Contributions to the Study of Rectal Disease.

This is a very imposing title for a little duodecimo brochure of some ninety pages. Eight chapters are devoted respectively to "Palliative Treatment of Hemorrhoids," "Significance and Recognition of Blood Passed Per Anum," "Stricture of the Rectum in its Relation to Disease," "Two Cases of Carcinoma Extirpated by the Vagino-Perineal Route," "Congenital Piles," "Obstipation and Its Relation to Constipation," "Pain of Anal Origin and Its Alleviation," and "The Sigmoidoscope as a Means of Diagnosis in Rectal Disease." There is nothing especially novel in the treatment of any of these topics. For example, under the structure of the rectum, mention is made of cases of constipation without bowel action "for months." The circumference may be "immensely increased." The majority of these cases of constipation of months' duration are examples of Hirchsprung's disease in which the rectum is not involved, the dilatation stopping short at the commencement of the latter. We fear