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LIBRARY TABLE.
997
preparations with illustrative prescriptions ; to the writing of Price M. 1.-The importance of vaccination and revaccination prescriptions, posology, weights and measures ; and to some of is so well recognised offioially in the German Empire that the legal and business aspects of this department of medical we are accustomed to envy the thoroughness with which practice. A glance at the section on maximum doses these measures are carried out there. It comes, therefore, reminds us of the great discrepancies which exist between the almost as a disagreeable surprise to find that the anti,doses of the same substance as indicated by the various vaccinationist exists in that country, where he is endowed pharmacopoeias. In illustration of this the doses of veratrine, with the same prejudices as his British prototype. Professor strychnine nitrate, and tartar emetic, as given in the German, Kirchner, in the valuable little book before us, reviews the Austrian, and Russian pharmacopoeias respectively, may be whole subject of vaccination in a masterly way. He has been ,cited. -
Strychnine nitrate.
Veratrine.
Tartar emetic.
German
...
0005 to 0-01 grm.
0’002 to 0-005 grm.
0-1 to 0-3 grm.
Austrian
...
0-01,.002
"
0005,,0-02
"
0-2 ,,0-5
"
...
0-003,,0-01
,,
0-005,, 0.015
,,
02 2 ,, 0.6
,,
Russian
The
of the work contains monographs important official and unofficial drugs and their preparations, arranged in alphabetical order. The chief synonyms for the substance are given in each case, together with references to its occurrence in the various pharmacopoeias and other formularies ; its appearance and more prominent physical properties are outlined, and a short acoount is given of its therapeutic uses and, in the case of the largely used drugs, the most convenient forms for administration. These items are supplemented in many instances by the addition of prescriptions illustrating the use of the substance in question. Incompatibilities are indicated in some cases, but there are notable omissions in this connexion ; no mention is made, for example, of the incompatibility of strychnine salts with the alkali iodides. Maximum daily as well as maximum single doses are given. The authors assume a moderately conservative attitude towards the flood of new synthetic remedies, the effect of this. industry being too often, in their opinion, either bewilderment or a deadening of the capacity for critical discrimination, in beginner and experienced practitioner alike. Yet a glance suffices to show that substances which have in any way shown their efficiency have by no means been neglected. Dr. E. Friedberger has contributed to the work a section on serumtherapy, which is probably more replete with useful information than any to be found in a book of this type. There are a few errors in the chemical portions of the work to which attention should be drawn. Elaterin, which Power and Moore have shown to be a mixture of a substance active physiologically with one which is inert, is assigned a formula and described as though it a distinct and homogeneous chemical substance. were Picrotoxin is similarly treated as an individual compound, although Meyer and Brager have demonstrated the fact that it is a mixture of two substances. " Tartared ironis mentioned as the English name for ferrum tartaricum, and the formula (C4H4O6)2Fe is given; this is incorrect, as potassium must be present from the method of preparation. Moreover, the properties of these scale preparations of iron make it plain that they are not salts of the ordinary type, but probably compounds in which iron forms part of the acid
second, on
the
or
special, part
more
radicle. The comparison and coordination of the various pharmacopoeias have been carefully and successfully carried - out, and this feature will be particularly useful to English readers. The book as a whole may be recommended to the prescriber as a well-arranged and valuable work of reference. LIBRARY TABLE.
Unter Benutzung Schutzpockenimpfung und Irrcpfgesetz amtlicher Qaellen. Bearbeitet von Professor Dr. MARTIN KIRCHNER. Berlin : Richard Schoetz. 1911. Pp. 158.
able to draw upon the official records of the German Health Office, and has also reviewed the statistics of other countries. He writes in simple style, but takes nothing for granted. He discusses the arguments put forward by and-vaccinationists, and demonstrates their fallacies and inaccuracies. The nature and effects of small-pox are clearly described, and the methods of spread are indicated. The history of various epidemics, of the old practice of inoculation, and of the introduction of vaccination is briefly outlined. The German vaccination law of April 8th, 1874, is then considered. This enacts that every child must be vaccinated before the end of the year following the year of birth, unless it is proved upon medical evidence that the child has suffered from small-pox, and further that every pupil of a public or private school shall be vaccinated during the twelfth year of life unless he or she has had small-pox or been successfully revaccinated during the five years previously. It is this law which the antivaccinationists in Germany wish to get repealed or modified. Professor Kirchner claims that the decision as to the protective value of vaccination is a matter for scientific medical practitioners to decide, while the judgment as to the necessity and practicability of compulsion are questions for jurists to advise upon, and that the decision upon the expert advice of the medical and legal professions is the only consideration for the public. It is of interest to note that Dr. Kirchner refers to England and Wales as the home of Jenner, but in spite of that as the El Dorado of the antivaccinationist. The Berlin Medical Society, at a meetirg held on March 15th, 1911, passed unanimously a resolution affirming the absolute necessity of retaining the vaccination law of 1874 intact, and emphasised the danger of a modification like the English "conscience clause." Professor Kirchner’s conclusions are summarised in a paragraph at the end of his book, which constitutes an eloquent appeal to his countrymen to retain " the magnificent gift of Jenner " and remain the best vaccinated country in the world. We can commend this small book as interesting, instructive, and valuable. National Happiness under IndividmaZism. By BINNIE DUNLOP, M. B, Ch.B Glnsg Price 3d.-This original and painstaking essay being hardly medical in its bearing. its two leading ideas can only be just noted here. National happiness depends fundamentally on the avoidance of Overpopulation (poverty, unemployment, socialistic discontent, degeneration, &c.), requiring either State emigration of all necessitous children or encouragement of a much lower birth-rate among wage-earners ; Dangerous Under population excessive expenditure on luxuries), requiring less taxation of luxuries on their capital value for
(caused by more or
the army and navy.
JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES. Parasitology. Edited by G. H. F. NUTTALL, F.R S., and A. E. SHIPLEY, F. R S. ;assisted by EDWARD HINDLE, Ph. D. Vol. V., No.1 Cambridge : Uoiversity Press. Price 10s. net. Yearly subscription, £1 10s.-This journal is no longer published as a Supplement to the Juurnal of Hygiene, but is now distinct. In view of the increased cost of production it has been found necessary to increase the yearly subscription from £11s. to £110s. The present number contains
preparations with illustrative prescriptions ; to the writing of Price M. 1.-The importance of vaccination and revaccination prescriptions, posology, weights and measures ; and to some of is so well recognised offioially in the German Empire that the legal and business aspects of this department of medical we are accustomed to envy the thoroughness with which practice. A glance at the section on maximum doses these measures are carried out there. It comes, therefore, reminds us of the great discrepancies which exist between the almost as a disagreeable surprise to find that the anti,doses of the same substance as indicated by the various vaccinationist exists in that country, where he is endowed pharmacopoeias. In illustration of this the doses of veratrine, with the same prejudices as his British prototype. Professor strychnine nitrate, and tartar emetic, as given in the German, Kirchner, in the valuable little book before us, reviews the Austrian, and Russian pharmacopoeias respectively, may be whole subject of vaccination in a masterly way. He has been ,cited. -
Strychnine nitrate.
Veratrine.
Tartar emetic.
German
...
0005 to 0-01 grm.
0’002 to 0-005 grm.
0-1 to 0-3 grm.
Austrian
...
0-01,.002
"
0005,,0-02
"
0-2 ,,0-5
"
...
0-003,,0-01
,,
0-005,, 0.015
,,
02 2 ,, 0.6
,,
Russian
The
of the work contains monographs important official and unofficial drugs and their preparations, arranged in alphabetical order. The chief synonyms for the substance are given in each case, together with references to its occurrence in the various pharmacopoeias and other formularies ; its appearance and more prominent physical properties are outlined, and a short acoount is given of its therapeutic uses and, in the case of the largely used drugs, the most convenient forms for administration. These items are supplemented in many instances by the addition of prescriptions illustrating the use of the substance in question. Incompatibilities are indicated in some cases, but there are notable omissions in this connexion ; no mention is made, for example, of the incompatibility of strychnine salts with the alkali iodides. Maximum daily as well as maximum single doses are given. The authors assume a moderately conservative attitude towards the flood of new synthetic remedies, the effect of this. industry being too often, in their opinion, either bewilderment or a deadening of the capacity for critical discrimination, in beginner and experienced practitioner alike. Yet a glance suffices to show that substances which have in any way shown their efficiency have by no means been neglected. Dr. E. Friedberger has contributed to the work a section on serumtherapy, which is probably more replete with useful information than any to be found in a book of this type. There are a few errors in the chemical portions of the work to which attention should be drawn. Elaterin, which Power and Moore have shown to be a mixture of a substance active physiologically with one which is inert, is assigned a formula and described as though it a distinct and homogeneous chemical substance. were Picrotoxin is similarly treated as an individual compound, although Meyer and Brager have demonstrated the fact that it is a mixture of two substances. " Tartared ironis mentioned as the English name for ferrum tartaricum, and the formula (C4H4O6)2Fe is given; this is incorrect, as potassium must be present from the method of preparation. Moreover, the properties of these scale preparations of iron make it plain that they are not salts of the ordinary type, but probably compounds in which iron forms part of the acid
second, on
the
or
special, part
more
radicle. The comparison and coordination of the various pharmacopoeias have been carefully and successfully carried - out, and this feature will be particularly useful to English readers. The book as a whole may be recommended to the prescriber as a well-arranged and valuable work of reference. LIBRARY TABLE.
Unter Benutzung Schutzpockenimpfung und Irrcpfgesetz amtlicher Qaellen. Bearbeitet von Professor Dr. MARTIN KIRCHNER. Berlin : Richard Schoetz. 1911. Pp. 158.
able to draw upon the official records of the German Health Office, and has also reviewed the statistics of other countries. He writes in simple style, but takes nothing for granted. He discusses the arguments put forward by and-vaccinationists, and demonstrates their fallacies and inaccuracies. The nature and effects of small-pox are clearly described, and the methods of spread are indicated. The history of various epidemics, of the old practice of inoculation, and of the introduction of vaccination is briefly outlined. The German vaccination law of April 8th, 1874, is then considered. This enacts that every child must be vaccinated before the end of the year following the year of birth, unless it is proved upon medical evidence that the child has suffered from small-pox, and further that every pupil of a public or private school shall be vaccinated during the twelfth year of life unless he or she has had small-pox or been successfully revaccinated during the five years previously. It is this law which the antivaccinationists in Germany wish to get repealed or modified. Professor Kirchner claims that the decision as to the protective value of vaccination is a matter for scientific medical practitioners to decide, while the judgment as to the necessity and practicability of compulsion are questions for jurists to advise upon, and that the decision upon the expert advice of the medical and legal professions is the only consideration for the public. It is of interest to note that Dr. Kirchner refers to England and Wales as the home of Jenner, but in spite of that as the El Dorado of the antivaccinationist. The Berlin Medical Society, at a meetirg held on March 15th, 1911, passed unanimously a resolution affirming the absolute necessity of retaining the vaccination law of 1874 intact, and emphasised the danger of a modification like the English "conscience clause." Professor Kirchner’s conclusions are summarised in a paragraph at the end of his book, which constitutes an eloquent appeal to his countrymen to retain " the magnificent gift of Jenner " and remain the best vaccinated country in the world. We can commend this small book as interesting, instructive, and valuable. National Happiness under IndividmaZism. By BINNIE DUNLOP, M. B, Ch.B Glnsg Price 3d.-This original and painstaking essay being hardly medical in its bearing. its two leading ideas can only be just noted here. National happiness depends fundamentally on the avoidance of Overpopulation (poverty, unemployment, socialistic discontent, degeneration, &c.), requiring either State emigration of all necessitous children or encouragement of a much lower birth-rate among wage-earners ; Dangerous Under population excessive expenditure on luxuries), requiring less taxation of luxuries on their capital value for
(caused by more or
the army and navy.
JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES. Parasitology. Edited by G. H. F. NUTTALL, F.R S., and A. E. SHIPLEY, F. R S. ;assisted by EDWARD HINDLE, Ph. D. Vol. V., No.1 Cambridge : Uoiversity Press. Price 10s. net. Yearly subscription, £1 10s.-This journal is no longer published as a Supplement to the Juurnal of Hygiene, but is now distinct. In view of the increased cost of production it has been found necessary to increase the yearly subscription from £11s. to £110s. The present number contains