REVIEW.

A Manual of Veterinary Physiology. K.C.M.G., C.B. Fifth edition. 1921. Price 3IS. 6d. net.

By Major-General Sir F. Smith, London: BaiIW:re, Tindall & Cox,

SIR Frederick Smith has scored a qotable success in bringing his well known Manual of Veterinary Physiology to a fifth edition; the more so since two issues were repeatedly reprinted.

The book has grown so considerably in scope and in bulk that revision of its contents calls urgently for consideration. It is, in reality, two works merged in one volume, which deal respectively with (I) the principles and elements of physiology arranged for the student, and (2) the details of the science desired by the practitioner. These might with advantage be separated and amplified, so as to give fuller explanations to the student and more details to the practitioner, who does not usually desire explana­tions.

To the student it is rather a difficult book. This is especially obvious in the first two pages, where ionic theory, ionic phraseology, and ionic symbols are introduced with hardly any explanation. A little farther on come the words "protein," "extractive," and "enzyme," with no definition of the terms and no description of the substances. The statement on p. 105, that the diaphragm is "pushed back into the abdomen," does not convey that organ's share in the act of inspiration; whilst that on p. 128, that venous blood is not saturated with CO2, is also somewhat misleading. Misleading, again, is the comparison of the caloric needs of the horse at rest and at work, since total metabolisable energy is given in the one case and net energy in the other.

Sundry corrections are c'llled for. Chauveau and Marey's figures for the cardiac cycle are misinterpreted on p. 41. On p. 48 the output of the horse's ventricle is given as I kg. per beat during repose. This amount represents the post-mortem capacity of a large heart, but during normal life the ventricle does not dilate to its full post-mortem capacity, nor does it often, if ever, empty Itself completely. On p. 72 the blood pressure in the carotid is, inadvertently, represented as exceeding that in the aorta; the figures here need much revision-arterial pressures of 300 mm. Hg. are not normal for any animal.

To the practitioner the book appears to be much more helpful than to the student. There is given a very detailed account of the physiology, including physiological anatomy of the horse, accompanied by many details regarding other animals. The chapters on digestion, locomotion, and generation are particularly full, and an unusually excellent index facilitates reference t<1 any point desired.

The present edition has been produced under peculIar difficulties. It was called for at the outbreak of war, postponed, commenced by Prof. T. H. Milroy, and completed by Sir F. Smith. In view of the divided authorship, pressure of time, and multiplicity of details presented, the work is surprisingly good. Now that times are less strenuous and Sir F. Smith is at leisure, we look forward to succeeding editions, revised and brought to an even higher level of excellence than the one at present before us.