It is far from the writer's intention to say anything unkind in reply or to wouud Dr. Mussey's feelings, but when this gentleman throws down the gauntlet of raillery, he can not object to a Roland for his Oliver.

If the rejoinder be unwelcome, Dr. Mussey has made it necessary, but if it be regarded as unkind, it certainly does not reflect the intention or feeling of the writer. Raillery, of course, can not be agreeable. It is very unpleasant to offer it, but is it not equally unpleasant to receive it? If, then, this rejoinder be disagreeable to Dr. Mussey, he must, and will recollect, that it is a rejoinder. That he and those who agree with him are actuated by honest and upright motives, no one will be so unjust as to doubt, but that others may draw different conclusions from the same premises, and that they may publicly state that in their judgment the course of Dr. Mussey and his friends is very dangerous, no one can undertake to deny. If the comments made herein, or at other times, in regard to such a course of action be regarded as unfriendly, or as dietated by personal or partizan motives, the fact will be regarded by no one with more regret, than by the writer. Having, in common with many persons, (who have a purpose to express, rather than to conceal in language) an aversion to a non-committal style, he has always endeavored to write plainly, but he would not for such a purpose or to attain any object, sacrifice the smallest degree of courtesy. He certainly could not be discourteous to Dr. Mussey, who is deservedly esteemed and respected, and by no one more than by the writer.

THE AMENDE.-The surgical cases published as "Clinical Records" in the last Journal, were excellently reported by Eugene F. Cordell, M.D., Clinical Recorder; his title and office were (as is regretted) omitted.

BOOKS AND JOURNALS RECEIVED.

Resources of the Southern Fields and Forrests, Medical, Economical and Agricultural; being also a Medical Botany of the Southern States, By F. P. Porcher, M.D. Charleston, 1869. From the author.

Physiological Arrangement of the Cranial Nerves, By Edward Rives, M.D. Cincinnati, 1869,

Report of the Commissioners of the Kentucky Institution for the Education of Feble-minded Children, to the General Assembly of Kentucky. Frankfort, Ky. 1869, From Dr. Black, Superintendent.

Monthly Report of the Department of Agriculture, for May and June, 1869. Washington.

The Proceedings of the Georgia Medical Association. Augusta, Ga.,

1868-9.

Contributions Relating to the Causation and Prevention of Disease, and of Camp Diseases. Edited by Austin Flint, M.D. New York. From Dr. Joseph Jones,

$69.

ART. I.-GUN-SHOT WOUND: FRACTURE OF FEMUR: RESECTION OF UPPER HALF OF THE BONE-RECOVERY. By GEORGE CUPPLES, M.D., San Antonio, Texas.

On the first of April, 1866, I was requested to see Mariano Flores, æt. 10, whom I found in an almost moribund condition, from anæmia and exhaustion, the consequence of profuse suppuration from a gun-shot wound of the anterior aspect of the thigh, received in February, 1865, with fracture of the femur, about one inch below the great trochanter; the ball, which was said to be from a minnie musket, had lodged. Very profuse hæmorrhage followed the receipt of the injury, and recurred at short intervals for several days afterwards.

Three abscesses had formed; two of which were opened by the father of the patient, giving exit to portions of bone and clothing, the one situated in the course of the femoral vessels, the other immediately around the trochanters; a third, on the inner side of the limb, broke spontaneously, all having open sinuses, the suppuration from which was excessive.

The boy had been brought, in this condition, from a distance of 180 miles, for treatment, four months before

I saw him. The surgeon who took charge of the case had evidently despaired of benefiting the patient, and after having attended him for three months without adopting any treatment, general or special, had declined seeing him again, declaring no human means could prolong life for a week.

I found him in a state of complete marasmus; pulse 140, the fever of debility excessive, pallor extreme, eyes sparkling, tongue dry, thirst constant and most distressing, appetite gone, tympanitis great, night sweats profuse, urgent tenesmus rectal and vesical. Several small calculi, (phosphatic) have passed within the last five days. He is in the last stage of hectic, but full of hope and courage.

The tenesmus was evidently due, in part at least, to pressure on the rectum and neck of the bladder from the immense tumefaction existing in the left (wounded) side of the pelvis, warranting the belief that inflammation and suppuration had extended into the pelvis in the course of the femoral vessels, and probably in the sheath of the psoas and iliacus internus muscles. This was a most discouraging feature in a case which appeared hopeless, even without this complication. The foot was everted; the knee-joint sound, but flexion prevented by excessive tumefaction of that whole limb, which on careful measurement was found to be shortened four and a half inches.

The most urgent symptoms, the double tenesmus, were relieved by enemata of warm water, frequently repeated, followed by a dose of castor oil, with eight drops of tinc. ferri chlorid, every six hours.

April 2. The tenesmus is entirely relieved and patient much the better for a quiet night's sleep. Assisted by Drs. Madison and Cole, I administered chloroform and made a thorough examination. Through the sinus open