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subjected to so rigid a discipline as is generally adopted in our public schools, but should be instructed after an easy, pleasant and amusing method (for otherwise it may have a reflex action on the brain). There is too much cramming in the present system; if the brain is not ready to receive, it is useless, and to a certain degree even criminal, to resort to compulsion.

As regards ventilation it is very imperfect, so much so that, owing to the overcrowding of some of the rooms, the oxygen (which is the element in the atmosphere absolutely necessary to life) contained therein becomes speedily used up, and its place is taken by carbonic acid gas (which is a product of the waste of the body, and is exhaled through the lungs). This consumption of oxygen and surcharging with carbonic acid produces a vitiated atmosphere, which will poison the system in direct proportion to the state of vitiation and the amount inhaled. Hence so many diseases of the nervous system. The rapid and frightful increase of insanity is greatly attributed to over taxation of the nerves, and can in many instances be traced back to early childhood, as is the opinion of some of the most prominent physicians and writers on nervous diseases in Europe, such as Dr. Vaillant, professor at l'Academie de France, Paris; Dr. Erb, professor at the Leipzig University; Dr. Hasse, director of the insane asylum in Koenigslutter (who, by the by, treated seven pupils in one day suffering from nervous prostration due to mental exertion); Dr. Zinn, from Eberswalde, who presided at the last meeting of the Association of Physicians of German Insane Asylums, held in Eisenach the other day, and others. All agree that a great change in the educational system is necessary, and will have to be insisted upon.

New York, October 1, 1880.

GEORGE VAILLANT, M. D., Ph. D.

ECLECTIC MEDICAL COLLEGE, OF NEW YORK.

Session 1880-1 has the largest number of students ever in attendance before. The college, in every respect, is in a healthy and successful condition.

Dr. A. Burt, of Ashland, Penn., has received much benefit from the use of one of our old and well tried remedies-the lycopus virgiana-in Bright's disease.

We publish one of a series of lectures in this number, by Prof. Osmond, of the State College of Pennsylvania. It is full of interest and instruction for the intelligent reader. The science of physics covers a wide field for investigation and study, and is now receiving more attention than formerly in the schools and colleges of the country. This subject will be continued in future numbers. As the professor is at this time one of the most popular teachers in this country upon this subject, the readers cannot fail to be interested and instructed.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.

The American Pharmaceutical Association, at its meeting at Saratoga, September 15, elected the following officers: PresidentJames T. Shinn, of Philadelphia. Vice-Presidents-George H. Shaffer, of Iowa; William F. Thompson, of Washington; William Simpson, of Raleigh, N. C. Treasurer-Charles A. Tuffts, Dover, N. H. Secretary-J. M. Maisch, Philadelphia. Reporter on Pharmacy C. Lewis Deihl, Louisville, Ky. The executive committee reported, among other things, that the number of members at the opening of this session was 1,152-a net increase of 46 since the report of last year. Louis Lehn, of New York, chairman of the committee on the drug market, made a report stating the fluctuations in the prices of leading articles during the past year, also mentioning the new articles and remedies which had been introduced, or whose use had been revived.

The Eclectic Medical Society, of New York, held the annual meeting at Albany, on the 13th and 14th of October, 1880. The meeting was well attended; its proceedings were harmonious, and much business was transacted. This meeting gave evidence of a disposition to redeem itself from the impending danger of dissolution. Bulldozing promised no more for the State than it did for the National. We have been a member of both societies from their beginning, and we have observed that in both, the persons who have done so much to destroy them, and whose real usefulness has never been of value to the society or the profession, may now

begin to realize the dangers of a continuation of their injustice, and illiberal and bulldozing work; while such may rejoice at having driven a large number of the old members of both societies into opposing ones. We cannot indorse their action, and hope they may see their error in time to counteract the injury they have done. Nothing will save our Eclectic medical societies from the hands of these vandals but a united co-operation of the good men in the societies. The necessities of the case is now determining whether a reorganization must take place or not, which may even result in

a new one.

DR. TANNER'S FAST.

At noon, on Saturday, Dr. Tanner successfully completed his fast. In America, of course, he is, no doubt, a hero for accomplishing a big thing in fasting, but on this side of the Atlantic there are very few people found to defend his disgusting folly. From a medical point of view, there is nothing to be gained by the experiment. But the experiment is said to have a theological rather than a medical end. The period of forty days is chosen not with reference to any particular anatomical or physiological fact or theory, but merely as a supposed parallel to the forty days' fasting of our Lord, and as an argument that in this no miracle was involved. If this be really Dr. Tanner's purpose, there is a degree of buffoonish impiety added to his silliness, which make it too wicked for a smile, too foolish for a tear." To have commenced such a fast and to have persisted in continuing it, constituted a sufficient qualification for a madhouse. To have survived it, only entitled the abstainer to a place in Barnum's museum.-The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser, Ireland.

Dr. Tanner has at length completed his task and solved the problem of sustaining life without ordinary food for forty days; but it seems that, so far as any real scientific results are concerned, the experiment was a failure. If the experiment had been conducted on real scientific principles, science might have reaped some advantage; but it is conceded by all competent observers, that the conduct of the examination was defective, and not in accordance with a true scientific method; that it was too partial

cases.

and superficial to meet the requirements of medical science in such The inspection should have taken a much wider range: and, instead of being confined to the respiration, circulation, temperature, weight, the quality of fluids taken, etc., there should have been a careful analysis of all the fluids taken into the stomach, and also the air inhaled by the lungs while in the hall, an analysis of the secretions, capillary as well as other. Microscopic and spectroscopic inspections should have been kept up daily; and, until the faster is subjected to all these tests, science will derive no advantage. A real fast should exclude everything but air and all external appliances in the form of baths, except water to cleanse the skin and keep open the pores of the body. It is proposed to have a trial by some other person, conducted by competent chemists, microscopists and physicians, who shall be allowed to pursue their work without any outside influences, that it may not partake of the nature of a public exhibition.-From the New York Correspondent of the Cincinnati Christian Advocate, August 28, 1880.

TREATMENT OF HEMORRHOIDS BY HYPODERMIC INJECTION OF

CARBOLIC ACID.

Dr. Andrews' conclusions from 3,300 cases treated in this way,

are:

1. Inject only internal piles.

2. Use diluted forms of the remedy at first, and stronger ones only when these fail.

3. Treat one pile at a time, and allow from four to ten days between the operations.

4. Inject from one to six drops, having smeared the membranes with cosmoline to guard against dripping. Inject very slowly, and keep the needle in place a few moments to allow the fluid to become fixed in the tissues.

5. Confine the patient to bed the first day, and also subsequently, if any severe symptoms appear. Prohibit any but very moderate exercise during the treatment.

With these precautions, he thinks the operation will be of permanent value. The operation is performed in the following way:

The pile is exposed to view, and the anus smeared with an ointment, to prevent smarting in case the fluid should chance to drop. The operator then takes a sharp pointed hypodermic syringe, charged with the carbolized liquid (which has been used in varying strength, from one part of the crystallized acid to thirty of olive oil, or glycerine up to equal parts), and slowly throws a few drops into one of the piles. The needle is left in the puncture a few moments, to prevent the fluid from running out, and to allow it to become fixed in the tissue. The pile turns white, and, in the most successful cases, withers away without pain, suppuration, or sloughing.

Only one pile is treated at a time, and about a week is allowed between the sessions. Most of the cases thus operated upon suffer a sharp, temporary smarting, and a few have a terrible and prolonged agony. The majority are cured, however, without interrupting the patient's business.-Chicago Medical Journal.

MAPLE SUGAR IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES.

Dr. H. Brubaker reports in the Clinical Record a case of diabetes mellitus in a patient aged 70. The patient had been suffering for several years, and was much emaciated. He had a fondness for maple sugar, and was finally told to eat it ad libitum, no restrictions being placed on this diet. From this time the From this time the sugar in his urine began to grow less, and finally entirely disappeared, as did the other diabetic symptoms. The patient died, however, from other causes.-Druggists' Circular.

CHIAN TURPENTINE.

We published last month, among our selections, an article extolling the virtues of chian turpentine in uterine cancer. We published the article merely for what it was worth, and did not propose to be regarded as vouching for its statements at all-none of which, indeed, we believe. Chian turpentine, although not botanically related, is probably a first cousin to the notorious condurango. It is a resinous exudation from the pistacia terebinthus, a tree growing in the south of Europe, the Greek Archipelago, Beluchistan,

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