now and then, he says, reveal cancer in a doubtful case, but negative microscopical evidence should never be trusted. The characters seen with the naked eye and the behavior of the growth should always be taken into account as well as its histology, and if the two conflict, the behavior is the more trustworthy. If the case is a doubtful one, behavior of the sus picious part under treatment is the best test. One or two applications of strong carbolic acid will improve the local con dition and the diseased part will cease to bleed on contact. If the disease is cancer, these applications will stimulate its growth, and the local changes will be more pronounced after such treatment.-Brit. Med. Jour. Electricity for Pain of Cancer.-At the New York Academy of Medicine, Dr. A. D. Rockwell said that the treatment of incurable cancer must be very incomplete without electricity. Some would remember a brief paper which he had recently read before the Society, describing a case in which strong currents through large electrodes alone had controlled the pain of cancer of the kidney. In this case it required more than 100 milliamperes, running up even to 175, to relieve the pain. Large clay electrodes were used. He thought the relief was chemical and mechanical, that the vaso-motor nerves were influenced, hastening circulation and thereby relief of pressure upon nerves sensation. of General Treatment of Cancer.-Before the same society Dr. A. H. Smith recommended the preparation composed of sweetalmond oil charged with ozone for overcoming the fetor of cancer; also cannabis indica for the relief of pain, which was free from most of the objections pertaining to opium. Dr. Collyer urged the total removal of the disease if possible, and the use of the knife for control of hemorrhage in uterine cancer under certain conditions. Chian turpentine was apt to be impure. The actual cautery would check hemorrhage and prolong life. The use of codeine he thought less likely to lead to a drug habit than that of morphine.-N. Y. Med. Rec. The Electrical Cure of Cancer.-Under this caption, in the Eclectic Magazine for May, 1892, is republished an excellent resumé of the literature of this subject, written by Mrs. Emily Faithful, and originally published in the Contemporary Review. The gifted authoress had submitted herself to the knife twice for epithelioma without permanent relief; and was advised to submit to treatment by the galvanic current, which she did, with the result that so far had" been absolutely satisfactory." She "naturally wanted every possible confirmation of the belief which had become" her sheet-anchor, and "found by diligent search that it existed embodied in works written by many hands in many countries and through many years, all maintaining that in certain diseases electricity did better work than any knife could do." The results of her search, collected for her own encouragement, she has therein given for that of others; and has presented the conclusions of specialists in a terse yet comprehensive summary, which will well repay perusal even by professional readers. GENERAL DEMOGRAPHY AND CLIMATOLOGY. Under Charge of P. C. REMONDINO, M. D., Member of the American Public Health Association, of the American Medical Association, of the State Board of Health of California, and of the Board of Health of the City of San Diego. Microbes on Post-cards.-The latest scare in microbes has been started by Professor Uffelman, of Rostock, who infected a letter with cholera bacilli and put it into a post-bag. When the letter was taken out, 234 hours later, the bacilli were still alive. Bacilli were also found living on post-cards twenty hours after infection. The micro-organisms were found to die rapidly when placed upon coins. A fly charged with cholera bacilli was afterward placed on some beef. A little later the meat was found to be swarming with bacteria. A finger was infected with cholera bacilli and dried. One hour later the finger was rubbed on some roast meat, and numerous bacilli developed subsequently. The moral of all these experiments is obvious.-Medical Record. Therapeutic Effects of Altitude.-Dr. de la Harpe divides. altitudes into three principal zones: (1) The sub-Alpine zone, between 700 and 1,300 metres; (2) the Alpine zone, up to 1,900 metres; and (3) the hyper-Alpine zone, above that height. The first of these is considered most suitable for invalids suffering from cardiac affections, atheromatous changes, those advanced in years, and excitable subjects, while a higher altitude gives excellent results in tuberculous, anæmic, and neurasthenic With regard to the properties of the mountain air, the chief factors of the climate mentioned are: (1) The lowering of the temperature, at the rate of 1° for every 170 metres in the cases. Alps; (2) the energy of insolation; (3) the dryness, and (4) the purity of the air; (5) diminished atmospheric pressure. Those unaccustomed to the climate of these altitudes must become acclimatized; the process takes some days, perhaps a week, during which the appetite increases, thirst is intense, respiration more frequent, the number of cardiac pulsations augmented, and the blood-pressure diminished. The quantity of air inspired increases, as also the amount of carbonic acid expired Insomnia is at times very troublesome. Frequent palpitations and dyspnoea occur, especially in cardiac, anæmic, and fatty subjects. Once acclimatization is complete the sleep becomes natural, palpitations cease, respiration and pulse fall to normal, but the quantity of inspired air is slightly increased, while the blood is found to contain more corpuscles. This diminished atmospheric pressure exerts an influence on the circulation, accelerating it and raising the blood-pressure and tension of the pulse; the blood-vessels are fuller and nutrition is improved, thus affording excellent conditions for the treatment of anæmia and feeble cardiac innervation. The action of the dry and pure (free from microbes) air makes itself especially felt in certain pathological conditions; for example, the pus of suppurating, tuberculoue, or pleural cavities undergoes diminution, the favorable process of sclerosis of the tissues surrounding the cavities is accelerated, and the cold of high altitudes rendered more supportable.-British Medical Journal. Diet in Gout.-The gouty diathesis and gout are not sufficiently studied, at least not their complete etiology. With the advent of piperazine and other active uric acid solvents many have imagined that they were masters of the situation—but such is not the case; the great diversity of constitutional habits and of diatheses are always stubborn impediments to the application of any too general, too widespread, or too diffused theories or practices when dealing with the gouty. We have long been a Brunonian disciple in the particular instance of the etiology of gout, that is, we are convinced as to the correctness of the views, that in many instances, gout is purely the result of an asthenic condition and that when such is the case we must resort to precisely such methods as are pointed out by Granville. Some years ago we horrified a brother practitioner by putting a gouty patient-it was her first attack-upon porterhouse steaks, oysters and champagne. The case did well and made a rapid recovery. It is now seven years since the attack, and by carefully guarding against any breakdown, depletion, or any debilitating conditions there has been no recurrence of the difficulty. We have for many years followed up this system, where the history of the case pointed to asthenia, and have always been pleased with the results. As observed by Dr. Adolf Strumpell in the Berliner Klinische Wochenschrift, "The present epoch in medicine is with justice characterized as the etiological. It is now universally recognized that the determination of the causes of disease is the first essential step, not only for its treatment, but what is of more importance, for its prevention." It is in this respect that modern medicine is reviving the views of Hippocrates and of Galen, and it is on these lines that we must journey if we aim to be conscientious as well as successful physicians. Whilst we are fully alive to the views on diet and its effect on diseases held by Haig, and have more than once had to battle against a uric acidemia afflicted constitution, when all the mischief was unmistakably due to a too generous diet, we must not overlook that there are cases at the other end of the line which come to grief from entirely opposite causes. Many cases do well on a fare of a dried fig or two and a glass of water per day, but others may require turtle soup, truffled grouse and champagne. MATERIA MEDICA AND MEDICAL CHEMISTRY. Under the Charge of A. L. LENGFELD, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica and Medical Chemistry, University of California DAVID M. FLETCHER, Ph. G. A Germicide.-The investigations of Drs. Abbott and McCormick, of the Johns-Hopkins University, show that a solution containing 7 per cent of acetic acid is more effective as a germicide than bichloride of mercury. The Taste of Turpentine is said to be thoroughly disguised in the following combination: Oil of turpentine. Glycerin... Mucilage acacia... Peppermint water, to make. 2 fl. drs. 1 fl. oz .4 fl. drs. 8 fl. oz. -Pharmaceutical Era. For Colds in the Head.-An excellent combination is said to consist of a snuff containing 2 grains of cocaine bydrochloride, 4 grains of menthol, 30 grains boric acid and 8 grains of finely powdered coffee. This is to be taken in pinches five or six times a day. Phar. Era. To Deodorize Iodoform, Creasote and Guaiacol.-The odor of iodoform, creasote, or guaiacol upon the hands can be overcome by washing with linseed meal. Articles having an odor of iodoform may be washed in tar-water to which oil of wintergreen has been added. The taste of pills of creasote can be distinguished by means of a little powdered coffee. The odor of iodoform or guaical in rooms can be dissipated by burning coffee.-Deutsche Medizinal Zeit.; Monatsh. f. prakt. Dermatol. Shampoo. A good shampoo, for removing dandruff, etc., from the scalp, may be prepared by dissolving borax in water, with or without the addition of a little carbonate of ammonium. Very generally carbonate of potassium is used by barbers. The proportion of these salts is about oz. to the pint. A stimulating effect may at the same time be produced by the addition of some alcohol or bay rum. We think the following a very good Salumin, Gallal and Tannal are the names given to aluminium salicylate, aluminium gallate and aluminium tannate respectively. They are recommended as astringents for use in the nasal cavity. "Salumin is insoluble in water and alcohol but soluble in alkalies. It forms a neutral double salt with ammonia which is very soluble in water and glycerin, and is permanent in solution, though for some as yet unexplained reason is unstable in the dry form, losing ammonia and being converted into an insoluble form. The solution of the freshly made double salt in water or glycerin is termed "saluminium soluble." It is said to be especially valuable as a topical application in dry inflammatory affections of the nose or throat. Tannal is also insoluble and is even insoluble in ammonia. A soluble form is made by combination with tartaric acid. Gallal is also insolu |