The Science and Practice of Surgery

self confronted with a difficulty which is pithily expressed by the phrase embarrass des richesses; Deuitt, Holmes, Beyant, Eeichsen, G-ant and we hope soon to add Agnew, each admirable in its way and specially valuable from some special point of view ; all sound and complete embodiments of modern surgery. We have not included in the list of text books Paget's immortal work or Billeoth's splendid treatise. These have come to constitute, in great measure, the warp of all surgical text books, and stand on a special basis ; nor the " system of surgery" whose function is reference. According as the student desires condensation, elaboration, exhaustive compilation, originality, scientific disquisition or practical experience, he will find himself attracted by a prominence or prominent combination of one or more of these attributes to one or other of the text books we have named. The man who makes surgical practice or teaching his speciality, must have them all for reference. The student must' select one as a vade mecum, and may possess and use the others for study of particular points or subjects. Gant's book presents among text books the speciality that while it