weeks, when all symptoms disappeared, and he had gained four pounds in weight, felt free from worry, and was entirely well. I will add that I have used this form of treatment in many cases and consider it the best tonic sedative. I have often had patients enter the condition of sleep during the treatment, and have never experienced failure to cure insomnia. Case III-A housewife, age thirty, mother of four children, had slight laceration of cervix and perineum. She complained of dragging pain in pelvis, backache, headache, and nervousness, the latter symptom being so pronounced that she feared loss of mind. I advised operation for repair of cervix and perineum, which was done, but without improvement of condition. Patient complained more after the good effects of a much-needed rest, which the operation necessitated, wore off. I then employed the static breeze as in Case I, limiting the breeze more especially to pelvis, back, and head. Three weeks' treatment effected a cure, and now, after two years, there is no return of the symptoms. Case IV.-A lumberman, fifty years old. He suffered occasional attacks of lumbago for eight years. When I was called, patient had been confined to bed two weeks, being unable to turn over without assistance. His doctor had been administering salicylate of soda internally, with counterirritants to back, and relieving pain with daily hypodermics of morphin. Much to the disbelief of patient's friends and himself I informed him that I could do nothing further for him at his home, but that if he could get to my office I would cure him in two minutes. Although the patient could not believe it possible, after strong urging, I induced him to consent to the transfer. A great deal of persuasion was necessary to influence a man in his condition to drive one mile, but after placing a cot in a spring wagon and conveying the patient thereto, the start was finally made. It was in the fall of the year, when the roads were rough, and after going a few rods patient insisted on getting out of the vehicle, and, with the help of crutches and my assistance, walked the rest of the journey. After a short rest I laboriously placed him on the platform of the machine and administered a six-inch positive spark, obtained by connecting the platform with the negative pole, grounding the positive pole, the electrode being connected to the ground wire. I administered the sparks with the patient standing, as it was impossible for him to sit. In about two minutes I discontinued. the current and requested him to step off the platform. Much to his surprise and gratification he did so, and found that he could bend. forward and place his hands upon the floor without any discomfort. After the patient had walked around a bit I again administered mild sparks for ten minutes, and I can truthfully say that during the last four years he has not had a symptom of lumbago. This may seem an exaggerated case but I can give assurance that it is not, and anybody accustomed to the moderate use of static electricity has had many similar experiences. It is needless to say that the patients this particular case has brought me would pay for a great many static machines. I have treated many cases of lumbago and other forms of muscular rheumatism, and where I can use a six-inch spark I never fail to give instant relief. In cases where the patient will not tolerate the spark the positive breeze will surely effect a cure, although longer time will be required. Case V-A furniture dealer, age forty-two. After sustaining a wrench of the shoulder, followed by rheumatic pains, this man consulted me regarding a partial paralysis of his right arm. On examination I found almost a complete atrophy of the trapezius, deltoid and infraspinatus muscles. I connected the patient to the machine in order to obtain the induced static current, using the smallest Leyden jar I had. Patient was requested to hold one electrode in his left hand while the other was placed to his shoulder outside clothing. I then started the machine slowly, and for five minutes caused feeble contraction and relaxation of these muscles; then for another five minutes turned the machine rapidly, using the current as a massage. This treatment was continued for four weeks, resulting in complete cure of the paralysis and restoration of muscle symmetry. Case VI.-An unmarried woman came to me suffering from amenorrhea and accompanying symptoms which I diagnosed as chlorosis. I gave the patient daily treatments of positive insulation continued for ten minutes and accompanied by a negative breeze to the pelvis. In three weeks the patient was discharged well. Case VII-A married woman consulted me for a badly sprained wrist following a fall. There was no fracture or dislocation of the bones. I treated the wrist daily with static breeze, with the result that swelling and soreness subsided within a week. Case VIII.-An unmarried woman sought relief from a distressing acne indurata. I employed the positive breeze on her face, using a wooden electrode. Three weeks sufficed to effect a cure. In selecting these cases for report I purposely picked those in which no drugs were used. I would not say that this is wise in every instance, for I think it better in many cases to employ both. The results show, however, that a great deal can be accomplished with static electricity alone. I do not wish to impart the impression that static electricity is a cure-all, for it is not, but it can be employed, with safety, in every case. Nothing will relieve the pains of neuritis, nervous headache, and the vomiting of pregnancy so quickly as will static electricity. In closing I will add the assurance that from my own experience, after a hard day's work, nothing is more refreshing and invigorating than ten minutes application of the static breeze. Try it. TRANSACTIONS. CLINICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. THE PRESIDENT, WILLIAM R. LYMAN, M. D., IN THE CHAIR. REPORT OF CASES. ADENOIDS. DOCTOR WILLIAM R. LYMAN: I do not intend to discuss the subject of adenoids fully, but rather to report some observations based upon a study of the records of the Otolaryngologic clinic at the University Hospital for the year 1905; to compare them briefly with our accepted opinions; to call attention to the frequency with which this disease is accompanied by serious complications and to emphasize the importance of early treatment. During the year 1905 there were examined one hundred and fortyfive cases of adenoids, of which number seventy-nine also had chronic hypertrophy of the faucial tonsils; in fact, in many cases it was the tonsilar condition which brought the patient to the clinic for relief. Many of the patients were college students, which fact is of importance in the interpretation of data to be brought forward later. As to sex there were ninety males and fifty-five females. The preponderance of males as compared with other statistics is explainable by the fact that this clinic draws largely from the student body for its material. For purposes of convenience the following tabulation sets forth the number of patients per semidecade: One is at once struck by the small number of cases found in the first semidecade of life, during which period we are informed the greatest number of patients present themselves to our observation. The greatest number of any single semidecade was that between the ages of five and ten. Fully thirty-six per cent of our cases occurred between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. One case was that of an adult fiftyseven years old. These figures are quite at variance with those ordinarily set forth, but the fact admits of ready explanation. The presence of nasopharyngeal abnormalities is often overlooked by the parents. The significance of adenoids in children is not widely or fully appreciated and a large per cent of the patients of this clinic were University students, which latter fact alone accounts for the variation. Of importance is the time of year during which the greatest number of patients presented themselves for treatment. The records for April and May show an enrollment of thirty-five cases, which suggest the relationship of adenoids to the nasopharyngeal disturbances so frequent in early spring. The patients in general complained of the classical symptoms of the condition-difficult nasal respiration, mouth-breathing with its characteristic facial expression, and, to quote Doctor Schadle, "The open mouth, the pinched nose, the drawn down inner canthi, elevated eyebrows, corrugated skin of the forehead, the distorted chest, the altered voice, the apparent defective development-both mental and physical." There may be added: protruding upper teeth, and high palatal arch; repeated attacks of sore throat, which is generally due to the associated tonsilar hypertrophy; a fullness and the sensation described as something dropping in the back of the throat; a seromucoid discharge from the nostrils; the statement of the parent that the child is apparently affected with a continuous cold in the head; a voice thick and without resonance, such letters as m and n not being pronounceable; and, frequently, palpability of the submaxillary and cervical lymph glands. Adenoids are characterized by the occurrence of complications directly due to the condition. Among those most prominently met. were the following: Deafness of varying degree in sixty-five patients, some complaining of only slight stuffiness of the ears and occasional tennitus, both of which conditions were more marked when the patient had a cold. Many could hear the whispered voice, if at all, only a fraction of the normal distance, which is twenty-one feet. There were about thirty patients who had discharging ears at the time of examination, and many more cases in which the examination showed evidences of previous suppuration. The presence of adenoids was a marked factor in the susceptibility to the acute infectious disease, particularly measles, scarlet fever, and whooping-cough; repeated attacks of tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and acute rhinitis, the patients taking cold at the least exposure; a constant dry, hacking cough; gastrointestinal disturbances, manifested by a rapacious appetite and alternating constipation and diarrhea; retarded mental development, many of the children being several grades less advanced in school than normal children of similar ages; while several cases showed defective development of the chest, resulting in pigeon-breast. The treatment has been complete removal of the growth, this being done under primary ether anesthesia with the patient in the sitting position. The instruments used were the adenoid forceps, when the tissue was abundant, followed by the Beckmann curet, and all small portions remaining were removed with the finger. The results have been without exception favorable. There has been no case of hemorrhage. Those cases accompanied by ear complications have been very satisfactory both as to the improvement in hearing and the cessation of the discharge. The improvement in the general condition was very noticable, and this was especially true in the young patients. Among the reasons for the removal of adenoid vegetations may be mentioned: The prevention of pathological conditions of the ears and the beneficial effect upon the ear complications; the establishment of free nasal respiration, thus doing away with mouth-breathing and its attendant disadvantages; the marked and rapid improvement in the patient's general health. The last two conditions were much more striking in the young patients. The removal of a constant source of infection, statistics showing that one case in five have tubercle bacilli either in the substance of the growth or upon its surface, and, as already mentioned, the presence of adenoids increases the susceptibility of the patients to the acute exanthemata. The dangers of the operation, if correctly performed, are very slight and the beneficial results as marked as those derived from any operation. ANN ARBOR MEDICAL CLUB. THE PRESIDENT, JOHN A. WESSINGER, M. D., IN THE Chair. RETENTION OF URINE. DOCTOR CYRENUS G. DARLING: I wish to report two cases to show some methods of treating retention of urine. A man, seventy-five years old, had been using a catheter for five years because of enlarged prostate and cystitis. One day he was unable to pass the soft rubber catheter that he was accustomed to employ, and attempted to insert an old one which had been about the house for some time, because it was smaller. The tip had already been broken off. He not only failed in the attempt at satisfactory insertion but when he tried to withdraw the instrument it broke, leaving a piece of unknown length in the bladder. To still further complicate matters he threw the withdrawn fragment into the fire. He then called his physician who secured three fragments of catheter, probably all that had not been previously removed; still the physician was not able to gain acress to the bladder because of the injury which the patient inflicted upon himself. I saw patient about thirty-six hours later, when I found the bladder enormously distended because no urine had been passed. The pulse was weak and he presented all the signs of a septic condition. I decided to drain the bladder but patient was in no condition to take an anesthetic. I then made a suprapubic incision under local anesthesia (Schleich's solution). A large amount of very offensive urine was allowed to flow slowly away, and the patient was immediately relieved but was already so septic that he did not improve. He became gradually weaker and died on the following day. The second case was that of a boy eight years old who fell astride of a stick, completely severing the urethra. This was followed by infiltration of the perineal tissues and retention of urine. The physician failed to find the |