and gently rub the suspected part, especially the middle; moisten the finger, and rub again, in the same manner, eight or ten times, for half a minute each time. After this friction, cover it lightly, with the finger, with camphorated olive oil. It is rare for a blind boil, or furuncle, at the moment of lessening, to resist four applications of this kind. Often they have been seen to dry up and disappear after only one application.-Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. Book Reviews. `REATISE on the Diseases of the Eye. sor of Ophthalmology in King's College, London, Surgeon to the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorsfield, etc., etc. Second American, from the third English, edition. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1873. No better evidence of the value of this work is needed than the fact that, since its first appearance, in 1868, it has had three English editions and two American, and has been translated into the German and French languages. Voluminous as has the literature of ophthalmology become since the ophthalmoscope was devised, this work merits the designation of being the most valuable one in the English language for the general practitioner. The diseases are treated of in a clear, concise manner; and the extensive field of observation afforded the author, as a member of the surgical staff of the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, has given ample opportunity to test the correctness of his views. His suggestions regarding the variations of refraction of the eye, and the proper mode of correcting them, are explicit, and well calculated to correct many of the popular errors regarding the use of spectacles. For his caution against the unscientific effort of opticians and jewelers to adjust glasses to correct these variations, as dangerous, he merits the thanks of the public, who are often astonished when informed of the risks they thus incur. The addition, to the American edition, of selections from the test-types of Jaeger and Snellen, will be found a convenience to many. The six chromo-lithographic plates, representing pathological conditions of the interior of the eye, are well executed, and faithfully represent those structural changes. In short, the work fills a place of usefulness. NEW BOOKS RECEIVED. The Principles and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence. By Alfred Swaine Taylor, M.D., F.R.S. Second edition. Two vols. Philadelphia: H. C. Lea. A System of Midwifery; Including the Diseases of Pregnancy and the Puerperal State. By Wm. Leishman, M.D. Philadelphia: H. C. Lea. Theory and Practice of Medicine. By Fred. T. Roberts, M.D. etc. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. On the Mechanical Treatment of Diseases of the Hip-Joint. By Chas. F. Taylor. New York: Wm. Wood & Co. M ON THE USE OF ELECTRICITY IN POST-PARTUM BY CHAS. W. EARLE, M.D., CHICAGO, ILL. RS. M., an American lady, living on Sangamon street, in this city, summoned me, Dec. 9th, 1871, to attend her in confinement. I found her suffering from the usual cutting and annoying pains of the first stage, and in every respect in a fair condition, except a want of power in the pains. On the morning of the 10th, Dr. Byford visited her (she having been under his treatment for uterine difficulty for some months previous to her pregnancy), and, excepting the uterine inertia spoken of above, expressed himself satisfied with her condition. He advised, however, if the labor was not concluded in a few hours, the use of forceps. About 4 P.M., the uterus seeming powerless to complete the work, and, some twenty hours from the commencement of her labor, she was delivered, without any trouble, by the use of instruments. As is my custom, a half drachm dose of fluid extract of ergot was administered, and, the after- birth complete was delivered in about fifteen minutes. Without moving her from the position she was placed in for instrumental delivery, I sat down by the bedside to watch the condition of the uterus for one hour before putting on the binder and taking my departure. There had been such inertia of the womb during the entire labor that I was fearful of what my patient very soon experienced. Without any premonition whatever, the uterus ceased its contraction, and a stream of blood, apparently as large as half my arm, came pouring from the vagina. I immediately introduced my right hand to the fundus of the womb, and, with my left, tried to compress the descending aorta, giving orders at the same time to the attendants to administer more ergot, to lower the patient's head, apply cold water to the abdomen, and procure a piece of ice for inserting into the uterus. All this was done rapidly, and in much better order than is usual in such But what a change there was in my patient! In two minutes she had changed from a most favorable condition-indeed, from a joyous and happy one-to an exsanguined, bloodless and pulseless state; apparently, she was moribund. cases. In addition to what I had already done, I gave what stimulants could be found in the house; and keeping my hands in the position noticed above, as the most effective way of stopping the largest amount of blood, sent immediately for Dr. I. N. Danforth, who lived in the immediate vicinity. He came forthwith, and, relieving me from my most fatiguing position, suggested port wine and carb. ammonia as the stimulant. Ergot had been given freely; ice, externally and internally, had been used; compression resorted to; stimulants and nourishing broths administered; but the hæmorrhage did not cease. Nothing, up to this time, had produced a good, strong continuous contraction of the uterus. Dr. Danforth now advised electricity; and in a very few minutes a battery was at hand; and placing one pole over the sacrum, and the other over the uterus, the current was commenced. The effect was instantaneous and almost marvelous. The uterus contracted firmly; the hemorrhage ceased immediately; and as long as the electrical current was continued, the uterine tumor remained hard, and of proper size. It was necessary, however, to keep up the current for some time; for, as soon as we ceased using the electricity, the womb softened, and blood commenced to flow. It was above twelve hours before we ceased using the instrument altogether. At that time the adynamic condition of the entire system, and uterus especially, seemed to be overcome, and we felt safe in leaving our patient. The lady was saved, and made a very comfortable convalescence. Electricity certainly contributed largely to the favorable result. As I am preparing these pages for publication, Dr. Danforth informs me that he has had a case in his own practice, in which electricity was supplied. The indications for treatment were so marked, and the physiological application of electricity attended with such beautiful results, that I feel that my article will be made of double importance to the profession by its insertion. He very kindly places the notes of the case at my disposal, which I give entire. "October 13th, 1872, I was called upon to attend Mrs., a lithe, active, healthy brunette, about twenty-three years of age, in her first confinement. The patient was, and is, alike remarkable for her quick, active movements and powers of endurance, and for her slight physical proportions and fragile appearance. She passed through gestation with very little inconve- | progressed quite as well as I had antinience, superintending her household affairs to the day before her labor, and maintaining her wonted cheerfulness and vivacity, not only to her sickness, but well through it. In view of the fact that my patient was so unusually small, I apprehended a long and probably tedious labor; but comforted myself with another fact, that I have many times observed, namely, that a brunette will endure a far more tedious labor, and retain her strength and courage much longer, than a blonde; hence, I felt warranted in hoping for a favorable termination. * "Labor began about the middle of the afternoon of the twelfth-or, perhaps, it is more correct to say premonitions of labor, since nothing but "teasing" pains occurred till the evening was somewhat advanced. About nine o'clock in the evening, an examination disclosed a natural presentation, a very small amount of liquor amnii; and the os uteri dilated to the extent of about one inch; pulse natural, and the patient's condition quite satisfactory. About twelve o'clock, the os was fully dilated, and the head passed the upper strait, and shortly passed forward to the perinæum, which still remained quite rigid and unyielding. But as the pulse was yet perfectly normal, and the strength did not appear to flag, I saw no occasion for alarm. The pains continued with regularity, and everything I think the majority of physicians will bear me out in the statement that women of dark complexion are far more likely to have longer, as well as more severe, labors, than those with light skins; also, that they generally make quicker and more perfect recoveries, and manifest greater resistance to septic influences. Did space permit, I could adduce many proofs of this.-I. N. D. cipated, up to about four o'clock on the morning of the 13th. About this time, the patient began to show the evident results of a hard night's work, and indications of the not far distant exhaustion of her capital stock of strength, in spite of our efforts to sustain her by concentrated nourishment. The pulse had risen to 100; the patient looked weary; the temperature began to rise; and a nervous restlessness took the place of her former cheerfulness. But, as the perinæum was not yet in a favorable condition, I felt constrained to postpone delivery a while longer, although convinced that a forceps delivery would be necessary. At the end of another hour (about five o'clock) the patient's symptoms were as follows: Pulse 120; skin hot and dry (the actual temperature was not taken); complains of thirst; looks weary and restless, and begins to feel discouraged; occasionally draws a long sigh, to give expression to her exhaustion; and is "fidgety," nervous, and impatient. The vagina begins to feel hot and dry, but the parts are quite well dilated, and the head is within easy reach of the forceps. Believing it to be my duty. to deliver without further delay, I at once applied the forceps, and accomplished the delivery of the child, a healthy boy, without accident, and with the expenditure of far less force than I expected. In a few minutes, the placenta was expelled naturally, the uterus contracted promptly; the usual bandage and compress was applied; the patient expressed herself as "feeling comfortable;" and I congratulated myself upon the fortunate issue of the case. After sitting awhile -perhaps twenty minutes-by the bedside, I had occasion to leave the room, and was absent, I imagine, for another twenty minutes. As I reentered the room, the patient gasped, rather than said, "Doctor, how dark everything looks." Placing my left hand upon the abdomen, I felt the uterus distended and swollen, with an enormous coagulum, which I turned out by thrusting my right hand into. the womb with all possible expedition. I then attempted to secure contraction by intra-uterine irritation with the fingers, and by "teasing" the organ through the abdominal wall. But, although the uterus would feebly contract, it would immediately relax again, and the loss of blood continued until my patient seemed upon the very verge of death. Meantime, I had sent for my battery, which was happily near at hand, and was, therefore, quickly at the bedside. I immediately applied one pole over the uterus, and the other over the spinal column. The result was simply magical; never in my professional experience have I seen aproaching death so promptly arrested, or felt such a burden of anxiety lifted from my shoulders, as it were, in a moment. Under the electric goad, the flabby and toneless uterus immediately became a hard, round ball, no larger than my two fists, and the bleeding ceased. Of course, the pillows were taken away, the foot of the bed was raised, and brandy, beef-tea, and milk, were alternately administered, as fast as I thought the stomach would retain it. * * I think, in cases of severe hæmorrhage,with extreme exhaustion, the mistake is often made of pushing stimulants and nourishment too fast. The stomach itself shares in the general exhaustion, and cannot perform its duties as rapidly as usual. Hence, we are likely to have overloading and vomiting.-I. N. D. "After the application of a gentle current, for ten or fifteen minutes, the poles of the battery were removed, and I sat down to watch the uterus, with my hand upon the abdomen. Relaxation came on again after a very short time, and the organ commenced refilling with blood. Several times more, in course of the succeeding three or four hours, I attempted to suspend the use of the battery, but with precisely the same results. It was well along in the afternoon of the 13th, before I dared leave my patient, or cease using the battery. In fact, I was obliged to "hold on" to the womb with electricity, until, by virtue of stimulants and beef-juice, it had acquired strength and tone enough to take care of itself. I am profoundly impressed with the conviction that I should have seen this patient die before my eyes, but for electricity. The pulse was gone; a mere "flicker" was perceptible to the ear over the heart; she was blanched, bloodless, and speechless; in fact, she was in profound collapse, with extreme uterine inertia; and the blood was still passively draining from the flaccid uterine sinuses, in spite of the vigorous application of the ordinary measures within my reach. At this point, the battery came, and the case assumed another aspect. Instead of standing helplessly by, resorting to futile expedients, I became at once master of the situation. For the electric current does more than merely to whip up the uterus, and make it contract; it gives a fillip to the whole nervous system, and arouses it to another effort in its own behalf; it causes the heart to contract more forcibly, and thus sends the starving brain a new supply of blood; it seems, in some sort, to fur |