8 THE ANALYST, BEVIEWg. How to Use a Galvanic Battery. By Dr. TIBBITTS. London: Churchill. THIS small volume is more strictly medical than chemica but the author has treated his subject in such a bold and masterly way, that it really takes it out of the domain of an exclusively medical work. Starting with the idea-in which we fully agree-that a medical man is perfectly qualified for his work without being an electrician, the author follows out his aim of giving a manual for those practitioners who desire to use electricity, which shall give general guidance for its judicious application to curative purposes. He lays special stress on the uselessness, and in some cases the injury which is effected by the reckless application of currents of unknown strength to delicate organs which have already been rendered over-sensitive by disease.It is true that the directions which Dr. Tibbitts gives are not nearly so complete as could be wished, but he has certainly succeeded in warning others against trying electrical experiments in reference to which they have but a small proportion of the information that he has evidently acquired ; and he has the courage of his opinions in advising medical men, who know but little of the subject, to send their patients to professed elecltrioians for the special treatment.THE ANALYST. 9 A Treatise on Waterworks for the Supply of Cities and Towns. By S. HUGHES, C.E. London: Lockwood & Go. THIS is a reprint of an old book with additions. We might, perhaps, find fault with the title, as it is scarcely complete enough.An ordinary reader would hardly search for information as to geological strata, and for tabulated statements as to a large number of the most important deep wells which have recently been sunk, in a book bearing this title, and yet the information compressed under these heads is of the most valuable character for reference, and is put together in such a form as to be easily available. The sections on pumping machinery, gauging rivers and streams, and filtration on a large scale do certainly belong specially to waterworks, and they are as complete and satisfactory in their way as the others to which we have alluded. The book is a very useful one and well worthy to hold a place in Weale’s well-known series. Lectures on hlfectious Diseases, Air, Sewage, dc. By DR.J. RUSSELL AND DR. W. WALLACE. Glasgow: Macleliose, St. Vincent Street. IT is very seldom that a Town Council orders the printing of any lectures or other book which contain really valuable scientific information, but in this case we have a marked deviation from the ordinary rule. The volume under notice consists of lectures which were delivered by Dr. Russell and Dr. Wallace, at Glasgow, in the latter part of 1878, and which have now been published for more general circulation. The part with which we have to do relates more especially to the four lectures by Dr. Wallace on Air, Water, Sewage, and Food. He has treated his subjects in a thoroughly careful way, and, as far as the limits of space would allow, in an exhaustive manner. There are many points in connection with the Food lecture which are well worth careful reading, and show that the lectures have not been published simply as ordinary matter intended to instruct the masses, but as chemical studies, including a considerable amount of genuine work. The lecture on Sewage necessarily contains less original matter, because the subject has been so thoroughly threshed out during the last ten years. that there really is nothing to be saiduniil some one invents a neu. process. Dr. Russell’s lectures are illustrated with a few enlarged micro-photographs, such as human blood in various stages of disease, which are well worth attention.