(.047 inch); the hair about the male genitals, 0.11 mm. (.043 inch); finally, the hair from the head, in either sex, 0.06 to 0.08 mm. (.023 to .031 inch). The other individual differences may render the value of the size for diagnosis less reliable; and the same hair may vary in diameter in different parts.

Hair of the head is generally round; but when it is curly it is flattened; the transverse section is then oval. The beard is generally triangular, on section, with one convex side. Hair from the genitals is generally oval, sometimes, however, it is triangular, with one convex side. Hair which has been exposed to sweat is sometimes swollen in one part, and so changed in form.

When the hair grows undisturbed, it ends in a fine point; all the hair of a young child is of this kind; so, too, the hair which begins to grow at puberty. This may be a guide as to the age of a person. Hair which has been cut has, at first, a sharply-defined transverse section; it afterwards becomes rounded and smaller, or frayed out. This may point to the time which has elapsed since the hair was cut. The beard, being less frequently cut, is more often split and frayed out. The hair of the female is also generally frayed at the ends.

The shape taken by the ends of the hair depends upon the action of friction and sweat, the former splitting and rubbing off the ends, the latter dissolving the connective substance. The sweat changes the color of the hair, as in the axilla, on the scrotum, and labia

The hair of animals usually differs greatly from that of man, though preserving the same general structure. The cuticula has, in most animals, absolutely and relatively larger cells. The medullary substance differs greatly from that in human hair, the cellular structure being usually evident without any reagent.

THE DETECTION OF BLOOD BY THE SPECTRUM MICROSCOPE.—In a recent number of THE EXAMINER we de

scribed a method of detecting blood by the use of an alcoholic solution of guiacum, and an ethereal solution of peroxid of hydrogen (ozonic ether). Sometimes, however, the amount of blood is so minute that this process will not be applicable; in such cases the spectrum microscope may be used, as described by Mr. Sorbey, in Guy's Hospital Reports for 1869-70. If there be not too little, he soaks a small piece of the stained fabric in a few drops of water, in a watch - glass; he then squeezes out the liquid, and allows it to stand for a short time in the glass, in order to deposit any insoluble matter, and then pours it into the cell which he uses for examining spectra. These cells are made of an ordinary piece of barometer tubing, having an internal diameter of one-eighth to one-tenth of an inch, and a length of one-half to three-quarters of an inch. One end of this tube is connected to a slip of glass, like an ordinary cell for examining liquids. If the stain which is being examined is a fresh one, it shows the spectrum of fresh blood, which has two well-defined lines in the green. If, however, the blood has been exposed some time to the action of the air, these lines will be fainter, and another would be seen in the red. The relative distinctness of these lines shows the age of the stain; but in forming the conclusion it is necessary to know the circumstances; for the sulphurous acid in the air of towns will cause more change in one day than the pure air of the country will in a week.

In order to make the result more certain, it is well to examine the spectrum after the action of the reagents. If a bit of citric acid, about onefiftieth of an inch in diameter, is added to the fluid in the cell, the bands will disappear, and will not be restored by addition of ammonia. Scarcely any other coloring matter will be effected in this way. the addition of the citric acid, and the excess of the ammonia, if a piece of sulphate of protoxide of iron, not above one-hundredth of an inch in diameter, be added to the cell, a very

After

characteristic spectrum of deoxidized hæmatin will be seen. This spectrum shows an absorption - band in the green, with a second fainter band near the blue end. It is necessary, in obtaining these results, to avoid exposing the substances in the cell for any length of time, to the air, by filling the cell full, and cementing a thin glass cover on its top with marine glue.

If the blood falls on leather, or any substance containing tannic acid, it may be impossible to detect the coloring matter by this method, although present in considerable quantity, as the tannic acid precipitates the coloring matter.. Sometimes, however, by cutting a thin shaving of the leather, and dissolving off the blood, avoiding as much as possible wetting the leather, and then proceeding as before, blood may be obtained which has not been acted on by the tannin, and the spectrum seen. By this method he claims to be able to detect as little as one-thousandth of a grain of blood.

He also uses the same method for the detection of blood in urine, except that he uses a tube one-fourth of an inch in diameter and ten inches long. A drop of blood in a pint of urine will give a distinct spectrum.

PSEUDO-MUSCULAR HYPERTROPHY.-- The Philadelphia Medical Times contains a translation of an article on

this subject. After describing the usual symptoms and course of the disease, and the microscopic appearance as being simply an atrophy of the muscular fibre, accompanied by an enormous increase of the interstitial fatty and connective tissue, the writer passes on to the consideration of four cases, which, though presenting some points of similarity, were in others markedly different from the ordinary course of the disease. In each of these cases the disease was consequent upon an injury. The functional derangements were not so marked as in typical cases in place of being totally lost, the power of motion was only

diminished. The microscope revealed, in each case, what appeared to be a true hypertrophy of the muscular fibres, without excessive growth of the interstitial connective tissue. From this it would seem that the hypertrophy spreads from the muscle to the connective tissue, and the hypertrophied connective tissue, pressing on the muscle, causes atrophy afterwards. Schlesinger, however, reports a case of a man with mental disease, in whom some of the muscles were hypertrophied. The microscope showed the muscular tissue much diseased, but in them there was no hypertrophy of the muscular fibre. fibre. Whether the process is a simple inflammation, or what is its nature, is not known.

EPISCLERAL MELANOTIC SARCOMA. -Dr. H. C. Markham reports, in the Medical Record, a case of a melanotic sarcoma occurring as a primary tumor, and growing from the "upper and inner margin of the cornea. Aside from its history and color, it bore a resemblance to a pterygium." It was confined to the sclerotic entirely. An attempt was made to dissect it out; but as it returned persistently, the eyeball was enuncleated. Subsequent to the operation, a "small bluish tumor, about the size of a grain of corn, and situated on the inferior surface of the supraorbital plate," appeared. This was removed, and the surrounding tissues thoroughly cauterized. After a year the tumor had not re-appeared.

The only other case of the kind known to the writer, was one reported by D. H. Knapp, of New York city.

AT

Ta meeting of the Clinical Society of London, Dr. Theodore Williams brought forward three cases. The first was that of a married woman, aged twenty-three, who came from the Isle of Man, where, during the last nine months, she had suffered from asthma, of so severe a character as to confine her to her bedroom for four months. Various remedies had been tried in vain. On her arrival in town, Dr. Williams did not at first pursue active treatment, hoping that the change of climate might give relief. The fit, however, coming on as usual, chloral was given in twentygrain doses. After the first dose she fell asleep for an hour; after the second she slept a whole night; and a few more rendered her breathing quite clear. The drug was then omitted, and the patient remained free from asthma for more than a week.

The second case was that of a lad, aged sixteen, who had been subject for six years to attacks occurring once a week and lasting three days. Chloral was given during a severe paroxysm, with the result of causing sleep and immediate relief to the breathing. He remained in the Brompton Hospital free from attacks, in spite of several threatenings of dyspnoea, which were always averted by the timely administration of chloral. The third patient was an unmarried woman, aged twenty-seven, with a history of asthma of two years' standing, the attacks occurring every morning, lasting two or three hours, and often recurring in the forenoon. During a very severe one, which occurred in the Brompton Hospital, a

variety of drugs were tried, with little effect. Chloroform inhalation gave some relief, but caused cardiac intermission. Hypodermic injection of morphia did good, but her increasing lividity precluded its continuance. Chloral was then given, in twentygrain doses, and the first dose induced slumber and easy respiration. The drug was continued, in smaller doses, for upwards of two months, during which time the attacks seldom recurred, and when they did so, were extremely mild. Once the chloral was omitted, and the asthma immediately returned, but ceased on resuming it.

All the cases were complicated by catarrhal symptoms; and in the third case there was considerable emphysema, which diminished during the patient's stay in the hospital. Biermer, of Zurich, had already used chloral extensively in these cases. Dr. Theodore Williams' own experience, founded on upwards of twenty cases, was decidedly favorable to the use of the hydrate of chloral in spasmodic asthma. In only two cases had any untoward symptoms arisen.

A NEW OPERATION FOR CLEFT PALATE. On Saturday, 22d November, Sir William Fergusson, in operating on two patients for the closure of the opening in the hard palate, after the cleft in the soft palate had been closed, adopted a modification of a procedure which is intended to increase the chances of success of the operation. Sir William remarked that in the so-called Langenbeck operation - that is where muco-periosteal flaps are taken from the roof of the

mouth and drawn towards the middle line the proceeding is often unsuccessful from the fact that, after some time, the granulations which are thrown out on the upper surfaces of the displaced flaps contract and separate the union that may have taken place between the pared edges of the flaps. It is true, he observed, that some assert that bony matter is deposited on the upper surface, and that this diminishes the size of the aperture in the osseous palate. But, in demurring to this, Sir Willim said he thought it was hardly possible to strip off healthy periosteum from the subjacent bone. He proposed therefore, as a remedy, that in addition to making the ordinary incisions for the flaps, the hard palate should be split, on each side of the opening, with some sharp cutting instrument, and that the two pieces of bone should be pressed towards the middle line, and the pared edges of the soft tissues then be brought together. By this means the central opening would be closed, but two lateral apertures would be formed. But inasmuch as the lateral openings would be but half the size of the original central one; and as there would be more likelihood of the fractured edges of bone throwing out osseous material for its repair, it was hoped that the prospect of a successful issue would be greatly enhanced.

It remains to be seen what will be the result of this ingenious device; but on the first blush it appears that by its adoption a means is offered of surmounting one of the most obstinate difficulties of plastic surgery.— London Lancet.

THE PRODROMAL STAGE OF CHOREA. This period, Dr. Schmitt (Memorab., XVIII., pt. 3, 1873) says, most often escapes the notice of the physician, who in the majority of cases is not consulted until the disease has clearly shown itself. The period is characterized by disturbances, which are confirmatory of the opinion held by Dr. Betz, that chorea is an affection of the central nervous system, particularly of the spinal cord

and its membranes. These disturbances are chiefly those resulting from spinal irritation. There is pain on pressure upon the spinous processes, especially in the lumbar and dorsal regions. The patient complains of rheumatic pains in the shoulder and neck; pains in the head are less often mentioned; itching about the anus and nose, which often leads to the suspicion that the patient is suffering from threadworms. There are also symptoms of irritation of the cardiac nerves; general lassitude, unsteady walk; at times there are flashes of light before the eyes; the patient is unable to read or to fix the eyes for any length of time upon one object. The nights are sleepless, disturbed by painful dreams; during the day the patient is subject, without any cause, to severe fits of terror. In one case this stage lasted sixteen days. These symptoms are certainly those of anæmia, depending upon tuberculosis, scrofula, deficient nutrition, or the coming on of menstruation. Dr. Schmitt directs his attention to the treatment of the anæmia by ferruginous preparations and tonics, and has the back rubbed with an ointment containing opium and oxide of zinc. -Obstet. Jour. of Great Britain and Ireland.

BURNING THE DEAD.-The polite term for this practice is "cremation," or "incremation." Sir Henry Thompson's paper upon it, to which reference was made a few weeks ago, has been translated twice into German; once in Cologne, and once in Gratz, in Austria; in the latter case, with an introductory by Dr. Kapl, formerly physician to the late King of the Belgians. In consequence of this joint publication, the Communal Council of Vienna has adopted, by a large majority, the proposal of one of its members, to establish in the cemetery the necessary apparatus for cremation, the use of which will be optional and open to all. Following this, the Communal Council of Gratz, which contains a population of one hundred thousand, has decided to consider a

like proposal. A veritable agitation of the question has arisen in both places.

In New York city, also, according to a recent dispatch, there are a number of persons zealously in earnest in the effort to introduce the practice of burning the dead, instead of burying them. These gentlemen held a meeting at the office of Dr. Sexton, with a view of perfecting arrangements, either for a large meeting or for some other form of demonstration.-Phil. Med. and Surg. Reporter.

POWDERED COAL-TAR FOR WOUNDS. -M. Magnis-Lahens, of Toulouse, adds charcoal to the coal-tar (33 per cent. of the latter), and thus obtains, a light and porous powder, which does. not irritate wounds, and which is easily washed off with cold water. This combination is a very useful mixture of two antiseptic substances. The charcoal absorbs the gases formed by fermentation, coagulates the albumen, and prevents its decomposition, thus effectually assisting the carbolic acid contained in the coal-tar. Some wounds do not bear powdered applications; for these, 100 parts of the powdered coal-tar should be allowed to macerate for some hours with 400 parts of spirit, and filtrated. The spirit should be of only 18 degrees Cartier, as a stronger would dissolve the resins. As coal-tar principally acts through the carbolic acid it contains, the above-mentioned maceration may be replaced by the following solution: Crystallized carbolic acid, part; spirit (at 18 degrees Cartier), 99 parts. This solution is cheap and very effectual.-London Lancet.

TREATMENT OF THE ACUTE STAGE OF BLENORRHAGIA BY HASCHISH AND BENZOIC ACID.-M. Dr. Lamarre (de St.-Germain de Laye) thinks with reason (Traite des maladies veneriennes) that there should be no recourse to the abortive treatment of blenorrhagia after twelve or twenty-four hours, when the discharge has become opaline, or purulent, and is accompanied with pain and engorgement

behind the navicular fossa. On the other hand, he recognizes the great efficacy of copaiba after the inflammatory period. But we are thus disarmed of any remedy, while the disease is still subacute, for, with the exception of leeches, which few patients will permit to be employed, the baths, applications, camphor, lupulin and bromide of potassium are almost without result.

To supply this deficiency in practice, M. Lamarre has used successfully, for the past seven years, the tincture of haschish in two gramme doses, and benzoic acid, one gramme to be taken in twenty-four hours in some mucilaginous julep.

After six days of this treatment the pain subsides, even during micturition, and patients are better than it they had commenced treatment with cubebs or copaiba.-Journ. des. conn, med.-Gazette des Hopitaux, March 5. 1874.-The Clinic.

NASAL POLYPI.-At the last clinical meeting of the Medical Society of London, two very large polypi were exhibited by Mr. Mason. They had hung down behind the velum, and he had taken them with a pair of forceps, and by a slight tug pulled them out. The pedicle was a mere thread. Mr. Mason thought the removal of such growths much less dangerous than is usually believed. Dr. Prosser James concurred in this opinion, and distinguished between between these growths and others which had extensive and firm attachments. He dwelt on the importance of rhinoscopy, which, he said, served to detect polypi when they were quite small, and therefore to subject them to treatment. He further insisted on the importance of treatment by local applications, made by the aid of the rhinoscope, by which he had applied both fluids. and solids. Such treatment after an operation would also prevent recurrence, and he expressed some surprise that Mr. Mason had not employed this simple preventive measure.- -The Medical Press and Circular, March 11, 1874.