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and great care is taken to point out the exact operativeprocedures best adapted to each variety of intestinalobstruction. Dr. Senn is well versed in the literature ofhis subject, and has devoted much thought to it. Theresult is an essay full of material for reflection and well

worthy of the careful study of all surgeons who may becalled upon to treat these very grave and anxious cases.

Many of Dr. Senn’s suggestions are very valuable, as is alsothe caution that no surgeon should operate in cases ofobstruction unless quite familiar with conditions liable tobe found, and with the technique of, the several proceduresthat may be required.

Illustrations of Zoology : In,vertebrates and Vertebrates.By WM. RAMSAY SMITH, B.Se., and J. STEWART NORWELL.Edinburgh and London : Young J. Pentland. 1889.-Inthis work there are seventy plates representing on a tolerablylarge scale the morphology of a considerable number ofanimals. It might be used with advantage by a student inhis first or second year, and would serve to familiarise himwith the names, the forms, and to some extent with thestructure of types of many of the orders and of all theclasses of the animal kingdom. The authors desire that it

may be regarded as a companion to a course of systematiczoology. As examples of the drawings, which are accom-panied by brief explanations of the figures, we may take theplate devoted to Balanoglossus. There are here seven

figures ; one representing Balanoglossus minutus, a secondthe forepart of Balanoglossus sarniensis, a transverse sectionthrough the middle of the branchial region of Balanoglossusminutus, and four drawings of the successive stages of thedevelopment of the Tornaria larva in its passage into theadult Balanoglossus. The drawings are correct, thougha little coarsely drawn, and might have been in some

instances improved by the introduction of a little colour.A Gernaan-Dngl2sh Dictionary of Medical Terms. By

FREDERICK TREVES, F.R.C.S. Eng., and HUGO LANG,B.A. London: J. and A. Churchill. 1890.-The need ofa reliable dictionary of technical terms has often been feltby the English student of German medical literature, andthe publication of such a work some years since by Dr. Cutterwent far to meet this want. The growth of science and theexpansion of literature are, however, constantly adding tomedical nomenclature, and, as Mr. Treves points out in thepreface to the volume before us, have necessitated a thoroughrecompilation of terms. Certainly, he and his colleague havespared no pains to render their dictionary full and useful.We have endeavoured to detect errors of omission, but arebound to confess with but little success. Once or twice wefancied we had detected such, but found that we weredealing with compound words of which the components hadtheir place in the pages of the dictionary. Indeed, itwould have added unnecessarily to the bulk of the work tohave included many such terms to the coining of which theGerman tongue offers such facilities. There are manyterms, however, in common use which have to be includedin such a work, on account of their frequent associationwith technical phrases, and we are glad to find the com-pilers admit this fully, and perhaps they might agreethat such words as "beiträge," "thätigkeit," "verhutung,"might have found a place, since they occur so frequently inmedical writings. The word "Kot" seems less familiar tous than "Koth," but perhaps the elimination of the dumbaspirate may be justifiable. It is plain, however, that thelacume are insignificant, and the general merits of the

Dictionary very high. Its value is indeed undeniable, andMr. Treves and Mr. Lang are to be congratulated upon thecare and accuracy with which they have performed a mostuseful task.Latin Grammar 0/ PTzarnaacy. By J OSEPH INCE, F. C S ,

&c. London: Baillière, Tindall, and Cox. Fifth Edition,

1890.—Thia book, which is intended for the use of medicaland pharmaceutical students, appears to meet a want, since ithas reached a fifth edition. The addition of over a thousandwords to the vocabulary indicates that the art of prescribingin Latin is not altogether defunct, and the use of accentswill tend to remove much uncertainty. The book willdoubtless continue to prove serviceable to those who desireto improve their acquaintance with the elementary techni-calities involved in accurate writing and reading of pre-scriptions.

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New Inventions. AN IMPROVED FORM OF RELAXATION SUTURE.

DR. NEWTON ALFRED PowELL of Toronto, in a paperwhich he read before the Ontario Medical Society, gavea description of an improved form of relaxation suture, ofwhich we give illustrations. The plates are made of pureblock tin, cut to an oval form, measuring about three-

quarters of an inch in the longer and half an inch in theshorter diameter. A central post arises from the plate to a

height of three-sixteenths of an inch.It has a shoulder where it joins theplate, is perforated with a round holefrom the under surface of the plate toits own apex, and is cross-cut down tothe shoulder in the short axis of the

plate. In using these appliances, thewire or other form of suture is passedthrough from below, bent into the

slot, wound two or three times aroundthe post, and then carried across the post through theslot again. They can be sterilised by boiling and used

indefinitely, can be bent to fit irregular surfaces,and tightened or relaxed at will. They are made byMessrs. J. Stevens and Son of Toronto, and Messrs.J. Reynder and Co. of New York.

Analytical Records.MEDICATED WOOLS.

(J. L. BULLOCK & CO., 3, HANOVER-STREET, HANOVER-SQUARE, W.)MESSRS. BULLOCK and Co. have sent us three samples of

their menthol wools. These are respectively impregnatedwith 5, 10, and 20 per cent. of menthol. The weaker pre-parations are intended to be used as small pledgets insertedinto each nostril, and when thus employed they have beenfound useful in influenza. The stronger form is intendedfor use in an antiseptic inhaler in cases of phthisis.

RILEY’S TEMPERANCE PALE ALE, NON-INTOXICATING,SPARKLING.

(RILEY’S TEMPERANCE HOP ALE AND BEER CO., LIMITED, 6, VIGO-STREET, REGENT-STREET.)

We are inclined to think highly of this temperancebeverage. In addition to the social temptations whichbeset the total abstainer, he frequently suffers from themonotony of the substitutes which are offered to him. Hewearies of ginger-beer, lemonade, and soda-water, and

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cannot always be drinking tea. If he be a recent convert,the memory of his " glass of bitter" will cling to him, andhe will miss the agreeable tonic of the hop. The highestpraise that we can give to this preparation is to say that itis very like pale ale. The hop is unmistakable, and there ]is a distinct fulness or "body" which, with the effervescence jdue to carbonic acid, are strongly reminiscent of Burton-on-Trent. The sample examined by us was not absolutely,but only practically, non-alcoholic, for it contained 0 89 percent. by weight of alcohol, a quantity which would beignored in fermented ginger-beer. It yielded 2’96 per cent.of solid residue, and 0’07 per cent. of ash. Sugar, probablymaltose, was present, but we found no dextrin or starch.

HEALTH-GUARD.

(THE HEALTH-GUARD CO., 42, BATH-STREET, GLASGOW.)

This antiseptic and disinfectant material is described asa patented combination of quadriborate and salicylate ofsoda," and, in fact, boric and salicylic acids and soda arefound in it by analysis. It is recommended not only as anordinary disinfectant, but also for the preservation of meat,fish, milk, &c. Dr. E. J. Mills, F.R.S. of Glasgow, whoadvocates its use for domestic drains and waterelosets, andfor the purification of drinking water, also suggests thatit may be incorporated with advantage in the paste usedby paperhangers. With this last suggestion we entirelyconcur, but we cannot agree that the mixture is suitablefor ordinary sanitary use, and still less can we advise itsaddition to articles of food or drink.

STERN’S PUMILINE PREPARATIONS.

(G. & G. STERN, 62, GRAY’S-INN-ROAD.)

We have before us half a dozen preparations of the nowwell-known pumiline, the terpine or essential oil of thePinus pumilio. They consist of essence, extract, jujubes,ointment, liniment, and soap, and from all the characteristicand fragrant oil, said to be obtained only from trees grow-ing near the snow-line, can readily be separated. Pumilinehas been skilfully incorporated in the various preparations.

COX’S HYGIENIC COCOA EXTRACT.

A well-prepared cocoa, containing only 22’92 per cent. offat, and no trace of any adulteration. It is fairly soluble,and leaves but little husk.

VALENTINE’S PREPARATION OF MEAT JUICE.

(MANN S. VALENTINE, RICHMOND, VA., U.S.)

This preparation, to which some years ago we accordedhigh praise, has now attained to very general recognition asa concentrated and delicately flavoured liquid meat food.That its continued popularity is deserved is shown by thefollowing partial analysis, in which the results are stated inparts per cent.:—Water, 54’32; organic matter, including3 3 per cent. nitrogen, 34.85; ash, containing much phos-phate, 10’83; absolute alcohol extracted, 2641 per cent.,of which 2’97 was nitrogen. The preparation contained freealbumen, showing that it is not merely a meat stimulant,but in addition a flesh-forming food.

THURBERS’ CEREALINE FLAKES.

(THURBERS, GATES, & CO., ST. GEORGE’S HOUSE, EASTCHEAP.)

Clcan and delicate white flakes. Under the microscopenoth ng but pure and partially cooked wheat flour wasdetected.

DAHL, OR INDIAN LENTIL REVALENTA FOOD.

(MACLEAN & SONS, EDINBURGH; HERTZ & COLLINGWOOD, LEADENHALL HOUSE, LONDON.)

Our analysis indicates that this is a well-prepared andunadulterated lentil flour. Its value in dietetics is wel’.known.

LANOLINE TOILET SOAP.

(BURROUGHS, WELLCOME, & CO., SNOW-HILL BUILDINGS.)Lanoline toilet soap is an excellent and valuable prepara-

tion, in which there is distinct excess of lanoline over alkali.Petroleum ether readily extracts lanoline. The soap cannot.fail to become popular with physicians.ICHTHYOL-LANOLINE SOAP, CONTAINING 10 PER CENT.

ICHTIIYOL.

(BURROUGHS, WELLCOME, & CO., SNOW-HILL BUILDINGS.)

Ichthyol, the fish oil lately recommended for skin affec-tions, is in this preparation associated with lanoline. Thereis great advantage in the admixture, for the absorbentpower of the skin for lanoline is now universally recognised.We have found no difficulty in separating the fish oil.

GOLDEN GIN.

(CHRISTOPHER HILL & CO., 47, ALDGATE HIGH-STREET.)

This is described as specially distilled from pure malt,and is guaranteed to be six years old, and stored forthe whole of that time in sherry casks. In this spiritit is easy to recognise the smell and taste both of

gin and of sherry. It is soft and mellow in taste, andquite unsweetened. Analysis gave 37’61 per cent. byweight of alcohol, equal to 78-39 per cent. of proof spirit.The residue, dried at 100° C., amounted only to ’33 per cent.,and the ash to ’03 per cent. Ferric chloride gave a distinctreaction of tannin, evidently from the wood of the cask.

CERTIFYING SURGEONS’ ASSOCIATION.

THE Association of Certifying Surgeons held their firstannual meeting for the election of officers &c. on Tuesday,the llth inst., at the Queen’s Hotel, Manchester. Therewas a good attendance from all parts of the kingdom.The hon. secretary’s report showed that a large amount ofwork had been done by the Association during the pasttwelve months, and that a considerable quantity ofliterature on the Factory Acts had been distributed. Thetreasurer’s report was likewise very satisfactory, he havinga considerable balance in hand and all expenses for the pastyear paid. The following officers were elected :-Mr. F. H.Walmsley (Salford), President. Dr. J. T. Arlidge (Stoke-on-Trent), Messrs. C. Johnson (Lancaster), G. M. Stansfield(Bristol), Dr. C. F. Moore (Dublin), and Dr. Kidd (Bally-mena), Vice-Presidents. Dr. J. C. Eames (Farnworth), Hon.Treasurer. Dr. J. Holmes (Radcliffe), Hon. Sec. Mr. R. Gray,Hon. Sec. for Ireland. Drs. Livy, E. Moore, F. M. Pierce,J. Barr, T. Crowther, J. Lawson, J. Watson, Purdon,J. Johnson Bailey, R. Patrick, R. Settle, and C. A. Greaves; pMessrs. W. H. Hughes, J. H. Wright, W. H. Barr, J. K.Davidson, H. M. Fernie, J. White, W. E. S. Burnett,W. Stanwell, T. Fort, F. H. Wood, C. J. Trimble, W. F.Dearden, and R. Atkinson, Executive Committee. It wasunanimously decided that the next annual meeting be heldin Leeds. After the business had been concluded the membersdined together. Amongst others present at dinner was Mr.R W. Cules, late Her Majesty’s Superintending Inspector ofFactories for the North of England. The Chairman proposedthe health of Mr. R. W. Coles, the guest of the evening, andon behalf of the Association presented him with an illumi-nated address on his retirement from the official positionof Her Majesty’s Superintending Inspector of Factoriesfor the north of England. Mr. Coles, in his reply, alludedto the fact that lie had been thirty-five years in the serviceof the Factory Deparement. During that time he had foundthe certifying surgeons of the greatest help to him in thecarrying out of the Factory Acts, so much so, indeed, thathe felt that their services could not be dispensed with underthe present Acts. Dr. J. Watson proposed "The FactoryDepartment, coupled with the name of Mr. AlexanderRedgrave, C.B., the chief of the department." Dr. J. T.

Arlidge, President of the late Association of CertifyingSurgeons, replied to the toast of his health, which was.proposed by Dr. F. M. Pierce.