that it will be to use Dr. Bell's elegant expression a duplex retort; a double-barrel explosion. The editor, when a boy, was fond of hunting sparrows and acquired much skill in killing two at a shot. In his maturer years, it is only fair that he should be allowed an opportunity of enjoying his old recreation. He promises not to use anything larger than mustard seed shot; recollecting the old rule, that small game should have only small shot; such shot as he has thought sufficient for the present occasion. He is very fond of hunting birds and will be ready to take a sparrow hunt as long and as often as he is invited.

The editor expresses the hope that Dr. Bell will reap a satisfactory return from the several hundred pamphlet copies of his article, which he had issued for distribution, not only to his medical admirers, but to the laity in this city and throughout the country. If, however, these pamphlets are as much derided, and their author as much despised by the multitude to whom Dr. Bell sent them, as has been the case with the very many who have expressed their opinions to the editor, Dr. Bell will realize the truth of the damaging satire which Colonel Damas bestowed upon Beauseant: "Curse on, Monsieur Beauseant, but let me tell thee a proverb which the Arabs have: curses, like chickens come home to roost."

Eight months since, Dr. Bell was scarcely known out of Louisville; not satisfied with his obscurity, he came before the public to be admired; being not as admirable as he had expected and being rasped somewhat severely, he turned upon the instrument which cut him and tried to destroy it; how far he has done so or can ever do so, he must learn by a painful but a very ludicrous experience; he can only learn what injury he is capable of inflicting, by a continuation of an attack which he is pleasantly invited to prolong, for as many months as may suit his purse, his peace or his pleasure.

This charming little episode in the life of Dr. Bell, is so pleasingly illustrated by a fable of great antiquity, (one might say an almost pre-historic fable) that the editor takes the liberty of adding it as the finale to the present act of that charming drama which Dr. Bell, with an exquisite indulgence in fiction, has entitled BELL ON GAILLARD; a title suggestive of a disaster to the editor too monstrous to contemplate. The fable promised is that pleasing allegory of

THE VIPER AND THE FILE.

It runs as follows. A foolish old viper intruded into the establishment of a workman and made a great noise, with a view of attracting his attention. The workman, amused at the conceit and folly of the visitor, thought he would punish him, and so let a heavy file fall, with some violence, upon his back. The file bruised and cut more deeply than he intended, and the viper, expecting as usual to overcome its prey, seized it in its fangs, and, covering it with venom, endeavored to destroy it. The workman, whose sympathy had been aroused by the unexpected severity of his blow, now became amused at the rage and impotence that he witnessed. Smiling at the folly of the attack, he, with pleasant humor, quietly remarked; bite on, perhaps the longer you bite, the less you'll like it.

ART. I.-KEYS TO THE ARTICULATIONS OF LOWER EXTREMITIES. By FRANK HASTINGS HAMILTON, M.D., of New York, Professor of Surgery in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College.

1. Phalangeal Articulations of the Toes. Keys. The lateral ligaments. The phalangeal articulations of the feet have essentially the same anatomical structure as those of the hands, only that the bones are shorter, broader, and their articular surfaces are especially much more expanded. Owing to the general practice, also, of wearing narrow shoes the joints are often deformed, and their motions very much limited. The lateral ligaments, as in the case of the fingers, constitute the keys to the articulations, but they are not exposed and cut with the same facility as are the lateral ligaments of the fingers.

2. Meta-tarso-phalangeal Articulations of the second, third and fourth Toes. In general, the same anatomical arrangements obtain here again, as in the corresponding phalanges of the hand, except that the joints are larger, more often deformed aud partially anchylosed by lateral pressure. It will be noticed, also, that the toes cannot be flexed to a right angle with the dorsal surface of the