neck of the uterus are often detected in their incipiency, sometimes even before they are suspected by the patients themselves; in which stage they generally yield promptly to local applications, with little or no constitutional treatment.

In private practice in the United States, local applications by inunction and different kinds of cautery, are too much neglected, but the practitioner cannot expect the same satisfactory success that Dr. Bennet enjoyed in the Parisian Hospitals, inasmuch as he has to contend with more inveterate cases which will call in requisition as adjuvants the preparations of mercury and of iodine, chalybeate tonics and other internal remedies.

We cannot recommend too highly this little book to the attention of all physicians who desire to understand the pathology and treatment of some of the most frequent diseases peculiar to women.

J. A. E.

2. Lectures on Natural and Difficult Parturition. By EDWARD WILLIAM MURPHY, A. M., M. D., Professor of Midwifery in the University College, London, &c., &c.

A work bearing the above title has recently been issued from the press of Messrs. Samuel S. & William Wood, New York. This is not a complete system of Midwifery, but a series of lectures on natu. ral and difficult parturition, and several important subjects connected with the principles and practice of obstetrics.

The author's views and principles are sound, judicious and highly practical: he treats every subject on which he touches in a scientific. able and masterly manner. We only experienced one regret after reading this work, an unusual one, that he had not written more— that he had not comprised in his lectures other important subjects on which we desired to have his opinions and the result of his ample ex. perience. We hope the next edition will be more comprehensive. In its present form it is a valuable work, and worthy the studious perusal of every practitioner, as well as student of Midwifery.

J. A. E.

3. Velpeau's Operative Surgery. Morr. vol. III. New York, 1847. Samuel S. and William Wood, publishers. pp. 1162. With an Atlas of 21 Plates.

In a previous and recent No. give our opinion of this work.

of this Journal, we took occasion to The translation of Velpeau's great

est publication issued in Paris 1839, has now been completed by Dr.

Townsend of New York, with the addition of several hundred pages furnished by Dr. Mott of the same city. The work has been published in three immense volumes, numbering over 3000 pages, besides the Atlas of plates.

We have nothing to add to our former opinion, which is one of regret and mortification too, that Dr. Mott should have condescended to play second to his junior, M. Velpeau, instead of publishing a Surgery of his own. We have believed, and still consider him second to no man living as a surgeon; and we are greatly surprised in examining the plates to find not a single instrument added by him. The Atlas is literally an exact copy of Velpeau's, issued in Paris eight years ago.

4. Scrofula: its nature, i's causes, ils prevalence, and the principles of Treatment. By BENJ. PHILLIPS, F. R. S., &c. Illustrated with an engraved Plate. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1846. pp. 350.

This work has also been noticed in our Journal from the English edition, and we have only referred to it, to acknowledge the renewed obligation we are under to its generous publishers, for a copy issued by them. This is the best work extant on the all-important subject of Scrofula.

PART III-MONTHLY PERISCOPE.

Asphyxia Neonatorum.-M. Depaul has written a very elaborate paper on the subject of artificial respiration, as a means of rescussi. tating still-born children. He instituted a series of experiments on the dead subject, with the view of determining the amount of danger of injuring the lungs by the insufflation of air. He satisfied himself that this danger is almost an imaginary one, since, even after the lungs were removed from the body, it required several most forcible insufflations, far stronger than would ever be made in the case of a still-born child, to produce rupture of the pulmonary vesicles. On the other hand, he was struck with the great force needed thoroughly to inflate the lungs, while their resiliency was sufficient to expel the greater part of the air. He found, moreover, in many cases where children had died suddenly after breathing for several hours or days, no other morbid appearance than an unexpanded condition of a large portion of the lungs. With reference to the mode of practising artificial respiration, he condemns the mere blowing into the mouth as

inadequate, and recommends the use of a tracheal tube. He is of opinion that there is more danger of failing from imperfect insuffla. tion than of doing harm by its too forcible performance. It is of importance, likewise, that it should not be suspended on the first sign of breathing, but continued until the child cries loudly and respires well.-[West's Report. American Journ. of Sciences.

On the Results of Drinking. By W. ORMEROD, Esq.-Of all diseases of internal organs produced by drinking, the granular liver seems to have attracted most attention-perhaps justly; but there is no doubt, that of all organic diseases, the two most to be feared in intemperate persons with recent surgical injuries, are the granular kidney, and slight, but general emphysema, with a dilated, but not always much diseased heart; and in persons past the middle of life, dying rapidly in hospitals, after operations and surgical injuries, combined with much loss of blood, these two affections of the urinary and respiratory organs are very far from uncommon.

The three chief affections destroying patients after operations and injuries, namely, the general habit produced by drinking; secondly, organic disease of the lungs and kidneys, especially emphysema in the former, and granular disease in the latter; and, thirdly, tubercle.-act very differently, and at different periods. During the early period, and often for weeks after operations, patients laboring under tubercular disease do well; and it is often only at the absolute return to health, rather than during the recovery of the patient from the operation itself, that the effects of tubercle begin to show themselves. Organic disease produced by drunkenness, and habitual drunkenness, act differently; the organic disease presses heavily at every period, and may destroy life early or late; but the mere habits of the drunkard show themselves chiefly at a very early period. The patient who nearly sinks from his unsound organs within the first few days, often lags on for weeks and months in danger; but the man who has simple delirium tremens is taken ill directly, and often dies; but if he recovers from his delirium, he generally gets well from the operation, and sometimes quickly.-[London Lancet.

Blindness caused by the use of the Sulphate of Quinine. By JOHN M'LEAN, M. D., Prof. of Mat. Med. in the Rush Medical College.Four cases of blindness are reported by Prof. M'Lean, which he attributes to the use of Quinine. In these cases the medicine was administered in large doses; in one, sixteen grains were ordered every hour, and continued until nearly an ounce was taken. The report closes with the following remarks:-We think it clear that the blindness in the foregoing cases was the effect of the quinine; for we see it in each, coming on suddenly during its administration in large quantities, and at a time, when no other medicine was given that would be likely to produce such results. Here, cause and effect appear to be closely connected, and are so plain, as scarcely to admit

of the possibility of a doubt. From the symptoms acccompanying the foregoing cases, we should judge that the proximate cause of the blindness, was mainly an affection of the retina or optic nerve, producing amaurosis.—[Ill. and Ind. Med. and Surg. Journal.

Treatment of Irritability of the Stomach.-In irritability of the stomach, with the deposit of earthy phosphates, arising from derange. ment of the functions of the spinal cord, and evinced by emaciated countenance, burning, gnawing pain in scrob. cordis, and heavy pain across the loins, tongue clean and red, pulse quick and sharp, skin dry and imperspirable, with vomiting after meals; try strychnia, as in the following formula:-Strychnia gr. j., acidi nitrici dil. 3i., aquæ 3xij., solve, at sumat æger, fiat 3j. ter in die, and rub the scrob. with a liniment of croton oil; milk dietary, consisting of eighteen ounces of bread, one ounce of butter, and two pints of milk daily. The medicine to be taken fifteen minutes after each meal. The strychnia acts particularly upon the spinal marrow; and it is suppos. ed that when alkaline urine is secreted, independently of the character of the ingesta, there is always some lesion of this part. (Dr. Bird.) Unfermented bread is said to be useful where there is habitual headache, acidity of stomach, flatulence, eructations, sinking at the pit of the stomach, and pain after meals; in fact, in confirmed indigestion, and to all who are subject to gout and gravel.-[Braithwaite's Retrospect.

Whooping Cough.-Purgation with calomel; if febrile symptoms, calomel and antimony; an occasional emetic, and small and repeated doses of carbonate of potassa, or the following formula :-Potassæ carb., 3j.; coccus cacti, gr. x.; aq. fervent. q. s. The dose according to age; for an infant, a tea-spoonful thrice daily. (Dr. Allnatt.) Dr. Wachtl, of Vienna, recommends the ammoniated tincture of cochineal.

In the first stage, mild antiphlogistics, daily emetics, and strict confinement to the house, except in summer months. In the latter stages give the following:-Tincture of cantharides, tinct. of opium, comp. aa. ss.; tinct. cinch. co. vss. A tea-spoonful to be taken three times a-day in a little boiling water; the dose to be increased if no strangury is produced. Be careful, however, at all times, not to give opium if it can be avoided. (Drs. Graves and M'Gregor.)-Ib.

Chronic Rheumatism.-A man 40 years of age, complained of chronic rheumatic pains. He was directed the following mixture: B. Syr. Sarsaparilla,

Tinct. Colchici,

Hyd. Potassa,

iii. zi.

Thirty drops to be taken three times a day.-[N. Y. Medical and

Surgical Reporter.

Treatment of Diabetes.-Glucosuria.--Diet. Strictly forbid alk farinaceous substances, as those into which starch in any way enters. Gluten bread is of great value; it satisfies the cravings of the appetite. Animal food, with eggs, milk, butter and cheese, are proper. Also the following vegetables: spinage, endive, lettuce, asparagus, sorrel, haricots verts, cabbage of all kinds, along with fat pork or salt bacon; cresses with oil, and hard-boiled eggs. Fresh gluten, with butter, and cheese grated upon it, is an excellent dish. For dessert, allow olives, almonds, filberts, and walnuts; occasionally, and in small quantities, allow apples, pears, cherries, currents, gooseberries, strawberries, raisins, and pine-apples. Drinks: The French wines, Bourgogne and Bordeaux, about a pint in the twenty-four hours; they are astringent; sometimes the quantity is to be increas. ed, but the least approach to inebriety is injurious. N. B. Some patients are made worse with wine. Beer is injurious. Coffee is good, and should be taken without sugar, or the quantity of sugar should be very small. Lemonade and drinks of this class are injuri ous. Clothing Protect the body from sudden chills, by clothing it in flannel. Exercise should be carefully regulated; the patient should engage in those exercises in which he takes pleasure; but fatigue is to be avoided. Baths are not of much use; occasionally a tepid bath may do good; swimming in the sea has been found very useful.

Medical Treatment.-Carbonate of ammonia, 77 grains; rum, 310 grains; water, 1550 grains. One-third to be taken half an hour before each meal; or give it as a bolus (eight grains), with treacle, from two to ten to be taken every night.

Give Vichy water. The alkaline bicarbonates, particularly soda, are very useful.

Dover's Powder and Opiates.-The former is very useful; ten grains at bed-time. Crude opium and morphia often disorder the stomach.

Theriaca divina, 3ss. to 3i., every night: a drachm contains one grain of opium.

Chalybeales and Tonics.-When there is decided pallor of skin. resembling chlorosis, give tonic bitters with iron. The pulverised iron, or iron reduced by hydrogen, is the best form of chalybeate.

Evacuants. Commence the treatment by giving an emetic and afterwards a purgative, to clear away any thing injurious in the prima viæ. Evacuants are of no use afterwards, except to combat certain symptoms.

Lime water, calcined magnesia, alkalies, nitric, phosphoric, and sulphuric acids, alum, tannin, and other astringents, are of little if any use.

Bleeding.-Generaf bleeding is always injurious. Leeches or cupping to different parts, as the stomach or anus (as symptoms indicate), will be found useful, viz., where there is epigastric tenderness or suppressed hæmorrhoids.