26. On the Causes of Epidemic Fever in the Metropolis, more especially as regards the Condition of the Labouring Classes. By W. HOLT YATES, M.D. Physician to the General Dispensary. 8vo, pp. 30. Edwards, Ave-Maria Lane. Dec. 1838. 27. On the Objects and mutual Relations of the Medical Sciences; an Introductory Address delivered at the Middlesex Hospital School of Medicine, Oct. 1838. By FRED. S. LEIGHTON, M.D. Lecturer on Forensic Medicine. Renshaw, Nov. 1838. 28 An Introductory Address on the Studies for the Medical Profession. Addressed to the Medical School of St. George's Hospital, October, 1838. By Sir B. C. BRODIE, Bart. F.R.S. &c. London, 1838. 29. A Letter to the Right Honourable the Lord Chancellor on the Present State of the Law of Lunacy, with Suggestions, &c. By a Barrister of the Inner Temple. W. Crofts. pp. 16. Nov. 1838. In our next. 30. The Medical Annual; or British Medical Almanac, 1839. Edited by WILLIAM FARR. Sherwood and Co. 1838. Price three shillings. 31. Lectures on the Physiology and Diseases of the Chest, &c. By CHARLES J. B. WILLIAMS, M.D. F.R.S. Illustrated by Engravings. pp. 204. 1838. No publisher. 32. A Text-Book of Human Anatomy, designed to facilitate the Study of that Science. By ROBERT HUNTER, M.D. Professor of Anatomy, Andersonian College, Glasgow. Second Edition, Glasgow, 1838. 33. The Medical Portrait Gallery, Part 10. Price 3s. By T. J. PETTIGREW, Esq. Contents.-Conclusion of W. Lawrence's Biography-Memoir and Portrait of Sir John Pringle-ditto, Dr. Clutterbuck. The letter-press is ably executed in this Part, but we think the portrait of Dr. Clutterbuck, though a good engraving, is not a very striking likeness. 34. Physiological Explanation of the Beauty of Form. By BENJAMIN JOSLYN, M.D. Professor of Natural Philosophy, &c. in Union College, N.Y. Albany, 1837. pp. 30, with a plate. 35. The Medical Pocket Book and Alma nac for 1839. By JOHN FOOTE. Renshaw, 1838. This little book contains a number of good things; but as just half of it is blank ruled paper, just half its utility is sacrificei. We would strongly advise Mr. Foote to remedy this defect next year. 36. An Account of the Proceedings at the Sixth Anniversary Meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at Bath, Wednesday and Thursday, July 18 and 19, 1838. pp. 100, Worcester, 1838. 37. A Lecture, introductory to the Business of the Original School of Medicine, Peter-street; delivered by G. T. HAYDEN, A.B. M.R.C.S.I. Surgeon to the Anglesey Lying-in Hospital, and Ophthalmic Infirmary, and Lecturer on Anatomy and Surgery. Dublin, Fannin and Co.; London, Renshaw, 1838. 38. Principles of General and Comparative Physiology, intended as an Introduction to the Study of Human Physiology, and as a Guide to the Philosophical Pursuit of Natural History. By WM. B. CARPENTER, M.R.C.S. &c. Lecturer on Forensic Medicine in Bristol. 8vo, pp. 478-six plates. Churchill, London, Dec. 1838. 39. Manual of Descriptive and Pathological Anatomy, by J. F. Meckel, Professor of Anatomy at Halle, &c. Translated from the German into French, with Additions and Notes, by A. J. L. Jourdan, Mem. of Royal Acad. of Medicine at Paris, &c. and G. Breschet, Adjunct Prof. of Anatomy at the School of Medicine, &c. Translated from the French, with Notes, by A. S. DOANE, A.M. M.D. and others. In 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 571-650. London, Henderson, 1838. 40. The Student's Guide to the Hospitals and Medical Institutions of Paris. Το which is added an Outline of the Edinburgh and German Universities. By JOHN WIBLIN, M.R.C.S. Small octavo, pp. 70. Renshaw, 1838. A most admirable and useful guide. 41. The Philosophy of Disease; or an Outline of the Principles of Medical Science, comprising a Brief Exposition of the Laws of Inflammatory Action. By JAMES BOWER HARRISON, M.R.C.S. in London. Small 8vo. pp. 152. Simpkin and Marshall, Dec. 1838. THE Medico-Chirurgical Review, No. LX. [No. 20 of a Decennial Series.] JANUARY 1, TO APRIL 1, 1839. ON DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. I. URINARY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. By Robert Willis, M.D., Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, Physician to the Royal Infirmary for Children, &c. &c. II. ON GRANULAR DEGENERATION OF THE KIDNIES, AND ITS CONNEXION WITH DROPSY, INFLAMMATIONS, AND OTHER DISEASES. By Robert Christison, M.D. F.R.S.E. &c. &c. Octavo, pp. 288. Edinb. 1839. III. TRAITÉ DES MALADIES DES REINS, ET DES ALTÉRATIONS DE LA SÉCRÉTION URINAIRE, ÉTUDIÉES EN ELLE-MEMES, ET DANS LEURS RAPPORTS AVEC LES MALADIES DES URETERES, DE LA VESSIE, DE LA PROSTATE, DE L'URETHRE, &c. Avec un Atlas in folio. Par P. Rayer, Médecin de l'Hôpital de la Charité, &c. &c. Octavo. Tome Premier, pp. 638. Six Planches gravées. A Paris, chez J. B. Bailliere. THE scope and object of the work of Dr. Willis must be, from our former notice of it, tolerably familiar to our readers. The title of that of Dr. Christison explains its more limited design. It is solely occupied with the "granular degeneration" of the kidnies, and is intended to illustrate, to amplify, perhaps correct, the views of Dr. Bright. Its author's anticipations, as well as his confidence, may be judged from the following copious passage in his Preface: The apathy with which the invaluable discoveries of Dr. Bright continue to be regarded by many is most unaccountable. It is only within the last two years that medical men in this city have generally admitted the accuracy of his researches. I still meet with respectable members of the profession who seem inclined to adhere to their scepticism. And in a late visit to London I found to my surprise that by some medical gentlemen of the metropolis the doctrines of Dr. Bright continue to be called in question. This is surely a very strange result of the numerous extended inquiries which have now been made, and all with one invariable result. I do not know a single investigation, of such extent as to deserve the name, which has contradicted in any material point the general principles first announced in 1827. And as to confirmatory researches, No. LX. В в B I shall take the liberty of expressing my sentiments in the language of Dr. Osborne, who remarks, that the number of observations recorded' (as this be it observed so far back as 1834) must be admitted to have been greater than has within many years been brought to bear on any one individual proposition in medical science.' Were an apology wanted then for the appearance of the present treatise, the preceding exposition might perhaps be considered not inadequate. But other reasons have also actuated me. The subject I have undertaken to elucidate has been more or less an express object of study with me ever since the publication of Dr. Bright's Reports in 1827. Some of the general facts which have thus been deduced have gone forth in an imperfect form through the medium of my lectures delivered from time to time in the Clinical Courses of this University during the last six years. Occasionally I perceive from the Journals, that others have been expending much pains in ascertaining points which have here been for some time determined; and that others call in question facts which have been long placed out of the reach of controversy. A few received doctrines, of much importance both to pathology and to practice, have appeared to me doubtful, if not inconsistent with facts, and therefore to deserve early revision. One interesting department, the pathological condition of the blood, has hitherto been barely touched upon, and that chiefly in points which were started in my paper in 1829. On farther investigation it has appeared to me, not only that the special facts formerly advanced in an isolated shape may be now stated with full confidence in more general terms, but likewise that the entire subject may be presented with new features of interest. Lastly, I had long thought that the students of this University and the profession at large stood in need of an easily accessible work on Granular Degeneration of the Kidnies. Nor has the publi cation of the excellent memoir of Dr. Osborne altered this opinion; since the ground we have taken up is somewhat different, and the doctrines to which we have been conducted are not always in accord. It is necessary to explain, that this treatise was framed in the first instance exclusively from the results of personal experience, based on the earliest work of Dr. Bright. Its substance indeed formed part of my Clinical Lectures delivered in 1831, as well as frequently since; and it was first written without reference to any researches published subsequently to those of Dr. Gregory, which made their appearance during the same year. Some valuable obervations have since been added from the publications of later authors. But these authors may also recognize apparently some of their facts unacknowledged; for I did not think it necessary to refer to others what had long been previously known to myself, and repeatedly made public in the discharge of my professional duties." xiii. It is clear that Dr. Christison's observations must be possessed of high importance, for, he himself assures us, that they have determined points on which others are labouring in vain-that they place beyond the reach of controversy much that is controverted-that they render it probable that a few received doctrines ought to be received no longer-and that they establish some general conclusions of no mean consequence in reference to the pathological condition of the blood. All very excellent things, and quite enough to apologise for the publication of a book. M. Rayer explains, in a preface of some pages, the object of his labours. He admits, what is undeniable, that the diseases of the kidney, and, particularly, the alterations of the urine, have hitherto received little attention in France. There cannot indeed be a more pregnant instance of the absence of a practical turn in our neighbours, than their preference of morbid anatomy to pathology. In the latter we have commenced and carried on investigations to which the continental physicians have been quite indifferent -while, in the former, we need not say how far they have outstripped us. It would be idle to descant to the English reader on the value of the study of the alterations of the urine. It is necessary to awake the attention of his countrymen, and therefore M. Rayer may be excused for dwelling on it. M. Rayer has studied and describes the alterations of the urine as they depend on excess or defect of some of its natural constituents--or as they result from the accidental presence of other organic principles, proceeding from the blood or from foreign matters accidentally introduced into the economy by absorption. M. Rayer acknowledges the value of the ordinary tests employed to determine the condition of the urine. But he also calls attention to the employment of the microscope, and strongly insists on its utility. By its means, we promptly determine the nature of the deposits of the urine, or of substances suspended in it, and arrive at an acquaintance with organic matters, mucus, fragments of epithelium, small quantities of pus or blood, spermatic animalcules, substances or objects, which, without the microscope, present insurmountable difficulties to the inquirer. The dominant idea of M. Rayer, that which has presided over his investigations, and tinges all his conclusions, is, that no diseases are absolutely local, but that all have a tendency to dissemination, and to implication of the system. We need scarcely observe that this opinion has long formed the basis of practice in England, at all events, since the publication of the work of Mr. Abernethy. Here then, as elsewhere, we may justly claim for our country and our countrymen that merit which is fairly due to themthe merit of being in advance of our continental brethren, in most that relates to the practical application of medicine. We shall now return to the work of Dr. Willis. We left him on the brink of his fourth chapter, and we shall now enter on it. That chapter is intituled: I. MORBID STATES IN WHICH THE URINE CONTAINS IN SOLUTION OR AS Dr. Willis remarks, that one of the many interesting discoveries of modern chemistry, is the convertibility of some proximate animal principles into one another-nay, the artificial formation of some from their ultimate elements. Urea, for example, is said to have been formed by Wohler. "If we set out," says Dr. W. "from this peculiar organic principle, the ultimate composition of which appears to be 46.65 nitrogen, 19.97 carbon, 6.65 hydrogen, and 26.65 oxygen, (H° C2 H* O*), and suppose the proportions of nitrogen and hydrogen to be lessened, whilst those of carbon and oxygen are increased, we shall have lithic or uric acid produced,-33.37 nitrogen, 36.00 * It is difficult to understand the construction of this sentence. |