transient and partial. In proportion as the ganglionic system of nerves is excited, the voluntary nerves and muscles are disqualified for action. These nerves of the ganglionic system convey the vital power from the nervous centres to those organs which continue their action independent of the will, as the nerves of the heart. In a state of health, pleasurable sensations are diffused over the body, as well as to the mind by the presence of food in the stomach, without any conscious sensations being produced by it." (On morbid sensibility of the stomach, etc.)

The practical bearing of these facts is highly important particularly in all the forms of chronic diseases in which there is a failure of function in some of the vital organs, and a call for the aid of stimulants in keeping up their action.

It has recently again been proposed to treat tubercular consumption with stimulants alone, on the ground that alcohol possesses the power of arresting the progress of degeneration of tissues. We have already seen that it possesses this power, but for reasons, some of which have already appeared, its beneficial influence is chiefly confined to cases of brief duration. We here find another reason for the final disappointment of those who for a time think themselves stronger and more comfortable under the use of large potations of brandy. They cannot be long kept up without deranging the digestive powers, though some constitutions will bear up longer than others. The mucous membrance of the stomach becomes morbidly sensitive, irritable and partially inflamed; the gastric juice is then secreted in a perverted state; it possesses imperfect solvent powers; it becomes at the same time highly irritating, and the peristaltic movements of the stomach are deranged also. Food then taken into the stomach, instead of being digested, undergoes the acetous or lactic fermentation. When different kinds of wines are tried in these cases, the effect varies in degree, but they all contain free acid in some quantity; and, unfortunately, they are quite frequently adulterated. Most of the wines sold contain large quantities of undecomposed fermenting matter, which is

edily excited to action by the warmth of the stomach; y run rapidly into a state of acidity in which irritating es are formed. "There may be often found a much larger ntity of acid than the taste indicates, concealed by molasor perhaps sugar of lead. Instead of tartaric there may malic acid, the consequences of which to the digestion are ll-known to the eaters of rhubarb tarts, and the drinkers of rd cider." (Batilliat, p. 142.) "There may be alum, copper, on, nickel, and even arsenic accidentally added to inferior Fine, and nobody knows what else for purposes of fraud. Brit. and For. Med. Chir. Rev., 1858, p. 246.)

When brandy or other distilled spirits are habitually used or a certain period, the derangement of digestion is still more serious than that caused by the worst of wines.

The effect of alchohol on the mucous coat of the stomach, says Dr. Budd, "depends greatly on the degree of its dilution. Cirrhosis or 'gin-drinker's liver' is generally caused by drinking distilled spirits, which injure the stomach more than fermented liquors do, even when the former are diluted to the same degree of strength." In all cases in which the mucous surface of the stomach is already inflamed, or when the passage of the blood is obstructed in the liver, (in which case there is always a congested state of the blood-vessels of the stomach predisposing to inflammation or haemorrhage,) the influence of alcohol in every shape is pernicious and destructive. In hot climates a very small quantity of fermented liquor of any kind often effects incalculable mischief. (On Diseases of the Stomach, London, 1856, p. 71.)

(To be continued.)

STOMATITIS MATERNA.

BY R. LUDLAM, M. D., CHICAGO, ILL.

(Concluded from page 201.)

2. Of the General Symptoms.-These are for the most part such as imply a debility which is more or less extreme. The more prominent of this order of constitutional phenomena is the anomia. In well-marked examples this symptom is seldom wanting. The patient wears a hue of the complexion which is less waxy and clear than in chlorosis, and with more of the sallow and cadaverous shade in it, than is common to almost any other among ordinary diseases. To one familiar with this tint, there is something peculiar, and which he will recognize at first sight.

The causes of the depraved condition of the blood, which is responsible for this, as well as the remaining constitutional symptoms, have been already enumerated, and it is therefore unnecessary to repeat them in this connection. Excepting the ancemia, it is sufficient to refer the general phenomena of the nursing sore-mouth to the effect of local irritation and suffering, superadded to a cachexia which borders upon the scrofulous, and of which certain morbid symptoms are the most natural fruits. Such physiological perversions of function and of structure are found, however, to be more readily analyzed than ameliorated, and we accordingly pass to the more important divisions of our subject.

IV. DIAGNOSIS-The peculiar circumstances in which the patient is found-enciente, or in one or another of the stages of recovery from confinement; with the characteristic local symptoms afore-named, will leave but little room for doubt in the diagnosis of the malady.

V. PROGNOSIS.-As the result of a somewhat extended experience in the practice of the Medical Profession, as well as

of a wide correspondence with the Fraternity, your Committee cannot conclude this to be a fatal malady, under homœopathic treatment. Not one of the brethren appealed to has reported a single death from this disease-always excepting, however, their previous experience as Old-School Physicians. Many of them, as is doubtless true of a majority of the members of the Institute, have succeeded in curing cases which have been abandoned by physicians of a different persuasion, and which if left to themselves or to the influence of mistaken advisers, would certainly have succumbed.

In brief, your Committee cannot agree with the sentiment of the following extract, from a report upon this disease, which was presented to the Illinois Medical Society (Allopathic) two years since. The writer, says, that "on the score of its fatality, this disease clearly has claims equal to any known to the profession in the Western part of the United States."

measures.

In respect of its fatality, our experience may have been as peculiar, as it has been satisfactory in its results to the patient; but, omitting the details, it certainly establishes the fact of the curability of the Stomatitis Materna by homœopathic We can conceive of examples in which, by reason of their chronic and inveterate nature, or of a complication of its phenomena with the toxical effects of drugs upon a previously depraved condition of system, the prognosis might be unfavorable; but it is morally certain that, under this new and more successful method of treatment, such a decision is rarely called for in any other class of cases.

We apprehend, however, that in many examples of this disease where physicians have been led to pronounce a genyun avorable prognosis, it has happened that they have confounded the symptoms present with those which characterize the aphthae of advanced phthisis.

The idiopathic sore-mouth of nursing women is not, therefore, a necessarily mortal affection.

VI. TREATMENT.-This is of three kinds-Constitutional, cal, nd Dietetic.

1. Of the Constitutional treatment. This division of the subject is based upon a proper selection of the true homœopathic similar, which is appropriate to the relief of the more prominent and characteristic symptoms to be met with in each individual case. There are various remedies which have been recommended as entitled to the rank of specific, by those in whose hands they have been most successfully employed. We shall name these in the order of their importance, pausing only to specify a few of their peculiar pathogenetic features, and confirming their value as best we may by clinical evidences and indications of a practical nature. The first in order is the

Arsenicum album.-The Arsenicum appears in general to be best suited to those examples of the Stomatitis which are to be met with in malarious districts. A majority of these cases are supposed to result from the combined influence of the miasm and of Quinine or other drugs, which are calculated greatly to disorder the healthy nutritive processes of the economy.

Dr. Wm. B. Murch, of Macon City, Mo., after many years experience, considers it a leading indication for this remedy in the nursing of sore-mouth; when this disease occurs in families residing in a malarious district, where the water which is drunk is more or less stagnant, and impregnated with the epidemic causes which are common to such an atmosphere. These cases are marked by a depraved condition of system which is analogous to Typhus, and it is to their relief that Arsenicum appears peculiarly adapted.

Dr. M. views this agent as being still the more strongly indicated in case the local eruption is vesicular in character. In debility, with considerable digestive disorder, he alternates the Arsenicum with small doses of Belloc's charcoal, and has never lost a case. He employs the former in a low attenu

ation.

Dr. D. T. Brown, of Milwaukie, recommends the Ars. in cases marked by a very considerable dryness and inflammation of the buccal mucous surfaces. Occasionally, where the