servers, but always few, which were to be regarded as pure or simple colors, all others being considered as compounds or mixtures of these. On looking at the perfectly continuous series of colors which we see in the spectrum there seemed to be no obvious physical reason for this distinction. It was, indeed, a psychological rather than a physical one. We had an innate disinclination to conceive of an infinite number of different causes for the infinite number of different sensations of which we were conscious; it was a principle deeply rooted in our reason, expressed long ago by William of Occam, whose famous Razor, "Entia non sunt multiplicanda," was employed by us nowadays as constantly in the solution of physical problems as it was by the Invincible Doctor in the division of the sophistries of Rationalism. Mr. Laws hoped to show, however, in relation to one, at least, of the theories that it was possible to cut too close with it. Many theories of color vision had been proposed during the last 200 years, some of them interesting and original, but two only had gained any general acceptance and to these the discussion would be confined. He then described the theory of Young as it was published in 1801, its modification by Helmholtz more than half a century later, with his proof of the mathematical possibility of reducing all our color sensations to three. Hering's theory was next described, mainly in extracts from his original papers, Mr. Laws considering that none of the published accounts of it in this country did justice to the simple conception, the logical development, and lucid expression of the theory as stated by Hering himself. What we might fairly demand of a theory of color vision was that it should give a reasonable explanation of our everyday experience with regard to our sensations, and also should furnish us with a trustworthy guide when the conditions were modified by pathological processes. As it was impossible for him to discuss all the phenomena in the light of these theories he would make the appeal only to an experiment made for us by nature, namely, the condition of congenital colorblindness. Of this Mr. Laws considered that practically only one type existed, admirably described in Dr. Pole's account of his own case; that other types had been described was due to the attempt to make the facts of observation fit with an erroneous theory; the rare cases of monocular color-blindness were quoted as highly conclusive on this point; finally, the verification was at the hand of each one in the color-blind zone of his own retina. He summed up the evidence from color-blindness as showing that whenever there is a diminution of the number of our color perceptions it is not one that disappears, but always a pair of complementary colors. Here was the reason that the trichromic theory of Young failed-it was not

in harmony with the essentially paired character of our color sensations. Further examples of this character were given in the phenomena of successive and simultaneous contrast, and it was pointed out that we have only to look at a color in order to call up the sensation of another as definite and (under proper conditions) as brilliant as the former, and having the constant psychical character that it is the greatest possible contrast to the former that our minds can conceive. The physical relationship of the two was such that if the spectrum be divided into two halves, and the more refrangible be superposed on the less refrangible half, then color by color and shade by shade the one will neutralize the other and a colorless band result. The dividing line between the two halves corresponds to the neutral point of the spectrum of the color-blind, and thus the same relation holds for their spectrum as for ours. This very remarkable relationship had, he thought, had less importance attached to it than it deserved. The three pairs of antagonistic chemical processes of Hering seemed to him but crudely to account for the facts. Might there not be a deeper cause for it? Much light had been thrown of late years on the relations of light and electricity originally by Clerk Maxwell's mathematical development of the relations of certain physical constants into an electro-magnetic theory of light and, perhaps more strikingly, by Hertz's demonstration of the possibility of producing electromagnetic waves which had all the essential characters of those of light. We know as little of the real nature of electricity as of that of the ether; perhaps, indeed, they were one and the same thing; but one of the most characteristic properties of the former was its power of producing a condition of polarity, or the separation of equal and opposite energies, in matter under its influence. Might not this furnish a clue to the intimate nature of the action of light on the retina and so lead to a completer theory of color vision that we yet possess?-Lancet. Hæmostatics in Hæmophilics.

Dr. H. C. Howard of Champaign, Ill. (Amer. Jour. of Surg. and Gyn.), has for twenty used years hypodermic injection of -a saturated solution of tannic acid around the seat of the bleeding. Dissolve the acid by aid of heat. Make from three to six injections around the seat of the injury, using a saturated solution as hot as can be stood. Also inject hypodermically onetwentieth of a grain of strychnine and repeat every two hours if needed. Strychnine by its influence upon the vasomoter nerves usually checks bleeding in a short time, but when the amount of blood lost is considerable it is best to adopt the above method of local treatment.

Notices and Reviews.

The Principles of Surgery, by N. Senn, Ph. D., LL.D., second edition, thoroughly revised; illustrated with 178 wood-engravings and colored plates. Philadelphia. The F. A. Davis Company.

We have often thought that books, like men, were interesting in proportion as they were free from egoism. The unselfish devotion to merit, the appreciation of work done by others, along with rare selective power and breadth of view, yet with splendid condensation of existing literature, certainly makes this work of Dr. Senn's a masterpiece. The principles of surgery can be made very dull and uninteresting reading and in our earlier life in medicine we keenly appreciated this fact, until we became acquainted with Van Buren's Principles of Surgery. The work under review is certainly a splendid effort, and its worth and charm come through the fact of common-sense arrangement, keen devotion and appreciation of the masters, impartial yet enthusiastic views, and a capacity in the direction of generalization. It is pre-eminently a student's book, and it must be a dull man, indeed, who can take Senn's Principles and not become interested. The chapters on regeneration are now classical and we will never forget our first pleasure in reading them. They contain almost the entire basis or ground work of surgical pathology. Generalizers are born, not made; individualizers are in the nature of a fungous growth. Time is their fate; they bloom and gush for a day, but the masterful generalizer, the establisher or enunciator of principles, is a master endowed from the beginning, and Senn is one. The chapters on regeneration are followed by one on inflammation, wherein is treated the plain and easily understood difference between regeneration and inflammation. Then comes a chapter upon pathogenic bacteria, which includes classification and multiplication of bacteria, along with an extensive life history of bacteria forms. The chapters upon septicemia, pyæmia, tetanus and surgical tuberculosis are especially fine and will bear repeated reading. We may be prejudiced in favor of this book, but certainly think it is by far the best book of this character which we have read, and this second edition, with its many valuable addi

tions, makes it of still greater value. It has been of rare educational value, and we believe that it will continue so.

The International Encyclopedia of Surgery. A Systematic Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Surgery, by Authors of Various Nations. Edited by John Ashhurst, Jr., M. D., LL. D. In seven volumes. Vol. VII, Supplementary Volume. Wm. Wood & Company, New York, 1895.

For many years we have thought that this encyclopedia was the most comprehensive and valuable presentation of surgical knowledge. Any library will certainly be lacking without it. To the honest investigator it will become apparent that the amount of individual thought and work is enormous. It is not a mere compilation, but a well-condensed, original work. As to the making of books there is no end, but of such works as this but few have ever been produced. It is invaluable in the study of the history and progress of surgery. We have consulted it for years and it has added to our capacity, and endeared itself to us for the reason that it is full of original thought and experience, and not a vapid rehash of oft-told, things.

This supplementary volume (Vol. VII) contains articles to the number of fifty-five, by forty-eight different authors, covering almost the entire field of surgery, and is indeed a splendid work. We were especially pleased with the following chapters: Anæsthetics and Anæsthesia by Dr. A. I. Bouffleur, a thoroughly condensed and invaluable chapter upon a dangerous element in the surgeon's calling. Its condensation is masterly. Dr. B. Farquhar Curtis certainly possesses a well-ordered mind, one which comes easily and readily to lucid condensation. His article upon tumors is a model in its way, and will well pay for its perusal. Injuries of Bones, by John H. Packard, M. D., is what we would expect from this author, a masterly exposition of the subject. Surgical Diseases of the Head, by W. W. Keen, M. D., is in our estimation one of the best condensed and most practical articles which it has been our fortune to read. Joseph Ransohoff, M. D., gives a chapter on Injuries and Diseases of the Neck, which, while condensed, is pre-eminently practical. We have not time to individualize, but certain it is that the makers of this book made better than they knew. This supplementary volume,

Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases of the Rectum, Anus and Contiguous Textures. Designed for Practitioners and Students. By S. G. Gant, M. D. The F. A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, 1896.

We are not unmindful of the fact that "criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense." All men assume the capacity to criticise, while few possess it, and they render manifest that which they should conceal, and that is their inability for the work they attempt. The average criticism in an average medical journal does not arise even to the average intellect possessed by the writer. Chimmie Fadden is by far a more interesting critic, and a more truthful and conscientious one than the critic in many medical journals.

Here is a book which offers, in consequence of many faults in diction, an unlimited field. for the ranting critic to make his own grandeur apparent, while pulling down the author.

We are free to confess that these very faults make it valuable, for it certainly fulfills the purpose for which it was written. It is a plainly written, thoroughly instructive book, and the active practitioner can find in it digestible pabulum. It teaches and teaches well the very things a practitioner wants to know, and he is not compelled to wade through masses of theory, but finds in most unpretentious language the facts he wants to know. We predict that this book will have better success than many whose verbosity and pretension lead us to expect more than we get. The reverse is true in this book. We get more in an easy way than in almost any other book which we have read in a long time. The execution is excellent, the type is good, and the illustrations all that could be desired. The matter is condensed, readable and instructive and does not confuse one at the start by exceeding bulk. We are free to confess that a Falstaffian looking volume now seems to mean just so much sapped vitality.

O.

Dr. J. F. Valentine, chief surgeon of the Long Island Railroad, is organizing a hospital department for the employes of that corporation.

Dr. H. H. Mudd, Dean of the St. Louis Medical College, has been appointed consulting surgeon of the St. Louis hospital of the Missouri Pacific Railway.

Dr. T. O. Summers, editor of the St. Louis Critic, has been appointed Bacteriologist and pathologist to the hospital department of the Missouri Pacific Railway.

There are now thirteen railway systems in the United States having hospital departments in operation. These departments have twentyfive well-equipped hospitals, treating annually over 165,000 patients.

Dr. Donald Maclean of Detroit has resigned and Dr. Truman W. Miller of Chicago has been appointed to succeed him as chief surgeon of that portion of the Grand Trunk system west of the Detroit and St. Clair rivers.

The staff of the St. Louis hospital of the Missouri Pacific Railway attended to nearly 120 people, more or less injured, following the cyclone of May 27. All of this attention was supplied gratuitiously, for in such calamities as these, selfishness is an after consideration.

Dr. E. F. Yancey, chief surgeon of the M. K. & T. Railway, has just had constructed at the Sedalia Hospital a new and thoroughly equipped operating arena. This magnificent hospital has a capacity of 85 beds and the surroundings are very pleasant. It is situated in the middle of a splendid grove of trees, with all the air space which sixteen acres can give. Certainly every want which a patient can have can be supplied.

Dr. W. F. Jamieson of Palestine, Texas, chief surgeon of the I. & G. N. hospital department, has returned from New Orleans, where he has been attending various clinics. The doctor has brought his department to a high state of efficiency. The Palestine Hospital is a splendidly equipped and carefully constructed. brick building with a capacity of about 65 beds. It is beautifully situated amidst rare plants and exotics and other pleasant surroundings.

The Missouri Pacific Hospital Department treated, through its consulting staff of specialists, the following number of patients during the past year: The oculists treated 452 patients and these patients made 3,526 visits to them; 42 operations were performed by the oculists. The laryngologists treated 463 patients, with 1,290 visits and 205 operations. The aurists treated 255 patients, who made 566 visits and had performed upon them 18 operations. The dermatologists treated 208 patients, who made 402 visits. The neurologists treated 168 pa

tients, who made 218 visits. The total number of patients was 1,546; the number of consultations, 6,011, and the number of operations 265.

Dr. C. M. Daniels of Buffalo, chief surgeon of the Erie Railway Company, has submitted to the employes of that system a most excellent plan for the organization of a hospital department. This plan possesses every element calculated to satisfy the most exacting. It is, indeed, a positive advance in the formation of a hospital department, and by its pure merit will satisfy everyone.

Dr. P. F. Vasterling, senior house surgeon of the St. Louis Hospital, Missouri Pacific Railway, has accepted the editorship of the Railway Surgical Department of the "Medical Fortnightly" of St. Louis. This is an excellent selection and will certainly redound to the profit of the "Fortnightly," as Dr. Vasterling is rich in railway surgical experience, and moreover an enthusiast in his profession.

The Columbus, Sandusky & Hocking Railway has organized a surgical staff and divided the system into surgical divisions. The following surgeons comprise the staff as now organized: Sandusky, Dr. C. H. Merz; Bucyrus, Dr. J. A. Chesney; Marion, Dr. A. M. Crane; Delaware, Dr. E. M. Semans; Columbus (chief surgeon), Dr. R. Harvey Reed; Basil, Dr. O. P. Driver; Fultonham, Dr. C. Z. Axline; Corning, Dr. C. B. Holcomb; Hemlock, Dr. B. F. Barnes; Shawnee, Dr. J. D. Axline; Zanesville, Dr. J. G. F. Holston; Cannelville, Dr. G. B. Trout; Gloucester, Dr. A. J. Crawford.

The Plant system has also fitted up several hospital cars, which are scattered along the road at division points. In case of an accident one of these cars is dispatched to the scene at once, and the wounded are cared for properly and immediately. An operating room in the car is fitted with a glass-topped table and all the appliances for performing aseptic operations. There is a consultation room and a larger apartment, fitted with cots and hammocks, in which the injured may be conveyed safely and comfortably to the railway hospitals.

It is proposed to have these hospital cars so located that one can be sent to any point on the road within two hours. A supply of stretchers is carried on each of the hospital cars, on which the wounded may be removed from the wreck, and each car will have accommodations for more than a dozen sufferers. The intention of Dr. Frank H. Caldwell, the chief surgeon of the Plant system, is to use the hospital cars chiefly to transport the wounded to hospitals, and the operating-room will be used only when a delay would be dangerous to the patient.

Miscellany.

The Association of Military Surgeons.

The sixth annual convention of the Association of Military Surgeons was held in Philadelphia, at the Broad Street Theater, May 12. Among the members of the association present are the following: Major Thomas J. Sullivan, Chicago; Major J. V. R. Hoff, Governor's Island, N. Y.; Major Thomas Rockwell, Rockville, Conn.; Colonel L. B. Almy, Norwich, Conn.; Brigadier-General George Austin Bowman, Woodstock, Conn.; Captain J. Pilcher, Columbus Barracks, Ohio; Major Samuel Q. Robinson, Fort Reno, Colo.; Major C. L. Seigman, Fort Adams, R. I.; Colonel C. C. Byrne, Governor's Island, N. Y.; Lieutenant-Colonel R. W. Blood, Boston, Mass.; Assistant Surgeon-General C. R. Alden, Washington, D. C.; Major L. C. Carr, Cincinnati, Ohio; Commodore Albert Gihon, New York; Major S. S. Tesson, Fort Ethan Allen, Vt.; Major V. Havard, David Island, N. Y., and Major George W. Adair, Washington Barracks, Washington, D. C.

A Case of Traumatic Ventral Hernia and one of Hæmophilia.

Mr. Garstang reports the following interesting cases in a recent number of the London Lancet:

Traumatic ventral hernia of the kind described in the first case is of very unusual occurrence-in fact, it has received little notice in our general text-books. Such a hernia, as the result of direct subcutaneous injury, may develop immediately in consequence of rupture of the muscles in the abdominal wall, the protrusion taking place through the opening made, or atrophy with resulting weakness may ensue at the point injured and a hernia develop secondarily. Examples of the former are given by Gay, Meckel and Bryant. The patient under the care of Gay had a blow from a buffer in the abdomen, and on dissection some of the viscera were under the skin and had come through a rent which divided the left rectus and left epigastric artery, the linea alba, and part of the right rectus. Included in the term traumatic, and much more common than those already referred to, are the hernia which protrude through the scar resulting from the wound made by a surgeon for the removal of an abdominal tumor or for the evacuation of an abscess, also wounds of the parietes received in other ways by stab or gunshot. We are still in a condition of uncertainty as to the exact deviation from the normal which produces hæmophilia, and the facts that are known about

it, such as its hereditary character, its more frequent appearance in the male, and also that it is congenital, do not help us in respect to the treatment of the hemorrhages which are so apt to prove fatal. It is probable that antiseptic treatment with pressure will do more for the arrest of hemorrhage in these cases than was formerly possible. When the wound suppurated and hemorrhage frequently recurred from it the attempt to apply pressure of the application of styptics only seemed to make the wound a larger one and the fever more intense. Of the numerous drugs which have been recommended for the treatment of the hemorrhages the only one which has seemed to us to exercise any control on the loss has been belladonna, applied externally in the event of large subcutaneous hemorrhages, or given internally in cases of bleedings from the mucuous surfaces. For the notes of the cases we are indebted to Dr. G. Wilkinson, late senior house surgeon.

Case I. A boy aged fifteen years was admitted to the Bolton Infirmary on February 7, 1895, with a swelling in the left hypochondriac region, the result of an injury. He gave the history that he was carrying a bundle of dyesticks, when he stumbled and fell with his abdomen on the blunt end of one of them. On admission there was found to be a swelling about the size and shape of half an orange, midway between the umbilicus and the cartilage of the tenth rib on the left side. When the patient coughed the swelling enlarged. It could be put back entirely into the abdominal cavity, and when this was done a well-defined rounded opening about one and a half inches in diameter could be felt in the abdominal wall beneath the skin. The substance protruded beneath the skin when the patient coughed and had the knotted feel of omentum. The skin over a part of the swelling was superficially abraded. The patient was put to bed, carefully dieted, and a pad and bandage were applied to the seat of injury. On March 6 the subcutaneous rent in the abdominal wall had nearly closed, so that only the tip of a finger could be introduced, and the abrasion had healed. The patient was supplied with an abdominal belt with pad and was allowed to get up. On December 9 the patient came up for inspection. He had resumed work and discontinued the use of the belt.

There was a prominent scar marking the seat of abrasion, which showed signs of cheloid growth. The rent in the muscular layers had quite closed and firm scar tissue was felt.

Case 2. A boy aged eleven years was admitted on June 18, 1894, with hemorrhage from the cheek and gums. He gave the history that

he was struck on the left cheek with a cricket bat four days before admission, and that there had been continual bleeding from his gums and

cheeks since. His previous history was as follows: When two years of age his tongue ulcerated and bled for three weeks; at three years of age he received a wound on the back of his head, which bled during five or six weeks; when seven or eight years of age he had a wound of the temple, which bled three of four weeks in spite of plugging, caustic, etc. There was no history of any male relative having been similarly affected. A sister aged twenty-five years had had four miscarriages and a boy who died at the age of eight months. The patient had a sallow complexion with transparent condition of skin. The conjunctiva was not unusually pale and there was no heart murmur. Tincture of perchloride of iron was applied to the wound of the cheek without much beneficial effect. Finally a silk suture was introduced and proved effectual. Arsenic and tincture of perchloride of iron were given internally and the mouth was frequently washed out with iced Condy's lotion. On July 9 the wound had quite healed. On November 28, 1895, the patient was re-admitted on account of hemorrhage from a wound of the upper lip inflicted by falling against a frame eight days previously. The hemorrhage having ceased after admission it was not thought advisable to disturb him. Free hemorrhage, however, came on in the night, which was controlled by the introduction of a silk suture. On December 23 the wound had not healed, but was slowly granulating.

FOR SALE.

PRACTICE FOR SALE:-I offer for sale my practice in the county seat of one of the best counties in Iowa. Have been here for twelve years; am surgeon of the leading road entering the town; am medical examiner for six life insurance companies, etc. I simply require that my successor buy my office fixtures, mostly new-worth $700. Purchaser must be reliable physician with few years' practice. Address "Z. V.," care RAILWAY SURGEON, Chicago.

Desiring to remove to the Pacific Coast, I offer my well-established practice of over 20 years to any physician who will purchase my real estate, situated in one of the most beautiful and thriving towns in Southern Michigan, and surrounded by a very rich farming country. The town is intersected by two important railroads, for one of which the subscriber is surgeon. The real estate consists of a fine brick house of eight rooms and two fine offices besides, attached to, and a part of, the residence. A fine well of the purest water, two cisterns, waterworks, etc. Fine garden filled with choice fruit in bearing, peaches, pears and apricots and small fruits, raspberries, currants, etc. Fine barn and other outbuildings, comparatively new and in the very best condition, all offered with the practice and goodwill at a very low figure for cash. Address "MACK, Surgeon," care RAILWAY SURGEON, Monadnock Block Chicago, Ill.

By reason of failing health, physician wishes to dispose of real estate and practice. Practice amounts to nearly $4,000 per year. No charges except for real estate. Address WM. D. B. AINEY, Montrose, Pa.

Desiring to remove to a warmer climate, owing to poor health. I offer my well-established practice of 11 years to any physician who will purchase my real estate: situated in one of the most thriving towns in the Platte Valley, in Central Nebraska, on main line of Union Pacific R. R., on which road I am the assistant surgeon.

The real estate consists of 2 lots "on corner," on which there is a fine artistic "modern" frame house, 8 rooms; stable 20x30, wind mill, tower and 30-barrel tank: nice blue grass lawn, trees and fine garden (all new); and all offered with my $5.000 practice and good will, at a very low figure. A part cash, balance on time. A very thickly populated country. Address BOVINE," care RAILWAY SURGEON, Monadnock Block, Chicago, Ill