influence of constitutional causes, and remains obstinately unhealed a ter all constitutional symptoms have been arrested, and, for some time past, no other portions of lung have shown a tendency to yield, then I think it is quite safe to secure localized rest for the disintegrated portion, so as to give it a fairer chance for healing; while an amount of air and exercise may be allowed to the patient, for the purpose of improvi: g his reparative powers, which could not have been permitted while the damaged lung was exposed to the same amount of action as the sound parts. But even here the utmost caution is required not to carry the exercise beyond a very limited amount.

"4. If the constitutional tendency to lung-disease-the abnormal physiological state-is strong, and signs of impending mischief in the lungs are scattered, no localized rest should be attempted, but every means should be brought to bear upon the important object of maintaing respiration at its lowest point consistent with life and nutrition, until the constitutional tendency has become passive and the local symptoms have been removed.

"In conclusion, to prevent misapprehension on so vital a point, let me remind my readers that, in urging the importance of rest in consumption, I am referring to cases where the lungs are already damaged, or in which the constitutional disease has declared itself in sufficient force to render tuberculization imminent. If the symptoms are only what are commonly called premonitory, that is, if they are those of commencing tuberculosis, and no reason or sign is discoverable which justifies the suspicion that tuberculization has commenced; if a sufficiency of fat remains without ca ling upon the albumenoid tissues, the principles of treatment are quite opposite to those detailed."-Medical Record.

-:0:

Editorial.

Twenty-Eighth Annual Commencement of the Buffalo
Medical College.

The twenty-eighth annual commencement exercise of the Buffalo Medical College was held at St James Hall Tuesday evening Feb 24th, at which time the degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon thirty-six graduates. After music by Poppenberg's orchestra, the exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. D. R. Fraser. Dr. Miner, Dean of the Faculty, then read the following list of graduates upon whom the Council, upon recommendation of the Faculty and Curators, had voted to confer the Degree of Doctor of Medicine: John R. Selover, Bath, N. Y.; Edward Nathaniel Brush, Buffalo, N. Y.; Edward Mott Moore, Jr., A. B., Rochester, N. Y.; William Ellsworth Fitzgibbons, Hornellsville, N. Y.; Bernard Bartow, Buffalo, N. Y.; John

Andrew Pettit, Buffalo, N. Y.; Jacob Depew Terwilliger, High Falls, N. Y.; John Preston Frink, Buffalo, N. Y.; George Matthew Blake, Dansville, N. Y.; Elroy Sabin Wet, Buffalo, N. Y.; George Morrison Gillett, Cuba, N. Y.; William Judson Howe, Buffalo, N. Y.; William Davis Whitney, Youngsville, Pa.; John Wockener, Bennington, N. Y.; Theophilus Henry Boysen, Buffalo, N. Y.; Thomas Lawrence Barry, Buffalo, N. Y.; Robert Porter Bush, Penn Yan, N. Y.; Paul Alexander Quick, Sugar Run, Pa.; James Warren Graham, Hubbard, Ohio; Darius Gilead Pickett, Stockton, N. Y John M. Folte, Wayland, N. Y.; John C. Lewis, Dewittville. N. Y.; John Adelbert Love, Stockton, N. Y.; William Chancellor Roney, Wrighꞌ, N. Y. David Benjamin Horton, Wolcott. N. Y.; Henry Martin Bishop, Edwards burgh, Mich.; Daniel Curtis, St. Thomas, Ont.; James Monr e Callender, Scranton, Pa.; George Washington Pearson, Nippinose, Pa.; Clinton Allen Sage, Pekin, N. Y.; Frank D. Parker, Akron, N. Y.; Thomas F. Major, Hornellsville, N. Y.; Ransom Terry, Ischua, N. Y.; Marcenos Henry Cole, Pittsford, N. Y.; Adin Pattin Waid, Centreville, Pa.; Robert H. Hewes, Western, N. Y.

He also announced that the Faculty and Curators deem a thesis upon Syphilitic Affections of the Nervous System," by Edward N. Brush, and one entitled, "To what are the Changes in the Color of the Blood due?" By Edward Mott Moore, Jr., worthy of honorable mention and recommend the same for publication; also a thesis by Bernard Bartow upon Aneurism, worthy of honorable mention. After music by the orchestra, the Diplomas were delivered to the class by Prof. James P White, President, pro tem, of the Council; this was followed by music after which Mr. Joseph Warren was introduced to the audience and delivered the address to the graduating classThe address was listened to with marked attention and frequently called forth hearty applause. Want of space forbids our publishing it in this issue of the JOURNAL, it will however appear in the March number. Music and the benediction by Rev. Mr. Witherspoon closed the exercises.

Buffalo City Dispensary.

We are gratified to see that the old Buffalo City Dispensary is again in active operation. This institution has been more truly humane in its scope and influence than any other with which we are acquainted in the city. The poor not under the care of the poor department, bave, through its provisions, been able, when sick, to obtain satisfactory medical advice, and carefully prepared, pure medicine.

When the new "Free Dispensary," so called, entered the field as a sort of tival for dispensing charity,t he long established and most humanely conducted Buffalo City Dispensary for a time closed its doors, hoping, as we suppose,

there would be no further need of its benefits. Time seems to prove that its field of usefulness was in no way lessened and its board of officers have again opened its doors to the destitute sick,

The following medical and surgical staff was appointed for the ensuing year : J. F. Miner, M. D., Consulting Surgeon.

PHYSICIANS.-Wm. Ring, M. D., J. B. Samo, M. D., M. G. Potter, M. D., J. Hauenstein, M. D., L. Krombein, M. D.

APOTHECARIES.-W. H. Peabody, C. M. Lyman and J. P. Deihl.
OFFICERS.--F. P. Wood, Esq., President.

Geo. A. Moore, Esq., Vice-President.

S. N. Callender, Esq., Treasurer.

Isaac D. White, Secretary.

DEFECTIVE DRAINAGE.-At the last meeting of the State Medical Society the Committee on Hygiene presented an interesting report which provoked an instructive discussion, confined chiefly to the subject of defective drainage. A full report of the discussion and of the report of the committee is contained in the Sanitarian for March, and will amply repay a careful study. The report is accompanied by maps of a portion of New York, and of Brooklyn and Kings County. The subject of drainage is one of vast importance, and the neglect of proper attention thereto will be followed by an increased amount of sickness and death. We shall in our next present our readers with a valuable paper on The Diffusion of Typhoid Fever by Means of Drinking Water, from the pen of Prof. Austin Flint, which will contain some valuable remarks upon this subject.

-:0:

STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY.-The Annual Meeting of the State Medical Society was largely attended and was full of interest. The Society voted to try the experiment of publishing its own transactions, in which determination we hope it will be encouraged by the county societies. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year.

President, Dr. Geo. J. Fisher, Sing Sing.

Vice President, Dr. Harvey Jewett, Canandaigua.

Secretary, Dr Wm. H. Bailey, Albany.

Treasurer, Dr. Charles H. Porter, Albany.

-:0:——

NEW JOURNAL.-The Vermont Medical Journal, edited and published by J. M. Currier, M. D., Burlington, Vt., is a new candidate for professional support. We wish it success.

Books Reviewed.

A Hand Book of the Theory and Practice of Medicine. By Frederick T. Roberts, M. B., B. Sc., M.R.C.P. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1874.

Dr. Roberts has succeeded admirabl. in the work which he has undertaken. His book is not intended as a treaties upon the principles and practice of medicine, but rather as a text-book which shall present in a condensed and at the same time useful form the salient points upon the subject. The arrangement of the work is excellent, and the several subjects are treated in an intelligent manner. The author has departed from the plan usual y pursued by writers upon medicine. 1st Before describing the individual diseases of the several organs, an outline has been given of the clinical phenomena whieh indicate a morbid condition of each, and the modes of examination employed in their investigation, while the principal symptoms are considered in detail. 2d. An endeavor has also been made to generalize the remarks upon diagnosis, prognosis and treatment as for as practicable The plan is somewhat novel, but we think will meet with general approbation. In the treatment of the varıous subjects, the author has at times omitted to mention several points of more or less importance, but these omissions, although detracting somewhat from the value of the work, are to be excused when we take into consideration the object of the author and the gener 1 excellence of his work. A copious index adds to the value of the book, which will be found upon study, to be a valuable addition to the list of Hand-Books for students, and which will also be of no little advantage and instruction to the practitioner.

:0:

On The Cerebral Convolutions of Man, Represented according to Observations, especially upon their Development in the Fœtus. By Alexander Ecker, Prof. etc. Translated by Robert T. Edes, M. D. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1873. Buffalo: Martin Taylor.

Dr. Ecker has in this monograph given the results of a vast amount of laborious research and study. It has been his object to place in the hands of physicians, a guide whereby they may be directed in their study of the Human Cerebral Convolutions: This is a work which has been attempted in a measure by others, but in most instances with but little satisfaction; how well the present writer has succeeded, careful study can only disclose. From a hurried reading we are inclined to think that he has made a valuable addition to the works on the anatomy of the brain.

A Treatise on the Diseases of The Eye. By J. Soelberg Wells, F. R. C. S., etc. Second American, from the Third English Edition. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1874. Buffalo: T. Butler & Son.

The work of Mr Wells is so well known that it is unnecessary for us to give an extended notice of it at this time. The present edition embraces several additions to the former and will be found to be fully up to the present standard of ophthalmological science. The work has passed through the press under the supervision of Dr. J. Minnis Hays, who has made a few additions upon points which have escaped the notice of the author. As a complete treatise upon Diseases of the Ee, the work of Mr. Wells has no superior in the English language, and we bid a hearty welcome to the second edition of a work which has deservedly gained the admiration and favor of all students of Ophthalmology.

:0:

Lacerations of the Female Perineum and Vesico- Vaginal Fistula: Their History and Treatment. By D. Hayes Agnew, M. D., etc., with numerous illustrations. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1873. Buffalo: Theo. Butler & Son.

These papers have already been published, the first, in the Pennsylvania Hospital Reports, the second in the Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter. The History of Lacerated perineum is given to some extent, and the different methods which have been pursued to prevent the occurrence of the accident or to remedy it when it has taken place, are described in detail. The author prefers the metallic suture secured by perforated shot, to the quilled suture. He gives a description of his operation, and relates the history of several cases, The conclusions that he arrives at are,

1st. That laceration of the per neum and the recto-vaginal septum can be satisfactorily cured at a single operation.

2d. That by the peculiar method of inserting the first suture (introduced three-fourths of an inch from the margin and below the lowest point of the wound, carried through the middle of the septum just above the line of denudation and carried through the corresponding part of the other side,) there is no necessity for a series of stitches to close the septum, independent of those used for the closure of the perineum.

3d. That the interrupted can be substituted for the quill suture. 4th. That the division of the sphincter is not necessary to a cure. 5th. That the superficial sutures may be dispensed with.

The article concludes with a resumé of the literature of the subject. The article upon Vesico-Vaginal Fistula is the most extended of the two, and is a very able review of the subject. As in the first paper the history of