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The nose and its accessory sinuses
76
THE
BRITISH
JOURNAL
OF TUBERCULOSIS
Europe, America, and elsewhere are given. M a n y considerations must be taken into account before deciding what health resort is most suitable for a given patient. " T h e tendency in our days," says Dr. Huggard, " is, unfortunately, to send all patients whose ailment bears the label of consumption to one resort, or to one type of resort. At one moment fashion favours high altitudes; at the next moment she sends patients in flocks, perhaps, for a sea-voyage, perhaps to a d a m p and, it m a y be, windy sanatorium. But this indiscriminate practice is radically unsound, and leads in m a n y cases to disastrous results, which a small amount of reflection on the principles involved would suffice to avert." T h e various kinds of baths and mineral waters and their uses are dealt with at some length. T h e concluding chapters are devoted to various diseases, and the principles upon which the choice of the most suitable climatic treatment of them should be based. It is not too much to say that this admirable book should be in the hands of every medical man, be he physician or surgeon, who desires to understand the principles that should guide him in the climatic or balneological treatment of disease. JAMES BERRY,F.R.C.S. THE
STUDY
OF A COMMON COLD. 1
T h e subject of this work is the ordinary " cold," or coryza, and a considerable part of it is taken up in proving the infective character of this ailment. I f there be anyone who does not believe in the infectivity of this form of catarrh, he would do well to closely study these pages and be converted. T h e bacterial causation of the disease is well and fully discussed, and some good experimental work d o n e by Dr. W h i t e is carefully described. Beyond the fact that Cautley's Bacillus coryzr segmentosus is found to be present during the first few days in almost every case, no definite conclusion is arrived at. T h e danger of conveying infection to aged and delicate persons and those who are the subject of tuberculosis is rightly laid stress upon. No one, probably, will be inclined to dispute the fact that cutarrh predisposes to tuberculosis; but the author somewhat exaggerates the effect of an ordinary coryza in setting up the apical catarrhal condition of the lungs found in early phthisis. T h e book is interesting and full of valuable suggestions. GEORGE JOHNSTON, M.D. TtlE
NOSE AND ITS ACCESSORY SINUSES3
T h e nose and its accessories can no longer claim to be terra incognita. Among the m a n y recent works dealing with the nasal cavities Dr. L a m b e r t Luck's handsome volume must be accorded a prominent place. It has grown out of his well-known Jacksonian Prize E s s a y on " The Pathology, Diagnosis, and T r e a t m e n t of the Inflammatory Affections of the Nose and its Accessory Sinuses and Air Cells," and now forms a systematic yet concise and excellently illustrated manual t , , Catarrhal Fevers, commonly called Colds." By R. Prosser White, M.D., M.IR.C.S. Pp. viii, xli. I9o6. Price 3s. 6d. " T h e Diseases of the Nose and its Accessory Sinuses." By H. Lambert Lack, M.D., F.R.C.S. PP. 399, with 124 illustrations. London : Longmans, Green and Co. x9o6,
REVIEWS
AND NOTICES
OF BOOKS
77
for practitioners and senior students, in which, while diagnosis receives its due prominence, the all-important matter of indications for and methods of treatment are by no means relegated to the background. A short section is devoted to tuberculosis and lupus of the nose, and a brief bibliography is given. Special praise is due for the chapter on nasal surgery, which has been dealt with in a masterly fashion. T h e work has been well planned and carried out with painstaking thoroughness, and should find much favour with those for w h o m it was written. A very eommendabIe feature is the excellent index compiled by Mr. Archibald Clarke. IPERC'x" JAK!NS, M.D. ADENOIDS. t T h e operation for removal of adenoid growths has been much improved in technique of recent years, and Mr. G a r r y Simpson's brochure 1 has been written in order to provide practitioners who have not had the opportunity of seeing the modern operation performed with a reliable guide. The author wisely recommends the lateral position and a curette designed to retain the growth ; but we do not think it is necessary to excise the left tonsil from the left side and then to turn the patient over to remove the adenoids and the other tonsil. The removal of tags on the following day is alluded to, but the advantages of an anaesthesia which allows of their removal at the operation are not discussed. T h e manual is of a thoroughly practical nature in spite of a little unnecessary padding, such as two illustrations of ethyl chloride inhalers and two pictures of glass tubes containing this anaesthetic. HAROLD ]~AR~vVELL, F.R.C.S. DE SENECTUTE3 Sir H e r m a n n W e b e r ' s charming monograph records the experience of a man who, having reached a considerable age, is in a position to declare to us everything that he has observed which is conducive to the preservation of health. H e has brought to bear upon the subject great perceptive powers, much knowledge, and a judgment quite unaffected by any bias, prejudice, or theory of his own. I t is a plain unvarnished tale, and therefore of the greatest value to young professional men, not only for their own guidance, but useful for the benefit of others. T h e book, indeed, m a y be read with advantage, by everyone, being devoid of all technicalities. Those persons who have been in the habit of studying their digestion and discussing the most correct foods to eat may" with great advantage allow this book to supersede all others of the kind, and especially books which are written to advocate the value of some particular article of food or perhaps medicine. T h e reader may gain much by an attentive perusal of the chapter on air and exercise; and for its performance nothing is better than walking. As regards air, he speaks of the value of occasional systematic 1 ,, Adenoid Growths of the Naso-pharynx: Diagnosis, Symptoms, and Treatment." By G. A. Garry Simpson, M.R.C.S. PP. 49. Second edition. London : John Bale, Sons, and Danielsson. I9O6. Price 3s. 6d. net. " On Means for the Prolongation of Life." Second and enlarged edition. By Sir Hermann -Weber, M.D., F . R . C . P . Pp. io 4. London : John Bale, Sons, and I)anielsson, Ltd. 19o6.
THE
BRITISH
JOURNAL
OF TUBERCULOSIS
Europe, America, and elsewhere are given. M a n y considerations must be taken into account before deciding what health resort is most suitable for a given patient. " T h e tendency in our days," says Dr. Huggard, " is, unfortunately, to send all patients whose ailment bears the label of consumption to one resort, or to one type of resort. At one moment fashion favours high altitudes; at the next moment she sends patients in flocks, perhaps, for a sea-voyage, perhaps to a d a m p and, it m a y be, windy sanatorium. But this indiscriminate practice is radically unsound, and leads in m a n y cases to disastrous results, which a small amount of reflection on the principles involved would suffice to avert." T h e various kinds of baths and mineral waters and their uses are dealt with at some length. T h e concluding chapters are devoted to various diseases, and the principles upon which the choice of the most suitable climatic treatment of them should be based. It is not too much to say that this admirable book should be in the hands of every medical man, be he physician or surgeon, who desires to understand the principles that should guide him in the climatic or balneological treatment of disease. JAMES BERRY,F.R.C.S. THE
STUDY
OF A COMMON COLD. 1
T h e subject of this work is the ordinary " cold," or coryza, and a considerable part of it is taken up in proving the infective character of this ailment. I f there be anyone who does not believe in the infectivity of this form of catarrh, he would do well to closely study these pages and be converted. T h e bacterial causation of the disease is well and fully discussed, and some good experimental work d o n e by Dr. W h i t e is carefully described. Beyond the fact that Cautley's Bacillus coryzr segmentosus is found to be present during the first few days in almost every case, no definite conclusion is arrived at. T h e danger of conveying infection to aged and delicate persons and those who are the subject of tuberculosis is rightly laid stress upon. No one, probably, will be inclined to dispute the fact that cutarrh predisposes to tuberculosis; but the author somewhat exaggerates the effect of an ordinary coryza in setting up the apical catarrhal condition of the lungs found in early phthisis. T h e book is interesting and full of valuable suggestions. GEORGE JOHNSTON, M.D. TtlE
NOSE AND ITS ACCESSORY SINUSES3
T h e nose and its accessories can no longer claim to be terra incognita. Among the m a n y recent works dealing with the nasal cavities Dr. L a m b e r t Luck's handsome volume must be accorded a prominent place. It has grown out of his well-known Jacksonian Prize E s s a y on " The Pathology, Diagnosis, and T r e a t m e n t of the Inflammatory Affections of the Nose and its Accessory Sinuses and Air Cells," and now forms a systematic yet concise and excellently illustrated manual t , , Catarrhal Fevers, commonly called Colds." By R. Prosser White, M.D., M.IR.C.S. Pp. viii, xli. I9o6. Price 3s. 6d. " T h e Diseases of the Nose and its Accessory Sinuses." By H. Lambert Lack, M.D., F.R.C.S. PP. 399, with 124 illustrations. London : Longmans, Green and Co. x9o6,
REVIEWS
AND NOTICES
OF BOOKS
77
for practitioners and senior students, in which, while diagnosis receives its due prominence, the all-important matter of indications for and methods of treatment are by no means relegated to the background. A short section is devoted to tuberculosis and lupus of the nose, and a brief bibliography is given. Special praise is due for the chapter on nasal surgery, which has been dealt with in a masterly fashion. T h e work has been well planned and carried out with painstaking thoroughness, and should find much favour with those for w h o m it was written. A very eommendabIe feature is the excellent index compiled by Mr. Archibald Clarke. IPERC'x" JAK!NS, M.D. ADENOIDS. t T h e operation for removal of adenoid growths has been much improved in technique of recent years, and Mr. G a r r y Simpson's brochure 1 has been written in order to provide practitioners who have not had the opportunity of seeing the modern operation performed with a reliable guide. The author wisely recommends the lateral position and a curette designed to retain the growth ; but we do not think it is necessary to excise the left tonsil from the left side and then to turn the patient over to remove the adenoids and the other tonsil. The removal of tags on the following day is alluded to, but the advantages of an anaesthesia which allows of their removal at the operation are not discussed. T h e manual is of a thoroughly practical nature in spite of a little unnecessary padding, such as two illustrations of ethyl chloride inhalers and two pictures of glass tubes containing this anaesthetic. HAROLD ]~AR~vVELL, F.R.C.S. DE SENECTUTE3 Sir H e r m a n n W e b e r ' s charming monograph records the experience of a man who, having reached a considerable age, is in a position to declare to us everything that he has observed which is conducive to the preservation of health. H e has brought to bear upon the subject great perceptive powers, much knowledge, and a judgment quite unaffected by any bias, prejudice, or theory of his own. I t is a plain unvarnished tale, and therefore of the greatest value to young professional men, not only for their own guidance, but useful for the benefit of others. T h e book, indeed, m a y be read with advantage, by everyone, being devoid of all technicalities. Those persons who have been in the habit of studying their digestion and discussing the most correct foods to eat may" with great advantage allow this book to supersede all others of the kind, and especially books which are written to advocate the value of some particular article of food or perhaps medicine. T h e reader may gain much by an attentive perusal of the chapter on air and exercise; and for its performance nothing is better than walking. As regards air, he speaks of the value of occasional systematic 1 ,, Adenoid Growths of the Naso-pharynx: Diagnosis, Symptoms, and Treatment." By G. A. Garry Simpson, M.R.C.S. PP. 49. Second edition. London : John Bale, Sons, and Danielsson. I9O6. Price 3s. 6d. net. " On Means for the Prolongation of Life." Second and enlarged edition. By Sir Hermann -Weber, M.D., F . R . C . P . Pp. io 4. London : John Bale, Sons, and I)anielsson, Ltd. 19o6.