Ꭱ

Cadmii Sulphat. gr. j. Muc. Gum Acacia, Tinct. Opii, aa. f3ij. M. A few drops of this mixture are put into the eye by means of a camel's hair pencil twice or thrice daily, and the patient is directed to keep his eyes closed for ten minutes after each application of the remedy to prevent its being washed out with the tears. Although in this affection many opthalmologists use the tincture of opium alone, and therefore, would ascribe the good effect of the mixture to the opium contained in it, nevertheless experience has proven that tincture of opium alone does not cure such cases. Dr. A. therefore asserts positively that, in his opinion, sulphate of cadmium is a better remedy than opium, and that to it are due the good results which followed the use of the above mixture.

GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS.

Drs. Sayrer and Mackey, two Italian physicians, have been experimenting with gelsemium and write: "For several years this remedy has been used in America in the treatment of

different forms of neuralgia and other nervous affections, the tincture being the form usually employed, in the dose of five to twenty drops. Dr. Ligg was the first to recommend its use in nervous toothache, and we have employed it with great success in all affections of the teeth, which were not complicated with inflammation of the gum or periosteum. We prescribe fifteen or twenty drops every six hours, and after the second or third dose the pain is gone. The remedy is especially valuable in allaying the irritability of the dental nerves in carious teeth and likewise in other forms of facial neuralgia. Some of the most obstinate cases of neuralgia and toothache which resisted all other medicinal agents, were cured rapidly by gelsemium. In large doses gelsemium causes poisonous symptoms, as disturbance of vision, diplopia, headache, and paralysis. Very small doses must be given to children to avoid all danger."

INUNCTION OF CACAO BUTTER IN

SCARLET FEVER.

Dr. Bayles writes as follows in the Berl. Central Zeitung: “Inunction of lard in scarlet fever, first recommended by Dr. Schneemann, has for years in Germany been used successfully to diminish the heat of the surface and to hasten desquamation. Instead of lard I greatly prefer cacao butter, as

it is more cooling and refreshing to the patient, besides having a more agreeable odor. But aside from these properties I have found that it is readily absorbed by the skin and thus serves as a valuable nutritive agent. It is also more readily applied to the skin on account of its greater consistency than either lard or oils. If the fever is very high the inunction may be performed over parts of the body every hour, and occasionally the entire surface may be treated in this manner."

(As it has been proven that cacao butter is absorbed by the skin, and as it possesses nutritive properties besides its power of reducing the general temperature, and allaying pain and restlessness, it might be worth while to use these inunctions in inflammatory diseases, continued fevers, and especially in the profuse sweating of phthisis and rheumatism.)

TREATMENT OF ECLAMPSIA.

In the Berl. Beit. zur Geburtsk. und Gyancok., Dr. Jaquet recommends the following treatment for uræmic eclampsia and eclampsia from acute

anæmia of the brain, viz.: The patient must be completely enveloped in a large sheet dipped in water of 72° Fah., and well wrung out. Then cover the patient with a large woolen blanket, merely leaving the head uncovered, upon which an ice-bag is to be placed. If labor should be far advanced, the lower extremities must be wrapped up separately to avoid uncovering during the birth of the child. Ten minutes after the application of this envelopment the skin reddens, and in about an hour a free perspiration sets in, continuing as long as the sheet remains on. This treatment used during pregnancy is followed by no ill consequences, likewise, none need be feared after labor. After perspiration begins, the convulsions rapidly diminish, both in frequency and intensity, and the patient soon falls asleep. Chloroform, morphia, opium, or chloral hydrate may be used simultaneously. The patients never complain of a feeling of discomfort, even if the envelopments are continued for a longer time, nor was the life of the child ever endangered thereby.

IT

T is said that when a disease is once recognized, it is half cured. This is rather a consoling maxim, and it is almost the sole consolation left us when we survey the record of deaths among the children of this city during the hot season, just past,

We have compared the mortality statistics of Paris, London, Lyons, and Chicago in the appended table, for the month of July, since that is the month during which the fatality from cholera infantum is, with us, the greatest. We are unable to specify the precise percentage of deaths from

confess our weakness in this particular, it is certainly well to recognize it. The story told by the accompanying table bears its own moral, and sug

cumbent upon every medical man in

A CAST OF HIS

tions of lions. As the killing of one or two lions usually has the effect to frighten away all the rest from the vicinity, Dr. Livingstone determined to do the timid villagers a kindness, by heading with his men a grand lion hunt to destroy part of the beasts, and intimidate the remainder. this purpose, he and his men led the people out, and with them surrounded the lions on a wooded hill and began to contract the circle by marching the men towards the centre, but the villagers not being very courageous

For

gave way before the charges of some of the enclosed animals, broke the circle and allowed them to escape. Finding the hunt a failure all parties returned to the village, but Living stone and two of his men came upon one of the lions as they went, the result of which is described by himself as follows: (Travels and Researches in South Africa, p. 12.)

"Being about thirty yards off, I took good aim at his body, and fired both barrels into it. Turning to the people I said, 'Stop a little, till I load again.' When in the act of ramming down the bullets, I heard a shout. Starting and looking half around, I saw the lion just in the act of springing upon me. I was upon a little height. He caught my shoulder as he sprang and we both came to the ground below together. Growling horribly close to my ear, he shook me as a terrier dog does a rat. The The shock produced a stupor similar to that which seems to be felt by a mouse after the first shake of a cat. It caused a sort of dreaminess, in which there was no sense of pain or feeling of terror, though quite conscious of all that was happening. was like what patients partially under the influence of chloroform describe, who see all the operation, but feel not the knife. The shake annihilated fear and allowed no sense of horror in looking round at the beast. This peculiar state is probably produced in all animals killed by the carnivora, and, if so, is a merciful provision by our Creator for lessening the pain of death.

It

"Turning round to relieve myself of the weight, as he had one paw on my head, I saw his eyes directed to Mebalwe, who was trying to shoot him

|

at a distance of ten or fifteen yards. His gun missed fire. The lion immediately left me, and, attacking Mebalwe, bit his thigh. Another man, whose life I had saved before, attempted to spear the lion while he was biting Mebalwe. He left Mebalwe, and caught this man by the shoulder; but, at that moment, the bullets he had received took effect, and he fell down dead. The whole was the work of a few moments, and must have been his paroxysms of dying rage."

The lion in shaking Livingstone seized him by the left arm, fracturing the humerus just above the middle. The result was a non-union of the fracture, producing a false joint, and an overlapping of the fragments exceeding an inch in extent. The lower fragment was also rotated on its axis about ninety degrees from its natural position.

The cast shows that either from the injury to the nutrient artery, or else from diminished use of the limb, the shaft of the upper fragment became very much atrophied.

When Livingstone's body was received in London, some natural doubt was felt about its identity, but Sir Wm. Fergusson proved by examination of the fractured bone and false joint, that there could be no uncertainty in the case. The cast is now in the museum of the Chicago Medical College.

. The hunters of South Africa have observed that the bites of lions are very troublesome in their healing, and hence believe that the saliva of the animal is poisonous. Dr. Livingstone himself was half inclined to think that there was some truth in the idea, and thought that his own exemption

from virulent symptoms might perhaps be due to his having been bitten through his clothing.

Some professional men in Chicago have been partially impressed in the same way from the persistent inflammation observed in a patient in one of the hospitals, who was bitten in the hand by a lion in a menagerie some months ago, and is still far from

being cured.

I am not aware, however, of any actual, experimental proof of poisonous qualities in the leonine saliva, and the fact that the teeth of the animal make punctured and lacerated wounds, often penetrating joints and comminuting bones, is a sufficient mechanical reason why many of the wounds should do badly.

THE

HE President, Dr. Bartlett, occupied the chair. After the usual preliminaries Dr. D. A. K. Steele read a report of a case of pneumatic aspiration of the pericardial sac, which appears in full elsewhere in this number of the EXAMINER.

Dr. F. H. Davis next read several interesting reports of cases.

The President reported a case of cerebro-spinal meningitis which proved fatal, in which were numerous curious features simulating hydrophobia. The discussion of this subject, including rabies, was animated and exhaustive.

Dr. Hamill reported a case of abortion with retained placenta, in which he used full doses of ergot for twelve hours, without effect. He then

exhibited the fluid extract of actea racemosa, forty drops every two hours; the secundines were expelled in six hours; the medicine seemed to act on the body of the uterus, producing tonic contractions. He preferred it rather than ergot. He was called to the case two days after the abortion had taken place. Several members related cases much resembling the one given, with like experience, and expressed the opinion that the use of ergot in the third stage of parturition was, at least, very questionable and inexpedient.

Dr. Merriman was appointed by the President to prepare a paper to be read at the next meeting, upon the management of the third stage of labor.

The society then adjourned.