Human Torulosis

Two of the note-books of William Beaumont, now in the possession of Washington University College of Medicine, have been reproduced, misspellings and all, in their entirety. The first of these note-books is Beaumont's medical note-book containing excerpts from medical authors, case histories, comments on Army medicine, prescriptions, and descriptions of methods for treating diseases. This note-book, which comprises only 33 printed pages, is of course fragmentary. It was prepared during the period when Beaumont studied with Dr. Chandler and continues until just a year prior to the accident to St. Martin. The second note-book, which was coincident with the first as to time and preparation, is a general note-book conitaining literary excerpts, accounts of travel experiences and of his life as surgeon's mate in the Army. Both note-books are intriguing both through what is presented in them and because of what one may read between the lines. To each of the note-ibooks have been appended explanatory notes which are most helpful. The book is attractively bound and, excerpt for the somewhat staggering running-heads, is well printed. One notes that the old problem of whether the word "text-book" should or should not have a hyphen is resolved, as usual, by running it both ways. Beaumont's Formative Years should be a welcome accession to anyone interested in this remarkable American physician.