enemy, depends upon the enemy's relative force and strength of position. This is an important thought for those who talk and think vaguely on medical uncertainty. The only fault of the address is that it puts it forth too modestly, and claims too little for the real strength of its position.

Health and Mortality of Memphis.

A pamphlet by CHARLES T. QUINTARD, A. M., M. D., Professor of Physiology and Pathological Anatomy in the Memphis Medical College.

This report contains some useful hints and statistics. The population of the city is about 15,000, and the mortality for the year only about two per cent. There was scarcely any yellow fever. Some important statistics and remarks respecting the prevalence of consumption in warm climates, may be found in our selections.

Peninsular State Medical Society.

At the meeting held at Ann Arbor, the following resolution was passed. Resolved, That an assessment of one dollar be made upon each member of this Society, to defray the expenses involved in its operations.

Members who were not present at the meeting, are requested to send their assessment to the Treasurer, Prof. S. H. Douglass, Ann Arbor, by mail. E. ANDREWS, M. D., Secretary. H. TAYLOR, M. D., President.

Lawrence on the Eye.

This is a new edition, edited by Isaac Hays, M.D. It contains many improvements and additions over former issues, and at the same time an unnecessary increase of bulk has been avoided, by leaving out such general details respecting inflammation, etc., as are to be found in all our common text-books on surgery: Among the improvements are new methods of illuminating and examining the retina of the living eye, so as to diagnose its pathological conditions. The whole work contains nine hundred and fifty pages. It is already widely known from former editions, and is obtained by all who pretend to keep anywhere near up to the times in the complex surgery of the eye.

Published by Blanchard and Lea.

Prof. Dunglison's Charge to the Graduates of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

This address is marked by a high, liberal tone, and a beautiful and spirited style.

ART. 1.-Proceedings of the Peninsular State Medical Society, Continued from page 513.

Dr. Shank, of Lansing, gave an instructive case in which he had performed the operation of Paracentesis thoracis, and with entire success, notwithstanding the constitution of the patient was exhausted to such a degree as to promise but little for any kind of treatment.

Prof. Denton remarked, that he was much pleased to find that the operation which Dr. Shank had performed was coming more extensively into use. He believed that there were many cases like that related by Dr. S. in which life might just as well be saved as not, but in which the patients were suffered to die on account of the groundless fear which surgeons had of the operation. In cases where the effusion was purulent, he thought the evil of allowing air to enter the cavity was greatly exaggerated. Such effusions frequently ulcerated into the bronchial tubes, and were discharged by expectoration, a mode which necessarily admitted air to the pleural sack, and yet these cases frequently did well.

He deemed the operation to be one which ought to be more frequently resorted to.

Dr. J. Andrews, of Paw Paw, gave an account of a case of a large opening into the cavity of the chest caused by a gunshot wound, where there was a great destruction of the anterior wall. The patient survived, and after the immense suppuration necessarily consequent on the nature of such a blowing to pieces of the tissues, the wound healed. It opened several times afterwards, but finally closed permanently up, and the patient is now well.

Dr. E. Andrews then offered the following paper, which was read by its title, and a copy requested for the use of the Society:

Vital Capacity. By E. ANDREWS, M.D.

The following statistics respecting the amount of air inspired and expired in forced respiration, are offered to the Society, not from any supposition that they will lead to valuable results in the direction claimed by those who proposed this means of diagnosis; but because statistical observations of this and other kinds are always worth preserving in a permanent form, often being valuable as material for reasoning in quite different and unexpected channels.

It is well known that Mr. Hutchinson, of England, in a memoir before the Statistical Society of London, presented an account of an extensive series of experiments to show, that in health, there is a certain law regulating the amount of air which a person can draw into and expel from his lungs in forced respiration. It has also been claimed that a remarkable diminution of this vital capacity, as it is called, unless it can be accounted for by obvious causes, is a very early and alarming sign of approaching phthisis.

He stated that the variation of vital capacity was not in the ratio of the bulk nor weight, but of the height, about eight cubic inches being added to the capacity for every additional inch in height of the person between five and six feet. It is claimed that this law of increase is so regular that from the individual's height, it is possible to tell what his vital capacity ought to be; and that it is cause to suspect consumption if one falls short of the regular proportion, without some obvious cause of the deficiency.

I took with the spirometer the vital capacity of one hundred and nineteen persons, noting the age and height of each. They were nearly all males. Hutchinson's observations were made upon 1923 males. I have thrown my observations into a tabular form and added the column of Hutchinson's observations by way of comparison.

From this table, it may be seen, that the increase of vital capacity is much greater with the increase of height, according to my observations, than according to Hutchinson's, his increase being 8 cubic inches for every additional inch in height, and mine 13 cubic inches. The short persons upon whom I experimented, fell below the standard, which he establishes as the average for their height, and the tall ones went beyond it; while the average for persons between five and six feet in height, corresponds with his exactly.

The grand average of all the heights observed, compared with a corresponding average of all the 119 vital capacities correspond nearly with the capacity given for that height in his table. The average height of all the 119 persons tested by me, was 5 feet 8 inches; the average vital capacity was 240 cubic inches, while the capacity for that height in Hutchinson's tables, is 234 cubic inches; a difference of only six cubic inches. Qn the whole, taking a large number of persons together, I think their vital capacities will give averages remarkably corresponding with his tables; but if separate individuals be taken, a terrible discrepancy is found. Thus of the persons whom I observed between 5 ft. 4 in. and 5 ft. 5 in. in height, the greatest capacity was 250 cubic inches, and the least was 160, a difference of 90 cubic inches-yet the less capacious subject is in perfect health to this day. Of those between 5 ft. 5 in. and 5 ft. 6 in the greatest capacity was 250 cubic inches, and the least 180, being a difference of seventy. Between 5 ft. 6 in. and 5 ft. 7 in. the greatest capacity was 290 cubic inches, and the least one which was healthy, was 225 cubic inches, a difference of 65 cubic inches. Between 5 ft. 7 in. and 5 ft. 8 in. the greatest was 262 cubic inches, and the least 131,

a variation of 131 cubic inches. In the next inch the greatest capacity was 300 cubic inches, and the smallest healthy one was 180, a difference of 120 cubic inches. Between 5 ft. 9 in. and 5 ft. 10 in. the individual variation reached 110 cubic inches. In the succeeding inch, the greatest capacity reached the enormous measure of 350 cubic inches, and the smallest was only 170. Both persons were in perfect health apparently, and yet there was a difference of 180 cubic inches in their Onecapacity. Other departures from the standard were numerous. person six feet two inches in height, blew 340 cubic inches, and one person only six feet, expelled at one expiration, 360 cubic inches.

From these data, I am inclined to adopt the opinion of others who maintain that this instrument cannot be relied on for diagnosis except. where the previous vital capacity of the individual is known, so as to decide whether there is really a diminution going on. At the same time it must be confessed that diseases of the lungs exert a remarkable influence on the capacity. But few such fell in my way in circumstances to be conveniently experimented upon. One person having the asthma, could reach only 150 cubic inches, although he was five and ahalf feet high, and consequently should have expired 234 cubic inches. Another person who had some symptoms of consumption, blew but 180 cubic inches, although he was five feet eight inches in height. It is proper to state, however, that although nearly a year and a half has since elapsed, the unfavorable symptoms have not at all increased. Another man of the same height, and having also symptoms of consumption, blew but 178 inches, whereas from his stature, he ought if he were sound, to have expired about 236 inches. Only three females. were in the list, all of them vigorous and free from any consumptive appearance. The most note-worthy circumstance respecting them, was their small vital capacity, compared with males of the same height, a fact referred to in the books. The average height of these females was 5 ft. 4 inches, and their average capacity 144 cubic inches, whereas the average capacity of males of the same height is 193, a difference of 49 cubic inches.

Dr. Brodie presented a bill of $7,40, for printing circulars and for postage in calling the meetings of the Society. Dr. Brodie offered the following resolution which was adopted:

Resolved, That the account be paid by the Treasurer, and that the balance of the funds in the hands of the Treasurer, be paid over to the Proprietor of the Peninsular Journal of Medicine; also, that the proceedings of the Society be published in that Journal, and that the Editor be the Committee of Publication.