REVIEWS.

preparation of a new edition after the lapse of a few years involves a great amount of labour on an author who strives to keep his work abreast of the times. It goes without saying that Dr Woodhead has made such an effort in placing before his readers a new edition; the scope of the work has been enlarged, the matter has been partially rearranged, and the illustrations have been improved and increased in number. How admirably it is fitted to serve as a guide in the study of morbid histology may be gathered from the fact that it now contains no fewer than 195 illustrations, nearly all of which are coloured so as to represent the objects exactly as they appear when stained and examined under the microscope. Taking text and illustrations together, the book is a model work of its class, and medical students of the present day are to be congratulated on having at their disposal such an admirable aid to the practical study of pathology. It is much to be regretted that there is not yet in existence any similar book dealing with veterinary pathology, but a great deal of Dr Woodhead's work applies with very little alteration to the morbid anatomy of animal diseases, and we strongly recommend it to both veterinary practitioners and students as the best book on the subject that is obtainable in the English language.

A Manual of Veterinary Physiology. By Veterinary-Captain F. Smith, M.R.C.V.S., Professor in the Army Veterinary School, Aldershot. London: BaiIW:re, Tindall, & Co. New York: W. R. Jenkins. 1892.

IF the state of knowledge regarding any branch of science at a particular date is to be gauged by the contemporaneous literature on the subject, the study of veterinary physiology in English-speaking countries dates only a few years back. Before the appearance of Dr Meade Smith's work in the United States there was absolutely no book in English dealing systematically with the physiology of the domesticated animals. Here, after an interval of three years, we have a second manual dealing with the same subject, and this time by an author whose name is familiar to British veterinary surgeons. Professor Smith is well known, not only in this country but also abroad, as a most assiduous and original investigator, and the present work will add to his reputation. In his preface the author modestly states that the work does not claim to be anything more than a stepping-stone, but good stepping-stones are just exactly what the average student wants, and Professor Smith has provided one to the study of physiology. The book has reached us too late to allow of our giving it the detailed notice which it deserves in this number, but we may briefly state the general impression left by a rapid glance through the 400 pages that compose the volume.

In the first place it will doubtless, from the student's point of view, appear a great merit that the book has been kept of moderate size. Four hundred pages, it is true, make up a considerable volume, but we doubt if an intelli­gent account of the physiology of the domesticated animals can be given within smaller compass. It is right to state, however, that Professor Smith's work is in the main a manual of equine physiology, but while the horse serves as the type, the special physiology of the ox, sheep, and pig is also dealt with. The physiology of the dog is almost altogether omitted, and the book does not, as many physiological text-books do, deal with the histology of the tissues. This latter omission is, we think, an advisable one, but it is open to doubt whether the usefulness of the book would not have been increased by the incorporation of canine physiology. The reasons assigned for the omission are that canine physiology is of subordinate interest; and that when informa­tion on that head is required it is easily obtained from human text-books. But surely the physiology of the dog is as interesting and important as that of

CLINICAL ARTICLES. 259

the sheep or pig, and, admitting that much canine physiology is contained in some of the text-books of human physiology, it certainly is not convenient for the veterinary student to have to hunt for it there.

The matter is divided into 21 chapters, of which one is devoted to the physiology of the horse's foot; and there are 50 illustrations, mostly simple, but excellent for their purpose. The arrangement of the matter is good, and the language is eminently clear. In fact, the book from first to last is written in a style that makes it most readable, and even the drier facts of physiology, such as those relating to chemical composition, are made as interesting as it is possible to make them.

We have said enough to indicate that we have formed a high opinion of the merits of the book. It is a credit to its author, and, indirectly, to the pro­fession to which he belongs. It will form a valuable addition to the too small list of good veterinary text-books, and we trust it will have the large sale which it deserves. It ought to be added that the manner in which the publishers have done their share of the work leaves nothing to be desired.

The Law of Horses. By D. Ross Stewart, M.A., LL.B., Advocate. Edinburgh: William Green & Sons, 1892.

THIS work treats of the principles, enactments, and cases in Scotch law that relate to horses. While it therefore is less restricted in its scope than the title might lead one to expect, the author does not absolutely confine himself to the state of the law in Scotland, but refers also for illustration to English authorities, and points out differences between the legal systems of the two countries. He also cites cases relating to other subjects than horses as authority for the general principles of contract, fraud, and negligence which emerge in transactions about horses. The law is treated of under the follow­ing headings: sale, warranty and sale for specific purpose, hiring and loan, custody, carriage by land and water, responsibility for the negligent use of horses, defences to actions of damages for injury to horses and caused by them, damages, and insurance. In the chapter on custody, the law reJating to the responsibility of veterinary surgeons, smiths, and farriers is described; and, among other things given in an appendix, there is a summary of the Veterinary Surgeons Act of r88r. The book is likely to prove exceedingly useful to all who are in any way concerned in horse transactions in Scotland, and for veterinary surgeons in p~rticular it will probably be a good invest­ment.

eLI N I CAL ART I C L E S. --0--

V A RIO LA E QUI N A.

By HARRY OLVER, F.R.C.V.S., Tamworth.

THE above disease with an extraordinary sequela has recently come under my notice, and, being quite unable to account for the latter, I send this short history of the outbreak, with the hope that it may be the means of unravelling the mystery.

On the 18th of December 1891, a message arrived from Mr J. L. (six miles away) requesting our attendance. My assistant (Mr Pick-worth) went and found six horses in one stable ill.