Hardy, who succeeded Dr. Bazin in the Scabies wards of the same hospital, has, however, considerably curtailed this already short time; he cures his patients in two hours. The method is described as follows: Patients are no longer admitted into the house for the treatment of the itch, as two hours suffice to render contagion impossible and the recovery almost certain. The patient is put into a warm bath, and rubbed for an hour with yellow soap; he then passes into a clean bath, where he continues to cleanse his skin for another hour. After leaving this bath he is taken to a particular room fitted for the purpose, and, with the aid of one of his fellow-sufferers, he is rubbed all over for half an hour with the following ointment: Axunge eight parts, flour of sulphur two parts, carbonate of potash one part. After this friction, the patient is examined and sent away cured, though sometimes pretty numerous vesicles on the hand and elsewhere, remain unaltered. Dr. Hardy states that out of one hundred cases he has hardly had two or three relapses. The number of itch patients had considerably diminished, as none are now turned away for want of room; and the disease has thus spread with much less rapidity.-London Lancet. Rules for Bleeding in Pneumonia. The following judicious remarks by Dr. Bennett, are perfectly in accordance with our own experience: "If we are called to a case at a very early period, before exudation is poured out, and before dullness as its physical sign is characterized, but when, notwithstanding, there have been rigors, embarrassment of respiration, more or less pain in the side, commencing crepitation, then bleeding will often cut the disease short. This state of matters is rarely seen in public hospitals. When, on the other hand, there is perfect dullness over the lung, increased vocal resonance, and rusty sputum, then exudation blocks up the air-cells, and can only be got rid of by that exudation being transformed into pus, and excreted by the natural passages. In such a case bleeding checks the vital powers necessary for these transformations, and, as a general rule, if the disease be not fatal, will delay the recovery. I believe this to be the cause of so much mortality from pneumonia in hospitals where bleeding is largely practiced, for, in general, individuals affected do not enter until the third or fourth day, when the lung is already hepatized.-Edinburgh Monthly Journal. CIRCULAR. RICHMOND, VA., 1852. To the Practitioners of Virginia and North Carolina. It is no doubt known to many that the undersigned were appointed a committee at the meeting of the American Medical Association which convened in Charleston in May 1851, to report on the epidemics of Virginia and North Carolina. It was intended that the report should be submitted to the association at its recent session in Richmond. This it was found impossible to do, inasmuch as the information sought by the committee was not furnished by those who had been addressed upon the subject. Several of the committees appointed for other states also failed to report, and from a cause similar to that which produced our own failure. The chairmen of several of these committees being present, they assembled to consider the subject in all its bearings, and after much reflection they agreed to recommend to the association to continue the committees already appointed, and to extend their time of service to the period of five years. It was thought best to urge this recommendation, from the fact that no epidemic might occur during this or the succeeding year; yet within the next five years it was scarcely to be expected that so long a time would elapse without ample materials being collected. Besides, this arrangement does not prevent any committee from sending in a report whenever they may be prepared so to do. The association approved of the plan proposed. We again appeal to the physicians of the two states for which we have been appointed the committee. We pray them to keep a record of such epidemics as may occur within their sphere of observation. If a report can be made out for the present year it will be done; but if we fail to collect the desired information for the meeting of the association in 1853, we shall still hope to present something worthy of its acceptance at some future time. Gentlemen who may feel disposed to assist us in this important work, and who reside in North Carolina, will direct their communications to Dr. Johnson B. Jones of Chapel Hill. They who reside west of the Blue Ridge in this state, will communicate with Dr. James L. Cabell of the University of Virginia; while all east of the mountain will address Dr. Ro. W. Haxall of this city. To render the information to be received as uniform as may be, we append the propositions formerly published: State: 1. The topography of the region of country in which you reside. 2. The geological features of the same. 3. The mean monthly temperature, and other climatic characteristics. 4. The epidemics of this or succeeding years. In connection with each epidemic-state: (a.) The period of the year when the earliest cases appeared, and the length of time the epidemic continued. (b.) If confined to any particular section of the district in which you practise, state its topographical peculiarities. (c.) The trades and occupations of individuals attacked, their habitual exposure to weather, the use of ardent spirits, diet, &c. &c. (d.) The symptoms of the several stages of the disease. (e.) Post mortem appearances. (f.) The practice pursued. (g.) The rate of mortality. It is desirable that all communications relating to epidemics of this year may be sent to the several members of the committee by the first day of January 1853. WE take this occasion to inform our friends and the public that we have, at great expense and much labor, laid in the fullest supply of materials for executing all kinds of PRINTING AND BOOK BINDING promptly, and on reasonable and satisfactory terms. The new "Code of Virginia," "Stethoscope," and the "Mineral Springs of Virginia," by W. Burke, M. D., present a fair specimen of the typographical capacity of our office, and we are prepared to execute all kinds of work in the same style. JOB PRINTING Of every description neatly executed, in VARIOUS COLORS, (Gold, Bronze, &c.) BLANKS For Lawyers, Clerks of Courts, Sheriffs and Constables, printed to order. BLANK BOOKS For Merchants, Clerks of Courts, &c. made to order, and ruled to any pattern. Old Books re-bound. PRINTING INK. News, Book and Job Ink of different colors and the finest quality, always kept on hand. Address tf RITCHIES & DUNNAVANT, ADIE & GRAY, APOTHECARIES AND DRUGGISTS, RICHMOND, VA., (SUCCESSORS TO ALEXANDER DUVAL,) Dealers in all kinds of Medicinal Preparations, English, French, German and American Chemicals of the most approved makers. Also, the well known Pharmaceutical Preparations of Herring & Brothers of London, Howard & Kent, Morson and others. Surgical and Dentists' Instruments, Paints, Oils, Dyes, Window Glass, Perfumery, Brushes, &c., &c. Physicians and others may rest assured that their orders will meet with prompt attention and be supplied with articles of unquestionable quality. ROBERT M'NAMEE, MAKER OF SURGICAL & DENTAL STRUMENT MAIN STREET, opposite American Hotel, tf Asks the attention of Physicians and Dentists to his stock, which will be found to comprise all kinds of Dental and Surgical Instruments, Trusses, Cutlery, &c. He likewise makes to order and repairs all descriptions of Instruments. Thankful for the liberal patronage he has already received, he trusts to be able to merit a continuance of it, by increased business facilities, and a determination to give entire satisfaction to his patrons. if PURE Much of the Chloroform of commerce being very impure, and its use having in some cases been attended with unpleasant consequences, we have been repeatedly urged to make some at our Laboratory of a quality superior to that generally for sale in this market. We would, therefore, inform the Medical Profession, that we have prepared an article the purity of which can be implicitly relied on. NITRATE OF SILVER. Can also be obtained from us perfectly PURE, either in sticks or crystals, manufactured at our Laboratory. MORPHINE. Our Morphine having acquired a reputation superior to any other, those who have occasion to use the article will be satisfied of its excellence by giving it a trial. WE ALSO PREPARE THE SYRUP OF IODIDE OF IRON, Now so highly esteemed as a remedy in Scrofulous Complaints. These articles (which it is of the greatest consequence to Physicians to have of reliable quality) are, with our other Preparations, offered to the notice of those desiring PURE DRUGS, CHEMICALS AND SUPERIOR EXTRACTS, BY PHILIP SCHIEFFELIN, HAINES & Co. Druggists & Manufacturing Chemists, tf. New York. 139 MAIN STREET, RICHMOND, VA. Deal extensively in BOOKS, STATIONERY, AND PIANO FORTES. In the department of MEDICAL LITERATURE, they devote particular attention in keeping up a full supply of the Standard Works, as well as the late publications, and offer them for sale as low as they can be had in any regular estab lishment in the United States. They furnish all the Medical Periodicals. English, French and German Books imported to order, with care and despatch. PURCELL, LADD & CO. Wholesale and Retail DRUGGISTS. No. 92, corner of Main and 14th Streets, RICHMOND, VA. KEEP CONSTANTLY ON HAND A LARGE AND GENERAL ASSORTMENT OF FRESH AND RELIABLE DRUGS, MEDICINES; French, English, German & American Chemicals; Surgical Instruments, Physicians' Saddle Bags; PAINTERS' COLORS, OILS, DYE-STUFFS, WINDOW GLASS, ETC. We are careful in the selection of articles, and endeavor to offer none but those of reliable quality and known purity. Particular attention is given to the preparation and procuring of ALL NEW PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS and CHEMICALS, which are added as they are introduced so as to render our stock at all times complete and desirable. Our facilities enable us to offer to purchasers such inducements as will give satisfaction. Orders promptly and carefully attended to. tf |