The Portland daily press., 1879-03-22
Recent Publications.

II the progress of sanitary knowledge among
the people coald fairly be gauged by the num-
Der Of good books which are written for them
by competent bygeusts, one might confidently
hope that very visible improvement would
soon be wrought in the physical condition of
the race. We have here, for instance, four lit
tie volumes, the first numbers OF a series of
Health Primers IN Y, d. Appletou & Co.;
Portland, Dresser & McLelan) by English ply
scians of such eminebce that their works may
be regarded as authoritative. each writing upon
topic with which he has sn especial familsri-
ty. The title of primer, while modestly indi-
eating the elementary character Of the works,
may possibly be misleading by implying that
the books are designed for children, whereas
they are meant for intelligent adults, and deal
with subjects which every one ought to, and
very few do, know about. They are well and
clearly written, in straightforward and attrac-
tive style, and strike one as being peculiarly
sensible, being free from the exsQgeration and
s'Oppiness so often seen in popular didsctic
writing. The volume on "The House and It's
Surroundings" is particularly valuable, treat
ing very plainly and forcibly of the principal
hygienic problems which are continually pre-
sented by our dwellings. The frequent sllu-
sions to the medical officer Of health painfully
show how far in advance of US the English are
in sanitary matters. There every town has its
health officer Whu may be called on by any citi-
zen to inspect the drains and other Intended
sanitary arrange ments, aud advise about their
improvement: and there is some practical ap-
probation of the idea that the highest fuuction
of the physician is to prevent disease. Here
our representatives in legislature assembled de-
ride the notion of State board of health, and
throw contumely and reproach upon those who
advocate its establishment. The portion Of the
book devoted to the discussion of water-closets
and prvies would be wholesome reading for our
aldermen and council in connection with the
ordinances of the city which relate to these
affairs.
The primer on Exercise and Training"
comes very opportuney just now when there is
such a rage for foolish feats of pedestrianism,
presenting the dangers of indiscreet exercise,
as we'll as the advantages of judicious physi-
| cal drill.
"Alcohol: Its use and abuse" is title which
will at once arouse the antagonsm of those
who deny any good in this agent, but its can
dor and ability will commend the book to the
consideration of all who are able to think of
this subject without passion-as some confes.
sedly cannot. The authors purpose is indi.
Gated in the following sentences: "There are
few, except medical men who know what seri-
ous injury may be done by drinking which hard
ly ever approaches ntoxicstioD, and which may
be unrecognzsd by mans nearest friends.
We shall try to show what is the evil of drink
ing, and how to avoid it, what the good and
how to gain it, without joining in a universal
condemnation of the use of alcohol" His
principal conclusions are that Sin health the
use Of alcohol is unnecessary, and its hsbitual
employ ment is liable to produce disease; hence
total abstinence is the safest course. In disease
alcohol should be used only as medicine, and
the quantity, quality aad time strctly resu-
lat-d By the DOCTORS orders. Let the danger,
moral, social and physical of excess in drink
ng always be borne in mind and control the
action in this matter" 1t is one of the best
temperance essays we have ever seen.
Premature Death its Promotion and Pre-
ven ntion is the highly descriptive title Of the
fourth primer, which very entertaininRly gives
the reasons why the vast majority of people
die long before they ought to be allowed to, and
points out the methods by which great deal
of this waste of life might be stopped.
Less valuable than these most admirable
little books, and yet very excellent in their way
are five Hampton Tracts for the People, IN.
Y, G. P. Putnam's S1ns., Portland, Loring
| Short & Harmony designed to disseminate
among the population of the South knowl-
| edge of the fundamental laws of health, but
not badly suited to the wants of other parts Of
| the county. One is on the Health Laws of
| Moses. 1t is not a critical analysis Of the ssn-
tary code of the great lsw-giver, and is all the
better as tract for that; but it takes some Of
| the more obviously hygenic rules of the
| Mosaic system, and uses them as a text to
| preach very sound modern sermon on cleauli-
ness of the person, the house, the air and food.
The Duty Of Teachers is full of sensible and
much-needed advice; and it would be good
idea for the school.com mittee to put a copy into
the hands of every teacher in our public schools
and to ponder the tract themselves. The ex-
peuse Of full supply would be trivial, as the
pamphlets retail Tor eight cents each; and
the probable advantage to the scholars Of even
a moderate attention to the rules laid down Is
beyond calculation in money. A Haunted
House is pleasantly told story Of the fatal ef-
fects of drinking water polluted with excrets,
and the results of the Introduction Of pure
supply. The little brochure on Preventable
Disease is SO we'll written as to wish it were
longer; aud Who found jamie, while rather
out of the ordinary line of sanitary work, 10 a
suggestive story written in the almost hopeless
effort to stem the tide of superstition.
The new edition of Crabb's Eoelish Syno-
nymes New York: II ,rper & Brothers. Port
land: Loring, Short 81 HARMONY is handsome
ly printed octave volume of $50 pages, with sd-
dtions and corrections (some of which unfortu-
nately are not incorporated in the text bat
stand as addenda) and alphabetical arrange
ment If words. 1t is quite upne cessary 10 re.
commend the book as useful and agreeab
addition to a reference library. 1t should in.
deed be q 'chsrter nember." 1t has long been
popular manual, aud is one Of those enter.
tanning works that ths scholar is uclined to
speak Of 10 patrouizing way, because people
can so easily understand ii. He always takes
good care to ave IL on his shelves while be ex.
plains that he is too deep for it; md very likely
consults its pages for word before making the
explanation. The volume is in fact Of constan,
value to student and general reader both, to all
who would ike to write good Eoglsh. It pos
sesses decided advantage over Souls 10 full
ness of definition and over Roget in simplicity
of arrangement, while 1t has in its excero
from reputable Eogish authors an agreeable
feature possessed by neither Of the otters. II
is store-aouse of quotations. a. well as die
tionsry of synoeym mes, aud 50 entertaining fol
leisure as veil as useful for Instruction. The
alphabetical arrangement Of words in the latei
edition is decided advantage to those who