one-half grain; zinci valer. two grains; chlorate of potassium two grains. Mix. Ft. Pulvis. Make ten alike. Potash permanganate, when associated with any readily oxidizable substance, such as glycerine, explodes. (8) Chromic acid, 10 grains; glycerine, one drachm. This mixture is liable to explode, unless the glycerine is added to the acid drop by drop. Iodine and ammonia form a very powerful explosive agent when combined, unless some water is introduced into the mixture, which seems to retard the development of nitrogen iodide, upon which the explosive properties depend. (9) Iodine, one-half drachm; liniment camphor compound; liniment saponis, of each two ounces. Mix. Ft. Liniment. This combination exploded once in the hands of the pharmacist from the iodine and the ammonia in the liniment camphor compound coming in contact. (10) Acidi nitrici; acidi, muriatici; tincturæ nucis vomicæ, of each two drachms. Mix. This prescription was once ordered by a physician, and exploded after several hours. (11) Acid nitro-muriatici, one ounce; tincture cardamomi, one-half ounce. Mix. Also this combination was the result once of a serious injury.-Pacific Medical Journal. GLASS AS A COVER FOR DISSECTING-TABLES. BY CHARLES W. CATHCART, M. A., M. B., Lecturer on Anatomy in Surgeons Hall, Royol College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. [Reprinted from the Edinburgh Medical Journal for February 1882.] Having had occasion to re-cover one of the dissecting-tables at Surgeons' Hall, I substituted thick glass for zinc, and have found it answer so well that I have thought it worthy of being brought before the notice of others. The glass used is about half an inch thick, polished on one side, and ribbed or grooved longitudinally. The table is spread with soft putty, and the glass-cut to the exact size is pressed evenly down upon it with the polished side uppermost, one end of the table being slightly raised. The margins of the glass are secured with a border of lead (or wood), which goes all round except at the lower end, where a wooden gutter is fixed to carry off fluids which drain down along the grooves. The surface of the glass can be kept beautifully clean by simple wiping. With glass of half-inch thickness firmly imbedded in putty, any ordinary wear and tear need not be feared, although it would be unwise to test its strength by direct hammering. The price with lead margin runs about twenty-eight shillings per cover, that is, twelve shillings for glass, four shillings and sixpence for putty, 192 NUTRIENT SUPPOSITORIES-HUNYADI JANOS WATER. five shillings and sixpence for lead, and six shillings for workman's time and wooden gutter. If the margin-which has been found practically unnecessary-were omitted, the cost would be considerably lessened, both for time and material. The consistence of the putty requires special attention. It should be so soft that it can readily adapt itself to the table and glass, and for this purpose requires a much larger proportion of oil than is necessary for ordinary glazing purposes-probably cement would do as well or better than putty and it would be cheaper. NUTRIENT SUPPOSITORIES. Mr. Spencer (Practitioner) speaks highly of these suppositories. The meat is digested artificially and the extract is then made up with wax and starch. These suppositories are of such a size that the digested and extracted product of twenty ounces of meat from which the insoluble matter is removed, is contained in about five suppositories. The convenience of this method is very great. It is easy for most patients to introduce them themselves; and their use is attended with no discomfort whatever in the majority of cases. After an hour or two the waxy basis is frequently returned, the peptone and extractive being absorbed. In some few cases, owing to irritability of the rectum, the whole suppository has returned; but this can be obviated by the addition of a little opium to each suppository. ARTIFICIAL HUNYADI JANOS WATER. The natural Hunyadi Janos water was observed by Professor Charteris to be an efficient, safe, and agreeable purgative in many chronic cases. It was, however, found to be too expensive for hospital use, and it was resolved to try an artificial imitation. At first it was made according to Liebig's analysis of the natural water, but this was perceived to be too weak, and it failed to produce the purgative action. Ultimately it was made thrice the given strength, according to the following receipt: Sulphate of magnesia, 514.92 grains; sulphate of soda, 519.54 grains; sulphate of potash, 2.76 grains; chloride of sodium, 39.15 grains; bicarbonate of soda, 15.60 grains; water, sixteen ounces; dose, two ounces and upwards. It will be observed that chloride of calcium is omitted, but the proportion is so small that even when it was included there was no difference in the action. The inexpensive mixture, made for a penny a quart, can be confidently recommended. It will be found to possess every advantage attributed to the natural water, the necessity for buying which seems to be done away with.-The Lancet, November 12, 1881. BY W. H. SMITH, M. D., PH. D., SAINT CLAIR, MICHIGAN. NUMBER V. Anal Blood Clot.-March 5 I was called to see Mr. B., who was said to be suffering from "piles." Another practitioner had been previously in attendance who had treated the patient with leeches, anodynes, etc., ineffectually. Inspection revealed at the side of the anus a small bluish tumor, covered with a very tense, thick skin. This was opened, a blood clot turned out, and the patient soon experienced a sense of a comple relief. Hydrocele.-Mr. D. had been troubled with a hydrocele for over two years. The thing had been twice tapped by a quack, but soon refilled. At the second tapping the contents of the cyst were admixed with a large quantity of blood. Upon consulting me, I again tapped the hydrocele which was of large size. After the contents had been entirely evacuated, the cavity was injected with two drachms of the strong tincture of iodine as recommended by Professor Maclean. Considerable inflammation followed, but when that subsided the hydrocele was found to have disappeared. In the two months since intervening the cavity has shown no signs of refilling. Another instance showing the effectiveness of the iodine treatment is the following: Mr. F., age 19, had been troubled from infancy with hydrocele. This had been tapped a number of times by different Canadian physicians, and injected with a preparation of some kind. What the material used for the injection was the patient could not assert. March 29, 1882, I tapped the tumor, and after complete evacuation of its contents threw into the cavity two drachms of the officinal tincture of iodine. The canula was then withdrawn, the iodine left inside, the scrotum thoroughly shaken, and the keeping of himself quiet for some days enjoined upon the patient. The sac became inflamed and swollen. For two weeks it remained as large as it was prior to the operation. Then it began to diminish in size, and on April 22 had completely disappeared. I may add in this connection that, so far as my knowledge goes, it harmonizes with Dr. Maclean's view, that no bad effect ever occurs from this mode of treatment. The only exception to this statement was a case operated upon by a physician who, I have reason to believe, does not use scrupulous care in regard to the clealiness of his tools. Also in that case the patient after the operation was allowed to ride some miles from the doctor's office to his home over rough roads. That case came very near terminating fatally, but fortunately recovered. Typhoid Fever.-In this disease I have noticed one case in my own hands, and a number in the hands of other physicians, where the fever commenced on shipboard and the patient came to land for treatment, have all terminated fatally. Have these cases been exceptional, or is the disease when it begins on board of vessels more severe? If the latter be true, as it apparently is, may not the greater severity be due to the patient in such cases continuing up and around at a time when if at home he would be in bed and provided with proper care? pos Phthisis. Three cases have recently come into my hands which have been diagnosed consumption, and which presented none of the signs of that dread disease. One was a case of chlorosis, one of chronic gastritis, and the other of chronic hepatic congestion. Such blunders are inexcusable. It is itively cruel to inform a patient that he or she has some such almost irremediable complaint when the assertion is not warranted by the facts. These instances may lead to a suspicion of the genuineness of certain cases of so-called consumption in which cures have been effected. Gastric Ulcer.-Within the past six months five cases of this disease have come to me for treatment. In only three of the five cases was the characteristic hematemesis present, but in the other two instances all the symptoms pointed to the ulcer so strongly that there could be but slight doubt as to the correctness of the diagnosis. These facts may cause one to question the statement in some of the books about ulcer of the stomach being a rare affection. Either that statement is incorrect, or I have had an exceptional run of this kind of patients. Hysteria.-A young lady, age nineteen, took to her bed and informed her parents that her lungs were inflamed and that she would die before morning. She at once began to breathe very short and to have sinking spells. I was summoned and found pulse and temperature normal, and was unable to detect any physical sign of the lung difficulty. A dose of physic was given to relieve the constipated bowels and followed by bromide of potassium and assafoetida, after which I returned to my home, having previously informed the family that there was no serious danger. It is needless to add that she made a good recovery, thus furnishing an instance of a prophecy that was not fulfilled. The peculiar fact in the cases was that four months before this same girl had, under the care of a so-called physician, passed through and recovered from an attack of inflammation of the lungs. Did she then have that disease or was the trouble the same as upon the occasion of my_visit? Ranula. In the May, 1881, number of THE PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, I reported a case of ranula which I believed to have been completely cured by opening and injecting with iodine. The patient then passed out from under my observation, but I have lately heard that the cyst is refilling, so that the cure is not complete as I supposed. Gonorrhoea.-A young man with chronic gonorrhoea, or gleet, had tried several physicians and been treated ineffectually. He was given the following prescriptions: R. Olei santali albi........... Spiriti vini r....... Olei cassiæ..... M. S. Teaspoonful for or five times a day; also, Aquæ cassiæ...... ... grs. x. Ziv. M. S. Use as an injection three times a day. Another man had been treated by a druggist with medicines and injections until acute prostatitis supervened, when he came into my hands. For him was prescribed: R Extracti cascara sagradæ fluidi......... Vini ergotæ q. s............ M. S. Cochleare parvum ter in die. 3 ss. 3ij. ziv. The results in both cases were very satisfactory. In the former the discharge was speedily arrested, and the latter the prostatitis at once subsided, after which he was treated as an ordinarry gonorrhoea. Fracture of Pelvis.-Mr. S., working in the lumber woods was thrown from a sleigh upon a side hill under two saw-logs. Inspection revealed fracture of the pelvis, displacing the pubic bone downward and concussion of the lower part of the spine. The patient was put to bed, padded so as to rest easy and retain the parts in position, his urine drawn regularly with a catheter, his bowels kept open, and wounds bathed with arnica. Leadwater was afterwards applied to the spine, and he was given internally one-sixtieth grain doses of strychnia. Four months |