London (Ancient and Modern) from the Sanitary and Medical Point
of View. By G. V. Poore, M.D. (Cassell and Co.)—Professor Poore has published here two lectures, which, indeed, were well worth preserving in a permanent shape. The first is instructive, but somewhat depressing. Dr. Poore thinks that the main drainage of London is a great mistake, and he advances reasons for the belief that it is not so healthy a place as statistics would seem to make out, though he allows that what we have done in the way of sanitation has been of some use, along with other causes, of which plentiful food is the chief, in reducing the rate of mortality. The section entitled "The Loose End of our Sani- tation" is particularly worthy of attention. Dr. Poore does not prescribe—he has not been called in, it may be said—but he makes us uneasy. The second section may be read without the drawback of a roused anxiety. Here, certainly, we may feel that an advance has been made all round. There were great surgeons and physicians in early days, and Dr. Poore has much that is interesting to tell us of them ; but the doctors of to-day are, on the whole, many times more skilful than their predecessors. And what a difference there is in the pharmacopoeia ! Nothing was too disgusting for a remedy in old days.
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