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wmcu we nave recently revieweu. ilti is a pleasure tio unu that

the book remains essentially the same as in the first edition.It has not been overweighted with new matter and it still,better than most books, enables the reader to distinguishbetween facts and the inordinate accretions of conjecture.No better introduction to the subject could be placed in thestudent’s hands.

JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. Vol. I.,Nos. 2 and 3.-The excellent start which the RoyalSociety of Medicine made with the first number of its pro-ceedings has been well maintained in its successors. It isnot our purpose to review these publications at any lengthas the papers and cases with which they deal have as a rulebeen reported in our columns before their appearance inthe society’s literature. The second number records manyinteresting cases in the Clinical, Dermatological, and Laryngo-logical Sections, the last part of the important debate onPneumonia, followed by a paper on the Pathology of Epi-lepsy, by Dr. Alfred E. Russell, with the subsequent dis-cussion, in the Medical Section, and in the remaining sectionsthe following cases: The X Ray Diagnosis of Renal andUreteral Calculi, by Dr. G. Harrison Orton; Medical Inspectionin Schools : the Gloucestershire System, by Dr. Myer Coplans ;Pubiotomy, by Dr. Thomas Wilson ; An Analysis of 274 Addi-tional Cases of Goitre Removed by Operation, by Mr. JamesBerry ; the Therapeutics of Indigestion, by Dr. WilliamMurray;Some Tropical Diseases and the Remedies required for theirTreatment and Prophylaxis, by Mr. James Cantlie; AContribution to the Study of the Relationship betweenAvian and Human Tuberculosis, by Mr. S. G. Shattock, Dr.C. G. Seligmann, Mr. L. S. Dudgeon, and Dr. P. N. Panton;Some Experiences with the Tuberculin Ophthalmic Reaction,by Mr. L. J. Austin and Dr. Otto Grunbaum ; Abscess of Bonecaused by an Intermediate Bacillus (P.) allied to B. Para-typhosus, by Dr. F. G. Bushnell ; Some Notes on the

Growth of the Jaws, by Mr. J. T. Carter; and theEffects of Chronic Suppuration in the Molar of a

Horse, by Mr. J. G. Turner. In the January number(No. 3) there are reports of cases and specimens fromthe Clinical, Dermatological, Laryngological, Obstetrical,Otological, and Surgical Sections ; a Presidential Address tothe Otological Section, by Dr. Peter McBride, dealing withthe development of aural surgery ; a discussion on the

Diagnostic Value of the Roentgen Rays in Diseases of theChest, introduced by Dr. A. Stanley Green, and amongst thepapers are the following: On the Present Means of Com-bating the Plague, by Professor W. M. Haffkine, C.I.E.,and Protection of India from Invasion by Bubonic Plague,by Dr. J. Ashburton Thompson; Some Peculiarities ofCerebral Gummata, by Dr. J. S. Collier ; the Supports of thePelvic Viscera, by Dr. W. E. Fothergill ; a Case of Com-plete Gastrectomy, by Mr. B. G. A. Moynihan ; Cases ofCholecystectomy, by Mr. J. D. Malcolm; the Action of

Digitalis on the Human Heart, by Dr. James Mackenzie ;and the Reminiscences of an Apprentice Fifty Years Ago, byMr. W. Soper.

The Jounal of Nervous and Mental Diseases (New York).-In the December, 1907, issue of this journal there is an

interesting paper by Dr. Lewellys Barker and Dr. FrankJ. Sladen of Baltimore on Acrocyanosis Chronica Anæstheticawith Gangrene ; its Relations to Other ’Diseases, especiallyto Erythromelalgia and Raynaud’s Disease. Also amongthe proceedings of the American Neurological Associa-tion reported in this number will be found a discus-sion on Heredity in Diseases of the Nervous System,in which many well-known authorities expressed their

opinions. The subject is viewed from a wide stand-

point and the report of the proceedings will befound instructive to anyone collecting data on this topic.

The account of the New York Neurological Society containsa discussion on the Antisyphilitic Treatment of Tabes andParesis, and most of the speakers were agreed that this formof treatment was very unsatisfactory in these diseases andindeed that in many instances it aggravated rather thanrelieved the symptoms; further, that probably in most ofthose cases in which permanent good was derived the con-dition was rather one of pseudo-paresis than the true disease.This number also contains other matter of instruction andinterest.

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New Inventions.X RAY PLATES.

WE are glad to find that at last a really serious effort isbeing made to produce a satisfactory x ray plate in thiscountry. We have received from Ilford, Limited, Ilford,London, E., samples of x ray plates which as regards theultimate result quite equal and even excel that of anyimported plate we have ever tried. They give full density,plenty of contrast, and abundant detail. It must beadmitted, however, that they require a rather longerexposure than some plates of foreign make. While thelength of exposure is a matter of secondary importancein most cases, there is no doubt that other things beingequal radiographers will unquestionably use those plateswhich require the least exposure, not only as an extra

precaution against any undesired epilation or dermatitisbut in the radiography of fidgety people and children,the saving of time generally, and on account of thereduced wear and tear of x ray tubes. No doubt in duecourse emulsions will be prepared having a greater sensi-tiveness to the x rays.There would appear to be some confusion in the

minds of the makers as to the relation that exists inthe sensitiveness of the haloid salts of silver to ordinarydaylight and to the rays from an x ray tube. As a

matter of practical experience we have found that allordinary photographic plates, whether "process," "slow,""extra rapid," or by whatever term they are described, haveabout an equal sensitiveness to the x rays, the" rapid" "varieties not necessarily being more rapid than the slowergrades. Another noteworthy fact is that it is difficult, and attimes impossible, to get sufficient density when an ordinaryphotographic plate is used for radiographic purposes. Thisseems to be due to the thinness of the coating, which, thoughthick enough for the purposes of ordinary photography, doesnot react correspondingly under the influence of the x rays.To get over this difficulty thicker coatings have been used,and while this scheme answers up to a certain point thefact remains that some x ray plates of foreign manu-facture produce results with comparatively brief exposuressuch as we have been unable to obtain with plates ofBritish manufacture. In justice to the Ilford x ray plateswe should say that in every case where we have used bothan Ilford plate and one of the best obtainable plates offoreign origin upon the same part of the same patient andunder exactly similar conditions except the length ofexposure, the resulting negative has been better in the caseof the Ilford. In all cases the plates were fully exposed, sothat longer exposure in either case would have been detri-mental. We welcome and recommend the Ilford x ray plates.Ilford, Limited, appear to be working along the proper linesand we fully expect that before very long we shall haveavailable an x ray plate of home manufacture at least theequal of any other.

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.-The followingappointments have been made :—Electors to the followingProfessorships: Anatomy, Dr. D. MacAlister ; Medicine(Downing), Sir Lauder Brunton ; Physiology, Dr. W. H.Gaskell ; Surgery, Mr. H. H. Clutton ; and Pathology, Dr.L. Humphry.-Dr. Humphry has been coopted a memberof the degree committee of the Special Board for Medicine.- Mr. Raymond Johnson, M.B., B.S. Lond., F.R.C.S. Eng.,has been appointed an Examiner in Surgery for the ThirdM.B. jn place of Mr. H. G. Barling who is unable toexamine.-Mr. J. S. Gardiner, M.A. of Caius College, has beenreappointed demonstrator in animal morphology for five years.