Books.

• DISEASES OF CHILDREN. By William Nelson Mundy, M. D., Professor of Pediatrics in the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, O. Second Revised Edition. Illustrated. 8-vo, 512 pp. Cloth, $3.00. The Scudder Brothers Co., Publishers, Cincinnati, O.

Dr. John M. Scudder's work on Diseases of Children, published about 1870, was a safe and reliable guide to the physician in the treatment of children's diseases, and at the time it was written it was a pioneer in the field. Prof. Mundy has been a close student of Dr. Scudder. In addition to this, and perhaps because of this, he has become an expert in the close observation of disease manifestations in childhood as well also as in the observation of the action of drugs upon these conditions of disease. This with a very extended experience in practice has especially adapted him to the position of author of such a work.

His first edition, written a few years ago, became at once very popular, and placed the author deservedly in an enviable position, but changes take place very rapidly in our knowledge, either of the cause of disease or of the action of drugs, and the changes that have taken place since this book was written, have made it necessary that it be rewritten at this time, and be altered, enlarged and illustrated, consistent with the growth of our knowledge.

That the author has succeeded well in this goes without saying. The book contains more than five hundred pages. It is printed on excellent paper, large octavo in size, and contains many illustrations.

I am particularly pleased with the definiteness of the symptoms, and the clearness, fullness and especially the specific character of the treatment. Consistent with the character of the school, the author has gone into careful detail in pointing out in each case, the specific indications for treatment. In this, the work is in sharp contrast with most of the writers on pediatrics. Where one of the best of old school writers gives a dozen lines for the medical treatment of scarlet fever this work devotes about three pages to specific treatment. Where most writers would advise antitoxin alone in the treatment of diphtheria, this book speaks well of that method, but devotes nearly four pages to specific conditions that may arise and the reliable remedies that are applicable to them.

I am glad to have an opportunity to review this excellent work, and I feel that I can conscientiously recommend it, to every one who desires to become proficient in the treatment of diseases of children.

• MODERN PHYSIO-THERAPHY. A System of Drugless Therapeutic Methods, with Chapters on Suggestion and X-Ray Diagnosis. By Otto Juettner, A. M., M. D. 3rd Edition. Published by the Cincinnati Medical Book Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.

A distinction should certainly be made at times in our literature between the use of drugs and medicines in the cure of disease, and the use of other measures. This work considers in its first part, hygiene, dietetics, heat and cold, massage and vibration; light, in its various forms, the X-ray, electricity, galvanism, and suggestion.

In its second part it presents a Therapeutic Index, in which is arranged in alphabetical order, the names of the various diseases or conditions of disease, presenting in order in a very condensed and practical form the various measures suggested in the first part of the work.

The work is well illustrated and introducing, as it does, the most modern methods, is well calculated to fill an important place in our literature.

• TRANSACTIONS OF THE NATIONAL ECLECTIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, together with the essays and papers presented at that meeting. Edited by the Secretary, William P. Best, M. D., Indianapolis, Ind.

The work of the year here reported was indeed important and the record that has been made here should be read by all who are interested in the advancement of our methods. The society was fortunate this year, in having for its president, an active, energetic, enthusiast for the cause, Dr. L. A. Perce, of Long Beach, California. Under his direction an excellent lot of papers were collected. To be especially commended, were the special addresses the President had had prepared on the several departments of our work by prominent men. All this with the Transactions appear in this volume. It is common to look upon the volume of transactions of a medical society as a book to be filed away for reference, only as concerns the society itself. This will be found to be a valuable book of reference for the record it makes of important advancement in our knowledge of the treatment of disease, as the papers are largely on that topic. It is to be regretted that this work is accessible only to the members of the Association. A change is being made, however, this year, in the relationship the State Societies bear to the National, which will make it possible within another year to have the entire membership of the State Societies registered as members of the National, and entitled to a copy of the Transactions.

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