dicating their success in averting infant and child mortality. The social condition and comfortable position attained is shown by the fact that nearly two-thirds of the families keep one or more servants. Yet the poorer families show a slightly lower death rate than that of the richer ones, reversing the ordinary course of things. The occupations of 18,115 male members of these families reveal the selection of employments. Eight general classifications of occupations were made. The most intelligible way to express the results is in percentages; 80 1 per cent were engaged in commercial pursuits, 33.7 per cent in the wholesale and 464 in the retail branches; 11.4 per cent were engaged in the trades, while but half of one per cent were laborers, servants, etc. For the past five years 2,962 deaths were reported. This gives an annual death rate of only 7.11 per thousand, but little more than one-half of the annual death rate of the United States in general. This astonishing figure is discussed in the bulletin, and the conclusion reached is that there is every ground for trusting its accuracy. If the deaths for the year 1889 only are taken, a death rate of about 10 per thousand is given, which is exceedingly low. The life tables naturally show great powers of survival to old age. Thus out of 100,000 individuals there are of survivors at the age of 85 over 20,000 Jews, against an average of about 4,000 general population by English life tables and nearly 7,000 by the Massachusetts five years' life tables. The above figures for the Jews are based on the year 1889 only. For the five years 1885-1889 the record is still more favorable. The expectancy of life therefore is on the average much higher, ranging for some ages up to thirty per cent more than that given by the general English and American life tables. In causes of death the mortality from tubercular and scrofulous complaints is less relatively than from diseases of the respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems. Of different occupations, the commercial pursuits show the smallest death rate. The marriage rate and death rate appear to be less for this class than for the average population. This coincides with the latest summary of rates in Europe. With prolonged residence in this country the death rate seems to tend to increase, and the birth rate to diminish. As regards the defective classes, deaf and dumb, blind, idiotic, etc., the returns indicate so few among them that the figures are not trusted by the census experts. The bulletin is only a preliminary one, but makes an exceedingly interesting presentation of the subject. The figures we have given can hardly rank even as a summary of the exhaustive tables contained in it. The compilation of the statistics was performed by Mr. A. S. King, chief of the Division of Vital Statistics. The discussion of the results is by Dr. John S. Billings, one of the leading authorities on these subjects.-Scientific American. ease. BLACK WASH IN RHUS POISONING.-I have had a very large experience with the dermatitis of rhus poisoning, and have never seen the application of "lotio nigra" fail in any stage of the disThe part or parts may be freely bathed with black wash or wrapper in absorbent wool or cotton previously soaked in the solution. Immediate relief of subjective symptoms follows and the objective signs rapidly disappear. I have never seen untoward symptoms.-Dr. J. A. Kite in Med. News. Reviews and Book Notices WOOD'S MEDICAL AND SURGICAL MONOGRAPHS, Consisting of Orignal Treatises and Reproductions in English of Books and Monographs, Selected from the Latest Literature of Foreign Countries, with all illustrations, etc.; 8 vo., Leatherette, pp. 260 and 330; Published Monthly. Price $10.00 per annum; Single Copies, $1. Vol. VIII, Nos. 2 and 3. William Wood & Co., Pub lishers, 56 and 58 LaFayette Place, New York, N. Y. The November number of this most excellent serial publication, contains the following articles in its 260 pages: "Treatment of Uterine Affections by Massage," by Dr. Eugene Avendt; Cosmetic; "A Treatise for Physicians," by Dr. Heinrich Paschkis; "Affections of the Stomach in Diseases of the Male Genital Organs," by Dr. Alexander Peyer. The December number with over 330 pages comprises monographs on a "Practical Guide to the Demonstration of Bacteria in Animal Tissue," by Dr. H. Kuhne; "The Present Position of Antiseptic Surgery," by Sir Joseph Lister, F. R. S.; "Cancer and its Complications," by Charles Egerton Jennings, F. R. C. S. Eng., M. S, M. B.; "The Treatment of Epilepsy," by Dr. Ch. Fere; and last but not least, yes, at this time the most important of all "A Hand-book to Dr. Koch's Treatment in Tubercular Disease," by Drs. Grun and Severn. An index to Vol. VIII., completes the work. Of all the publications issued from the various medical presses in this and other countries, this series challenges comparison. For the small sum of $10 you have twelve valuable additions to any man's library, and a larger amount of valuable reading matter than can be found elsewhere for double the sum. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON IMPOTENCE, STERILITY AND ALLIED Disorders of the MALE SEXUAL ORGANS. BY SAM'L W. GROSS, A. M., M. D., LL. D., Professor of Principles of Surgery and Clinical Surgery in the Jefferson Medical College; formerly President of the Pathological Society of Philadelphia; Fellow of the American Surgical Association., etc., etc. 8 vo., Cloth, pp. 175, with Twenty Illustrations. Lea Brothers & Co., Publishers, Philadelphia, 1890. A work that long before its fourth edition was reached had become classical and thoroughly regarded as standard in all that pertains to impotence and sterility in the male. It has a place of its own in our literature from which it cannot be pulled down until other abler and more tireless investigators and more correct observers so advance our knowledge as its lamented but talented author has done in regard to this subject. Dr. Sturgis has done well his work of revision, and the changes and additions he has made we are satisfied would have been sanc tioned by its author, and can but prove of value to the student and practitioner of medicine. THE PHYSICIANS' HAND-BOOK FOR 1891. By ALBERT D. ELMer, M. D., New York. G. P. Putnam's Sons, Publishers, New York, (The Knickerbocker Press). This is one of the handsomest and most comprehensive pocket companions yet issued. In addition to the usual visiting list and record of practice, with places for all memoranda usually found in such works; such as cash received, obstetric record, record of practice, etc., it has pages on good linen paper for a diagnostic record, and alphabetically arranged pages for the names and addresses of patients, with date of beginning and ending of treatment with amount of bill. In addition we find a mass of condensed information systematically arranged, pertaining to all the diseases to which the human body is subject, even including midwifery and diseases of women. Emergencies and their treatment, poisons, their symptoms and treatment, diagnostic examination of urine, list of incompatibles and alphabetical list of remedial agents occupy a prominent place. This is the hand-book published for thirty years by W. A. Townsend, and now transferred to G. P. Putnam's Sons, and in its thirty-fourth year of publication, and contains features entirely different from other works of its nature, and has been most favorably received by the medical press of Europe and America, and has been adopted by the U. S. Government for use of officers of the army and navy. THE MEDICAL BULLETIN VISITING LIST OR PHYSICIAN'S CALL RECORD, Arranged upon an original and convenient monthly and weekly plan for the daily recording of Professional visits. New Edition. Red Russia Cover, Flap, Tuck and Pencil. F. A. Davis, Publisher, 1231 Filbert St., Philapelphia, 1891. A somewhat novel but very expeditious method of keeping a record of a physician's daily professional work. It contains calendars for '90, '91 and '92, Tables of Signs, of Fees, Dr. Ely's obstetrical table, and other valuable tables, formulæ and doses for hypodermic medication and for inhalation, the use of the thermometer, poisons and their antidotes, maximum doses of the newer remedies, and the usual but specially arranged visiting list, obstetric record, vaccination record, bills and accounts, cash account, etc., etc. No. 1, arranged to accommodate seventy patients daily each month for one year is sold at $1.25 net; No. 2, large size for 105 patients daily for each month for one year, $1.50, and No. 2, in which the "Blanks for Recording Visits in" are in removable sections, $1.75. A very convenient and both time and labor saving arrangement is the prominent feature of the daily record of visits. ESSENTIALS OF PHARMACY, arranged in the form of questions and The subject matter and arrangement of this little book leaves nothing to be asked for by the student of pharmacy, and it will prove as it was intended, a most useful adjunct to systematic reading. It is a most excellent companion for the student and the question and answer arrangement will be acknowledged as a decided advantage. A MANUAL OF AUSCULTATION AND PERCUSSION. Embracing the physical diagnosis of Diseases of the Lungs and Heart, and of Thoracic Aneurism. By AUSTIN FLINT, M. D., LL. D., Prof. of Principles and Practice of Medicine, and of Clinical Medicine in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, etc., etc. Fifth Edition, thoroughly revised by J. C. Wilson, M. D., Lecturer on Physical Diagnosis in Jefferson Medical College, etc., etc. Illustrated with wood-cuts. 8 vo. Cloth, pp. 268. Price, $1.75. Lea Brothers & Co., Publishers, Philadelphia, 1890. The advanced student, the fresh graduate, and the general practitioner will all be benefited by this excellent little work. |