366

and baths, constitute a marked feature of a book which isthoroughly practical and reliable.An Introduction to Chemical Theory. By ALEXANDER

SCOTT, M.A.,D.Sc. London and Edinburgh: Adam andCharles Black.-An excellent little manual this, and oneadmirably fitted to serve as a companion to the practicalstudy of the science. It has long been a moot questionamongst teachers as to whether it is better or not to discussthe theoretical portion of chemistry before practical workis entered upon. As a rule the chapters devoted to theoryin the average text-book are but few, and this subject in.consequence seldom receives the attention it demands.Dr. Scott hopes that this small book may to some extentmake up for’this defect, and lead, on the part of thoseusing it, to the desire for more knowledge of this mostinteresting branch of the science. The object for which Ithe book was written is therefore a worthy one, and the I,subject matter is dealt with in such a way that there isevery chance of the hope being realised, if only the work isplaced in the hands of the intelligent student.

Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. XXIX. (Inglis-John). London: Smith, Elder, and Co.-The new volumeof this excellent dictionary is marked by the care

with which each of the biographies it contains has beendealt with by those authors to whom they have beenentrusted, and by the manifestly judicious manner in whicheach subject has been proportioned. The usefulness,fulness, and general accuracy of this work become moreand more apparent as its progress continues. It is a classicwork of reference as such, without any compeer in Englishor perhaps in any other language. It is impossible togo through the contents of this volume without beingimpressed by its intrinsic qualifications in this respect.It affords an almost complete history of Scotland

during the period of the Jameses, and the articles onJames I. and James II. of England amply repay perusal.Amongst literary men we may note the name of FrancisJeffrey with the history of the initiation of the EdinbnrghRevie2v, and a very wise criticism of this autocrat of critics.

Apropos of the episode at Chalk Farm, when Jeffrey andMoore met in mortal combat, which has been immortalisedin " English Bards and Scotch Reviewers," the editor statesthat Lord Byron has* "erroneously given the leadlesspistol’ to Moore." This is not accurate. The kiltedCaledonian goddess who presided over the destinies of

Jeffrey-"From either pistol snatched the vengeful lead,And straight restored it to her favourite’s head."

In the footnote relating to the incident, Byron says thatwhen the weapons were examined " the balls of the pistols,like the courage of the combatants, were found to haveevaporated." And again, towards the end of the poem, hedeclares that he had ceased to be alarmed "by Jeffrey’sharmless pistol." In the light of these extracts an explana-tion of giving the "leadless pistol" " to Moore might proveacceptable. The life and struggles and work of DouglasJerrold afford interesting matter for consideration, and avaluable stimulus to those who would penetrate into theliterature of that interesting period. A sketch of Jerrold’saccomplished son is also given, along with a list of the workswhich came from his pen. Among the medical worthies,the name of Edward Jenner, discoverer of vaccination(1749-1823), is the first that occurs on opening this volume,and the outstanding facts of his life and works are com-piled with judicious care by Dr. Norman Moore. Sir Paul

Jodrell, M.D., and Dr. John Jebb (1736-1786), Sir Richardand Samuel Jebb, are also noted in the present volume. Agood biographical description is given of Dr. Robert James,the author of a theory of fever and its treatment,His treatment consisted in administering the famous

powder which still bears his name, and for which hetook out a patent in the year 1746. Its constituents were

phosphate of lime and oxide of antimony, resembling theantimony powder of the present B.P. This is the powderwhich is reputed to have killed Goldsmibh. lb is historicalalso in having been prescribed for George III. in 1788. Itwas Dr. James of whom Dr. Samuel Johnson said, "Noman brings more mind to his profession. Dr. Robert Jackson,Inspector-General of Hospitals, who was famous in manyways, has an interesting notice in this volume. Hemanifested his contempt for the monopolists of the

Army Medical Service of his period and for the corruptadministration of the old Army Medical Board by apply.ing his gold-headed cane forcibly to the shoulders of hissuperior officer, an offence against discipline for which hesuffered six months’ imprisonment. Notwithstanding this,however, he afterwards became Medical Director in theWest Indies and Inspector-General of Army Hospitals. Theamount of interesting anecdote and history contained in thework, the evidences of deep and untiring research in itspreparation, are so great and so many that the brief noticewhich our space permits does but scant j justice to the laboursof those who are responsible for its success.

Repetitorium der Chemie. Von Dr. CARL ARNOLD.

Hamburg und Leipzig : Leopold Voss.-A text-book of thiskind in our own language would be eminently useful tostudents of medicine. It deals with both inorganic andorganic chemistry in a compass of not more than an inchbetween the covers, without sacrificing any material thatis essential. The index is in its way a lexicon; it consistsof no less than fifty out of a total of 612 pages, and is

certainly most complete.

New Inventions.REYNOLDS’ " ENEMA RACK."

MESSES. REYNOLDS AND BRANSON of Leeds have sentus one of their new racks, not

made for the storage of enemata,as might be supposed from thename, but for the better care ofthe syringes usually employedfor the purpose of administeringthem. It is adapted for the

ordinary ball rubber syringes,which are suspended on itat full length, and any fluidwhich drips from them is re-

ceived in a trough below. Theracks are adjustable in lengthby a slide, and fold up for por-tability. The cost is small, andthe advantages to be obtainedfrom their use considerable-

especially in hospitals, where somany syringes, either for theadministration of enemata or for

dressing of wounds, are required.They could easily be fitted

with a cover to keep off the dust.

POISON BOTTLE-STAND.THE problem of enclosing poisons in such a manner that

they cannot in any circumstances be administered in

mistake for harmless drugs is one that has from time totime exercised the ingenuity of many inventive minds.

367

Mr. Z. Mennell, M.R.C.S., is the latest solver of the problem,whose poison bottle-holder is illustrated in the accompanyingsketch. His plan is to provide a simple wooden frame, within

which the bottle for contain-

ing poison swings in a sort ofsling made of twisted wire.The bottle, when in position,as shown in the drawing,is prevented from swinginground so as to render itscontents accessible, even ifthe frame be tilted on one

side, by the twostops markedA and B in the drawing-one being placed on thefront and the other on theback of the frame, in suchpositions that the neck ofthe bottle cannot pass themin either direction. It istherefore impossible for thebottle to be taken up andits contents poured out inmistake. But if it be desiredthis latter procedure is

easily accomplished, for thestop marked A is nob rigidly fixed, but is hinged to theframe at its upper part ; and although the hinge does notpermit it to open outward, it does allow of its being closedup against and underneath the top of the frame by the merepressure of the finger or thumb. The stop can thus be putout of action, and the bottle swung round to be uncorked orwithdrawn. When replaced in its sling, or permitted to swingto rest, the bottle automatically assumes the position shownin the drawing, [and of course the hinged stop A offers noobstacle to the swinging in of the bottle neck ; although byfalling into the position shown as soon as the bottle mouthhas passed, it automatically blocks the return, and locksthe bottle in its position of safety. The stop shown in thefront of the drawing at the foot of the holder is a counter-part of the stop B. The holder is simple, efficient, andinexpensive. It is made in various sizes, and can be usedwith bottles of the most various shapes. Its designer hasvery happily avoided the faults of insufficient protection onthe one hand, and of over- elaboration on the other. Itsuse would, in our opinion, be well calculated to preventthe very serious mistakes against which it is intended toprovide.

-

NASAL SCISSORS.I WAS surprised that scissors such as those shown in the

accompanying illustration were not to be obtained of theLondon instrument makers—at least Meksis. Arnold and

Son inquired for me, but could not hear of any having beenmade. They resemble the ordinary crocodile nasal forceps,but have scissor instead of forceps blades. A glance atthe illustration will ab once explain their structure and

action. They are of use in the division of adhesions acrossthe nasal chambers, in the removal of localised hyper-trophies, and in many other intra-nasal operations. Theyare made by Messrs. Arnold and Son, West Smithfield.

W. J. WALSHAM.

VAPORISING KETTLE TUBE.

MR. ELLIS of Neasden has patented a tube which heclaims to be capable of affixing to any ordinary kettle at amoment’s nobice, thereby converting it into a vapour dis.tributor. It is simple and cheap, and in district nursing ib

will be found mosb useful in some pulmonary complaints.The apparatus cannob get out of order, is not cumbersome,and is within the reach of everybody.

CLARKE’S "FAIRY" COMBINATION LAMP.

CLARKE’S " Fairy " Combination Lamp and Food Warmerwill be found very useful in the sick room. It is fitted upr in a light and elegant frame, in which is placed one ofClarke’s "Fairy" lights, set in a glass vessel and protectedby a glass shade. The water is soon heated, and maintainedat an almost uniform temperature. The little earthenware

pan is then placed in the warm water, and its contents arethus kept hot by moist heat. Moreover, where a moistatmosphere is required in the neighbourhood of the patientthe food pan can be replaced in the water by an inhaler.Its lightness and compactness, together with its generalusefulness, will cause it to be much prIzed by medical men,by nurses, and by the general public in times when itsemployment is called for.

SCARLET FEVER IN PUBLIC CONVEYANCES.-Anpmploye of the Manchester, Sheffield, and LincolnshireRailway Company was fined five shillings for conveying ina railway carriage the dead body of a child who had died ofscarlet fever, without having properly notified the fact tothe railway company. The magistrates commented on thedanger to the public of such a practice.ANATOMICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND

IRELAND.-The second quarterly meeting of the session willbe held on Monday, Feb. 22nd, at 4 30 P.M., at the libraryof St. Thomas’s Hospital Medical School, Albert Embank.ment, S.E., Professor W. Turner, F.R.S., in the chair.Papers will be read by Professor Sir W. Turner, on "TheCerebral Hemispheres of Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus ;"Professor Sherington, "Note on the Nerve Supply of theHind Limb of Macacus Rbccsus"; Mr. David Hepburn,"Note on an Abnormal Condition of the Shoulder-joint";Mr. F. G. Parsons, "Some Points in the Myology ofRodents"; Mr. J. Bland Sutton, "Sections of the ’Velvet’from Stags’ Antlers, showing Sebaceous Glands "; ProfessorW. Anderson, " On the Delimitation of the Regions of theAbdomen "; Mr. F. C. Abbott, (a) "A Right Aortic Arch,with Abnormal Arrangement of the Vessels; (b) Pulmo.nary Valve with Four Cusps."