latter will contract with more vigor, and the pulse will be diminished in frequency. The following rule can always be followed with safety: Whenever we wish to reduce the arterial tension and the power of the heart, when we aim to weaken the latter, aconite is the remedy indicated; while, to increase the strength of the organ and the activity of the circulation, to diminish the frequency and improve the tone of the pulse, we have to employ digitalis. Therefore, in organic diseases of the heart, aconite is beneficial in bypertrophy, and digitalis in dilatation. INVESTIGATIONS ON THE NUTRITION OF THE CORNEA.-Dr. Denissenko, in Virchow's Archives, gives the result of a long and careful investigation on the nutrition of the cornea: 1. The cornea does not draw its nourishment from the anterior chamber, but from the surrounding blood vessels in the sclera; it is therefore nourished in the same manner as every other tissue of the body. 2. Although the blood vessels nourishing the cornea are situated in the sclera at some distance from the sclero-corneal margin, the nourishing fluid, after leaving them, is conducted through the fibres and fissures of the sclera to the corneal margin, where it enters the lacunar system and is distributed throughout the entire thickness of the cornea and then discharged into the anterior chamber. 3. The current does not flow from the center to the periphery of the cornea, but from the periphery to the center, and not from behind forward, but from in front backward. 4. Therefore the stomata, which Klebs and others have demonstrated in the epithelium of Descemet's membrane, do not form the commencement of Becklinghausen's lymph-- spaces for drawing nourishment from the anterior chamber, but serve to discharge the waste products. 5. The anterior chamber is therefore an enlarged duct for discharging the aqueous humor. 6. Therefore it may be said that not the anterior chamber nourishes the cornea, but the cornea the anterior chamber. CODEIA AND MORPHIA.-Dr. J. B. Garrison, after a series of comparative therapeutic tests with Morphia and Codeia, has come to the following conclusions: 1. That Codeia is a greater cardiac stimulant than Morphine, because it causes a greater force and volume of the pulse. 2. It is a more powerful diffusible stimulant, elevating the temperature and exciting the capillaries. Large doses produce an intense itching, with an erythematous redness of the skin, thereby indicating its use in all internal congestions, save perhaps those of cerebral and spinal origin. 3. It does not check the secretions to such an extent as Morphia. It is therefore indicated when it is desired to avoid locking up the liver, constipating the bowels, or lessening expectoration. 4. It is far less dangerous than Morphine, and its comparative safety recommends its use in infantile therapeutics where Morphine is so rarely tolerated. 5. It is never followed by the intense nausea which so often contra indicates the use of Morphine, and often may be given without producing any unpleasant after-effects. 6. There is far less danger from the induction of the opium habit from repeated doses than is the case with Morphia. 7. The sulphate of Codeia is to be preferred, because of its ready solubility. The dose is about double that of the sulphate of Morphia, but it may be increased with safety to a much greater extent than Morphine. 8. The objection to large doses of Codeia is the excessive itching which it produces, together with the intense erythema, both of which, however, disappear coincident with the elimination of the medicine. 9. Codeia is an excellent adjuvant in combination with other anodynes, such as Chloral, the Bromides, Hyoscyamus, and Jamaica Dogwood, adding to their efficacy, and modifying their action desirably. THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN REMEDIES UPON THE SECRETION OF MILK.- Dr. Max Stumpf of Munich gives the effects of certain remedies upon the secretion of human milk, as follows: 1. Alterations in quantity of milk. (a.) Iodide of potassium causes a considerable decrease in the total quantity of milk. (b.) Alcohol,. morphine and lead do not alter the quantity secreted. (c.) Salicylic acid increases slightly the flow of milk. (d.) Pilocarpine does not further the milk secretion. 2. Alterations in the quality. (a.) Potassium iodide disturbs the glandular functions so much as to lead to uncertainty as to its qualitative effects. (b.) Alcohol and alcoholic drinks increase only the fatty constituents of the milk. As dietetic agents for the purpose of increasing the milk, they are therefore to be discarded. (c.) Lead, morphine and pilocarpin scarcely, if at all, affect the quality of the milk. (d.) Salicylic acid appears to increase the sugar. 3. Discharge of poison in the milk. (a.) Iodine appears quickly in the milk. It is discharged not in the form of alkaline salt, but in some combination with casein. (b.) Alcohol passes over into the milk, so does lead in small traces, but continuing for days after the ingestion of the remedy. (c.) Salicylic acid given in large doses appears in very slight quantity in the human milk. ARTIFICIAL OIL OF SPIREA.-Pierre Apery, who some time ago showed that the artificial oil of spirea has the power of preserving meat from putrefaction and of preventing the decomposition of urine, now states that a few drops of the oil dissolved in alcohol and injected into the carotid artery or merely into the mouth, will preserve a corpse for three or four days. He also has used the oil with satisfactory results in combination with acetate of zinc in obstinate cases of Blenorrhagia. EPIDIDYMITIS.-Wier's treatment consists in the local application of an ointment composed of 30 grains of Iodoform to the oz. of Glycerin; combined with this may be added 1 dram balsam Peru to control the disagreeable odor of the iodoform. He says that this form of treatment gives very good results. Another plan is to apply a bag of ice to the part. If this causes pain of the genito-crural nerve, or of the scrotum, a few layers of woolen cloth may be applied between it and the part. If it will do any good, it will be during the first 24 hours; but if it does not relieve the pain in that time, other treatment should be resorted An old method of treatment was to make a poultice of tobacco and linseed meal and apply to the part. This will relieve the pain. Or morphia may be substituted for the tobacco. Strapping of the scrotum has been suggested in this disease; but compression will do little good, as it will take a long time in any event to get rid of the swelling. METALLIC FOREIGN BODIES IN THE CORNEA.-Dr. Rodriguez reports the following case: A blacksmith, while forging a piece of iron, received in his left eye a small splinter of the metal, which remained there incrusted in spite of all attempts to remove it. The following wash was then employed: Aqua rosæ, oz. 3; Iodine, gr. 1; Potassium iodidi, gr. 1. M. The result was extremely satisfactory. The particle of metal was transformed into a soluble iodide of iron, and all traces of the foreign body disappeared. The cornea regained its normal condition, and vision remained unaffected. WHOOPING COUGH.-Dr. Fordeus has employed the benzoate of soda with remarkable success in a number of cases. His formula is: Benzoate of soda, 5 grams; mint water, distilled water, of each 40 grams; syrup orange peel, 10 grams. M. Dose, a teaspoonful every hour. ASTHMA.-Dr. Joal states that mucous nasal polypi will often occasion a dyspnoea of an asthmatic character, especially in arthritic subjects. It is generally explained as a reflex irritation, starting from the nasal mucous membrane, and implicating the branches of the pneumogastria distributed to the pharyngeal and bronchial mucous membrane. Asthma may also be developed by catarrhal and emphysematous lesions, attributable to nasal polypi. The asthma will, in these cases, generally disappear when the polypi are removed. THE COMPOSITION OF PODOPHYLLIN. In an elaborate research, Podwissotzki has ascertained that the resin of podophyllum is a composite substance. Its cathartic action is due to the picropodophyllin contained in picrododophyllinia acid, which two together constitute the resinous podophyllotoxin. This substance is not a chemical combination, but a mixture or solution. Podophyllotoxin is the active part, and is given in doses of grain at bedtime. In cases of decided constipation grain may be given at once, but it should be remembered that a dose of grains 2 is dangerous, if not toxic. As a convenient solution for administration is recommended: Podophyllotoxin, gr. 24. Spirit. vini rectifir., drachm 4. Dose.-M. 15-30 in wine or whisky. THE PHOSPHATES IN PHTHISIS.-M. Dujardin-Beaumetz, while remarking that the phosphates cannot be considered as specifics in consumption, admits that they often prove useful in improving general nutrition. This favorite prescription in cases where there is constipation is Sodii phosphat, dr. 14. Potassii phosphat., dr. 1. M. Dose a wineglassful after each meal. IODIDE OF POTASH IN FRONTAL HEADACHES.-Dr. Haley draws attention to the powerful anti-cephalalgic properties of this drug when used in small doses. As a rule a heavy, dull headache situated over the brows, and accompanied by languor, chilliness, and a feeling of general discomfort, with distaste for food, can be entirely removed in about ten minutes by a two-grain dose of potassii iodidi dissolved in half a wineglassful of water, this being quietly sipped so that the whole quantity is consumed in about ten minutes. A NEW MYDRIATIC-HYDRIODATE OF HYOSEIN.-Dr. Emmert of Berne has made a series of experiments upon the pupil-dilating powers of hydriodate of hyosein, a crystalline salt obtained by treating hyusein with hydriodic acid. Hyosein is an alkaloid obtained from amorphous hyoscyamin. The results showed that the new salt acted more energetically and more rapidly than |