THE Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, in speaking of the case of Guiteau, says: "We feel it our duty to reiterate the opinion expressed by us from the first-that Guiteau was an irresponsible lunatic, and should neither have been tried by an ordinary criminal process, nor have been sentenced to death."

TRANSLATIONS.

VIRCHOW ON SOUPS AND BROTHS.-The distinguished German professor and politician has been accused of being the chief opponent of soup. He says that this is not true, for he had merely said that meat broths are neither nutritious nor "substantial." That if all the meat which one uses should be boiled and soup made of it, the meat would become for the greater part indigestible, and the soup would not be a substitute for it. Ordinary meat broth or bouillon in its pure form can only be recognized as a condiment. By the addition of eggs, flour, fat, and other things, it may acquire a certain nourishing and heating value. It is, primarily, only a very dilute aqueous solution of substances that are in part of low value as heat producers, such as gelatine, and in part of the stimulating aromatic parts of the meat. Taken warm, it is of nearly the same value as coffee or tea, but is inferior to wine, schnapps, or beer; it only stimulates the nerves. It has one advantage over every other condiment, namely, it contains no poisonous substance, it is incomparably milder, hence much better adapted to feeble persons; and finally, it can be very conveniently combined with substances that are actually nutritious, and imparts to them an agreeable and "substantial” taste. -Scientific American.

IODOFORM INSANITY.-Schede has noticed that the use of Iodoform has been attended by marked psychical symptoms. One type which is very noticeable among children is marked by dullness of the special senses, vomiting, and spasms of single groups of muscles. In adults, Schede has on two occasions seen general mental confusion produced by the external use of Iodoform. In the case of a neuropathic female, the external use of Iodoform

was followed by sudden, general mental confusion, loss of personal identity, loud singing, and violence. Schede has had under observation cases of melancholia attonita, also two cases of melanchia with frenzy, and three cases of simple melancholia, all arising from the use of Iodoform. Iodoform really belongs to the alcohol group, and that it should at times produce such symptoms is scarcely surprising. What Schede means by loss of personal identity is not clear; perhaps the patient manifested an unsystematized delusion that she had been changed in some mysterious way.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PHRENIC AND INTERCOSTAL NERVES.At a meeting of the Société de Biòlogic, MM. Hénocque and Eloy presented a memoir in which they considered the reciprocal effects of sections of the phrenic and intercostal nerves on respiration. While they found that section of the last eight inferior intercostal nerves produced very little change in the character of the respiratory, they drew the following conclusions as to the action of the phrenic nerve:

1. Section of one phrenic nerve modifies the respiratory rhythm of both sides of the chest.

2. The section of the inferior roots on both sides produces less disturbance than the division of a single superior root on one side.

3. Division of the upper root of the phrenic nerves on both sides produces the most marked modification of the respiratory rythm.

4. Section of the upper roots on both sides produces an exaggeration of the inspiratory movement, lasting more than threequarters of an hour.

5. Section, irritation, pinching or ligature of the upper phrenic root produces great pain.

6. The difference in action of the two roots on the action of the diaphragm appears to lie mainly in the different degrees of amplitude of inspiration.

BOILED MILK IN THE SUMMER COMPLAINTS OF CHILDREN.-Dr. H. V. Sweringen emphatically condemns the advice, so often

given, to boil the milk administered to children suffering from summer complaints. He objects to this procedure, because boiling will coagulate the albumen, thus rendering it very difficult of digestion. He is right. Boiled milk is utterly unfit for children; but since the majority of children will refuse milk when it comes cold out of the refrigerator, it will be well to place the cup or bottle containing the milk into a pan of warm water for a few minutes; this will remove the chill without coagulating the albumen.

CHRONIC MALARIAL HEMATURIA.-Prof. Orendorf recommends the use of strychnia under the skin in this disease. This drug, he says, stands at the head of the vaso-motor stimulants, and is especially useful in low vascular tension. It should be administered in full doses that the relaxed vessels may be made so tense as to prevent exudation. By full doses is meant the amount required to produce the desired effect, which is to stop leakage. Therefore, if grain does not. suffice, push it to to and even to of a grain, repeating sufficiently often to secure and keep secured the physiological action of the drug.

TERTIARY SYPHILIS IN CHILDHOOD.-When syphilitic symptoms are observed in childhood, toward the period of puberty, it always becomes a question to determine whether the symptoms are due to congenital or acquired syphilis. Roussel, in a recent article, shows that Ricord, in France, and H. Lee, in England. admit that hereditary syphilis may appear several months, and even several years, after the birth of the child. The opinion of Ricord regarding the transformation of syphilis into scrofula is well known; and Erasmus Wilson, Boerensprung, E. Wagner, admit that hereditary syphilis leads sometimes to lupus, sometimes to scrofulous manifestations; an opinion which has been combatted by Hebra, Virchow and Kaposi. As regards the period of infant life when the symptoms of hereditary syphilis appear, Trousseau and Laségue, as early as 1847, combatted the opinion of those authors who admitted that the manifestations of the constitutional malady might appear after several years; they assigned the seventh month as the extreme limit. Roussel now shows

that hereditary syphilitic manifestations generally appear during the first, second or third month after birth, and is of opinion that in most of the reported cases of tardy hereditary syphilis the disease was contracted after birth. This may happen through direct contagion from another child, or from relatives, or from criminal attempts; and such cases are more frequent in the crowded tenement houses of large cities than is generally believed; the author gives a number of such cases. As regards the treatment of these cases, the doctor affirms that he has obtained excellent results from iodide of potassium, carrying the dose as far as 150-180, and even 210 grains per diem, for a child of from 9 to 18 years of age.

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF GRANULAR OPHTHALMIA.-Dr. Galezowski treats these cases successfully thus: He excises in each eye separately a large fold of conjunctiva from the upper and lower sinus or cul de sac. Considerable swelling follows the operation, but as soon as this has subsided (after about 4 days) he applies a crayon of mitigated nitrate of silver to the inner surface of the lids. As a result of this treatment pain diminishes, the cornea becomes clear, and the vision is greatly improved.

SPIDERS' WEBS AS A REMEDY IN AGUE.-This old remedy seems again to be coming to the front. In the Gaceta Medica there is an article upon the subject, and also in the Correspondencia Medica. In the latter journal 93 cases are mentioned, and Dr. Oliva gives 26 more in the Gazeta Medica. Of these 22 were cured with the powder, and the remainder with the tincture alone. The web is prepared in the following manner: It is gathered with great care, and is shaken to remove the dust, washed, dried in the sun, and powdered. The powder thus obtained is of a dark ash color, without smell or taste, insoluble in water, and very slightly soluble in alcohol. From examination of the 119 cases, which have hitherto been published, Dr. Oliva draws the following conclusions:

1. Arachnidina (cobweb) possesses the power of curing malarial fevers, and always when they are of a quotidian and tertiary type.

2. That when administered in the dose of grains 30 to adults, or grains 15 to children, it generally stops the illness at the second fit.

3. Its action is less prompt than that of sulphate of quinine; for this reason, until we get more data regarding the medicine, it should not be employed in pernicious intermittents.

4. That in consequence of its tastelessness it is more easy to administer, especially to children.

5. That its use lessens the tendency to relapses.

BOOK NOTICES.

"DISEASES OF THE EAR IN CHILDREN."-By ANTON VON TROELTSCH, M.D. Translated by J. O. GREEN, M.D. New York: Wm. Wood & Co. 1882.

There are few translators who can render a German work abounding in technical terms into correct English-this is the only defect in this book, and it is almost unavoidable.

For elegant and perfect execution the reader will find this work without a rival; it is admirable in every respect. The author is so well known in this country, that whatever he may have to say will be received with interest; and children are so much subject to this distressing malady that the practitioner is almost always in need of aid upon the subject.

"THE CHANGE OF LIFE IN HEALTH AND DISEASE."-By E. J. TILT, M.D. Blakiston, Son & Co., Philadelphia. Paper. 75c.

This is the only work on this subject known to us. Its importance and value may be estimated when it is stated that nearly four million women in the United States alone are passing this serious and critical period of their lives. The physiology and pathology of this epoch, the treatment, and rules of hygiene, mental and moral, are thoroughly and concisely dealt with. The subject of Cancers and Tumors receive special attention. A number of valuable tables are given, and a large number of interesting cases cited. The style of the author is attractive, and we commend the work to the careful attention of the profession.