from their bodies is one of the most important of the digestive fluids, and the proper digestion of the food in the stomach is materially interfered with when there is not enough saliva left to mix with their food before it is swallowed. Again it certainly impairs hearing and eye-sight. I have seen several instances of children having their eye-sight injured seriously, if not irreparable, by the use of tobacco. The excessive use of tobacco is injurious to everybody, adults as well as infants, male as well as female."

The Medical and Surgical Reporter commits itself to the opinion that a male is preferable to a female, as a doctor's door keeper, but concedes an exception in the case of gynecologists, whose door-keepers should always be females. It thinks it more decorous for a male to open a door than for a female to perform this important office. This is the only reason for its preference. This reason does not rise to the requirements of the occasion. Our cotemporary should furnish some reason more in keeping with the scientific bearing of this important function. Here is a rare chance for it to express itself.—Med. Age.

FEMALES AND WOMEN.-Mr. G. E. Williamson (Newcastle-on-Tyne) writes: How is it you have allowed the Ingleby lecturer to write in the JOURNAL: "On some Functional Disorders of Females?" Surely it would have been kind to tell him that "female" is not synonymous with woman or girl, and that it is only used in that sense by the illiterate and the vulgar. Seeing the title, I read the article, expecting it to be a study in comparative physiology.

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Johnson says. "Female, a she, one of the sex which brings young; not male." His example is from Leviticus: "If ye offer it of the herd, whether it be male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. " A different example, in which also the word is correctly used, is: 'The ascetic rule of St. Basil, which the monks follow, is very severe; no female, not even a cow or a hen, is permitted to approach the Holy Hill (Mount Attios).

of "

I saw in one of our local newspapers, a short time since, an account a female found dead in a ditch." I have myself found females dead in a ditch, but never a woman. It is, however, unnecessary for me to multiply examples, as I know you will agree with me that the title of the lecture contains an excellent example of the wrong use of the word.— Brit. Med. Journal.

MEDICINE AS IT WAS

TAUGHT AND PRACTICED

IN 1659.

BY R. HARVEY REED, M. D,. MANSFIELD, OHIO.

The following classical quotations will be found in the "Pharmacopo Belgica; or, the Dutch Dispensatory, Revised and Confirmed by the Colledge of Physitians at Amsterdam. Wherein is described: I. The Virtues, Qualities and Properties of Every Simple. II. The Virtues and Use of Compounds. III. Directions and Cautions in Giving the Medicines. Whereunto is added the Complete Herbalist, Being a Physicall Discourse of all of the Herbs and Fruits, shewing their various Virtues and Qualities, as they are frequently used in Medicines; Together with many excellent Receipts.

London, Printed by E. C. for Edw. Farmham, in Popes-head, Also by Robert Horn, at the Turk's Head, in Cornhill, 1659."

"A Plaster of Frogs With and Without Quicksilver. Take Oyle of Chamomel, Dill, Lillies, Spike, of each 4 ounces, of Saffran 2 ounces, Hogg's Suett 2 pounds, Naturall Oyle of Bays 8 ounces, Male Frankincense 2 ounces and a half, Euphorbium 10 drams, Frogs alive washt in wine 12, Earth-worms washt in Wine 7 ounces, Leaves of Featherfen, Flowers of Camels Hay, Staechas, of each two handfuls, Juice of Elder Roots, Elecampane, Clear Turpentine, of each four ounces, Storax liquid 3 ounces, Lytharge of Gold 2 pounds."

"To Cure the Emrods. The Piles come from too great abundance of melancholy blood gathered in the Veins of the Fundament, and sometimes they appear and sometimes they do not, sometimes they bleed much, which is good if it last not too long, for nature seeks to help her self. As the Piles bleed too much, and do not stop of themselves, then seeth Sumac in Beer, and bathe the parts therewith before a good fire, The Leaves of an Oke and the Acorns sod in the same manner, are very good for this purpose. But when they are painfull and come not to bleed, take Linseed Oyle, the Yelk of an Egg, Fine Meal, upon some Flax; Plantan Water with Syrup of Quinces is good to drink against bleeding of the Emrods."

66

Quicksilver killed with Turpentine eight ounces, Strong Wine 4 pounds, White Wax what is sufficient. Make a plaster according to art. This is good against hard swellings, but most in use for the French Pox."

"Carrats. Yellow and red Carrats are well known both by Poor and Rich. Yellow Carrats eaten with meat do nourish well, and warm the inward parts, cause one to make water well, and are a great help to feed poor people."

"Fennell Seed.

Foeniculum in Latine, it is a well-known grey Seed that groweth abundantly in Gardens, and encreaseth wonderfully, is much used in Physic, and is singular in the gravell.

"Fennell is hot and dry in the second degree, and the Seed remains three years in its strength. Fennell Seed eaten strengthneth the Brain and the sight, cleanseth the blood and opens Womens' Courses, makes nurses to abound with milk, it strengtheneth the Stomach and hinders the wind, it openeth the Liver, Milk and Bladder, and makes one to void water well, helps to break the Stone, and is good for pain in the Lines, it drives off the cold piss of Lues veneria, and people find profit by it. Distilled Fennell water is very good to wash sore eyes with, and heals them."

A CONVENIENT SUGAR TEST.-A correspondent of the Atlanta Medical and Surgical Journal mentions a convenient substitute for Fehling's solution in testing for sugar in the urine. The ordinary solutions deteriorate on keeping and are liable to throw down the suboxide of copper themselves if they have not been freshly prepared. Prof. Holland, in hıs lectures at Jefferson Medical College, gives the following test fluid, which is very efficient, is easily prepared, and is not spoiled by keeping:

R. Cupric sulphate,
Glycerine,

3j. f 3j.

To make the test add five drops of this solution to the drachm of liquor potasse, in a test tube. Boil a few moments to test the purity of the fluid; should it remain clear, then add a few drops of urine. If glucose be present in quantity, there is at once thrown down a red precipitate, just as in the ordinary Fehling's test. To detect minute amounts of sugar, not shown by above procedure, after making the test as above, add half a drachm of urine; boil and set aside. If sugar be present, even in very minnte quantity, the liquid as it cools, will turn to an olive green color and become turbid.

We have made arrangements with Messrs. Cornell & Pheneger Bros., druggists and dealers in surgical instruments, to send the JOURNAL for one year and any of the following instruments, at the price named:

Thermometer, indestructible index...

Instrument Usual and

JOURNAL for 1 year.

Price of Instrument

alone.

Obstetrical bag, containing forceps, placenta forceps, perforator,

blunt hook, vaginal speculum and uterine probe....

66

French style.....

11.50

15.00

10.75 12.00

Aspirator, and stomach pump (a perfect instrument).

Post-mortem case..

The above prices include postage, where instruments can be sent by mail; otherwise they will be sent by express, at expense of recipient.

If any other instrument is desired, let us know and we will quote you price, with JOURNAL for one year.

All these instruments are warranted first-class, and in prime condition.

Thermometers are carefully packed, but will occasionally break They are sent by mail, at the risk of the purchaser,

in transit.

unless otherwise ordered.

26 NORTH HIGH ST.,

HANN & ADAIR,

COLUMBUS, OHIO.

versus

Dilute Phosphoric Acid.

The attention of the profession is respectfully invited to some points of difference between Horsford's Acid Phosphate and the dilute phosphoric acid of the pharmacopoeia. Horsford's Acid Phosphate is a solution of the phosphates of lime, magnesia, potash, and iron in such form as to be readily assimilated by the system, and containing no pyro- or meta-phosphate of any base whatever. It is not made by compounding phosphoric acid, lime, potash, etc., in the laboratory, but is obtained in the 'form in which it exists in the animal system. Dilute phosphoric acid is simply phosphoric acid and water without any base. Experience has shown that while in certain cases dilute phosphoric acid interfered with digestion, Horsford's Acid Phosphate not only caused no trouble with the digestive organs, but promoted in a marked degree their healthful action. Practice has shown in a great variety of cases that it is a phosphate with an excess of phosphoric acid that will better meet the requirements of the system than either phosphoric acid or a simple phosphate. "Phosphorus," as such, is not found in the human body, but phosphoric acid in combination with lime, iron and other bases, i. e. the phosphates, is found in the bones, blood, brain and muscle. It is the phosphates and not the simple phosphoric acid that is found in the urine after severe mental and physical exertions, or during wasting diseases.

We have received a very large number of letters from physicians of the highest standing, in all parts of the country, relating their experience with the Acid Phosphate, and speaking of it in high terms of commendation.

Physicians who have not used Horsford's Acid Phosphate, and who wish to test it, will be furnished a sample on application, without expense, except express charges.

RUMFORD CHEMICAL WORKS,

Providence, R. I.

BEWARE OF IMITATIONS.