Among the difficulties of writing the history of a local medical organization are, that the history tends to be largely biographical, and further that it must be written largely for local readers. Granting these handicaps, The Cincinnati Doctors' Forum, a history of The Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, dose a good job of tracing the founding and development of the organization, and a thorough job of providing thumbnail sketches of all who played a significant part in it.
In the process the author has provided some intriguing glimpses into early medical practice and public health in Cincinnati. He shows, too, the lack of unity and the bitter personal quarrels which rent the medical profession in the 19th century. By 1900, however, The Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati had passed its time of troubles, and, as a strong unified organization, effectively represented the profession in Cincinnati.
Dr. McGrane's book could have