Books: City of Repose

PHILADELPHIA, HOLY EXPERIMENT—Struthers Burf — Doubleday, Doran ($3.75).

One of Philadelphia's distinguished physicians was so absent minded that he forgot his stethoscope when he called late one night to listen to the heart of a lady patient. He leaned down, listened, fell asleep and remained there almost half an hour. The lady thought it "an exceptionally thorough examination." Another famed Philadelphia doctor, S. (for Silas) Weir Mitchell, was a successful novelist, an expert on snake bites, and a pioneer U.S. neurologist. When his own nerves gave way, he rushed to Europe, consulted a...