Zymotic Diseases : their Correlation and Causation. By A. Wolff,
F.R.C.S. (J. and A. Churchill.)—Mr. Wolff does not believe that the various diseases which are known by the name of zymotic, and of which the chief are cholera, typhus, enteric fever, scarlet fever, are caused by special poisons. They are, he thinks, very closely connected together, and are all referable to the action of decaying organic matter on the system. We have no pretensions to criticise a theory on such a subject, and content ourselves accordingly with noticing it, and remarking at the same time that the author marshals his fads very well, and that to a lay reader they are certainly impressive. The practical importance of the question is immense ;—if these diseases aro all one, may we not hope
for the discovery of something that will do for each what vaccination has done for small-pox? Or it might be asked, why is not one pro- phylactic sufficient for all, if all are so closely akin !
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