I have used a decoction of root and twigs with the same results from each, and gave 3 ss three times a day in rheumatism and various skin diseases, with satisfactory results. After taking two to three doses of the above remedy, the patient will complain of pains about the head, profuse perspiration, and a severe itching of the skin. The green plant (bruised) is used in Para for external application to sores of various descriptions, especially those of an indolent character. The name of mercurio vegetal is given to manacá on account of its employment in affections of the liver, and in other diseases in which mercury is indicated.-A. Eddmon, M. D., in New Preparations. TRAFFIC IN DEAD BODIES.-The Brooklyn Board of Health yesterday heard the report of Dr. Wyckoff, register of vital statistics, and Sidney Williams, counsel of the board, who were appointed to inquire into the case of Michael Sheehan, who I was admitted to the Raymond Street jail, on March 31, as a vagrant, and died on April 6. His body was removed to the morgue, and was thence taken, on April 7, to the Long Island College Hospital for dissection. Both these removals were made without permits from the board of health. Subsequently Sheehan's brother-in-law, Michael Casey, made inquiries about the body, and it was returned to the morgue. The facts in the case have been already printed in the Tribune. Keeper McGuire, of the morgue, delivers bodies which have remained unclaimed for twenty-four hours to the college authorities, under a mandamus of the supreme court. The committee recommends that this order be so modified that such removals shall not be made without the permit of the board of health, and says that "some of the irregular and unlawful practices" exemplified in the Sheehan case have existed hitherto. The committee claimed that the law had been violated by Mr. Foran, Thomas Campbell, Dr. Colton, Coroner Simms and Dr. Shepherd. Statements in regard to the matter were made by all the accused men. The investigation will be continued to-day.--Tribune, May 8, 1880. VERDICT AGAINST A RAILROAD.-The case of Dr. John R. Goble, of Madison, N. J., against the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, which has been before the United States Circuit Court for the past two weeks, was given to the jury May 1. Mr. Goble claimed $50,000 damages for injuries received. while riding on a train, in January, 1879. The jury, after an hour, rendered a verdict for $12,000 in favor of the plaintiff. THE FALSE DEGREE SYSTEM.-The correspondent of the Times, at Berlin, says: "Mr. White, the American minister, indignantly moved by the scornful references in German literature and on the German stage to American doctor degrees, has memorialized his government on the subject, pointing out the detriment accruing to the national name from the notorious and nefarious practice." A NEW ROAD TO THE SEASIDE.-J. Lenox Treadwell, John Rooney, P. D. Gibbs and others, are named as directors of the New York and Atlantic Coast Railroad. The capital is placed at $500,000. The road will be operated from Bay Ridge, Kings County, to the northerly end of Hicks Beach, Queens County, and through part of the Counties of Kings and Queens. THE LIBRARY AT PARIS is one of the finest in the world. It contains 86,774 volumes on Catholic theology, 44,692 volumes on the science of language, 289,402 volumes on law, 68,483 volumes on medicine, 441,836 volumes on French History, and 155,672 volumes of poetry. The works on natural science are not yet catalogued. During 1876, 45,330 French works and 4,565 foreign works were added to the library. SOCIETY MEETINGS. VERMONT STATE ECLECTIC MEDICAL SOCIETY. The Vermont State Eclectic Medical Society will hold its fifteenth annual meeting at the State House, Montpelier, Vt., May 26 and 27, 1880, at 10 o'clock a. m. An address will be delivered by W. F. Templeton, M. D., president of the society. Matters of interest to the profession will be presented for consideration, and members from other State societies are expected to be present and participate in the exercises. All members of the society are earnestly urged to be present. By order of the president. H. E. TEMPLETON, M. D., ILLINOIS STATE ECLECTIC MEDICAL SOCIETY, The twelfth annual meeting of the Illinois State Eclectic Medical Society will be held in the City of Springfield, Ill., June 2, commencing at 10 o'clock a. m., and continue two days. Eclectic physicians everywhere, especially those within the State, are cordially invited and earnestly requested to attend and participate in our deliberations. A great desire is felt for a more thorough organization of the Eclectic physicians of the State. We ask you to consult your interest, the interest of your patrons and the prosperity of the cause of Eclectic medicine, and trust you will attend, so that this meeting will be a grand success. The following essayists have been appointed to prepare papers for the next annual meeting of the society. Surgery.-W. W. Houser, M. D. Gynecology.-A. W. Foreman, M. D. Physiology and Hygiene.-W. D. Turner, M. D. The Nature and Consequence of Malarial Poisoning.—W. H. Davis, M. D. Zymotic Diseases.-H. Wohlgemuth, M. D. Mental Evolution.-Z. Waters, M. D. Pathology and Therapeutics of Puerperal Fever.-A. L. Clark, M. D. Puerperal Septicemia.-S. C. Hewet, M. D. Address of the President.-R. F. Bennett, M. D. Nervous Shock.-J. I. Doss, M. D. Membranous Dysmenorrhoea.-C. H. Doss, M. D. Diphtheria.-Geo. Kirkpatrick, M. D. Dressing Fractures of the Elbow.-Prof. Milton Jay. A. SIMMONS, M. D., Secretary, Girard, Ill. MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF HEALTH BILL, WHICH WAS KILLED A FEW WEEKS SINCE. Does this not argue the necessity of free medicine? IF THE PROFESSION CANNOT cure disease and the quacks cannot, why should not the people be cured by THOSE WHO CAN DO IT? When the doc tors say die, why should not the people obey orders? The people say, save us from the old school doctors, while the doctors say to the law makers, save us from those who can, after having pronounced the death sentence. MEDICAL BILL. The debate upon the medical bill in the senate was brief, but animated. One voice only was heard to speak in its favor, that of Senator Currier, of Essex, who moved the bill, heretofore published, as a substitute for the report against legislation to regulate the practice of medicine. Senator Currier's remarks were an honest review of the evils resulting from quackery, evils from which this bill would, in his opinion, bring relief. The best people in the State asked for legislation upon this subject, and their prayer should be heard. Senator Warren, chairman of the committee on public health, and among the members advising against legislation, said that he would have favored a bill to prevent a certain class of medical practitioners going about the country and proclaiming aloud what they can but do not cure, but there seemed to be no way of reaching this class. The petitioners had shown the committee no grievances except those of the doctors, while the remonstrants produced some scores of people who had been healed by the non professionals, after they had been given up to die by the regular practitioners. There were evils in the practice of medicine, but the remedy consisted rather in the exercise of greater care in issuing certificates by the medical societies than in placing such great restrictions as had been proposed around the practice of medicine. He feared that it would block the path of progress if stringent legislation was enacted. First class doctors did not want the legislation, but rather third and fourth rate practitioners. He hoped the bill would not be substituted for the report of the committee. To grant the prayer of the petitioners was to legislate against the constitutional rights of the people; against the fundamental principles of republican government. Senator French, of Essex, made a vigorous speech against the bill, claiming that every one had a right to practice medicine. He called attention to the intense jealousy between the various schools of physicians, and the outrageously inhuman etiquette on which some of these doctors pride themselves. He would not put in the hands of such men so great responsibilities and privileges as they claim at the hands of the legis lature. In these societies desiring this power are just as many igno rant, bad men and quacks as there are outside, and no such power should be given them. Senator Stone, of Essex, said the real motive of the medical gentlemen who were seeking legislation upon this subject was self protection, and not the protection of the public against malpractice. Of all the witnesses before the committee not one appeared to testify that he had been injured by the class of men known as quacks. He criticised the bill before the Senate sharply, characterizing it as a paregoric pill, which no doubt would soothe the medical gentlemen who asked for its passage, but it would amount to nothing as a law, for conviction under it would be almost impossible. Senator Taylor, of Suffolk, gave his personal experience with regular practitioners and those outside the medical schools, he having been given up by the former, and nearly cured of a very bad humor by one of the latter. The question was put upon the substitution of the bill, and it was rejected, Senators Currier, of Essex, and Crocker, of Suffolk, only voting in its favor. The adverse report of the committee was accepted. NEWS ITEMS. Mrs. Charles Drummer, of Hallowell, Maine, has given $250 for an annual free bed to the Maine General Hospital, at Portland. This is understood to be in addition to $4,000 paid some time since by the same generous woman for a permanent free bed. The Clinton Hall Association have purchased for a new Mercantile Library building the plot of ground on the southeast corner of Broadway and Thirty-seventh Street-price, $188,000. The structure itself, when completed, will cost near $200,000. The erection of the new edifice will commence in the spring.—A sword which once belonged to General Washington is owned by Dr. Spottswood, of Mobile. The sword was converted into a pruning knife by General Washington, who filed one edge of it into a saw. It was given to the grandfather of Dr. Spottswood, General Alexander Spottswood, of Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia, by General Washington himself, on the occasion of the visit made by General Spottswood to the father of his country at Mount Vernon, in 1798, one year before the death of General Washington.-Professor Samuel D. Gross, at the dinner given to him in Philadelphia, said: "After fifty years of earnest work, I find myself still in the harness; but although I have reached that age when most men, tired of the cares of life, seek repose in retirement, and abandon themselves to the study of religion, the claims of friendship, or the contempla |