The wide relations of dietetics impose an enormous task on the author who attempts to present the subject in all its relations in an up-to-date manner. The rapid advance of knowledge in all directions renders frequent revision of such a work necessary. Dr. Thompson's work aims to present a practical exposition of the dietetic treatment of all diseases which can be specially influenced by food. To do this and to meet the needs of the general practitioner growing out of the advance of dietetic

more »

... ence, the entire work has been rewritten and considerable additions made. That the result is an eminently practical and useful work is evident. The great value of the scientific data is admitted, but these facts need to be supplemented and interpreted by clinical experience. Calorimetric calculations and metabolism experiments are very interesting, but their application to the individual, and especially to the patient, is not always easy. Thompson is not inclined to accept the lower standard for proteins recommended by Chittenden and Fisher, or to sanction entirely the adoption of Fletcherism. He does not always commit himself on disputed questions. The diagnosis of diseases of the stomach by laboratory methods is touched on, but in a rather unsatisfactory way. It is hard to see how this matter is properly included within the scope of the book, which does not give other diagnostic meth¬ ods, but if such subjects are to be discussed it seems hardly worth while to give space to utterly unreliable methods like salol test for motor power and the potassium iodid test for absorptive power. In many other places it is evident that the newer researches on the stomach and intestines have not been fully utilized in revising the work. In spite of the feAv defects which may be found on critical study, we have to thank Dr. Thompson for a volume that will in general prove a valuable guide to the physician in a field in which instruction is greatly needed. The great value of this volume and the amount of work expended in compiling it may be surmised from the statement made in the preface that "this volume contains practically every (malpractice) case of any importance which has been decided in the courts of last resort in this country and also the leading cases in England." The cases are arranged in chronological order, the first one occurring in 1767, the last one in July, 1908. The decisions are all given in full so that all the points in connection with any case are clearly set forth. As a rule, to which there are few exceptions, physicians know far too little of the obligations placed on them in the care of the sick. The question whether all of these obligations are just or not is not to be discussed here; but that they exist is very forcibly shown by the discussions handed down by the learned judges in the cases detailed in this volume. It therefore behooves every physician for his own protection to familiarize himself with the facts as they exist, for in no other vocation is one so liable, at a time least expected and under circumstances least deserved, to be mulcted out of the savings of years of hard work, as in that of the practice of medicine. This work, therefore, should be carefully read by every physician, be he surgeon, internist or specialist, until he is thoroughly informed of the legal duties and obligations assumed in the care and treatment of the sick.