Hairy Man.

The London Lancet of October, 25th gives the history and portrait of a Russian peasant and his son, Adrian and Fedor Jeftichjew, at that time on exhibition in Paris. We present below the picture of the father.

SCADDING TORONTO

The entire face is covered with long brown hair, which extends down the back for some distance. An examination does not reveal any unhealthy condition of the skin, there being no nævoid or other discoloration. The sou is only three years of age, and resembles his father in a marked degree, the hair, however, is lighter and thinner and the skin is therefore somewhat more perceptible. Both are nearly edentulous, the father having no teeth up to the age of seven

teen, and then only four in the lower, and one in the upper jaw. The son has four incisors in the lower jaw. These are not the only known specimens of hairy men, other instances being mention as occurring among the Russians and Burmese. In these instances aiso an edentulous condition was observed. The Hairy men of Japan are said not to resemble these, either in the absence of teeth or in the arrangement of hair.

These curious creatures excited considerable interest while in Berlin, and were there carefully examined by Prof. Virchow.

Whether they form a type of the connecting link between the present race of men and the previous lower order we cannot say, this and similar questions we leave for the consideration of Mr. Darwin. The picture reminds us forci.bly of a Scotch Terrier, with a boy's coat on.

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Books Reviewed.

A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Children. By J. Forsyth Meigs, M. D., and William Pepper, M. D. Fifth Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1874.

The treatise of Meigs and Pepper on Diseases of Children has enjoyed a large share of the favor of the profession. The fourth edition met with a favorable reception at the hands of medical practitioners and became a book of constant reference and study. Although only four years have elapsed

since its publication the call has been urgent for another edition. In the preparation of this volume the authors have taken pains to carefully revise the text of the former edition so as to make it conform with the views of the present day.

Among the articles in which the greatest changes will be noticed are those on diseases of the heart, progressive muscular sclerosis, or pseudo-hypertrophic muscular paralysis, the treatment of scarlet fever and measles, variola and vaccine disease. Chapters have also been added in pulmonary emphysema, pneumo-thorax, rétro-pharyngeal abscess, tonsillar affections, malarial fever and scrofula. The chapters of Nervous Disorders of Infancy and Childhood are well written and embrace the most important subjects under the head, we do not notice however any mention of the influence of a syphilitic diathesis, either inherited or acquired upon the nervous system.

The illustrative cases are printed in smaller type and the text condensed so that although a large amount of matter has been added, the present edition is increased only ninety pages in size over the former.

With the many additions, which have been made the treatise of Meigs and Pepper will rank as one of the most complete works upon the subject in the English language.

An Introduction to the Study of Clinical Medicine: Being a Guide to the investigation of Disease for the Use of Students. By Octavius Sturges, M. D., Cantab. Philadelphia: Henry C.

Lea, 1873. Buffalo: T. Butler & Son.

This little book is intended to be a guide to students in the study of medicine at the bedside. It teaches the student, who is supposed to know what he wishes to see, how to see it. The author encourages the student to trust to his own powers of observation and to cultivate them. As a guide to the proper study of clinical medicine we think it will be well received.

Clinical Researches in Electro-Surgery. By A. D. Rockwell, A. M. M. D., and George M. Beard, A. M. M. D. New York: Wm. Wood & Co., 1873. Buffalo: H. H. Otis.

This little essay is composed of reports of cases in practice in which electricity in some form was employed.

The authors are well known for their researches in electro-therapeutics, and the present contribution to surgical science will be read with interest by those who are desirous of investigating the practical benefits of electricity.

Much has yet to be observed in order to demonstrate the exact place which is to be allotted to electricity in our list of therapeutical applications. The

time has not yet arrived when we can explain its action in all cases in accordance with physiological laws, but careful and patient observation will do much to place it upon a firm basis. Undoubtedly much that is claimed for electricity at present will in time be found to be fallacious, but that its application in many instances is attended with benefit we can see no reason to doubt. Its surgical applications are limited to a certain extent, but there are many instances in which either the use of electrolysis or the galvano-cautery, would be of material aid to the surgeon.

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Books and Pamphlets Received.

A Treatise on Therapeutics, comprising Materia Medica and Toxicology, with especial reference to the application of the Physiological action of Drugs to Clinical Medicine. By H. C. Wood, Jr., M. D. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1874 Buffalo; Martin Taylor.

Galvano-Therapeutics. A revised Reprint of A Report made to the Illinois State Medical Society. Ey David Prince, M. D. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1873.

Annual Report of the Supervising Surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service of the U. S., for the fiscal year 1873. John M. Woodworth, M. D. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1873.

Lectures on the Clinical Uses of Electricity, delivered in University College Hospital. By J. Russell Reynolds, M. D., T. R. S. Philadelphia Lindsay & Blakiston, 1874.

The Physicians Dose and Symptom Book. By Jno. H. Wythes, A. M. M. D' Eleventh Edition. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1874.

Report of the Resident Physician of Brigham Hall, A Hospital for the Insane, for the year 1874.

Constitution and By-Laws of the Association of the Alumni of the Albany Medical College.

Medical and Pharmaceutical Notes. By Edward R. Squibb, M. D.

Contributions to the Study of Yellow Fever. By J. M. Toner, M. D., and John M. Woodworth, M. D.

ART. I.—The Treatment of Uterine Flexions.* By ELY VAN DE WARKER, M. D., Syracuse, N. Y.

The correction of a flexed womb by the introduction of a straight stem into its cavity is a most natural idea. Correct as it is in theory however, there has been that about it which has led to its abandonment by eminent men.

As I have before stated, the ill success of the older form of intra-uterine stem instruments exists in an error of construction. The stem was kept in situ by either a (1) fixed support external to the body, or (2) by a support from the vagina. The first of these methods violates a well known physiological law. This is the law of the normal mobility of the uterus. This change in the position of the organ is incident to changes of inclination of the body, to displacing forces exerted by the vesical or rectal contents, and to pressure from above, and expulsive efforts natural to the viscera of the pelvis. It is evident that in this first form of intra-uterine stem the uterus was changing, or endeavoring to change its position upon a rigid stem, which was exerting a dangerous degree of force upon the fundus, or creating great irritation of the latoral walls of the organ.

*Read before the Medical Association of Central New York, at Syracuse, Dec., 16th 1873. + New York Medical Journal, vol. xviii, p. 361.

The Physiological Changes in the Position of the Healthy Unimpregnated Uterus. By John Williams, M. D., M. K. C. P. London Lancet: 1873, p. 693. American Edition.

The form of stem retained in position by vaginal support is not so bad. A mistake has been made in this also. This lies in the very vague idea of how fixed a body in the grasp of the vagina may be. It has therefore been thought necessary to have a large pessary for the stem to rest upon, in order to counteract its tendency to expulsion. In one of the best forms, that of Graily Hewitt, he recommends numbers 2 and 3 of his rings, embracing in the series diameters of 24 to 4 inches. The numbers referred to would be 2 to 3 inches in diameter, bending the ring into an oval, and consequently greatly increasing one diameter.* This is altogether too large for the purpose named. I have retained a stem in position for months in a woman, the mother of eleven children, by a circular vaginal flange one fourth the size named by Dr. Hewitt. He allows the stem "to fit loosely in the collar below," so as to allow "sufficient motion in all directions." It is evident from this quotation, that "all directions do not include ascent or decent of the organ impaled upon the stem. Neither could these movements of the uterus occur with the smallest size vaginal attachment named by him. In other words, the constricting force of the vaginal muscles would so act upon a foreign body of the size given, that its position would be firmly fixed without any reference to the constant tendencies of the womb to ascend or descend in the pelvic cavity. If a woman was ever able to wear such an intra-uterine and vaginal appliance for a series of months-as is necessary in the treatment of flexions-it was simply a case of extraordinary endurance on the part of the patient, nothing more.

The idea of support from the vagina for the retention of an intra-uterine stem is as correct in theory as is that of intra-uterine means to restore a flexion. The error, as in the former case, lies in the manner in which the theory has been utilized. With the law of normal uterine movements clearly in view, the treatment of flexions with vaginal support is a practical and valuable measure.

My first effort to divise an instrument to correct uterine flexions, consisted of a modification of Dr. Hewitt's. I first reduced the diameter of the stem at least one-half. Thus reduced, its vaginal

* Hewitt, Disease of Women, 1st. Amer. Ed. pp. 46, 522.