tion performed. At that time I had been studying up the subject somewhat, and among other works which I had read was Marsden's work upon the use of caustics in the treatment of cancer.

The same summer, while abroad, I visited the hospital in which Dr. Marsden had made his observations and applied his treatment, and saw the results of this treatmen.. I became so much interested in this plan of treatment and was so highly pleased with it, that, upon my return, I recommended to my patient to submit to the treatment by the use of caustic.. After some delays she consented. The form of cancer from which she was suffering was apparently of the most malig ant type, and at the time I commenced the treatment the mass was about two inches in diameter, which is the extreme limit in size permissible to be treated by this method. In the course of eighteen days after the first application was made, the mass came away, the process of cicatrization was completed in a short time, and there has not been the slightest appearance of return up to this time.

Another case to which I wish to make reference, was in a patient who had had two sisters die with cancer of the breast, but her father and mother were still living at the time she consulted me. Not the slightest suspicion of cancer could be traced in either member of the family One sister died some six or seven years ago from cancer of the breast. The other sister I was called to visit, and I found the axillary glands involved in the disease; there were evidences of what is known as the cancerous cachexia, and 1 called for council. Dr. Van Buren was called in consultation, but the case was regarded as utterly hopeless, and the patient died without an operation.

The third sister came under my observation for epithelioma of the uterus. That patient I operated upon in 1866, removing the cervix uteri by amputation. It is now seven years since the operation was performed, and she remains in the most perfect health.

About five years ago a lady consulted me with regard to a suspicious-looking tumor in her right breast. She was under my observation for about two years, and received treatment, but I never was of the opinion that the growth was malignant. At the end of two years it entirely disappeared. In February, 1873, that patient came back to me with a tumor in her left breast, which I regarded as true cancer of the breast. The tumor had been observed for more than a year, and when I saw it, the nature of the case seemed clear and positive. Its removal was recommended. Consultation was held, to satisfy the patient with regard to its nanature, the propriety of its removal, and if decided to remove it, how it should be removed. It was decided to remove the tumor by Marsden's treatment, and the treatment was accordingly commenced upon the first day of April. The amount of pain which the patient has suffered during the course of the treatment has been very insignificant indeed. She has been up most of the time, has

been able to be out riding some of the time, and it is now eighteen days since the first application, and the slough is just ready to come away. The treatment of this case thus far has been very pleasant. What the result of the case may be it is impossible at present to decide.

I will now describe the plan of treatment as given by Dr. Marsden-the plan which he professes to have derived great success from, not only in a very considerable number of cases of cancer of the breast, but in the treatment of cancer of various parts of the body, and even of cancer of the neck of the uterus.

This method of treatment is limited to cases in which the surface of the tumor does not extend over two inches. Care must be taken that the paste is of sufficient consistence so as not to flow beyond the point to which it is applied. The general formula for the preparation of the caustic is to combine arsenious acid and mucilage in such quantities as to make a thick paste, and the formula commonly employed for this purpose is

This paste is spread over the surface of the tumor, and two or three layers of lint spread over that. The lint absorbs all the surplus paste and protects from farther cauterization. The first application is left on for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, according to the extent of surface, and then removed by gently soaking it with warm water After the old paste has been removed in this way, one judges from the impression made with regard to a farther application of the canstic. These applications are to be continued until a line of demarcation entirely surrounding the deceased structure is shown. Then the lint is soaked and removed, and a breadand-water poultice applied, and changed every few hours. At first there is sometimes considerable inflammatory action set up, but the amount of pain, is very inconsiderable as compared with the use of the knife, and the process of cicatrization is equally painless and satisfactory.

The con

The shock to the system, as a rule, is very much less. stitutional effect of the arsenic in this case was very slight, lasting only a few hours, and then passed away. Inde d, the moderate constitutional effect of arsenic I have long believed to have a cer tain positiveness in the treatment of cancer, in that it retards the proliferation of cancerous tissue. I mention these cases with the hope that it may contribute something to our knowledge of means by which we may meet this most terrific disease.-Med. Record

Editorial.

The Publication of the State Medical Society Transactions.

At a recent meeting of the Medical Society of the County of New York, resolutions were adopted relative to the publication of the Transactions of the State Society. The Society pledged itself to pay its proportion of the expense of the publication providing the Committee on publication should decide to publish them at the expense of the County Societies. We are glad to see that the action of this Society is being endorsed by other Societies, and in this number publish the resolutions adopted at a recent meeting of the Monroe County Society.

Th refusal to publish the transactions of the State Society seems at first a little illiberal, but we think that good will grow out of it, and hope that steps will soon be taken to place the New York State Medical Society upon a basis entirely independent of State control. Now that the Society is alone responsible for the publication of its transactions the members will doubtless take increased pride in making them a model publication. We hope that the Erie County Society will see fit to take some action in the matter.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE. The Intr ductory Lecture to the Regular Course at the Buffalo Medical College, will be given at the College, Wednesday evening, Nov. 5th, at 72 o'clock, by Prof. M. G. Potter. All physicians in the city and vicinity are invited to attend.

APPOINTMENT. Dr. Alfred T. Livingston, a graduate of the Buffalo Medical College of the class of 1873, and who has favored the Journal with a few contributions has been appointed one of the Assistant Physicians at the State Insane Asylum at Utica. We wish Dr. Livingston much pleasure in his new field of labor, and congratulate his associates upon securing so intelligent and agreeable a companion.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. At the annual meeting of the Chautauqua County Medical Society, the following officers were elected :

I resident, Dr. Ai Waterhouse, Jamestown. Vice President, Dr. S. M. Smith, Dunkirk. Sec'y and Treas'r, Dr T. Chas. Wilson, Portland.

The Seiri-Annual meeting will be held at Jamestown, on the second Tuesday of January, 1874.

NEW OPERATION FOR ANEURISM. Dr. R. J. Levis, of Philadelphia, recently performed at the Pennsylvania Hospita!, an operation for aneurism which is to say the least quite novel in character. He introduced through a fine needle canula several horse-hai's into the sac, with the idea that they would afford sufficient obstacle to the passage of blood to cause coagulation.

We shall look with interest for further reports from the case, and will keep our readers informed concerning it.

Books Reviewed

A Manual of Medical Jurisprudence. By Alfred Swaine Taylor, M. D., F. R. S. Second American Edition, edited by John J. Reese, M. D. With illustrations on wood. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1873. Buffalo: T. Butler & Son.

The favorable reception which has been accorded the former editions of Taylo 's Medical Jurisprudence, renders it unnecessary for us to give a critical review of its contents. The present edition is increased by about one hundred pages over the former, and several subjects are introduced not treated in that edition. Most of the notes of the former editors Dr Hartshorne and Mr. Penrose, have been retained, and are distinguished by the initials, H. and P.

The publication of a larger work by the same author entitled the "Principles and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence, has rendered a detailed statement of cases unnecessary in this work; th se are therefore omitted and room is given for a more complete consideration of the different subjects introduced.

Two very instructive chapters on evidence and the duties and responsibilities of medical witnesses have been placed at the commencement of the volume, these if studied by the profession and borne i mind when on the witness stand, would prevent many medical m n from making inexcusable blunders in their manner of giving testimony.

The volume seems to lack nothing as a Manual of Medical Jurisprudence, and it with its companion volumes on The Principles and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence, which are shortly to be published, should be in the library of every physician and practicing attorney. The work is illustrated by several engravings on wood, and the printing and binding are in every way well done.

Chemistry, Inorganic and Organic; with Experiments. By Chas. Loudon Bloxam, Prof of Chemistry in Kings College, London, etc. From the Second Revised English Edition. With Two Hundred and ninety-five Illustrations. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1873. Buffalo: T. Butler & Son.

It is now five years since the first edition of this work was published, during that time the atomic syst m has been so gene ally adopted that the author has felt compelled to introduce it into the present edition. This of course has necessitated a large amount of labor and given the author at the same time an opportunity in the general revision to make such additions to, and corrections of the former text as time and experience have shown to be necessary. The author has endeavored as far as possible to retain the old nomenclature as there is not a general agreement upon the subject; the experimental char

acter of the work has also been retained which will make it a favorite with those students who wish to observe for themselves. A copius index is a feature of the work, which will be received with general satisiaction. The illustrations are well made, and the general teachings of the work will be found to accord with the accepted views of the day.

Handbook of Physiology. By William Senhouse Kirkes, M. D. Edited by W. Morrant Baker, F. R. C. S. With Two Hundred and forty-eight illustrations. New American from the Eighth English Edition. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1873. Buffalo: T. Butler & Son.

Kirkes Handbook of Physiology has been long and favorably known by the profession, and the increased demand for the work has called for the publication of a new edition. The present one is but little more, however, than a reprint of the last, there being but little change in the text. The discussion of certain points now considered as settled is omitted, which has reduced the size of the book a few pages, less than a dozen. A few other changes have been made in the text and arrangement. In some points the author differs somewhat from the generally accepted views, but these perhaps have not been defini ely settled. The work still remains in all respects a complete handbook of physiology.

Report of Columbia Hospital for Women and Lying-in Asylum, Washington, D. C. By J. HARRY THOMPSON, A. M., M. D., Surgeon-in-Chief. Washington: Government Printing Office,

1873.

The Columbia Hospital for Women was established in 1866, and since that period has been in active operation. The volume under consideration is the first report of the institution, and reflects much credit upon the attending physician.

Art I., on Lacerated Perineum, is an account of thirty-four cases operated on by Dr. J. H. Thompson, These cases have been selected out of the fiftythree cases treated as comprising all the varieties and complications of this accident. The article is a good one, and shows much care in its preparation. It is followed by one on Vesico-Vaginai and Recto-Vaginal Fistula, which is an admirable paper on the subject. A paper on diseases and displacements of the uterus is one which will be read with as much interest and profit as any in the Report. A consideration of Pelvic Celulites and of Diseases of the Rectum concludes this part of the work, which is from the pen of Dr. Thompson, and is made up of several other very interesting papers, which space will not allow us to mention. The appendix is composed of Reports from the Dis