'Traite Pratique Des Maladies De La Peau; Diagnostic et Traitement.' Par M. Le Docteur E. Guibot, Medecin De L' Hopital Saint Louis, Paris, etc.

This, the fourth work which the author has written on dermatology, is intended to present, in a clear and concise way, a resumÉ of the more voluminous books which have preceded it. Unfortunately the dermatology of to-day, as it appears in the English language, is drawn largely from the precepts of the Vienna school. In fact, since the little volume of Robert Liveing, which appeared in London about eight years ago, there has been no truly English or American treatise on the subject; although books on diseases of the skin have appeared in quick succession, they have been vague echoes from the Krankenhaus in Wien. Do not think from this that I undervalue the original work done by the great teachers of local dermatology, for they have taken vast strides in the advancement of the science, but other lines of thought and investigation are needed to broaden the scope of the earnest student. The work before me, as its name implies, is a practical treatise on diseases of the skin, of about four hundred pages, with especial attention to diagnosis and treatment. To facilitate the former, the author has grouped cutaneous maladies which are alike in nature into what he calls Diatheses, of which the syphilitic, scrofulous, herpetic, cancerous and the congestive are dwelt upon. In differentiating the scrofulous from the syphilitic diatheses, the author says: “In the third stage of syphilis, as we have said, the work of destruction starts from within, attacking first the deeper structures, as the periostium cartilage and bone, whereas scrofula pursues the same destructive course inversely; that is to say, from the superficial to the deep parts. This consideration, upon which we cannot insist too strongly, is of the greatest importance in diagnosis. For example, if syphilis attacks the nose, the part first involved is the mucous membrane of the nasal fosÆ, then the nasal bones and cartilages, which may become completely destroyed before the process subsides, leaving the nose flattened but the skin intact. In scrofula the work of disorganization begins in the superficial parts—the skin—and not until the part involved is completely destroyed does it proceed to those which are deeper, viz., the cartilage and bone. Again, it may be seen that the destruction is more complete in scrofula than in syphilis. This is especially true of the skin, for syphilis has at least a respect for this organ, which scrofula has not.”

After establishing, as he says, “the principles upon which the scrofulous diathesis is founded,” he proceeds to enumerate the different scrofulides of the skin as follows: 1, Erythematous; 2, Phlegmonous; 3, Pustulo-crustaciÆ; 4, Tuburcular; 5, Rupiform; 6, Ulcero-gumatous.

The herpetic diatheses.—“The distinctive feature of prime import in herpetic lesions (herpidites) is their duration. In the two diathesis we have just considered we have said that the scrofulides are continuous in their duration; they present no interruption, no intermittance; whereas the syphilides are essentially intermittent; they disappear spontaneously, or under the influence of treatment, and reappear without regularity or periodicity. Their intervals of latency are variable, often regulated by the change of season, especially liable to reappear in the springtime, and sometimes after many years of complete immunity.

“The herpidites combine in their evolution the two characters of intermittency and chronicity. At their commencement they are intermittent; in the second stage, which occurs after a certain though variable period, they assume the character of chronicity.” The author further divides the herpidites into benign and malignant. Under the former are included herpes, impetigo, lichen, eczema and psoriasis; the latter includes pemphigus, cachectic rupia and prurigo senilis formicans. The cancerous and the congestive diatheses follow, after which the exanthemata and the cachectic diseases of the skin.

Symptomatic affections of the skin, arising from pathological, physiological and psychological disturbances are probably of more interest than any other group, because here one finds so many things not even mentioned in most works on dermatology, and because this class of affections seems destined more and more to be a common inherent of American life.

“These diseases, which are called diseases of the skin, are not so in reality. They belong more or less to the entire organism, revealing themselves upon the external integument with visible and palpable peculiarities which enable us to form an opinion as to their true nature. Considering the subject from this point of view, dermatology is therefore one of the most important branches of pathology; it is the torch which throws light on many morbid conditions which otherwise would remain obscure, vague and unsettled. But dermatology is more than this; it is the index, the external manifestation of disturbances which may be physiological or pathological, superficially or deeply seated. It is still more, for it is the visible expression of certain psychological emotions and moral states which are reflected upon the skin, there to be interpreted by the observing student.” This part of the work ends with a chapter on dermatoses of local origin, which includes parasitic affections.

The book concludes by taking up the treatment of the different diseases one by one. In the treatment of syphilis the author says: “The preparation of mercury to which we give the preference is the proto iodide. It is less dangerous, more soluable in the stomach and more easily assimilated. It should never be given to exceed three centigrammes a day.”

Time forbids further details. I will simply say the book is a good one, and will well repay careful study. Arrangements have been made with the author and his publishers to translate the work into English.

“Official FormulÆ of American Hospitals” is the title of a 16-mo manual of 238 pages, published by the Medical World of Philadelphia. It contains the formulÆ of some twenty-nine American hospitals, collected and arranged by C. F. Taylor, M. D. Price $1.00.

“Organic Materia Medica and Therapeutics,” in accordance with the sixth revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia. By James Young Simpson, M. D., of Orange, New Jersey. Book of 337 pages, well printed and very neatly bound. Published by J. H. Vail & Co., New York.

By request we take pleasure in reprinting this poem from the Cleveland Medical Gazette of April, 1860. A modest country practitioner discovered a planet. The medical and scientific world prepared to give him a public dinner at the “Hotel du Louvre.” But word was sent from the modest doctor he would rather “stay at home in his wooden shoes” (it is his own expression).

The above verses were written by Dr. Piory, one of the celebrated physicians of Paris, and were sung by Dr. Mayne at the annual dinner of the Medical Society of the Arrondisement of the Elysee. For the elegant and faithful translation which we have given, we are indebted to the kindness of a very accomplished young friend.