Contributions to Practical Surgery. By George W. Norris, M. D., Philadelphia Lindsay & Blakeston, 1873. Buffalo: T. Butler & Son.

A large number of the articles in this work have previously appeared in print, and some have attracted considerable attention both in this country and abroad. They are now for the first time brought together in book form and the result is one of the best contributions to surgery which it has been our lot to peruse for some time. The number of subjects treated in the work are not large, but those presented are handled in so complete a manner as to leave nothing to be desired. The paper on Compound Fractures, is entirely new, and many additions have been made to the other papers embracing clinical histories drawn from hospital practice. The most notable addition is that made on the occurrence of false joints. The first paper is upon the occurrence of non-union after fracture, and embraces one hundred and eleven pages. It is a full and complete review of the whole subject, embracing a consideration of the various theories concerning its cause, and the different methods of treatment which have been used. From this article it will be seen that non-union after fracture is most frequent in the humerus and femur, that the mortality after operations for cure follow the same law as after amputations, viz., that the danger increases with the size of the limb, and the nearness of the operation to the trunk. Failures are found to be most frequent in the humerus, and in middle-aged and elderly than in younger subjects. The author also arrives at the conclusion which will we think meet the views of all that the seton and its modifications is safer and speedier than resection or the caustic.

The treatment of Deformities following Unsuccessfully Treated Fracture is next considered. The views advanced are such as will meet with the approval of the profession; an interesting account of several operations are given in this connection.

The paper on Compound Fractures, is to us one of the most interesting, of the many interesting articles in the book. The author's long service in the Pennsylvania Hospital have given him an experience which will entitle him to speak with authority. The paper discusses in a complete manner the pracical treatment of compound fractures, and will be found in most particulars to agree with generally accepted views. We can hardly agree with the writer in leaving all splinters of bone which are adherent to the soft parts to become spontaneously detached. We have been in the habit of removing all splinters whether adherent or not, when there was no probability of their becoming again united to the shaft, and have yet to see any serious result either in the length of the limb or the union of the fracture. On the contrary we have in several instances seen both limb and life lost from the neglect to remove these splinters. In this connection it may be well to notice that although the author has not had a large experience in removing the ends of bones to facilitate the reduction of a compound fracture he speaks with favor of the operation. In

this he meets with our highest approval. Although it has been, and is doubtless, practiced needlessly in many cases, yet we can call to mind many instances 'wherein much trouble from necrosis etc., would have been saved, and a better result secured in the end, had a resection been made at the first dressing.

Statistics of the cases of amputation performed at the Pennsylvania Hospital from Jan. 1850 to Jan. 1860, and a paper giving the statistics of the mortality following the ligature of arteries comprise the next two articles. An account of a case of Varicose Aneurism at the bend of the arm, is the concluding article of the book. The book is printed on smooth heavy paper and is handsomely bound. We have been very much interested in reading the various articles, and recommend it to our readers as a work from which much valuable information can be obtained.

Chemistry; General, Medical and Pharmaceutical, including the Chemistry of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. A Manual of the General Principals of the Science and the application to Medicine and Pharmacy. By John Attfield, Ph. D., F. C. S. Fifth edition. Revised from the Fourth (English) Edition by the Author. Philadelphia: H. C. Lea, 1873. Buffalo: T. Butler & Son. The many readers and admirers of the former edition will be pleased to learn of the publication of a new edition of Prof. Attfield's work. The favor with which the previous edition was received, and the praises which it received from all has induced the author to prepare the present edition with especial reference to the American Profession.

The chemistry of the preparations and Materia Medica of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia has been introduced into this edition, which is some seventy pages larger than the former. The chapter on the General Principles of Chemical Philosophy has been enlarged and entirely revised. The work is so well known to the majority of Medical students that it requires no further notice from our hands of its general contents, and we have only to heartily recommend it to their careful study.

Skin Diseases. Their Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. By Tilbury Fox, M. D., London. Second American from Third London Edition, Re-written and enlarged. New York: Wm. Wood & Co., 1873. Buffalo: H. H. Otis.

Since the publication of the first American Edition of this work, it has largely increased in favor among American practitioners and received the highest commendation from all who have had the pleasure of reading it. Its many admirers will be pleased therefore to learn that a new edition has been published under the editorship of Dr. Henry, who had the honor of introducing the former edition to the attention of American Dermatologists. The

present edition is so much improved and enlarged over the former one however that its recognition would be almost a matter of difficulty.

Much has been added that is entirely new, and the contents of the first edition have undergone a complete revisal, many new thoughts having been added and obsolete ones expunged. A large number of illustrations have been introduced into this edition, taken in a large measure from the works of German authors. Dr. Fox has not hesitated to take advantage of the labors of other dermatologists both Continental and American, and has in every instance given them credit for whatever he has borrowed. Each disease is treated of in sufficient fullness to be clearly understood by the intelligent reader, and the present edition of Dr. Fox's work may be safely said to be the best English treatise on skin diseases extant.

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Books and Pamphlets Received.

Clinical Electro-Therapeutics, Medical and Surgical. A Hand-Book for Physicians in the Treatment of Nervous and other Diseases. By Allan McLane Hamilton, M. D. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1873. Buffalo: Mar

tin Taylor.

The Cerebral Convulutions of Man, represented according to original observations, especially upon their development in the Foetus, intended for the use of Physicians. By Alexander Ecker, Prof. of Anatomy, University of Freiburg, Baden. Translated by Robert T. Edes, M. D. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1873. Buffalo: Martin Taylor.

Insanity in its Relations to Crime. A Text and a Commentary. By Wm. A. Hammond, M. D. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1873.

Report upon some of the recent Researches in Neuropathology. By Wm. B. Neftel, M. D. Reprint from No. 5 Archives of Scientific and Practical Medicine.

Clinical Notes on Nervous Diseases of Women By Wm. B. Neftel, M. D. Reprint from Nos. 3, 4, and 5 Archives of Scientific and Practical Medicine. Spectrum Analysis of Old Blood Stains. By S. Watermrn, M. D. Reprint from No. 5, Archives of Scientific and Practical Medicine.

The Effects of High Atmospheric Pressure, including the Caisson Disease. By Andrew H. Smith, M. D., Surgeon to N. Y. Bridge Company.

The Proper Treatment of Children, Medical or Medicinal. Being the Annual Discourse before the Massachusetts Medical Society, June 4th, 1873. By Charles E. Buckingham, M. D.

Infant Feeding and its Relation to Infant Mortality. Reprint from New York Medical Review.

Transactions of the Medical Society of the State of West Virginia, June

ART. I.-Amputation at the Shoulder Joint. Remarks and Cases. By J. F. MINer, M. D.

The rule in Surgery, which seems to be fully established, that the nearer the body the greater the risk in amputations, suggests the propriety in hip and 'shoulder joint operations of considering carefully any measures of procedure calculated to diminish this. risk. Prof. McGraw, of Detroit, suggested the capital idea in hip joint amputations of removing the bone from the acetabulum, when practicable, and dividing the soft parts at a greater distance from the body, thus avoiding the division of so great amount of tissue, and really removing the amputation to the junction of the upper and middle third, or even lower than this point in some cases. I had practiced upon this idea in injuries of the shoulder joint, but had not considered the importance of the principles involved until reading his paper, when the value of the suggestion was better appreciated.

In injuries of the bone and soft parts about the shoulder, it is not very unusual to be able to remove the shattered bone from the joint, and divide lower down upon the arm the lacerated soft parts, thus retaining, after recovery, some portion of the soft parts of the arm, which in the usual method of amputation at the shoulder joint were wholly sacrificed. These boneless stumps are of no great value in the motions or adjustments of artificial arms, but they are

not altogether useless; they maintain the contour of the shoulder, and above all, it is believed that oftentimes the risks attending the operative procedure are greatly lessened, and the operation, in controlling hemorrhage and tying the vessels, much simplified. The results of some recent cases have impressed me with the conviction that when the system is greatly reduced by loss of blood or from effects of long continued disease, the value of this procedure cannot. be over-estimated.

A patient entered the General Hospital, at my request, for the purpose of exsection of a part or the whole of the humerus, as found necessary. Being bloodless and suffering from profuse purulent discharge, it was hoped that increase of strength and flesh might be obtained by a few weeks delay of the operation. Disappointed in this, it was soon apparent that he must lose his arm or life, or probably both, the disorganization of the arm being complete, having become a suppurating mass from within five or six inches of the joint throughout. The idea of making the usual operation of amputation at the shoulder joint was scarcely feasible, as our patient was hardly alive and could not be expected to bear much operative interference. The diseased bone was divided near the middle with a chain saw and the upper fragment carefully detached from the soft parts and glenoid cavity, and removed. The vessels were now easily controllable by grasping through the soft parts, and at a distance of about five inches from the joint the soft parts were divided, the vessels tied and parts approximated and retained by adhesive plaster, and warm water dressings applied. To the surprise of us all, the patient did not seem to suffer from the operation, no blood was lost, and but little living tissue was divided. He made a good recovery, gained rapidly in flesh and strength, and left the hospital in three months fully recovered.

The second case of this character was from railroad injury. The attempt to save the arm having failed, Dr. Green, of Buffalo, invited me to amputate at the shoulder joint. Mortification had left a line of demarkation four or five inches from the joint. The bone was shattered and now partially separated from the soft parts. With but little hope of saving the life of this patient, we yet removed the bone to the joint, divided what of tissue remained alive at about five inches