Books.

• MATERIA MEDICA AND PHARMACY. Especially designed for the use of Practitioners and Medical, Pharmaceutical, Dental and Veterinary Students. By E. Stanton Muir, Phg., M. V., M . D. Instructor of Comparative Materia Medica and Pharmacy in the University of Pennsylvania. Third Edition Revised and Enlarged. F. A. Davis Co., Publishers, 1914-16 Cherry St., Philadelphia, Pa.

This work is a synopsis of the facts which are essential to a student in the study of materia medica. These facts are arranged in an exceedingly simple and natural form, and as each alternate page of the book contains a blank page for notes, the book is one which a lecturer could readily follow—the students entering their notes on the blank page. The work is so prepared as to be of value, not only to students of human medicine, but to veterinary students, and to pharmaceutical and dental students as well. The work in previous editions has become quite popular, and this edition should and doubtless will receive its share of patronage.

• WHAT TO DO FOR THE STOMACH. A careful arrangement of the most Important Symptoms in Diseased Conditions of the Stomach and the Remedy Indicated in the Cure of these Symptoms. By G. E. Dienst, Ph. D., M. D., Author of "What to Do for the Head." 202 pages. Cloth, $1.00 net; postage, 5 cents. Philadelphia. Boericke & Tafel. 1907.

The homeopathists have taught us some very important lessons in the grouping of symptoms and in the selection of single remedies for each indication. This little work of two hundred pages is an exhaustive consideration of stomach symptoms, arranged in order, making it accessible to those who are familiar with the methods of adapting homeopathic remedies. For instance seventeen pages are occupied with the arrangements of eructations under different conditions. Hiccough occupies three pages. Nausea occupies twenty pages. It is my intention during the coming year to classify the symptoms which present in certain organs in disease to an extent, thus beginning a work which I hope to complete in time. This little work will be valuable to those who understand its careful adjustment to this class of remedies.

• THE ECLECTIC PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. By Rolla L. Thomas, M. D., Professor of the Principles and Practice of Medicine in The Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio. Price, cloth, $6.00; sheep, $7.00; The Scudder Brothers Company. Second edition now ready.

The writer has been studying this lately published work devoting to it all the time possible the last two months. We object to the conventional review stereotyped as it usually is: a reference to the book, the naming of the author, the publisher and, maybe, the price, with a few commonplace remarks conveying the reviewer's notions of the merit or lack of merit of the book, according to his whims or prejudices. There are books deserving little else than mere mention, it is true, but if a reviewer call attention to even a very few meritorious features it may encourage the author to a renewal of effort, when lacks may be supplied and weaknesses give way to vigorous energy in the next revision.

The matter of making a medical book a textbook of practice, such as we are trying to give unbiased review, involves the practice of deductions almost illimitable.

There is so much to be left out, a thousand more than to be put in. When the straw, the cheat, the cockle and the blasted wheat are riddled and fanned out, one may obtain concrete knowledge. It is hardly necessary at this late day for an author in indulge much theory or speculation concerning the how or the why certain agencies called medicines exert favorable influence. The question has been turned over so many times that the neophite in medicine need not be at a loss to know. After actually studying Professor Thomas' book we are more convinced that the above expressed notions of the writer of this review, governed largely when "The Eclectic Practice of Medicine" was written.

The author's chief aim was to collate proven facts as well as to present others coming to himself, by reason of many years' experience in actual practice. Professor Thomas was a close student of Scudder, and it appears but natural that his deductions parallel the products of him who was so prominent in medical epoch making the middle epoch of Eclectic medicine in America. Enough and no more is given of nomenclature, definition, history, etiology, pathology, symptoms, complications, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. It is a textbook and will serve for some years the requirements of students in colleges.

If a practitioner be supplied with "Webster's New Eclectic Practice" and with "Ellingwood's Treatment of Disease" and with the work under consideration, he could not reasonably expect to surpass such a practical list by additions. These contain and convey in succinct form and statement the present position of Eclectic medicine in America, and they all do full credit to the acknowledged ability of each individual author. Now, as in the recent past history of medicine, the literature of medicine is being added to largely by Eclectic authors, and the time is not far distant when a budding independence in those yet under surveillance will acknowledge the fact. Due credit and acknowledgment must come, although the evil genius—designing prejudice—live on after the throning and reigning of tolerance.

• THERAPEUTICS OF VIBRATION. The Healing of the Sick an Exact Science. By WM. Lawrence Woodruff, M. D., Member of The American Institute of Homeopathy, The California Homeopathic Medical Society, South California Academy of Science, Author of Climatography of the Salt River Valley Region of Arizona. J. F. Elwell Publishing CO., 247 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, Calif.

This little work of about 150 pages, considers quite fully the underlying principles of vibration, its influence in nature and its influence upon the human system. It considers the chemical influence of vibration, and the relation between vibration and electric influence to which are added the therapeutics of light. The principles of vibration are also applied to drug action, and to the absorption and appropriation of cell foods. The work is indeed a comprehensive consideration of the subject.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.