Diseases of the Blood

medical men practising in the tropics. Dr. Clough's monograph should, therefore, appeal to a wide circle of readers who require a somewhat more detailed account than is given in the ordinary textbooks of medicine. The opening chapters are devoted to the origin, morphology and functions of the red and white cells. These cells are fully described and some excellent coloured plates of normal and pathological bloods are provided. Then follows a classification of the anaemias, after which the various types are described in detail. The chapter on pernicious anaemia is particularly good. Dr. Clough points out that the significance of the megaloblast in the diagnosis of this condition depends largely on how the term megaloblast is interpreted. There is great tendency to classify as a megaloblast any large red cell with a nucleus that is not pycnotic. Such cells are not uncommon in many other anaemias. The term should be restricted, as pointed out by Naegli, to those cells which have a nucleus about the size of a normal red cell and in which the nucleus shows a well defined fine chromatin network. , Piney's views that pernicious anaemia can only occur m such, persons as have a remnant of megaloblastic tissue in their livers receive full consideration. The author holds that while such constitutional defect may predispose to the disease, it does not provide an adequate explanation of many of the manifestations of the disease. The sickle cell anaemia of the negro is described, also splenic anaemia and Von Jaksch's anaemia. There is a description of acholuric familial jaundice under the heading of haemolytic jaundice. Next the author deals ^jth the leucaemias and the haemorrhagic diseases. Finally there are excellent chapters on blood transfusion and on the technique of blood examinations. Altogether a useful, clear and concise account of the blood diseases. The volume is a handy pocket size, the print is large