a grouping of some sort is essential in constructing a catalogue, Dr. Fagge employs the following as a tolerably natural one and as reposing upon a pathological basis.

1. Inflammatory (or simply congestive) diseases. 2. Non-inflammatory diseases not having destructive tendencies. 3. Noninflammatory diseases affecting the tissues of the skin profoundly, and generally destructive in their tendencies. 4. Affections of

the appendages of the skin; and 5. Parasitic diseases.

We must send our readers to consult the book itself for a knowledge of the subordinate groups and the individual diseases included in them; promising them that, even without the great advantages to be derived from examination of the models themselves, they

cannot refer to this catalogue without deriving information. To those of them, who, with the book in hand, can study the objects described, a most perfect introduction and guide to the knowledge of cutaneous diseases will be in their possession.

Quain's Anatomy.'-If diligent continued labour coupled with judgment and knowledge, applied to any human work, can bring that work to perfection, Quain's Anatomy should be an instance of such a happy result. Fortunately the material wrought upon has not the limited and exhaustible nature of that submitted to the labour and genius of the sculptor, otherwise the repeated improvements in the shape of new editions would have sadly reduced the mass and be threatening to its entire annihilation; but on the contrary, it has been of a plastic nature, with powers of recuperation, so that with all the moulding and chisellings it has suffered, the bulk of the mass is rather increased than reduced. Nevertheless, as the preface informs us, "it has undergone alterations so extensive and fundamental that little of the original text now remains."

Inasmuch as descriptive anatomy, as such, is a limited science and of ready observation, admitting only of the same objects being described in words differing within a certain range and subject to a definite number of permutations, and combinations, it follows that the vast changes referred to in this new edition must rather be looked for in other matters, and so it falls out, for the novelties and improvements are to be found chiefly in what used to be called "general anatomy," in histology, morphology, embryology, &c., in the cognate subject of surgical anatomy, and in the pointing out of homologies.

It is right also to note that "a considerable number of new figures have been introduced into the present edition, some having been substituted for former ones now withdrawn, others added as new illustrations." The engravings are very clear, but, in our eyes, the hand of the engraver has been rather heavy than artistic in many figures.

As now presented to us this treatise continues to occupy the foremost place for completeness and accuracy among British works on anatomy.

' Quain's Elements of Anatomy. Eighth edition. Edited by W. SHARPEY, M.D., F.R.S., ALLEN THOMPSON, M.D., F.R.S., and E. A. SCHAFER. In two volumes, illustrated by very numerous Engravings on Wood. London, 1876.