Complete recovery took place in two or three weeks.-St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF GELSEMINUM.-Dr. E. A. Anderson, of North Carolina, experimented very extensively during the war with the Gelseminum, in his efforts to find some agent that would serve the purpose of quinine in intermittent and remittent fevers. He now uses this agent-the Gelseminum-almost exclusively in intermittents, especially in children, to whom it is especially adapted, from its absence of any of the unpleasant taste of quinine; he has seldom been disappointed in its effects. He employs the tincture (3iv. bruised root to Oi. alcohol) or the fluid extract of Tilden. Dose in the proportion of twenty drops to an adult.

It should, like quinine, be given before the expected paroxysmfour to six doses should be given before its onset is expected.

He says, 'I have found it a reliable agent in intermittent, remittent and typhoid fevers; acute and chronic rheumatism; in inflammations of the lungs, pleura, and pneumonia. I have, for several years, used it almost exclusively in pneumonia, in place of veratrum, and consider it the best agent in this disease. You can reduce the force and frequency of the circulation with it, as certainly as by venesection, digitalis, or veratrum, without the distressing effects of these agents, while, at the same time, it allays the morbid heat, restlessness, and irritating cough."-Journal Materia Medica.

OPOMORPHIA.--In a communication to the British Medical Journal, Dr. F M. Pierce says of this new medicinal agent, that it is obtained by subjecting morphia to the action of pure hydro-chloric acid, at a high temperature, for several hours. In composition opomorphia is morphia, minus one atom of water. In its clinical reaction, it is very different from morphia. It is, in some degree, soluble in cold, and much more in warm water. In powder, it is of a snow white color. Its watery solution is at first colorless, but it soon changes to a dark green, and, in a few weeks, to an almost black color. The nature of this decomposition is not certainly known; morphia, however, is not reproduced. The effect of the colored solution differs from the fresh preparation only in being a little weaker, and slightly more irritating to the skin.

The chief physiological effect of this drug is that of an emetic. So powerful is it in this direction that persons engaged in its manufacture, with all possible precautions against it, absorb sufficient through the skin and lungs to keep them nauseated nearly all of the time they are at work,

One-fifteenth of a grain is a sufficient dose for an adult. He has frequently given one-fortieth of a grain as an emetic to children; he administers it usually subcutaneously, inducing emetics in this way as promptly as when taken by the mouth.

As an emetic, he has used it in pneumonia; to relieve the throat of enudation in diptheria; in scarlatina, in poisoning, and in drunk

enness.

As an emetic, it is a depressent, but not to a dangerous extent; sometimes, after emesis, a little drowsiness is observed, but, with sufficiently small doses, this is never a formidable effect. The pulse, respiration, and temperature are not peculiarly effected; neither are the functions of the kidneys or bowels.

Opomorphia is peculiar in the suddenness of its vomiting, the usual premonitory phenomena being almost entirely wanting; generally, there is only one short vomit following a dose, although others may follow.

Dr. Pierce has used it in some cases of cholera, one of which he reports; he gives a dose sufficient for its emetic effect once in two or three days, and has had the pleasure of seeing several of his patients rapidly recover under its use.

But as an emetic, Opomorphia is pre-eminent in the smallness of dose required; the certainty and rapidity of its action; the unimportance of any baneful effect; and its non-irritating character.

It is at present very expensive, but in a short time its more extensive manufacture will doubtless reduce its price so that it may come into more general use.-Braithwaite.

PRESERVATION OF ANATOMICAL SPECIMENS.-Dr. Thos. Dwight, Jr., of Boston, at the last annual meeting of the Massachusetts Medical Society, read a paper detailing some experiments to effect the preservation of dissected anatomical specimens, so that they may retain their original properties indefinitely. Such a consummation he regarded as exceedingly desirable, as it would furnish not only the teacher of anatomy means whereby he could illustrate parts of his subject without actual dissections before his class, but it would provide the surgeon with means of refreshing his memory before an operation, such as neither plates nor dried preparations can give.

He first experimented with a mixture of carbolic acid and glycerine (1 to 5), thoroughly rubbing it into the specimen, (a dog's leg). This preserved the form and flexibility of the muscles perfectly, but they were of a dark color. To avoid the discoloration, retaining the preservative effect, he used various combinations of this mixture with alcohol, chloride of sodium, and nitrate of potash. It was found that great care is needed, when using the alcohol, to avoid getting so much as to harden the tissues and to prevent their flexibility; and with too little alcohol and omission of the carbolic acid, a dipocere was developed after a few weeks; this, however, he was able to check by bathing the part in alcohol.

His conclusion is, after many experiments, that for soft, muscular structures, the following mixture is superior to all others: To a mixture of 6 parts glycerine to 1 part alcohol, there is added in excess a mixture of chloride sodium 2 parts, and nitrate potassa 1. part.

This is thoroughly rubbed into the specimen, which is then rolled in a cloth wet with the mixture. In the course of a week or two the part is again rubbed with the preservative material. In a forearm dissected to show muscles, arteries, and nerves, preserved with this mixture, he says, "the color, though not red, is better than in in preceeding specimens, and in all other respects it is almost perfect."

For preserving specimens of bone and cartilage, with membranes and ligaments attached, and for hard tumors and the like, he prefers a mixture of glycerine 7 parts, alcohol 3 parts, and carbolic acid 3 parts. This he injects into the medullary cavity of bone and rubs thoroughly into the outer surface.

In preserving soft specimens, the blood must be entirely removed by soaking or injecting water through the vessels; when the latter is resorted to, a little carbolic acid added to the injection is beneficial.

Any drying subsequent to the preserving process is easily prevented by applying a little glycerine.

Book Notices.

The Pathology and Treatment of Venereal Diseases, including the results of recent investigations on the subject. By Freeman J. Bumstead, M.D., Professor of Venereal Diseases at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York; Surgeon Charity Hospital; late Surgeon to the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, etc., etc. Third edition, revised and enlarged, with illustrations. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea.

1870.

The previous editions of this work are already extensively and favorably known to the profession. In the present edition, the author has faithfully added everything of importance, both in regard to pathology and treatment, which had been developed since the issue of the second edition. For the general practitioner it is one of the very best works on venereal diseases with which we are acquainted. For sale by W. B. Keen & Cooke, Chicago.

A Treatise on Physiology and Hygiene for Educational Institutions and General Readers; fully illustrated. By Joseph C. Hutchinson, M.D., President of the New York Pathological Society, etc., etc. New York: Clark & Maynard, Publish1870. Pp. 270; price $1.60.

ers, 5 Barclay St.

This is a small volume, neatly published and very fairly illustrated with cuts.

It is too brief to contain more than a summary of the principal facts in physiology and hygiene; but the work of condensation has been performed by the author with a fair degree of skill and good judgment. We are sorry to see, in the two brief pages devoted to the subject of alcoholic drinks, a repetition of some mischievious popular fallacies. Otherwise we freely commend the book to public favor. For sale by S. C. Griggs & Co., Chicago.

The Transactions of the American Medical Association for 1870 -Vol. 4.

We have just received a copy of this elegantly published volume of 612 pages.

It contains the record of proceeding of the meeting in May last; the reports of the officers and standing committees; the address of the president; the numerous papers and reports read and discussed in the several sections; and the prize essay on the treatment of aneurism. Some of the papers are admirably illustrated by plates, and from a hasty glance at the contents of the volume, we are inclined to think that it is one of the most valuable of the series hitherto published by the association.

The present volume, and any of those named in the following list, may be obtained by remitting the price to Caspar Wister, Treasurer, 1303 Arch Street, Philadelphia:

The following volumes are for sale:

Proceedings of the Meeting of Organization, 50 cents.

(Vols. I., II., III., IV., VI., VII., and XX. are out of print.) Vols. V., VIII., IX., and XII., if taken collectively, $5 for the set. If singly, $2 apiece.

Vols. X., XI., XIII., and XIV., at $2; Vols. XV., XVI., XVII., XVIII., and XIX. at $3; Vol. XXI. at $5.

Volumes V., VIII., IX., XII., or XIV. will be furnished in exchange for any of the volumes out of print.

Photographic Review of Medicine and Surgery. A bi-monthly illustration of interesting cases, accompanied by notes. Edited by F. F. Maury, M.D., and L. A. Duhring, M.D. Published by J. P. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia.

We have received the first number of this new periodical, issued in October Its contents are: Multilocular Hydatid Tumor, by S. D. Gross, M.D.; Meningocele, by D. Hayes Agnew, M.D.; Horny Tumors, by Wm. H. Pancoast, M.D.; Keloid Tumor, by F. F. Maury, M.D. Each of these is accompanied by an admirable photographic view of the disease.

The subscription price is $6 per annum.

The enterprise should receive a liberal patronage from the profession.

A Sketch of the Early History of Practical Anatomy. By W. W. Keen, M.D., Lecturer on Anatomy and Operative Surgery, Philadelphia School of Anatomy; Lecturer on Pathological Anatomy in Jefferson Medical College.

This is a peculiarly happy, interesting and instructive pamphlet, presented in the form of an introductory address. The writer calls us back to the first efforts to advance the science of Anatomy, which was in the city of Alexandria, about 300 years before Christ, Egypt then being the medical centre for the whole world. All the great men of the world repaired to Egypt for instruction. Galen went from Rome to Egypt to see a human skeleton, the practise of burning the bodies at Rome prohibiting the study of practical anatomy on the human subject. With the fall of Alexandria, the science of Anatomy declined, and was not known for a period of twelve centuries, when it was again revived in Italy, at the city of Bologne.

Italy now became the centre of learning for the whole world, and at the famous University of Bologne, there were 10,000