The ingestion of alcohol retards coagulation as does full dietary, while fasting hastens it.

Factors influencing coagulability Vierordt observed that alcohol and hearty meals prolong the coagulation tissue and that fasting shortened it. Duncan, Robertson and Ullman's operation with other recent observers find quite the opposite to be the case, that coagulation is quickened after a meal and that fasting prolongs it.

Wright has done an unusual amount of work on hemophilias, stating that calcium salts lessened the coagulation tendency. Wright also states that hemorrhage in typhoid fever could be controlled by the administration of calcium salts and prevented by small doses over a long period.

Duncan, Ullman and Robertson were unable to make observations on hemolytics, but after an unusual experience with typhoids, following Wright's technic, they were unable to confirm Wright's findings, for calcium had no effect on coagulation.

These observers recorded the fact that a hemorrhage could as predicted by observing the coagulation of the blood, and that after a hemorrhage the coagulation tissue became very much lessened.

All typhoid patients who retained their appetite were allowed to eat, such as toast, soft boiled eggs, roasted potatoes, cereals, broths, tea, coffee, but allowed milk sparingly.

It was noticed that the patients did not lose control over the clotting tissue of their blood. It has been demonstrated that the mineral acids do not influence coagulation. In cases showing abnormally long clotting time all forms of calcium salts, gelatin, thyroid extract, junket, milk and nuclein were used, separately and together, and to no avail. Calcium chloride and lactate in large doses, and in small doses over long periods, with negative results.

The writers conclude that:

I. During the fibrile stages of infectious diseases, coagulation is noticeably retarded.

II. The clinical employment of calcium salts has no direct or invariable effect on the coagulation time of blood.

III. They were unable to show definite relation between leucocytosis and coagulation time.

IV. Nuclein acid uniformally failed to produce an increase in the number of leucocytes and also failed to hasten coagulation.

V. They demonstrated conclusively the relation of coagulation to hemorrhage.

VI. That citric acid prolongs the coagulation time.

It seems that though the factors in coagulation are still obscure, wonderful light has been thrown on the field by our Philadelphia investigators, and that the relation of coagulation time to hemorrhage is of vast importance, for by depletion in the way of diuretics, venesection, salines, we might compel the blood to call on tissue juices for volume and in these juices is incorporated a ferment that does lessen the coagulation time of blood and thereby abort a pending hemorrhage.

Book Reviews.

MAMUAL OF OBSTETRICS.—By A. F, A. King, A. M., M. D., LL. D., Pro-fessor of Obstetrics in the Medical Department of the George Washington University, Washington, D. C., and in the University of Vermont, etc. Tenth Edition. Revised and enlarged. Pp. 688, with 301 illustrations and three plates. Lea Brothers & Co., Philadelphia and New York, 1907. The last edition of this well-known book was published in The edition of 1907 is a decided improvement in the way of illustrations and revisions. King's manual is a synonym for "Obstetrics-while-you-wait." To the doctor, young or old, it is invaluable when in a quandary over some knotty problem of labor that needs immediate attention. Hardly any doctor of the old school but has "King" on his shelves. Like Gray, Flint, and other well-used books it is a standard which will endure for many years yet, with necessary revisions from time to time. While the present edition is more than "an outline of the rudiments and essentials of obstetrics," it is still small enough in compass to fulfill its reginal purpose.

HEART DISEASE AND BLOOD PRESSURE.-A Practical Consideration of Theory and Treatment.-By Louis Fangeres Bishop, A. M., M. D., Clinical Professor of Heart and Circulatory Diseases, Fordham Uuiversity, School of Medicine, New York City; Physician to the Lincoln Hospital; Late Chairman of the Section on Medicine of the New York Academy of Medicine; Member of the New York Pathological Society; the Neurological Society; Alumni Association, St. Luke's Hospital, etc. Second edition. E. B. Treat & Company, 241-243 West 23rd Street, New York, 1907.

Heart Disease and Blood Pressure, a Practical Consideration of Theory and Treatment, by Louis Fangeres Bishop, consists of 120 pages, is comprehensive and concise, and will prove valuable to the profession as a practical and ready manual.

THE SEXUAL INSTINCT.-Its Use and Dangers as Affecting Heredity and Morals. By James Foster Scott, A. B., M. D., late Obstetrician to Columbia Hospital for Women, and Lying-in Asylum, Washington, D. C. Second edition. Small 8vo, pp. 474. Illustrated. New York. E. B. Treat & Co. (Cloth, $2.00.)

About ten years ago the first edition of this book appeared. In the edition before nothing can be said to have been recorded that is new. And while it deals with an old subject, it is one that is difficult to handle. It deals with evils that must exist. They must be warned against and a constant effort be made to eradicate them. This book does not leave the subject of the perfection of man in the hands of the physician, and rightly so. But, rather, teaches that the subject should be diffused as general knowledge among the clergymen and school teachers. To be right upon this subject, undoubtedly it must be done by a thorough education of the youths. I deem it advisable, and believe that a wider circulation of this book and its principles therein taught should be more thoroughly and generally studied.

SURGERY OF GENITO-URINARY ORGANS.-By J. W. S. Gouley, M. D. Demy 8vo. 531 pages. Cloth. Price, $3.00. Rebman Company, 1123 Broadway, New York.

Surgery of the Genito-Urinary Organs, by J. W. S. Gouley, is one of the recent books upon this subject. It deals chiefly with the treatment of the deceased conditions occurring in the male organs of generation. He discusses very clearly modern views. Special attention has been given to the uses and care of catheters, bougies and sounds. He has given particular and interesting resume upon the accidents of catheterization. The treatment of strictures is most satisfactorily handled both from the mechanical as well as the operative standpoint. The work has been arranged in an excellent manner, and the subject matter is presented in a complete detail and with an ease and grace in expression. This book will appeal to the specialist but will be also highly desirable to the general practitioner.

STUDIES IN THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SEX-EROTIC SYMBOLISM, THE MECHANISM OF DETUMESCENCE, THE PSYCHIC STATE OF PREGNANCY.-By Havelock Ellis. 63 x 8 inches. Pages x-285. Extra cloth, $2.00, net. Sold only by subscription to Physicians, Lawyers and Scientists. F. A. Davis Co., Publishers, 1914-16 Cherry St., Philadelphia. This is the sixth volume of the series and deals with three allied subjects of Erotic Symbolism. The Mechanism of Detumescence and the Psychical State in Pregnancy. It is the opinion of some physicians that the work of Mr. Ellis is purely that of an over-credulous and not too scientific mind. To one who

'reads, that the carefully collated cases and citations from a wide range of authorities in this series of books, such criticism must lose its force. Mr. Ellis has the ability of writing in a fascinating way on a fascinating subject, and while much that is given must be carefully weighed before acceptance or rejection, it must be admitted that he is filling a neglected field of medical literature.

The present volume has an appendix of fifty pages, giving the histories of five cases of sexual development. It is a work that will be read through before closing the covers when once begun. B. L. J.

Lea

- CULBRETH'S MATERIA MEDICA.-A Manual of Materia Medica and Pharmacology for Students and Practitioners of Medicine and Pharmacy. Comprising all Organic and Inorganic Drugs which are and have been official in the United States Pharmacopoeia, together with important Allied Species and Useful Synthetics. By David M. R. Culbreth, Ph. G., M. D., Professor of Botany, Materia Medica and Pharmacology in the University of Maryland, Departments of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry. Fourth edition. Revised to accord with new U. S. Pharmacopoeia, 8th Decennial Revision. Octavo, 976 pages, 487 illustrations. Cloth, $4.75, net. Brothers & Co., Publishers, Philadelphia and New York, 1906. One of the most complete works on Materia Medica and Pharmacology for the use of the student and the practitioner is the work on Materia Medica and Pharmacology, written by Prof. Culbreth and issued by Lea Brothers & Co. The description of the various plants which are the source of our Materia Medica is very full and complete, and the illustrations are most clear. In the arrangement of the drugs the author has availed himself of the principal of evolution as applied to the plants, so that the subject matter is arranged as far as practicable according to the evolutionary development of the plant. It is interesting to observe the correlation of physiological and therapeutic effect with the great genera of plant life. This association of similarity of alkaloidal content and action with similarity of botanical development is exceedingly suggestive and a profitable field for further study and investigation.

It is to be deplored that so little attention is being paid in these days to the study of materia medica and therapeutics, but the spirit of drug nihilism is rapidly giving way before the scientific and accurate study of drug effects which characterizes our modern pharmacognosy. Not only the student but also the physician should welcome such works at this time as an aid to the more thorough comprehension of the source and the action. of the drugs which he is to use daily.

P. F. B.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

MELLEN'S FOOD METHOD OF PERCENTAge Feeding.—We are in receipt of a copy of "Mellen's Food Method for Determining the Percentage Ingredients Contained in Infant Feeding." It is of great importance to the physician to know as nearly as possible the exact amount of proteids, fats and carbohydrates contained in the feeding, and to be able to regulate the different contents in such proportions as may seem to be indicated in a given case.

By a series of very carefully arranged cercentage tables, Mellen has made it possible for the physician to approximate very closely the percentage of the different ingredients contained in the infant's food. It is worthy a place on the desk of every physician who has to do with the very serious problem of artificial infant feeding.

So great has been the demand, that W. B. Saunders Company, the medical publishers of Philadelphia and London, have found it necessary to issue another revised edition of their illustrated catalogue of medical and Surgical books. In looking. through the copy we have received, we find that since the issusance of the last edition six months ago, the publishers have placed on the market some twenty-five new books and new editions-truly an indication of publishing activity. The colored. insert plate from Keen's new Surgery, which enhanced the value of the former edition, has been replaced by a new one from the second volume of the same work, and this alone gives the catalogue a real value. A copy will be sent to any physician upon request.

Daniel's Concentrated Tincture Passiflora Incarnata is unequaled as a calmative. For every trouble of a purely nervous character, or developed from nerve derangement, as drawn and jerking tendons in the limbs, it invariably proves most beneficial. Passiflora does not produce constipation, and in this virtue, recommends itself strongly to the medical profession. Being prepared from the fresh green fruit, vine and leaf of the Maypop, it is a delightful, reliable and valuable nervine. Physicians prescribe passiflora for nervous women, teething babies, neuralgia, hysteria, acute nervousness from excitement, fevers, etc. Preceding and during childbirth, during the menstrual period, pregnancy and the menopause, it is indispensable to tranquilize the nerves of women. A tablespoonful given at night before retiring, will cure your patient of insomnia. Pasisflora stimulates and quiets the nervous system without the weakening reaction incident to opiates.