the therapeutic directions are not always sufficiently definite and specific. Considerable attention is given to hydrotherapeutics, a subject about which but little is known in this country. Under the head of chronic primary myelitis, and in the chapter on posterior spinal sclerosis or locomotor ataxia, one of the best articles in the volume, -special directions are laid down in regard to hydro-therapeutic measures. A brief ex planation of the probable mode of action in methodical hydro-therapy is also ventured. Electricity receives full and fair attention, as might be expected from Rosenthal, one of the best known workers in electro therapeutics. Considering the price at which the series is offered to the profession, the make-up of the book is excellent. C. K. M. SYPHILIS OF THE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD. BY THOMAS STRETCH DOWSE, M.D. New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1879. In this book the author certainly does what he claims in his preface he has tried to do, present in a concise form the results of his personal investigations into the nature of the syphilitic lesions which affect the brain and nervous system. It is largely made up of the reports of original cases and autopsies. These are usually given with just sufficient fulness and exactness, the author having struck that golden mean which is so desirable between what Moxon has happily designated as the "intensive" and the "extensive" methods of recording medical observations. The two cases detailed-one from Dr. Barlow and one by the author-illustrating the existence of substantive changes in the brain and nervous system, the result of hereditary syphilis, are of extreme interest and importance. Reference is also made to observations on this subject by Graefe, Hughlings Jackson, and Heubner. In Dr. Barlow's case, evidences of syphilitic infiltration were abundant in both the nerves and vessels of the brain; in Dr. Dowse's case, three growths of like character were found, and these were shown by microscopical examination to be made up of the elements of a gumma without apparently having undergone any degeneration. Accumulating clinical experience has for some time been inclining us to the view that we may have from transmitted taint real syphilitic growths in the central nervous system. The short chapter on treatment is one of the most valuable portions of the book. Many useful remarks on treatment are also given in connection with his descriptions of cases under other headings. He teaches not to rely too exclusively on any routine plan of treatment. We are glad to hear him sounding anew the praises of such remedies as blue mass, gray powder, and Plummer's pill, which are too often discarded for more fashionable preparations and combinations. Of great practical value are his remarks, on pages 54 and 55, on syphilitic lardaceous changes, in which, at first, mercury (especially) and iodide of potassium are as hurtful to the individual as opium would be in the coma of uræmia. The chapters on syphilitic epilepsy and on pathology contain much both of actual and suggestive value. Primary idiopathic epilepsies are held to be more due to hereditary syphilis than to any other cause. The author states that both his knowledge and belief are in favor of the doctrine of cross-paralysis, although he details a few opposing cases. He evidently, however, cannot restrain an inclination to give the pioneers and advocates of localization an occasional dig. C. K. M. MANUAL OF THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF OPERATIVE SURGERY. SMITH, A.M., M.D., etc. ton, Osgood & Co., 1879. BY STEPHEN Boston, Hough12mo, pp. 689. This is one of the most satisfactory works on surgery, of its class, with which we have ever met. Compact to an extraordinary degree, and crowded with illustrations, it offers an enormous amount of information, of just that practical sort which is most frequently needed by the general practitioner of medicine, who needs a handy and trustworthy guide in the various operations which he may be called upon to perform at a moment's notice. The work, its author tells us, has grown out of the "Handbook of Surgical Operations," published by him during the late war, and which attained a very general popularity. Its plan leads him, first, to treat in a succinct manner of general principles. Then the various systems are taken up in order; the osseous, the muscular, the circulatory, the nervous, the tegumentary, each has its chapter, subdivided under the heads of injuries, diseases, and general operations. Subsequent chapters treat of the digestive, the respiratory, the urinary, and the generative organs, and a final chapter is devoted to the extremities, followed by a copious index. When we come to examine Dr. Smith's work in detail, we see that this same methodical plan of treating the subject is carried out in every respect. The illustrations with which the book is filled are, many of them, mere rough pen-and-ink sketches, but they are sufficient to illustrate the text and add greatly to the value of the work. We cannot commend the form of reference to authors which is employed; it is vexatious to be constantly referred to a profusion of proper names at the foot of each page, often when the remark quoted is quite commonplace. In a manual of this sort a general reference at the beginning or end to all the authorities made use of would seem to be sufficient. We would suggest to the publishers that a somewhat less soluble material be used in coloring the binding. It is annoying to find, after handling a book, one's hands stained of a lively magentared. THE STUDENT's Guide to THE DISEASES OF WOMEN. By ALFRED LEWIS GALABIN, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P., etc. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1879. 12mo, pp. 370. It is seldom our good fortune to read a new work which gives us so much genuine pleasure as the one before us. Though the book is a small one and the subject extensive, yet so admirable is the style of the writer, and so careful his selection of words, that each disease is thoroughly treated of. Dr. Galabin is best known to the profession in America as the able editor of the Obstetrical Journal of Great Britain and Ireland, and the favorable opinion already held of him in this country will, we think, be greatly increased by the pearance of this little volume. The author seems to possess the valuable faculty of grasping the essentials of his subject and expressing them clearly in a few words; at the same time he is accurate, comprehensive, and brief. In addition to the views generally entertained at the present time on uterine pathology, the author gives us the results of his own investigations, more particularly in the chapter which treats of cancer of the uterus. GLEANINGS FROM EXCHANGES. RETENTION OF URINE IN ELDERLY MEN. -Dr. S. W. Gouley (New York Med. Record, vol. xvi., No. 8, 1879), in a clinical lecture on this subject, speaks as follows: A safe rule for your guidance in the management of cases of acute retention of urine of forty-eight hours' duration, is never to draw off more than one-third of the contents of the bladder, and to do this very slowly, by half closing the distal end of the catheter, so that the urine will flow in a very small stream. Having collected half a pint, close the catheap-half-pint flow, and so on until the required ter for a quarter of an hour, then let another quantity has been obtained. In two hours repeat the catheterism if the first has been easy, otherwise the catheter should be closed, and left in for twenty-four hours,—and remove again the same quantity very gradually, and at the expiration of another period of two hours you may completely empty the bladder, always slowly; and in this way you will have taken the necessary precautions to avoid both cystorrhagia and polyuria. Every three hours after the last catheterism the urine should be drawn off until the patient can pass it spontaneously; if he cannot do so, of course the catheter will have to be resorted to at such intervals as may be found necessary. You will also have to treat the existing vesical inflammation and atony. For general medicaride of iron in five-minim doses three times daily, and also diluent drinks, such as thirty grains of citrate of soda or potash in half a glass of water three times daily, and in a few days, for a change, dog-grass tea, etc. Topically, lumps of ice the size of the last joint of the thumb should be introduced into the rectum in rapid succession as fast as they melt, for an hour, night and morning. A bag of ice may be afterwards applied alternately hour or more. to the perineum and hypogastrium for an Each time the bladder is We have none but words of praise for this new addition to medical literature in so far as the author's work is concerned, and recommend it highly to every practitioner as well as to every student of medicine. We regret to add that many of the engravings, though all are well selected and of very suitable size for the dimensions of the book, are very badly executed. E. R. EYEBALL TENSION: ITS EFFECTS ON SIGHT, This term, however, the author would consign to the same oblivion which has overtaken amaurosis, since the characteristic symp tom-increased tension is associated with widely-differing conditions. Regarding the essential nature of glaucoma, he has very carefully chosen a safe middle ground by placing himself on record as in favor of a " modified mechanical theory." Given an abnormally-rigid sclerotis and increased contents from "hypersecretion" or "obstruction to outlets," and we have glaucoma. tion I would recommend the tincture of chlo emptied by the catheter, a couple of ounces of cold borax solution, from five to ten grains to the ounce, should be thrown in and allowed to run out slowly, then two more, and two more ounces which should be left in and the catheter withdrawn ; this can be accomplished in five minutes. No preparation gives me more satisfaction than the borax solution for cleansing bladders which contain offensive purulent urine. It is as well to have in readiness a strong solution of borax in glycerin; one ounce of the biborate of soda will be readily dissolved by six ounces of glycerin, each drachm of such a solution being equal to ten grains of biborate. In a week or thereabouts, if the case should progress well, the irrigations may be diminished in number until only one is used each day. In some cases a mild faradic current is serviceable. Besides hemorrhage, polyuria, as I have already said, is very apt to follow the sudden evacuation of an overdistended bladder, and you will generally prevent its occurrence by observing the caution that has just been given. I know of a case of polyuria which followed the withdrawal of three pints of urine in the course of one hour, one pint at a time, the third pint completely emptying the bladder. The catheter was left in, and every hour for twenty-seven consecutive hours one pint of urine was drawn. After this the amount of urine gradually diminished, until only six | pints were removed each twenty-four hours. At the end of three months it was reduced to four pints daily. The case just cited is exceptional, for ordinarily it is safe to empty the bladder-slowly, of course-at one catheterism, when the patient is seen during the first twenty-four hours of an attack of acute retention. TRUE JAMES'S POWDER.-Dr. P. O'Connell, in an article on this medicine (Chicago Med. Four. and Exam., August, 1879), says that the pharmacopoeial preparation under this name is not the same and is not as effective as that made according to the old formula. The latter is as follows: Tartarized antimony, one part; prepared burnt hartshorn and calx of antimony, of each five parts; carefully mixed together, and divided into twenty onegrain powders. Dr. O'Connell has used this preparation as a febrifuge in the dose of twenty to thirty centigr. (3 to 4 grains) to adults every two, three, four, or six hours. In this dose it will produce, but more slowly, the same depression of temperature as one to two grammes of quinine once or twice a day. Being tasteless, it can be taken with or without sugar, by young or old, on the most delicate stomach. Its cost, too, is only about half that of quinine at present rates. It is diaphoretic, antiperiodic, and antipyretic. Its diaphoretic action is gentle and moderate. As an antiperiodic, in the intermittents of children, he finds it quite as prompt and as effectual as quinine. As an antipyretic, he notices a steady decrease in the temperature and in the pulse-rate as soon as its administration is commenced. It does not, any more than quinine, prevent an increase of temperature when a fresh focus of inflammation is lighted up, such as the implication of a fresh lobe of the lung during the progress of a case of pneumonia. It seems to exercise a specific effect in puerperal inflammations in particular, arresting the morbid action, whether it be a metritis, cellulitis, or peritonitis, causing a very speedy and complete resolution of the inflammation, with return of the lochia. It appears to exert a very marked beneficial action in pneumonitis also. CATARACT FOLLOWING TYPHOID FEVER.— As the etiology of cataract occurring in young adults is involved in considerable obscurity, | the following observation of M. Trélat may prove interesting. He operated successfully for double cataract on a robust peasant-girl, 25 years of age. The most careful examination revealed none of the causes which are usually considered as originators of this evil. The age of the patient could not account for it; there was no interference with general nutrition; the urine contained neither albumen nor sugar, nor an excess of phosphates. Four years previously a sister of the patient, then about 24 years of age, was treated by M. Trélat for the same affection, and a similar want of ascertainable cause led him to examine the two cases together for some common cause. It was then found that in both cases, about three months before the commencing dimness of sight was first noticed, there had been an attack of typhoid fever, and this, M. Trélat thinks, was the curious cause of the cataract, the changes in the lens being analogous to those induced in the muscular tissue.-New York Medical Fournal; from Gazette des Hôpitaux. CACTUS GRANDIFLORA FOR CARDIAC PALPITATIONS.-Dr. N. S. Davis, of Chicago, in a "Report on Drugs and Medicines to the Illinois State Medical Society," May, 1878, says: "The reading of a paragraph in some medical publication concerning the influence of the fluid extract of the cactus grandiflora, or night-blooming cereus, over cardiac palpitations led me to a clinical test of its medicinal virtues during the past year. The first case in which it was given was that of a female, aged about 28 years, whose nervous and digestive functions had been greatly impaired by the habitual use of morphine and alcoholic preparations. One of her most distressing symptoms while endeavoring to recover from the effects of her habit was cardiac palpitation, more especially during the early morning hours. From three to five minims of this fluid extract, given from four to six times in the twenty-four hours, afforded her great relief. Another patient was a man of good habits, but affected with chronic enlargement of the cervical glands, and apparently also of those along the bronchial tubes, and frequent paroxysms of suddenly-recurring palpitations, and with feelings of suffocation whenever attempting to take a recumbent position. been using the fluid extract of the cactus grandiflora about two weeks, with decided benefit in keeping the action of the heart more regular. It appears to exert a quieting influence over cardiac excitability, without any visible effect on the functions of the stomach or excretory organs. Although at present very expensive, it is certainly worthy of further investigation." He has ON NERVE-STRETCHING.-A case of convulsions of the face, which was cured by stretching the facial nerve, is related in No. 40 of the Berl. Klin. Woch., 1878, by Dr. Baum. The patient, a woman, aged 35, who right arm. The effect was striking; the patient, although apparently almost in articulo mortis, recovered entirely, only there resulted a slough at the point where the injection had been made. Dr. Hamilton also cites a case of carbolic poisoning, where an injection of ammonia appeared to save the patient's life. had previously had a few epileptiform attacks, A NEW PREPARATION OF QUININE SOLUBLE INJECTION OF AMMONIA INTO THE VEINS IN ALCOHOLIC AND NARCOTIC POISONING.Dr. Robert Hamilton, in a case of alcoholic poisoning, injected ten drops of strong liquor ammonia into the medio-cephalic vein of the SMALL ELASTIC BANDS AS SURGICAL APPLIANCES.-A convenient and inexpensive surgical appliance will be found in the small elastic (pure india-rubber) bands, sold mostly by booksellers and stationers. A band onesixteenth of an inch in thickness, three-fourths of an inch wide, and about three inches in length, doubled, stretched, and put about the wrist-joint, answers an admirable purpose as a tourniquet for amputation of any portion of the hand, especially where a small compress is placed under the band and over the radial artery at the wrist. A similar band could be used to good advantage in amputations of the foot, by placing it about the ankle-joint or just above it. In amputations of the fingers or toes, a much smaller band will answer every purpose, so far as a bloodless operation is concerned. This method of bloodless operation has been used in the amputation of a finger near the carpo-metacarpal joint, with the loss of scarcely a drop of blood.-British Medical Journal. PYROGALLIC ACID AS A HEMOSTATIC.— Prof. Huseman calls attention to the excellent results obtained by Dr. Vesey with pyrogallic acid, administered in the dose of three-fourths of a grain, at intervals of one or several hours, as a hæmostatic in cases of hemorrhages of the lungs and stomach, and suggests clinical experiments with it used externally as Vesey recommends it; the author considers it a probably reliable substitute for ergot.—Am. Jour. Pharmacy; from Pharm. Ztg. LOTION FOR ILL-CONDITIONED WOUNDS.Dr. Noël Guéneau de Mussy recommends the following lotion for rapidly expediting the healing of pale and ill-conditioned wounds: B Decoction of poppies, 400 parts; Alcohol, 40 parts; Salicylic acid, 2 parts by wt.-M. MISCELLANY. "How much of 'hope deferred,' says an English exchange, "is experienced by many doctors in the beginning of their career, before the guineas become plentiful, is little known by the public. It is said that the great surgeon Sir Astley Cooper, whose income eventually varied from fifteen to over twenty thousand pounds per annum, earned five guineas the first year, and in his fifth his fees only reached a hundred pounds. But the day came when patients waited for hours in his anterooms before they could obtain an interview with him, and even then, perhaps, were compelled to go away without a consultation.' ROBERT BRIDGES, M.D., has been honored by the title of Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, conferred upon him by the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, which has also with the title appropriated the annual donation of one thousand dollars, as a more substantial token of regard for past services, now that ill health has compelled him to relinquish the position he has filled so long and honorably. FOR GIVING ALCOHOL IN DISGUISE.R Syr. calcis lactophosph., 3ij; Spt. frumenti, viss; Glycerinæ, 3vj; Tr. cinchonæ comp., 3jss.-M. We are sorry to have to record the death, at his residence in Philadelphia, September 8, of Dr. Clement A. Finley, ex-Surgeon-General of the United States Army, in the eighty-second year of his age. NOTES AND QUERIES. A HOMOEOPATHIC DOSE IN CAMDEN COUNTY. ONE of the most important events in the management of public institutions that has occurred with us for many years has just happened in Camden County, New Jersey. The board of chosen freeholders of the county erected, recently, a county insane asylum, and appointed a committee to manage it. The committee, not being posted in medical matters, suddenly, without the co-operation of the regular medical profession, surprised everybody by the experiment of placing a homeopathic practitioner in charge. This, of course, isolated the institution from all the benefits of regular medical skill and from the great insane asylums in the United States. The experiment was a decided failure, and, after a trial of six months, the committee found it necessary to place a reg ular physician in charge. The homeopath, whose ability as a homeopath was claimed by the homoeopaths to be above the medium, stated to the board, in his own defence, that he had administered the homoeopathic treatment on the principle of "similia similibus curantur" to a patient suffering from epilepsy until the patient became so bad that he had fits at the rate of one thousand in six weeks, and that by resorting to regular doses of chloroform and applying ice to the spine the fits were stopped. Many other things proved that similia similibus curantur would not do; hence the change. It is becoming very popular to multiply asylums now, and establish county institutions all over the country. This is a great mistake, as smaller institutions are always more expensive than large ones, and less successful in management of cases, owing to limited numbers, and county commissioners are not apt to know how to officer such medical institutions on small salaries. The mistake in Camden County gave the regular profession much embarrassment; and it is very important for all County and State medical societies throughout the country to be on their guard, so as to appoint a committee from the medical society to co-operate with the county officers in such matters. There appears to be a greater proportion of homoeopaths in Camden County than in any other county that we know of anywhere; but there are also many other so-called " new schools," such as hydropathy, eclectic, clairvoyant, etc. All kinds of influences, including the lowest, were used with the committee to have a hon copath appointed to manage the asylum. The official report of the committee is worth reading. WARRINGTON, ENGLAND, 3d September, 1879. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL TIMES: SIR, By a paragraph in our Medical Journal of Saturday last, I learn that my medical brethren in America are making efforts to procure relief for the exhausted shopwomen, whose long hours in a standing position undeniably injure their natural health and strength. Relying upon the invariable courtesy of our profession, I venture to send you herewith a short prospectus of a cheap invention which I originated a few years ago, and which has met with much valuable commendation, both at home and abroad. I have not, and never had, any pecuniary interest in the contrivance, which I have designated a "stand-rest," but my idea has been most genpublisher and manufacturer of school-appliances, of Manerously carried out by Mr. John Heywood, the well-known chester. To him is also due the admirable contrivance for lowering or raising the upper part of the "stand-rest" so as to suit any stature. I believe that one of the main objections raised by shopkeepers to their assistants' sitting down behind the counter is that it leads customers to imagine that they are careless of their custom; but with the "stand-rest" it is not easy to detect that the position is not upright, as may be seen by the accompanying wood-cuts. The stand-rest" is in use by the lecturers in the Birmingham School of Medicine, than which it could not have a greater proof of usefulness. It appears to me that the upper part of the body will receive more direct and substantial support when applied to the back of the inflexible sacrum than to the trochanters, as in the completely seated posture. I use the "stand-rest" much myself, and can read or write with comfort at my desk for at least two hours at a time. I will conclude by saying that one of the "stand rests" has been for some years placed, for exhibition and trial, in the educational department of our South Kensington Museum. I am, sir, respectfully yours, JAMES KENDRICK, M.D. [The stand-rest spoken of above is, substantially, a threelegged stool, in which the top is placed, instead of horizontally, almost vertically, the incline being such that the board fits well to the buttocks in standing, and, no doubt, affords very material support.-ED. P. M. T.] OFFICIAL LIST OF CHANGES OF STATIONS AND DUTIES of OFFICERS OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT U.S. ARMY FROM SEPTEMBER 21 то осTOBER 4, 1879. CLEMENTS, B. A., MAJOR AND SURGEON.-Granted leave of absence for four months. S. O. 228, A. G. O., October 2, 1879. WEBSTER, W., MAJOR AND SURGEON. - Relieved from duty at Fort Warren, Mass., and assigned to duty at Fort Preble, Me., as Post-Surgeon. S. O. 167, Department of the East, September 22, 1879. FORWOOD, WM. H., MAJOR AND SURGEON.-The leave of absence granted him in S. O. 128, August 13, 1879, from Headquarters Department of the South, extended two months. SO 218, A. G. O., September 20, 1879. BROWN, H. E., CAPTAIN AND ASSISTANT-SURGEON.-Granted leave of absence for one month, with permission to leave the Department and apply for one month's extension. S. O. 205, Department of Texas, September 29, 1879. BREWER, J. W., CAPTAIN AND ASSISTANt-Surgeon. — Granted leave of absence for six months on Surgeon's certificate of disability. S. O. 219, A. G. O., September 22, 1879. TREMAINE, W. S., CAPTAIN AND ASSISTANT-SURGEON.-So much of par. 3. S. O. 195, August 25, 1879, from A. G. O., as relates to him is revoked. S. O. 220, A. G. O., September 23, 1879. KIMBALL, J. P., CAPTAIN AND Assistant-SURGEON.-Haying reported in person at these Headquarters, assigned to duty at Fort Sanders, Wyo. T. S. O. 82, Department of the Platte, September 20, 1879. O'REILLY, R. M., CAPTAIN AND ASSISTant-Surgeon.Granted leave of absence for one month, with permission to leave limits of the Department. S. O. 145, Department of the South, September 26, 1879. TAYLOR, B. D., FIRST-LIEUTENANT AND ASSISTANT-SURGEON. Granted leave of absence for three months, with permission to apply for an extension of one month. S. O. 222, A. G. O., September 25, 1879. GRAY, W. W., FIRST-LIEUTENANT AND Assistant-Surgeon. -When relieved from duty at Fort Colville, W. T., to proceed to Vancouver Barracks and report to the Commanding Officer for duty. S. O. 123, Department of the Columbia, September 15, 1879. |