- Email: [email protected]
The minor horrors of war
19 4
PuBLIC REVIEWS.
THEy"CHEMICAL :EXAMIN,\TION OF W2YTt~I3,,SEWAGE,
FooDs, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES. By J. E. Purvis, M. A., University Lecturer in Chemistry as applied to Hygiene and Public Health, Cambridge ; and T. R. Hodgson, M.A., Public Analyst for the County Boroughs of Blackpool and "Wallasey. Pp. 228. Cambridge University Press, 1914. Price 9 s. net. This is one of the volumes dealing with various subjects connected with public health which are published by the Syndics of t h e C a m b r i d g e University Press, and the authors state in their preface that it is intended for the use of students who are PreParing for diplomas and degrees in public health, and for others who are studying the chemistry of water, foods, etc. The statement by the authors that the volmne is intended for those who are attending courses of instruction explains the fact that they present the subject in a form which would often be found insufficient to the needs of the student who has not skilled advice always at hand. Tile description of the methods of water analysis is, for instance, condensed into twenty pages; and, to give one further instance, the calculation of the carbonic acid in the atmosphere to a percentage at the standard temperature and pressure is shown as a formula, without any explanation to assist the student. T h e book deals with the examination of water, sewage, sewage effluents, food, beverages, air, rag-flock, disinfectants, urine, etc. ; and if the work is only to find a place in laboratories which are well equipped and staffed t h e a b s e n c e of illustrations is not a serious drawback. It follows t h a t the knowledge and experience of the authors have resulted in the production of a work which is sound and accurate, and which may be confidently r e c o m m e n d e d to those for whom it is intended. T h e considerable number of typical analyses introduced to illustrate the variations which may occur in the composition of different articles is a useful feat,ure of the book; and the full references given in the text, together with a short bibliography of some of the more important works upon the subjects under treat. ment, is noteworthy. TIIE MINOR HORRORS OF WAR. By Dr. A. E. Shipley, F.R.S., Master of Christ College, Cambridge. pp. I66. 64 illustrations, ts.6d. net. in paper cover or 2s. net in cloth. Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. London, I915. To the readers of PuBr.m HEAI:rH it will almost suffice to say, by way of review, that this small book embodies the series of articles by Dr. Shipley which have already appeared in the .British Medical
Journal. T h e author states " that the contents of this little book hardly justify its title." Certainly the
H E A L TH.
M AV,
title scarcely suggests a limitation of treatment to the "little animals which in::times, of war may make or unulake an army co~s/" i: nor would it be expected to include refer,e~ce to demodex follicMorum. ,,r The louse, the bed bug, the flea, the flour-n-/oth; the fly, the m i t e , the tick and the leech are interestingly, at t~mes amusingly, and always instructively, discoursed upon in a well illustrated book. W h a t practical advice is given is of course sound, but the book would have been more useful to practical sanitarians if a fuller statement had been made upon t h e best practical methods of dealing with each of these " m i n o r horrors." The medical officer of health will find but little guidance in this respect. Surely mosquitoes should have been included among the minor horrors ; and one should n o t be referred to another publication for information upon how to discourage and reduce the prevalence of f i e s . Doubtless the book's chief claim upon the medical reader is the treatlnont of the subject from the zoological stan~dis0ifit by one who is an authority upon such matters. \¥ORDS TO THEt:WtSE. H E : H e a l t h Department of the c i t y of Bos~6n, U.S.A~ publishes the foliowing *-Words to the Wise,'7 for the benefit of the public:-A place for everything and everything in its place. T h e back yard and the cellar are poor places to allow accumulations of filth. L e t the spring house cleaning embrace the whole premises. T h e city teams will carry away the dirt if you will collect it. A few hours spent in cleaning up pays big dividends in satisfaction and self-respect. H e l p to keep the city clean. Do not throw garbage, ashes or rubbish into the back yard, upon the sidewalk or street. Put all garbage, ashes and rubbish into separate barrels. Do not fill the barrels too full and keep tightly fitting covers on the garbage receptacles. Mosquitoes will soon begin to breed. 'They breed in stagnant pools, and are dangerous, since certain species are able to carry malaria from one person to another. T h e y seldom fly far from their breeding places. ,Prevent t r o u b l e ( b y n o t allowing stagnant Water on your premises. Flies breed in filth, particularly m a n , a r e . . Keep the stable and surroundings clean. Manure should be kept in covered galvanized iron barrels and removed every fortyoeight hours. Flies are a nuisance, and are carriers of disease germs. They have bcen proven guilty of carrying typhoid fever and other diseases. No filth means no flies. Clean up and keep clean. H a v e you cleaned up and does your neighbour refuse to do likewise? Notify the Board of Health and let it use its powers. All such notices to the department are strictly confidential.
T
PuBLIC REVIEWS.
THEy"CHEMICAL :EXAMIN,\TION OF W2YTt~I3,,SEWAGE,
FooDs, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES. By J. E. Purvis, M. A., University Lecturer in Chemistry as applied to Hygiene and Public Health, Cambridge ; and T. R. Hodgson, M.A., Public Analyst for the County Boroughs of Blackpool and "Wallasey. Pp. 228. Cambridge University Press, 1914. Price 9 s. net. This is one of the volumes dealing with various subjects connected with public health which are published by the Syndics of t h e C a m b r i d g e University Press, and the authors state in their preface that it is intended for the use of students who are PreParing for diplomas and degrees in public health, and for others who are studying the chemistry of water, foods, etc. The statement by the authors that the volmne is intended for those who are attending courses of instruction explains the fact that they present the subject in a form which would often be found insufficient to the needs of the student who has not skilled advice always at hand. Tile description of the methods of water analysis is, for instance, condensed into twenty pages; and, to give one further instance, the calculation of the carbonic acid in the atmosphere to a percentage at the standard temperature and pressure is shown as a formula, without any explanation to assist the student. T h e book deals with the examination of water, sewage, sewage effluents, food, beverages, air, rag-flock, disinfectants, urine, etc. ; and if the work is only to find a place in laboratories which are well equipped and staffed t h e a b s e n c e of illustrations is not a serious drawback. It follows t h a t the knowledge and experience of the authors have resulted in the production of a work which is sound and accurate, and which may be confidently r e c o m m e n d e d to those for whom it is intended. T h e considerable number of typical analyses introduced to illustrate the variations which may occur in the composition of different articles is a useful feat,ure of the book; and the full references given in the text, together with a short bibliography of some of the more important works upon the subjects under treat. ment, is noteworthy. TIIE MINOR HORRORS OF WAR. By Dr. A. E. Shipley, F.R.S., Master of Christ College, Cambridge. pp. I66. 64 illustrations, ts.6d. net. in paper cover or 2s. net in cloth. Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. London, I915. To the readers of PuBr.m HEAI:rH it will almost suffice to say, by way of review, that this small book embodies the series of articles by Dr. Shipley which have already appeared in the .British Medical
Journal. T h e author states " that the contents of this little book hardly justify its title." Certainly the
H E A L TH.
M AV,
title scarcely suggests a limitation of treatment to the "little animals which in::times, of war may make or unulake an army co~s/" i: nor would it be expected to include refer,e~ce to demodex follicMorum. ,,r The louse, the bed bug, the flea, the flour-n-/oth; the fly, the m i t e , the tick and the leech are interestingly, at t~mes amusingly, and always instructively, discoursed upon in a well illustrated book. W h a t practical advice is given is of course sound, but the book would have been more useful to practical sanitarians if a fuller statement had been made upon t h e best practical methods of dealing with each of these " m i n o r horrors." The medical officer of health will find but little guidance in this respect. Surely mosquitoes should have been included among the minor horrors ; and one should n o t be referred to another publication for information upon how to discourage and reduce the prevalence of f i e s . Doubtless the book's chief claim upon the medical reader is the treatlnont of the subject from the zoological stan~dis0ifit by one who is an authority upon such matters. \¥ORDS TO THEt:WtSE. H E : H e a l t h Department of the c i t y of Bos~6n, U.S.A~ publishes the foliowing *-Words to the Wise,'7 for the benefit of the public:-A place for everything and everything in its place. T h e back yard and the cellar are poor places to allow accumulations of filth. L e t the spring house cleaning embrace the whole premises. T h e city teams will carry away the dirt if you will collect it. A few hours spent in cleaning up pays big dividends in satisfaction and self-respect. H e l p to keep the city clean. Do not throw garbage, ashes or rubbish into the back yard, upon the sidewalk or street. Put all garbage, ashes and rubbish into separate barrels. Do not fill the barrels too full and keep tightly fitting covers on the garbage receptacles. Mosquitoes will soon begin to breed. 'They breed in stagnant pools, and are dangerous, since certain species are able to carry malaria from one person to another. T h e y seldom fly far from their breeding places. ,Prevent t r o u b l e ( b y n o t allowing stagnant Water on your premises. Flies breed in filth, particularly m a n , a r e . . Keep the stable and surroundings clean. Manure should be kept in covered galvanized iron barrels and removed every fortyoeight hours. Flies are a nuisance, and are carriers of disease germs. They have bcen proven guilty of carrying typhoid fever and other diseases. No filth means no flies. Clean up and keep clean. H a v e you cleaned up and does your neighbour refuse to do likewise? Notify the Board of Health and let it use its powers. All such notices to the department are strictly confidential.
T