promptly and assiduously applied, is claimed as an important adjunct. Under its genial and soothing influence, the feeble vitality of crushed and mangled limbs will be roused, local arterial circulation excited and revivification induced, venous congestion relieved, elimination promoted, and suppuration, with cicatrization, expedited. Cold applications, under these circumstances, cannot fail to extinguish the quivering sparks of life which are left in the member, and hasten its destruction." The author gives detailed reports of sixty-four cases fully exemplifying his method of treatment. In consideration of the value of a limb and the importance of preserving it, the views presented by Dr. Walter are deserving of careful and earnest consideration. To amputate a limb, mechanical skill and a knowledge of anatomy are only required, while to preserve one, a thorough knowledge of all the departments of medicine is requisite. Editors' Table. DR. EVERHART'S BROADSIDE INTO INFINITESSIMAL SURGERY. -Our readers, doubtless, will be amused with the manner in which Dr. Everhart disposes, in our present number, of the brilliant results of a case of "homoeopathic surgery," which had been dressed up by some gentlemen of the little-pill persuasion so as to present (to themselves) a very satisfactory aspect. Dr. Everhart's blades are trenchant, and his charge so overwhelming that we can see nothing left of the shadowy phantom against which he has directed his engines. Scientifically considered, this may be right enough, but we put the question to the doctor in all candor, whether he thinks it kind, after those gentlemen had "fixed up" a case, from which they hoped to derive an immense amount of capital; after they had procured the important testimony of an ignorant old man; after they had subjected a poor boy to the tortures accompanying the attempts to reduce a fancied (?) dislocation of the ankle; after they had brought it up to the point, where the local gentleman in spectacles to whom the grave case had been entrusted, had succeeded in skillfully removing the dressings without an accident, and finding to his infinite delight that there had resulted no shortening of the limb after the fracture of the fibula, (absurd Dupuytren, what a ninny you were!) he had been enabled to rush into print with a letter announcing the expected speedy recovery of the boy; after the physicians who had first treated the boy, and pronounced the disease to be simply caries of the heel, and possibly of the connected bones, had been branded with the crime of malpractice, and in proof against them had had the "fixed-up" statement of the mercenary old man-the gloryfying letter of the local gentleman in spectacles—and the introductory note of the physician first in charge, hawked about the community in an extremely private manner; after all this, Dr. Everhart, was it kind of you, in your dreadfully practical manner, to come forward eight months after the boy ought to have been completely well, and announce that the heel still discharges pus as ever; that the astute gentlemen in St. Louis, and the local gentleman in spectacles, as the result has proved, didn't know the first lines of surgery? Oh! doctor, doctor! You have pricked the wind out of a first-class sensation. Your iconoclastic hands have smashed an idol, of which the head was large, but the tail most rediculously and infinitessimally little, exposing parts which should have forever remained hidden. TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS.-We have found a good deal of difficulty the past few months in making up our department of Original Communications; while the Society Proceedings, though being "fat" enough for the printer, has been a very "lean" column for our readers. We frequently receive business letters, in which we are informed by postscript, that the writer has some very important and interesting cases which he designs reporting when he gets leisure; which leisure, however, seems never to come. One of the most recent of these, informs us that when he, the writer, shall return from a "big hunt," he will send us the report of an extraordinary case of ascites, or something of the sort. We begin to fear that all of our contributors, including the medical societies of the State, have gone off on a "big hunt," or a big spree, we dont know which. Until they return to their sober duties, we crave the indulgence of our more sedate patrons and respectfully invite one and all, to assist by their contributions, in making the HERALD what we design it should bea first-class medical journal. THE CRAIG MICROSCOPE.-We have been furnished one of these little instruments by the proprietor. It has one recommendation that of being within the means of everybody. It is a pleasant little toy, adapted to the amusement of the parlor. It is not designed, we imagine, for the purposes of scientific investigation, and we would not recommend our readers to buy it for professional uses. As something, however, to please the little folks and excite the surprize of those not accustomed to seeing flies' feet, spiders' legs, &c., under a glass, it is well worth the price-$2.50. Address Geo. Mead, proprietor Craig Microscope, Racine, Wisconsin. THE DETROIT MEDICAL COLLEGE.-In our advertising columns will be found the first annual announcement of the above named college. We are not personally acquainted with any of the gentlemen composing the faculty, but we have no doubt the professorial corps embraces the best talent of Detroit. The fees for the full term are $50. We have no doubt the facilities for imparting medical instruction in this institution, will be equal to those of the neighboring cities. APOLOGETIC.-Owing to the length and variety of our Retrospect the present month, our editorial department is reduced below its usual limits. We believe our readers will be greatly interested in the perusal of our carefully selected Retrospect, and that they will consider any further apology unnecessary. DECIDEDLY FACETIOUS.-A gentleman signing himself, "your friend, H. Tucker," and who has been in the receipt of our journal since its commencement, sends us, what we have no doubt he thinks, an extremely funny communication. If it did not involve a loss of a year and a half's subscription, we might be enabled to see it, as he does. As it is, we are at a loss to discover where the laugh comes in. Perhaps his friend Col. Jennison," who, he supposes has been sending it to him by the way of compliment, can inform us. If we had many such friends as H. Tucker, to help us to our wind, we fear we should soon have to record a funeral at the HERALD office. LITERARY NOTICES. LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-This sterling periodical comes 80 regularly to our box, that by its presence alone, we should always be able to tell when Saturday night rolled round upon us again. The last few numbers have been more than usually interesting. The following are some of the most noticeable articles: "One Hundred Planets;" "The Apollo Belvidere in a New Light;" "Hawthorne;" "Historical Sketches of the Reign of George the Second;" "Carbolic Acid, "The Stars and the Earth;" "Other Habitable Wa46, Dean Mliman; "Witches and their Craft," &c. ཀ་ On the first of January, 1869, the Age begins its one hundredth volume, a fact which most amply attests the estimation in which it is held by all the scholars of America. The publishers begin a story in the number for November 21, called the "COUNTRY HOUSE ON THE RHINE; a story which has been pronounced by John G. Saxe as "one of the few great works of the age." The story will run through the next volume, and parties sending in their subscription for 1869, will receive the previous numbers containing the story, gratis. The literary character of the Age, however, is the feature upon which we base our recommendation. We are sure that parties once subscribing for it will not be willing to do without it afterwards. Address Littell & Gray, 30 Broomfield street, Boston. Subscription price, $8.00 per year. THE ECLECTIC MAGAZINE.- The December number of this valuable journal is promptly on our table. The following are its contents: "He Knew he was Right," by A. Trollope; "On a Piece of Chalk;" "Folk-Lore of the Red-Man;" "Lord Brougham;" "News from Sirius;" "The Incas;" Lady Novelists; "Phenomena of Earthquakes: "Failure of Natural Selection in the Case of Man; "Dean Milman;""Old Girls;" "Baron Von Beust," with a splendid steel-plate engraving; "Poetry; "Notes on Books;" "Science ; "Varieties." 46 'Ajjaccio ;' 99 Perhaps it is not too much to say, that the Eclectic is the handsomest monthly in the country. Certainly, no person who pretends to keep pace with the literature of the times, will be without it. With the Eclectic and the Living Age upon his table, the physician will find sufficient material to beguile his leisure hours. The price per year is $5.00; or forty-five cents per copy. It may be had at the Post Office News Depot, or may be ordered direct from the publisher, N... E. . Pelton, 108 Fulton street, New York. annu |