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A MASTOID WOUND RETRACTOR.
1410
I
This work is a philosophic treatise of considerable malaria, while the value of ouabain, quinidine, and novarsural in special heart conditions, and the use length-perhaps of too great a length-but which no of ephedrine in asthma are also assessed. In the thoughtful biologist can afford to neglect if he cares paragraphs on coughs the author gives an interesting for method as well as for collecting the bewildering diagram representing the cough reflex. He reminds facts of life. us that being a reflex a cough has a definite purpose, and therefore should not be suppressed without a PHARMACOLOGIE ET MATIÈRE careful consideration as to whether it is of benefit to THRAPEUTIQUE M]tDICALr,,. the patient or not. According to him, analysis of Par le Dr. FRANÇorS ARNAUD, Professeur honoraire patent cough mixtures shows that the majority à I’Ecole de Medecine de Marseille, Medecin contain some preparation of the alkaloids of opium ; Masson et Consultant des Hôpitaux. Paris : their efficacy in allaying cough is therefore measured Cie. 1930. Pp. 878. Fr.95. in terms of their narcotic content. It is remarkable that in the treatment of acute and chronic nephritis Prof. Arnaud holds that the tberapeutical equipjalap is recommended. Since jalap is now recognised ment of the average young graduate is inadequate, to be a potent kidney irritant, and is even used and that there is room for considerable improvement experimentally on animals to affect the kidneys, in the teaching of therapeutics. This view is held its use in the treatment of nephritis would seem to be by teachers in many other countries and is attributed In the section on blood diseases to various causes; in France, according to Dr. Arnaud, contra-indicated. two interesting tables are given; one shows how it is due to the fact that there is no systematic teaching the advance of polycythaemia vera can be controlled of pharmacology and therapeutics in the third or by short courses of acetylphenylhydrazine, and the fourth year of medical study. He himself gives a other the remarkable effects of splenectomy on course of instruction to senior students and on this thrombocytopenic purpura. Especially good is the course he has founded his book. In the first part section on ductless glands, particularly the part he considers general principles, and deals with the dealing with diabetes ; the table of caloric require- absorption and elimination of drugs, the factors ments for males and females for all ages should be modifying their action, and prescription writing. of great assistance to those not accustomed to The rest of the work is devoted to a discussion of the The paragraph headed action and uses of individual drugs, which the author treating this disease. " points in the training of patients" is well worth has classified into five groups. The first consists In discussing the uses of iodine in thyroid of those agents which modify infections, and includes study. conditions, Dr. Campbell says : " It has at least the immune sera, vaccines, general antiseptics, and specific authority of antiquity, for well-authenticated Chinese medicaments, such as quinine, mercury, and the writings about the years 1567 to 1573 show clearly organic arsenical compounds. The second consists that extracts of seaweed and burnt sponges (which of agents which excite or depress the- nervous system, contain considerable quantities of iodine) were while the third, fourth, and fifth deal respectively regarded as specific in the treatment of goitre." with drugs which act chiefly on the circulation, the This book will be found of high value by secretions and excretions, and general nutrition. The classification is sound enough from the practical practitioners and deserves a wide public. point of view though, as the author recognises, it is vulnerable on other grounds. The book as a whole BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES. By J. H. WOODGER, B.Sc., Reader in Biology in the University of London. London : Kegan Paul, Trench, Triibner, and Co., Ltd. Pp. 498. 21s. WHETHER working biologists are likely to possess the equipment for the digestion of Mr. Woodger’s book may be doubted, but anyone who has had misgivings about the method of thinking, let alone the loose use of terms, will be grateful to the author for his profound and tenacious study of the logical basis of biological principles. Ordinary working biologists, even those who care to think upon the principles of evolution from the quasi-philosophical point of view, may be overwhelmed by the metaphysical introductory chapter and the long discussion of phenomenalism. But all who know the controversy which waged over the analysis of sensation since the time of Ernst Mach’s famous book will realise that these epistemological discussions are necessary foundations for the establishment of a firm science of biological principles. Further, an analysis of things that happen is essential to an understanding of biological events; hence the chapter on Cause and Substance. Biological matters are only directly considered when the vitalistic and mechanistic theories are discussed, and this conducts the author into the analysis of the biological theory of organism, preformation, and epigenesis, and thence to teleology. In short, Mr. Woodger finds that the related matters of biology fall into groups: whole organisms; organic parts ; environmental constituents ; and the important types of relationship are : (1) spatio-
a good account of pharmacology by one who has had great experience in the application of the subject to the practice of medicine.
provides
New Inventions. A MASTOID WOUND RETRACTOR. illustration shows a simple self-retaining mastoid wound retractor which has proved itself satisfactory in use. It is lightly but strongly THE
most
made, and is
so
curved that when the jaws are in
position the shafts and handle conveniently against the
lie
head of the patient out of the way. It is fitted with a cam ratchet, which maintains the jaws at any desired width with
delicacy
and
rigidity.
The instrument, which can be taken apart at the joint, is made of stainless steel so as to withstand repeated sterilisations
temporal ; (2) causal; (3) genetic; (4) organic or without teleological. To all his long discussions the author damage. brings acute critical powers which are admirably The retractor was made to design by Messrs. applied to an analysis of the important views of Down Bros., Ltd., 21 and 23,my St. Thomas’s-street,
Whitehead and Schaxel, amongst the philosophic S.E. methodologists of the organism, and Wilson, London, W. M. MOLLISON, M.Chir. Camb., F.R.C.S. Eng. amongst the pure biologists.
I
This work is a philosophic treatise of considerable malaria, while the value of ouabain, quinidine, and novarsural in special heart conditions, and the use length-perhaps of too great a length-but which no of ephedrine in asthma are also assessed. In the thoughtful biologist can afford to neglect if he cares paragraphs on coughs the author gives an interesting for method as well as for collecting the bewildering diagram representing the cough reflex. He reminds facts of life. us that being a reflex a cough has a definite purpose, and therefore should not be suppressed without a PHARMACOLOGIE ET MATIÈRE careful consideration as to whether it is of benefit to THRAPEUTIQUE M]tDICALr,,. the patient or not. According to him, analysis of Par le Dr. FRANÇorS ARNAUD, Professeur honoraire patent cough mixtures shows that the majority à I’Ecole de Medecine de Marseille, Medecin contain some preparation of the alkaloids of opium ; Masson et Consultant des Hôpitaux. Paris : their efficacy in allaying cough is therefore measured Cie. 1930. Pp. 878. Fr.95. in terms of their narcotic content. It is remarkable that in the treatment of acute and chronic nephritis Prof. Arnaud holds that the tberapeutical equipjalap is recommended. Since jalap is now recognised ment of the average young graduate is inadequate, to be a potent kidney irritant, and is even used and that there is room for considerable improvement experimentally on animals to affect the kidneys, in the teaching of therapeutics. This view is held its use in the treatment of nephritis would seem to be by teachers in many other countries and is attributed In the section on blood diseases to various causes; in France, according to Dr. Arnaud, contra-indicated. two interesting tables are given; one shows how it is due to the fact that there is no systematic teaching the advance of polycythaemia vera can be controlled of pharmacology and therapeutics in the third or by short courses of acetylphenylhydrazine, and the fourth year of medical study. He himself gives a other the remarkable effects of splenectomy on course of instruction to senior students and on this thrombocytopenic purpura. Especially good is the course he has founded his book. In the first part section on ductless glands, particularly the part he considers general principles, and deals with the dealing with diabetes ; the table of caloric require- absorption and elimination of drugs, the factors ments for males and females for all ages should be modifying their action, and prescription writing. of great assistance to those not accustomed to The rest of the work is devoted to a discussion of the The paragraph headed action and uses of individual drugs, which the author treating this disease. " points in the training of patients" is well worth has classified into five groups. The first consists In discussing the uses of iodine in thyroid of those agents which modify infections, and includes study. conditions, Dr. Campbell says : " It has at least the immune sera, vaccines, general antiseptics, and specific authority of antiquity, for well-authenticated Chinese medicaments, such as quinine, mercury, and the writings about the years 1567 to 1573 show clearly organic arsenical compounds. The second consists that extracts of seaweed and burnt sponges (which of agents which excite or depress the- nervous system, contain considerable quantities of iodine) were while the third, fourth, and fifth deal respectively regarded as specific in the treatment of goitre." with drugs which act chiefly on the circulation, the This book will be found of high value by secretions and excretions, and general nutrition. The classification is sound enough from the practical practitioners and deserves a wide public. point of view though, as the author recognises, it is vulnerable on other grounds. The book as a whole BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES. By J. H. WOODGER, B.Sc., Reader in Biology in the University of London. London : Kegan Paul, Trench, Triibner, and Co., Ltd. Pp. 498. 21s. WHETHER working biologists are likely to possess the equipment for the digestion of Mr. Woodger’s book may be doubted, but anyone who has had misgivings about the method of thinking, let alone the loose use of terms, will be grateful to the author for his profound and tenacious study of the logical basis of biological principles. Ordinary working biologists, even those who care to think upon the principles of evolution from the quasi-philosophical point of view, may be overwhelmed by the metaphysical introductory chapter and the long discussion of phenomenalism. But all who know the controversy which waged over the analysis of sensation since the time of Ernst Mach’s famous book will realise that these epistemological discussions are necessary foundations for the establishment of a firm science of biological principles. Further, an analysis of things that happen is essential to an understanding of biological events; hence the chapter on Cause and Substance. Biological matters are only directly considered when the vitalistic and mechanistic theories are discussed, and this conducts the author into the analysis of the biological theory of organism, preformation, and epigenesis, and thence to teleology. In short, Mr. Woodger finds that the related matters of biology fall into groups: whole organisms; organic parts ; environmental constituents ; and the important types of relationship are : (1) spatio-
a good account of pharmacology by one who has had great experience in the application of the subject to the practice of medicine.
provides
New Inventions. A MASTOID WOUND RETRACTOR. illustration shows a simple self-retaining mastoid wound retractor which has proved itself satisfactory in use. It is lightly but strongly THE
most
made, and is
so
curved that when the jaws are in
position the shafts and handle conveniently against the
lie
head of the patient out of the way. It is fitted with a cam ratchet, which maintains the jaws at any desired width with
delicacy
and
rigidity.
The instrument, which can be taken apart at the joint, is made of stainless steel so as to withstand repeated sterilisations
temporal ; (2) causal; (3) genetic; (4) organic or without teleological. To all his long discussions the author damage. brings acute critical powers which are admirably The retractor was made to design by Messrs. applied to an analysis of the important views of Down Bros., Ltd., 21 and 23,my St. Thomas’s-street,
Whitehead and Schaxel, amongst the philosophic S.E. methodologists of the organism, and Wilson, London, W. M. MOLLISON, M.Chir. Camb., F.R.C.S. Eng. amongst the pure biologists.