CAMPHINE.

Mr. Guthrie writes, dated May 8, 1831. "One year ago, I dis covered a process by which much resin was abstracted from oil of turpentine after it had been re-distilled from water. The oil of turpentine I send you is pine, or nearly so, and is I think, an article of considerable importance. It dissolves singly caoutchouc, and the solution dries rapidly, and does not continue sticky like the solution made with common oil of turpentine. Mixed with alcohol, it burns in a lamp without leaving small resinous points upon the wick, or causing those scintillations observable in the flame when common oil of turpentine is used."

This is the compound now used as burning fluid; it has been called patent; three years ago it was thought to be a recent discovery, but by the above extract from Silliman's Journal, it will be perceived that Mr. Guthrie prepared and used the article eighteen years since.

Mr. Guthrie tells of two processes which he has made use of for purifying oil of turpentine, as follows, "Take sulphuric acid and water, equal weight, mix, and when cold add a quantity of it to a quantity of oil of turpentine, and agitate thoroughly let the acid subside, and decant the clear spirits. Repeat the operation until the acid subsides without being discolored. The oil of turpentine thus prepared, (with warmth and a strong solar light) is, as I believe, a perfect solvent of caoutchouc. This process is somewhat troublesome and expensive, and after a great number of fruitless trials with various articles, I found that the alkalies and alkaline earths, especially lime, would attack resin, but not pure oil of turpentine. On distilling oil of turpentine from caustic lime and water, I found a great deal of resin remaining in the still. I likewise found by the sulphuric acid test, that the oil was pure hence, the resin was an adventitious body."

Thus we can learn from the twenty-first volume of Silliman's Journal, that Mr. Guthrie made camphine eighteen years ago, as well as burning fluid.

I do not know why chloroform was not more used as a remedial agent, unless the great expense of procuring it prohibited, at the time Prof. Ives used it. It would seem to promise much, as being one among the nervous stimulants of the materia medica; at the same time one of the most agreeable.

Burlington, April 1848.

sure.

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS.

BY THE EDITOR.

SINGULAR CASE OF SWELLING OF THE NECK.

J. A., a gentleman of robust constitution, aged forty-two, had four teeth filled by a dentist in Philadelphia. On his return home the following day, he exposed himself imprudently to the cold, pursued his business as usual, and at night was seized with chilliness and stiff-neck. On the second day following, I was summoned to visit him. Found the whole anterior portion of the neck considerably swelled, indurated, and somewhat tender upon pres-" The tumor occupied a space from the chin to the sternum, and extended laterally on the upper portion, to within about an inch of the angle of the inferior maxillary bone, forming an irregular triangle with its apex at the upper part of the sternum. When exposed to view, my first impression was that it was a Bronchocele, but the history of the case, convinced me that it could not be so. The thyroid, the sub-maxillary, and the sub-lingual glands were all extensively tumefied-so that the patient could not portrude his tongue beyond his teeth-spoke indistinctly, and experienced difficulty in deglutition. A saline cathartic was immediately prepared, which, after much effort was swallowed. Forty leeches were applied to the swelling, and followed by a plaster of Cantharides. The blister was dressed with warm poultices, and discharged very freely. It was followed by some abatement of the pain, but there continued a great degree of tension of the muscles and integuments; and every attempt to swallow was attended with much suffering. The Cathartic operated freely upon the bowels, and was repeated when necessary, in the subsequent treatment of the case. The blistered surface healed in a few days, the plaster of Cantharides was re applied, and warm bread and milk poultices continued as before. This treatment was persevered in for ten days; the difficulty in swallowing not being in the least diminished until the tenth day, when a copious discharge occurred internally, from the middle portion of the tumour, which, of course admitted a freer passage

into the stomach. Up to this period, the patient was unable to lie down, owing to the pressure and weight of the diseased portion upon the trachea. He sat most of the time in his easy chair, and could only swallow thin liquids. His breath being offensive, and mouth very unpleasant to himself, a cleansing gargle was recommended. To use this he would fill the mouth, stand up, hold fast to the bed post, and with the utmost exertion, was enabled to wash out the mouth and pharynx. On the twelfth day, a copious evacuation of muco-purulent matter issued from one side of the mouth; as nearly as I could ascertain, from the excretory duct, (Whorton's) communicating with the sub-maxillary gland; and on the following day, a similar discharge occurred on the opposite side. There still remained, however, a good deal of tenderness, and the poultices were continued, with a view of keeping up the suppurative process, until entire relief should be obtained. Of course, the discharges were followed by much relief, and diminution of the swelling. Three weeks passed by, and the patient became impatient to resume his business-though there still existed a slight induration of the parts around the walls of the trachea, and particularly in front. There was also a disagreeable traction of the muscles in every effort at deglutition. This was very readily seen when the neck was uncovered, particularly in the action of the depressers of the os-hyoides, and larynx. The patient was now directed to annoint the part with ung: Iodin: comp: diluted with lard. He could not endure however, more than two or three applications, and he preferred looking after his business, keeping his neck well protected with a scarf, and annointing occasionally with opedeldoc. In a week after this, I was called to see him again—the soreness and swelling had increased, and the parts were very much indurated. Some cotton was now wet with equal portions of Granville's lotion and whiskey, and applied to the part, with a view of exciting speedy counter irritation. In a few minutes the skin was very much reddened, and in one or two places vesication had occurred. Warm bread and water, and bread and milk poultices were continued, and there were evident marks of suppuration apparent in a few days. The tumor soon began to point, just in front of the larynx, and in a few days more, was opened with an abscess lancet. The discharge was profuse, and gave immediate relief. It was

kept up for several days, and the opening healed. The suppurative process continued, and a discharge again occurred, without the use of the lancet. The surrounding induration yielded, and the patient convalesced rapidly. He is now able to go out and pursue his business. The constitution of course suffered in some degree, from the demand made upon it to carry on the suppurative inflammation, while the avenue from which it derives its supplies was obstructed, and the patient lost several pounds in weight. The pulse, during the attack, was irritable and feeble; the alvine evacuations mostly regular, and natural in appearance, and the appetite usually good. Animal broth and other nourishing liquids were allowed; but the pain attendant upon deglutition prevented their free employment. The disease was supposed' to be purely local in its origin, and was treated as such. The general system showing no marks of disturbance until the local symptoms, had become developed. What has rendered this case a peculiar one, seems to me to be the fact of its sudden approach and rapid progress. Some surgical writers notice a disease called hydrobronchocele, or hydrocele of the neck, which is described as an encysted tumor, gradual in its formation, involving the thyroid body, and the surrounding parts. It is cured in the same manner as hydrocele of the scrotum, by puncture and stimulating injections into its cavity. In the instance described, the tumor increased in forty-eight hours, to a degree sufficient to interfere with the normal functions of the parts it involved, soon gave evidence of fluctuation, and discharge from three distinct openings during the first attack, and subsequently during the relapse, suppurated again, and was evacuated externally. Up to the time when the patient returned from Philadelphia, and felt a stiff neck and chilliness on the evening of the same day, he had never had any swelling of the neck, or disease of the throat, having uniformly enjoyed good health for a series of years. About a year since, I saw a case of hydro-bronchocele under the care of a physician in an adjoining neighborhood, which was "tapped," and I believe finally cured by puncture and injection. Its appearance was very different from the one described above. It was a distinct, circumscribed regular tumor, and involved principally the region of the thyroid gland; neither did it materially interfere with deglutition or respiration.

CASE OF ABSCESS NEAR THE AXILLA-TERMINATING WITH PROFUSE

HÆMORRHAGE.

I was requested to see a little girl four years old, with pain in her left arm. The upper third of the arm was very tender upon pressure, but without any external evidence of inflammation. Upon taking hold of the limb and attempting to move it, the child would scream vehemently. The arm was held near to the side, the fore-arm thrown across the epigastrum, and the shoulder depressed, as in fracture of the collar bone. I could discover no evidence of fracture or dislocation. Rest and saturnine lotions were ordered. In three or four days a little redness appeared about an inch and a half below the axilla, under the arm. Poultices were directed-the child became pale and wan―laid in its cradle and took but little nourishment. The whole of the upper part of the limb became inflamed, and at the point where the first red spot appeared it began to soften: fluctuation was very apparent, and I was urged by the mother to open it. This I declined doing, without assigning any reason, and indeed, without having any, except a disinclination to do so. Soon after leaving the house I began to reflect whether I should not have done so, knowing that it would be followed by relief to my little patient. I hesitated, and was almost ready to turn back, to comply with the reasonable request of the mother. On my visit the next morning, the mother accosted me thus: "Doctor, you must lance this place, indeed you must." It was examined thoroughly, and was evidently fit to open. I had left my case at home, and could not do it. The child suffered intensely, and the mother had been nearly worn out with twelve days of watching and anxiety. The poultices were continued, anodynes were administered, and nourishing food directed. In the afternoon I was sent for in great haste. Not being at home at the time, I did not receive the message for an hour after it was left. On my return I went to the little sufferer; she lay pale, cold, and nearly pulseless, from excessive hæmorrhage. The abscess had broken, and when the discharge occurred, as the mother states, she attempted to raise her arm, and the blood jetted out in a stream, several feet across the room. Pressure was made above the orifice with the finger, the applications all re