The antispasmodic comes in to quiet the whole irritation, and hence postpones still further the next recurrence. Quinine is meanwhile asserting its antiperiodic power, which is quite as decided in this disease as in ague. If any fear frequent emetics, let me say the fear is idle. The child will vomit far less in the first twenty-four hours than if they were not given; and as the disease will be cut short very soon, the total vomiting will be in fact quite insignificant. I need hardly add that this plan requires careful supervision in all severe cases where it is desired to attain the most prompt effect, but it is worth while to know that a disease called incurable "from of old till new," is really one of the most curable of all which afflict and destroy the flower and hope of the world.

OLFACTORY ACUTENESS.- Nicholls and Bailey have recently published the results of experiments upon the relative acuteness of the sense of smell in individuals. A series of solutions of oil of cloves, nitrate of amyl, extract of garlic, bromine and prussic acid were prepared by successive dilutions with water until the limit of perception was reached, and then the solutions were placed indiscriminately and submitted to a number of persons of both sexes to classify them properly by the sense of smell. The results showed that on the average the sense of smell was much more delicate in the males tested than in the females; but the degrees of keenness ranged widely as between individuals. Thus three male observers were able to detect one part of prussic acid in 2,000,000 parts of water, though its presence was not revealed by a chemical test; but others, of both sexes, could not detect prussic acid in solutions of almost overpowering strength. The following figures give the average limit of delicacy of perception: Cloves - Males, 1 in 88, 128; females, 1 in 50,667. Nitrate of amyl - Males, 1 in 783,870; females, 1 in 311,330. Extract of garlic – Males, 1 in 57,927; females, 1 in 43.900. Bromine - Males, 1 in 49,254; females, I in 16,244. Prussic Acid Males, I in 112,000; females, 1 in 18,000.- Med. Press.

HOW TO CUT A BOTTLE. A correspondent of the Chemist and Druggist, in describing how to make a percolator, mentions the following method of cutting a bottle: Put the bottle on a level foundation and fill up with oil (I use linseed oil), as far as you wish the line of separation to be. Next get a rod of iron as large as possible, but small enough to get into the bottle. Make the iron almost white hot and dip into the oil. In a very short time a crack will be heard, when the iron can be taken out, and the bottle will be found as neatly cut as if with a diamond. Should the bottle be very thick, and the crack not heard in a minute or so, a dash of cold water outside will settle the business.

AXIS-TRACTION FORCEPS.

BY J. F. BALDWIN, M. D., COLUMBUS, O.

A paper read before the Central Ohio Medical Society.

For some time past, Dr. Howard A. Kelly, of Philadelphia, has been using with great satisfaction the Levret forceps with the axis-traction attachment of Poullet. This attachment consists of a curved traction bar, which is attached to the forceps by means of tapes, as shown in the cut. These tapes are passed through slots cut in the blades of the forceps. After the forceps is introduced and locked, the tapes are passed through the loop in the end of the traction rod, and the latter pushed up as close to the child's head as possible; the tapes are then drawn taut and fastened to buttons on the ends of the small cross-bar.

The Poullet-Levret forceps combines the ideas of Hubert de Lourain and Chassaigny. The former showed the necessity of pulling in the axis of the pelvis in order to make traction which would be at the same time effective and non-injurious to the mother, while Chassaigny drew especial attention to the importance of grasping the child's head in such a way that the pull comes as nearly as possible in the center of the figure of the child's head.

At a recent meeting of the Philadelphia Obstetrical Society, Dr. Kelly said he had within a week used the Poullet forceps in the following interesting case: "Mrs. K. had a justo minor pelvis. She had been delivered about two years ago by her present physician, a skilled accoucheur, of an average child by forceps. This time, however, the physician had made long, unsuccessful attempts with a pair of long Simpson forceps, when he called me up, declaring that the head was locked at the brim, and it was utterly useless to try to move it with an ordinary instru

CEMRIC

ment. At his request I applied my Poullet Levret orceps, with the woman lying on her back. The Levret blades were simply adjusted to the head, which was engaged at the

brim, completely flexed. The first few tractions on the bar seemed to make slight but distinct progress. The head, under the following traction efforts, moved steadily, slowly and quietly down the axis of the pelvis, rotating, and a large head emerged at the outlet. No fixation lock or screw was used to compress the head. We were a long time in releasing the body, but finally delivered a male weighing 131⁄2 lbs., measuring 60 cm. in length, and with a head 471⁄2 x 37 cm. in largest circumferences. The child was profoundly asphyxiated, but revived under swinging and the douche."

No device is used to keep the blades approximated, as in the Tarnier forceps; they are held securely in place in part by the traction of the tapes, but chiefly by the pressure of the maternal structures.

In use, traction is made wholly by means of the traction bar, the handles of the forceps serving merely as an "indicator," with which the traction bar must always be kept parallel, not touching, but close to and following it.

The traction bar being connected by the tapes with the forceps, the latter is free to move in the line of Carus's curve, and to rotate, at least partially, with the head of the child.

The instrument seems to possess all the advantages of, and to be in several respects superior to, the forceps of Tarnier. I recently secured a pair, to take the place of a well-worn Wallace, and have used it once. The patient was a primipara, aged 31, in labor 54 hours. The head had engaged, but had not descended, while the os was fully dilated and the membranes ruptured. No trouble was experienced in the introduction and adjustment of the instrument. Extraction, though not accomplished without vigorous traction, was much less difficult than anticipated from experience with the Hodge and Wallace forceps in similar cases. From the moment of application until its removal just before the head cleared the vulva, the handles of the forceps were not touched; they served to indicate the direction for traction, nothing more.

In the course of a fairly extended experience with forceps, I have used the Hodge, the Sawyer, the Wallace, the Thomas, and now the Poullet-Levret forceps. The Hodge is too heavy; the Sawyer is simply a delusion and a snare; the Thomas, excellent when the head is low down, is not otherwise serviceable; the Wallace is not excelled by any forceps, except those having the "axis-traction" principle; and of these, for perfection in theory, simplicity of construction, ease of adjustment,

and delicacy and strength of manipulation, the Pullet-Levret in my judgment stands at the head.

The tapes used should be of linen, half an inch wide. My instrument came with cotton tape, but this I found was too easily broken. On testing tapes, with a machine for testing tensile strength, I have found that four folds of half-inch cotton tape will break at a strain of about sixty pounds, while the linen will break at about 130 pounds. beyond the strain which should ever be put upon the forceps.

This is far

LITTLE PILLOWs.- Miss Brennan suggests in The Nightengale, that chaff, where it can be obtained, makes a good cushion for preventing pressure, and relieving weariness in.the sick. These cushions or pillows are most convenient when about twelve inches long and eight inches broad. They must be both firm and soft. Cotton can be used in the absence of better material. In using cotton, pack it evenly, so as to avoid lumps. Cases or covers of old linen make these pillows particularly grateful where used next to the fevered skin.

Six such cushions are not too many for use about the subject of a tedious illness. Two, one upon each side, under the hip bones, take the place of a ring in averting bed-sores, and contributing to the patient's comfort. They can be tucked under the back for a support when the patient is upon the side, answering better than the larger pillows for this purpose. One can be put under the head to save pressure upon the ear, which often becomes tender after being a long time in bed. If the head is to be a little lifted, it is easier for the patient to have one of these cushions slipped under, on top of the pillow, or tucked in so as to prop up the pillow, than to have the whole re-arranged. One can be placed between the knees when the patient is upon the side; under the ankle when the heel has become sensitive to pressure. One can be tucked under the shoulder so as to lift the sharp angles of the emaciated body from the bed. In fine, the uses of these little pillows are numberless, and it would be a most acceptable charity if sewing circles and others interested, prepared them in quantities for hospital use. The emaciated patient, dying of consumption or cancer, would employ them with grati tude; also, surgical cases, such as cases of fracture of the thigh and leg, which must maintain one position. The relief afforded in these cases by a little pillow, now here and now there, must be seen to be appreciated. -Med. News.

QUININE IDIOSYNCRACY.

BY C. H. SMITH, M. D., LEBANON, INDIANA.

Referring to the report of a case of urticaria by Dr. Learned (COLUMBUS MEDICAL JOURNAL, vol. v, p. 543), my attention was especially attracted by the statement that the record of the cases was so meagre.

Subsequent investigation, though cursory, has convinced me of the substantial accuracy of the statement.

But within the boundaries of the Wabash Valley, where quinine is so universally given in nearly all diseases and as a prophylactic, though the development of this idiosyncracy is comparatively rare, it is really numerically large, especially so when compared with the effects of other ingesta referred to in many or all text books as an exciting cause. ulated by such an opinion I am induced to add the following experience to the record:

Stim

In October, 1867, I was called to see C. W. Purdy, who had remittent fever. I saw him late in the evening and prescribed quinine freely. I was recalled early in the morning and found patient suffering severely with urticaria, accredited to the quinine. Being incredulous, and believing the eruption might have originated from other causes I repeated the drug under such circumstances as to eliminate all other factors, with the same results.

In Nov. 1875, Jackson Leese called at my office with an ague, and informed me that he could not take quinine. Thinking he might be prejudiced without cause, I directed him to take the quinine and requested him to remain until I could observe the effects. In a short time his condition became absolutely alarming. The urticaria was intense, and the dyspnea so great as to cause serious apprehensions. Several hours elapsed before he could be removed to his residence. I was convinced.

In 1877, Mrs. Tim. Stephenson was seeking relief for a nervous trouble for which she was given quinine. There quickly followed urticaria, attended by cramping, until the extremities became cold. The condition seemed dangerous, and elicited prompt restorative means. Similar results followed the administration of cinchonidia. These cases

were treated with small doses, none exceeding gr. v of the sulphate.