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diseases there are more or less marked evening exacerbations, and the well-established law of diurnal ebb and flow, so to speak, of vitality in the human system, as inflated and expounded by Dr. Sampson and the well-known Physician of whom he is the representative rather than the caricature?

Explain it how we will, and be it remarked that the two last suggestions will not explain how quinine acts, but only the theory on which it is given-explain it how we will, or explain it not at all, it is a fact well worthy of study that the field of disease in which quinine is held potent for remedial power is largely extending. We commend this fact to the careful observation and thought of our brethren. Fashion, hasty generalisation, exaggerated deduction, etc., may partly account for it, but there must be some basis of truth, and this we ought to strive to draw forth by renewed, careful, and scientific observation and research.-Leader in the Medical Times and Gazette of Dec. 10th, 1864.

Tape Worm.

Dr. T. S. Cobbold submitted papers upon vegetables and fruits, and upon water as a source of entozoa. On the previous day he had spoken of the tænia in its mature state, and he now proposed to speak of its introduction into the body in a larval condition. There was no doubt that entozoa were introduced with vegetable food. Small molluscs harboured larval parasites in prodigious quantities, and they were the source of one or more of the parasites that occasionally invaded the human form. These entozoa might be taken in water drinking, but they were much more likely to be taken from water-cress, or other vegetables of the kind. It was necessary with all vegetables that the greatest cleanliness should be observed in preparing them for the table, and care should be taken to avoid swallowing these small molluscs, which were very likely to escape observation. A large species of the tape worm, discovered in Egypt, would he was afraid be brought to this country at some time from our colonies, and if ever it got place amongst us, it would be difficult of extermination. Eggs and living specimens had been found in this country, both in man and monkeys, but only to a very small extent. He was the first to discover it in the monkey. As to the little thread-worm, he had never been able to rear it on apples and pears, and there was

no evidence to show that any species of entozoa was derivable from fruit. It was not likely that fruit was ever an intermediate habitation for any of the parasites which ordinarily occupied the human body. A great many evils in children were charged to eating unripe fruit, but, as far as entozoa was concerned, that fear was entirely groundless; and if they should be so introduced, the chances were that the larvæ would be taken from the surface of the fruit. With regard to celery, cabbages, and all the ordinary market-garden vegetables, he might say that all decomposing animal and vegetable matter sustained entozoa, and the more filthy the water or liquid manure employed to secure the fertility of the garden, the more likely was a supply of entozoa to be taken with the vegetables grown upon the land. The most careful washing was, therefore, required, and it had been suggested that vegetables should also be soaked in salt. Turning, then, to water as a source of entozoa, the first species he would draw attention to was the ancient guinea-worm, which was supposed to be the fiery serpent of Moses. Parasitic larvæ might be found in water that was to all appearance perfectly pure; but speaking generally, it might be inferred that fresh spring water was perfectly innocuous. The same thing could not be said of water stored in large tanks in hot climates. The people of these islands suffered from entozoa, which must have been introduced by drink in some form or other. Amongst this class the smallest was one tenth of an inch long; it carried 30,000 eggs, and went through marvellous transformations. The presence or absence of the larvæ of human entozoa in water was dependent upon the place from whence the supply came, and upon the condition of the water. The pork measle might be readily communicated to human beings in this way; and there was another species taken from water, the habit of which was to ensconce itself in the brain, causing death, which the Registrar-General invariably set down as due to cerebral disease. The way in which it reached the brain was from the coats of the stomach, through the circulating medium. There was one kind inhabiting dogs which was often communicated to the human being. One-sixth of all persons who died in Iceland perished from a little creature so small that in its larval state it could scarcely be seen. If neither dog nor wolf existed we should get rid of these species altogether. No one need drink t-water impregnated with these entozoa. Water to which dogs mod no access could not contain them; neither were they likely

to be found in spring or well water. Open waters, into which the carcases of dogs were occasionally thrown, would probably contain them, and the eggs might be carried to food wasted in such water. The danger would be got rid of if the water was always carefully boiled, filtered, or distilled; but a filter to be effectual ought not to pass anything larger than one one-thousandth of an inch. Sand and charcoal filters were of very little Paper filters should be employed. All entozoa not preserved for scientific experiments should be destroyed by fire, and under no circumstances should they be thrown aside as harmless refuse; and he would press upon butchers, knackers, and others, not to throw doubtful offal to dogs frequenting their neighbourhoods. Then as to beer, porter, &c., all he need say with regard to these fermented drinks was, that he believed them perfectly harmless. Even though impure waters should have been employed, the boiling of the wort would be alone sufficient to destroy any number of parasites. Unfortunately unfermented drinks, such as ginger beer, cyder, and the like, they cannot be perfectly certain about. All must depend upon the source and the supply of water. They might, however, conclude that the manufacturer got his supply from the purest source open to him, and that, therefore, the commission need be under little or no apprehension. In regard to wines, the same remarks were applicable. Alcohol added to water was sufficient to destroy the parasitical eggs, but he questioned whether the amount of spirit in our homemade wines was sufficient for the purpose.-Abstract of Paper read before the British Association.

Honour to Homœopathy.

We are much gratified to observe that Dr. Nuñez, of Madrid, the introducer of homoeopathy into Spain, has been rewarded by Her Most Catholic Majesty with the rank of Marquis. We have no doubt that this is a compliment paid to homoeopathy in the person of our distinguished colleague, and we are sure that the new Marquis will support his elevated rank with becoming dignity. Different countries have, of course, different manners, and it would be difficult to imagine a doctor of any school in this country elevated to any, even the lowest grade in the peerage—a baronetage being the very highest rank hitherto conferred on a British doctor-but a homeopathist made a Marquis all at one bound, beats all the surprises of a pantomime.

OBITUARY.

DR. ROBERT WALKER, of Manchester.

WE have to deplore the loss of another of the pioneers of homœopathy in this country. Dr. R. Walker died on the 11th December last, at the age of 49. He had long suffered from gout and dyspepsia, and latterly the failure of his digestive powers proceeded so far that he sank in a state of marasmus. He practised in Manchester since 1845, where he earned a justly-merited reputation as a skilful practitioner, and he was much called in consultation by his brethren of the city he dwelt in, and of the surrounding country. He was a man of considerable intellectual capacity, and his nature was genial and generous. He exercised unbounded influence over his patients, and was much looked up to by his colleagues. He had a high standard of the rights and duties of the medical profession, and by his firmness in maintaining the strict principles of professional etiquette, he upheld the status of homoeopathic practitioners in Manchester in the estimation of the medical profession and of the public.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

L'Omiopatia in Italia, per cura del Dottore PAOLA BRENTANO. Anno primo. Milano, 1864.

The Introduction and Progress of Homœopathy in the United States, by STEPHEN R. KIRBY, M.D. New York, 1864.

New Remedies, their Pathogenetic Effects and Therapeutical Application in Homœopathic Practice, by EDWIN M. HALE, M.D. Detroit, 1864.

The Monthly Homœopathic Review.

The Homoeopathic Observer.

L'Art Médical.

Bulletin de la Société Homœopathique de France.
El Criterio Medico.

Neue Zeitschrift für Hom. Klinik.

The North American Journal of Homœopathy.

The American Homœopathic Review.

The American Homeopathic Observer.

LONDON: J. E. ADLARD, PRINTER, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.

THE

BRITISH JOURNAL

OF

HOMEOPATHY.

ON THE TUBERCULAR LUNG DISEASE OF
CORNISH MINERS.

By J. H. NANKIVELL, M.R.C.S., Penzance.

MINER'S complaint, miner's consumption, miner's decline -all these terms are used to express that peculiar form of lung-blight to which the men who work in our tin and copper mines are subject. It is a mere platitude to say that with these men, as with people in general, laryngeal and bronchial inflammation, or pneumonia, may be succeeded in the predisposed by tubercular consumption,-with such cases I have for the present nothing to do, but the form of disease to which I am desirous to call attention is that which originates in a subacute, chronic, often latent pleurisy, induced either by accidental hurt of a severe degree to the chest, or more commonly, by the lesion of muscular and nervous tissue in the course of excessive and protracted labour.

The Cornish miners are a fine race of men, their occupation seems to give a grave and characteristic expression to their features and they are easily distinguished from other labouring classes. In the district of St. Just, between the Land's End and St. Ives, the countenances of the miners VOL. XXIII, NO. XCII.-APRIL, 1865.

M

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