confess our weakness in this particular, it is certainly well to recognize it. The story told by the accompanying table bears its own moral, and sug

cumbent upon every medical man in

tions of lions. As the killing of one or two lions usually has the effect to frighten away all the rest from the vicinity, Dr. Livingstone determined to do the timid villagers a kindness, by heading with his men a grand lion hunt to destroy part of the beasts, and intimidate the remainder. For this purpose, he and his men led the people out, and with them surrounded the lions on a wooded hill and began to contract the circle by marching the men towards the centre, but the villagers not being very courageous

gave way before the charges of some of the enclosed animals, broke the circle and allowed them to escape. Finding the hunt a failure all parties returned to the village, but Livingstone and two of his men came upon one of the lions as they went, the result of which is described by himself as follows: (Travels and Researches in South Africa, p. 12.)

"Being about thirty yards off, I took good aim at his body, and fired both barrels into it. Turning to the people I said, 'Stop a little, till I load again.' When in the act of ramming down the bullets, I heard a shout. Starting and looking half around, I saw the lion just in the act of springing upon me. I was upon a little height. He caught my shoulder as he sprang and we both came to the ground below together. Growling horribly close to my ear, he shook me as a terrier dog does a rat. The shock produced a stupor similar to that which seems to be felt by a mouse after the first shake of a cat. It caused a sort of dreaminess, in which there was no sense of pain or feeling of terror, though quite conscious of all that was happening. was like what patients partially under the influence of chloroform describe, who see all the operation, but feel not the knife. The shake annihilated fear and allowed no sense of horror in looking round at the beast. This peculiar state is probably produced in all animals killed by the carnivora, and, if so, is a merciful provision by our Creator for lessening the pain of death.

It

"Turning round to relieve myself of the weight, as he had one paw on my head, I saw his eyes directed to Mebalwe, who was trying to shoot him

at a distance of ten or fifteen yards. His gun missed fire. The lion immediately left me, and, attacking Mebalwe, bit his thigh. Another man, whose life I had saved before, attempted to spear the lion while he was biting Mebalwe. He left Mebalwe, and caught this man by the shoulder; but, at that moment, the bullets he had received took effect, and he fell down dead. The whole was the work of a few moments, and must have been his paroxysms of dying rage."

The lion in shaking Livingstone seized him by the left arm, fracturing the humerus just above the middle. The result was a non-union of the fracture, producing a false joint, and an overlapping of the fragments exceeding an inch in extent. The lower fragment was also rotated on its axis about ninety degrees from its natural position.

The cast shows that either from the injury to the nutrient artery, or else from diminished use of the limb, the shaft of the upper fragment became very much atrophied.

When Livingstone's body was received in London, some natural doubt was felt about its identity, but Sir Wm. Fergusson proved by examination of the fractured bone and false joint, that there could be no uncertainty in the case. The cast is now in the museum of the Chicago Medical College.

The hunters of South Africa have observed that the bites of lions are very troublesome in their healing, and hence believe that the saliva of the animal is poisonous. Dr. Livingstone himself was half inclined to think that there was some truth in the idea, and thought that his own exemption

from virulent symptoms might perhaps be due to his having been bitten through his clothing.

Some professional men in Chicago have been partially impressed in the same way from the persistent inflammation observed in a patient in one of the hospitals, who was bitten in the hand by a lion in a menagerie some months ago, and is still far from

being cured.

I am not aware, however, of any actual, experimental proof of poisonous qualities in the leonine saliva, and the fact that the teeth of the animal make punctured and lacerated wounds, often penetrating joints and comminuting bones, is a sufficient mechanical why many of the wounds should do badly.

reason

THE

HE President, Dr. Bartlett, ocus cupied the chair.

ual preliminaries Dr. D. A. K. Steele read a report of a case of pneumatic aspiration of the pericardial sac, which appears in full elsewhere in this number of the EXAMINER.

Dr. F. H. Davis next read several interesting reports of cases.

The President reported a case of cerebro-spinal meningitis which proved fatal, in which were numerous curious features simulating hydrophobia. The discussion of this subject, including rabies, was animated and exhaustive.

Dr. Hamill reported a case of abortion with retained placenta, in which he used full doses of ergot for twelve hours, without effect. He then

exhibited the fluid extract of actea racemosa, forty drops every two hours; the secundines were expelled in six hours; the medicine seemed to act on the body of the uterus, producing tonic contractions. He preferred it rather than ergot. He was called to the case two days after the abortion had taken place. Several members related cases much resembling the one given, with like experience, and expressed the opinion that the use of ergot in the third stage of parturition was, at least, very questionable and inexpedient.

Dr. Merriman was appointed by the President to prepare a paper to be read at the next meeting, upon the management of the third stage of labor.

The society then adjourned.

TH

HE treatment of phthisis by restraining chest movement deserves more attention than it has yet received. Partly for this reason, and partly to describe the appliance which I have latterly found most effective, I wish again to direct inquiry to the subject.

In the large number of cases which have come before me in the practice of the Belfast Dispensary, I have seen no remedy equal strapping the chest in efficiency and general applicability. At the same time the use of other remedies is not interfered with. The plasters used in strapping are quite able to bear the strain of walking and talking, so that gentle exercise and conversation are not forbidden; and, indeed, I have seen both rendered enjoyable where they had previously been irksome. I have not met with a case in any stage of the disease in which there was ground for attributing any bad result to the restraint of the chest. I say this because a paper on the subject threatened grave consequences if cases were not most thoughtfully selected after an exact measurement of the proportion of lung involved. An extensive trial has convinced me that this dread is a dream and this refinement finical.

Since writing a paper which appeared in the November number of the Dublin Journal of Medical Science, I have made an improvement in the apparatus, which diminishes the frequency of the renewal of the plasters and strengthens their grip. The following description contemplates their application to the upper part of the chest. I have principally used em

plastrum roborans spread on swan's down. The sheet, which is half a yard wide, is to be cut into transverse strips. Each strip is eighteen inches long; the breadth should be about three-quarters of an inch. The plasters should be only very slightly heated. The first strip runs up the back in the space between the spinal column and the posterior border of the scapula on the affected side, its starting-point being well below the level of the inferior angle of the scapula. It is to be applied gradually and deliberately, every portion being well rubbed in before the next portion is brought into contact with the skin. It is to be carried over the shoulder and down the front of the chest. In rounding the shoulder it is to be pulled tight and held so while it is being, bit by bit, brought into contact with the front of the chest, the chest just at this period being in the act of strong expiration. The next strip, which is horizontal, commences at the spine, crosses the posterior end of the first strip, passes under the axilla and on towards the sternum. It also is to be applied deliberately and with friction; as it is rounding the chest it is to be pulled tight, the patient at the same time making a forced expiration. Other strips are to be applied in a similar manner, vertically and horizontally time about, until it is judged that a proper grasp of the chest has been obtained. I avoid the scapula as much as possible. Some of the horizontal strips should cross the sternum, and some the spine. A large rectangular piece of plaster should now be applied, occupying the inter

scapular space and reaching down to the last dorsal spine. Another squarish piece is to cover the front and upper part of the chest between the clavicles and mammæ. These, if smoothly applied, secure the ends of the strips from ruffling up, and give additional points d'appui. Finally the whole is to be well rubbed in all over. The patient is to sit quiet for a few minutes before dressing. The plaster soils the fingers, which, however, may be easily cleaned by rubbing with coarse paper and washing with a few drops of ether. The length of strip of course depends upon the size of the chest and the extent of the disease. I always endeavor to control more of the lung than the portion apparently diseased. I have found it generally suitable to cut the plaster as above described. If too long, that may be easily remedied with scissors as each strip is applied. If too short. If too short -if, for instance, a vertical plaster beginning on the back does not reach sufficiently far down the front of the chest, let the next vertical plaster commence its course in front and at a sufficiently low point, and then be made to cover the former. This, besides, increases the rigidity of the apparatus, and rigidity undoubtedly is one source of its power.

In a fortnight a re-application will probably be required. This will give a good opportunity for a careful ex

amination of the condition of the lung. While the plasters are still on the indications of the thermometer

will be most valuable. If there be an exacerbation of the symptoms, particularly of the cough, dyspnoea, or pain, if the temperature rise, or if the plasters be obviously slack, apply new ones. In an advanced case of phthisis in a girl, the girl's mother told me that she herself could tell the proper time for renewal by observing the cough become distressing at night; and, indeed, it is common for patients to ask for a re-application. This illustrates, besides, the confidence felt in the plasters by those who have had experience of their effects. In early phthisis it is necessary to warn the

patients not to mistake the amelioration of their symptoms for recovery; they should always be directed to come back. Possibly when they consider themselves quite well the thermometer or the stethoscope will indicate differently. These are the cases in which, by re-applications, repeated re-applications if necessary, we may hope for the most brilliant results.

In the paper already referred to I have related a few cases, selected with the aim of illustrating the effects of this line of treatment in different stages of the disease. We obtain immediate and marked diminution of the cough, cessation of pain, relief of dyspnoea, and reduction of temperature; and the patient usually expresses at once a feeling of great comfort. In short, I am so satisfied with the results of the numerous cases in which I have tried this method that I give it the first place among all the remedies for phthisis.

M. JOLYET has recently reported to the society of Biology in Paris, some of the principal results of a series of the quantity of urea contained in the his experiments. He has determined.

blood of rabbits whose skins have been coated with a mixture of aline and linseed oil. He has proved that they sometimes die from cold, and

trebled in the blood, though the urinhas seen the urea doubled, and even ary secretion was diminished. M. Jolyet has also studied the cutaneous and pulmonary respiration of frogs, and has calculated the quantity of carbonic acid exhaled during a given time by placing them under bellglasses. The minute openings of the bulbs in the skin permit the suppression of the pulmonary respiration. This cutaneous respiration, though sufficing for these animals in winter is incapable of supporting life during

summer.

AN EXCELLENT TEXT.—“A clean life and a trust in God are the best of all prophylactics."-Daily London Telegraph.