When the muscles of the abdomen flap up and down in consonance with the movement of the diaphragm, suspect lesion or disease of the spinal cord. When a perfectly sound leg drags after its fellow, and there is inability to raise it from the ground, it is apt to be evidence of some impending disease of the spine. Inability to stand steadily with the eyes closed, nervousness when descending stairs, raising one leg unnecessarily high to cross it over the other, hesitation in rising from a chair when bidden, are considered as partial evidence of incipient locomotor ataxia. Severe pain in or about the heart, with paroxysmal fainting spells and anxiety, if coupled with muffled first sound at the base of the heart, or aortic sound more pronounced than the pulmonary, is apt to be evidence of true angina pectoris due to organic disease-atheromatous deposit and valvular incompetency. A hard, rigid, inelastic femoral artery-the vessel feeling like a small gaspipe-suggests gangrene of the foot or leg in the near future. Continuous headache, either deeply seated in one spot or referred to the whole cranium, and that never yields even temporarily when under treatment, is probably evidence of organic disease of the brain or its membranes.-Doctor Lewis in Ohio Medical Journal. Prophylactic Measures Against Tuberculosis. At a recent meeting of the Berlin Medical Society, Prof. Cornet read a paper on the above subject (Lancet). He had already suggested that the tubercle bacillus is not ubiquitous, as some observers suppose, and is present only where phthisical patients have expectorated and where the dried sputum has afterward become dispersed. This result he had arrived at by very extensive examinations of the wards in hospitals, and the rooms in barracks, prisons and monasteries, where crowds of people live together in a limited space; the dust and mud of the street were also carefully examined by him. In rooms where spittoons containing some water were in use he very seldom found the bacillus, even if the phthisical patients lived there. According to him, the prophylactic measures are very simple-a large number of spittoons, partially filled with water, should be provided in order to prevent people from spitting on the floors, and handkerchiefs should not be used for receiving expectoration; moreover, the floors of houses and the streets ought to be sprinkled with water as often as possible. Heredity had less influence on the origin of tuberculosis than was generally believed. In a great many cases where the children of phthisical parents were attacked with the disease the communication might be due, not to heredity, but to mere contagion. The number of those suffering from phthisis is, in Prof. Cornet's opinion, estimated to be higher than the results of necropsies warrant. It is an error to suppose that the atmosphere is filled with tubercle bacilli; they are dangerous only where the necessary precautions are neglected. In proof of the efficacy of hygiene in reducing the danger of tuberculosis, Prof. Cornet mentioned that on his advice the Government had taken the abovedescribed measures to prevent the general dispersion of sputum in prisons and lunatic asylums, and that since this time the mortality had fallen considerably.-Med. Record. A New Occupation for Blind Persons. It is stated that in Japan massage is practiced almost exclusively by blind persons. The idea is that the sense of touch is so much more delicate and developed in those who have lost their vision, that the employment of them as "masseurs" and "masseuses" is quite in accord with the natural fitness of things. Blind persons are largely used for this purpose in St. Petersburg, and at a large massage school there the professor is also blind. Doubtless were the massage establishments in England to be officered by blind male and female persons the suspicion raised against them that they were used for improper purposes would soon be removed. But it will not do to be certain of anything in this world.—Med. Press. "The cure for hypertrophied prostate by castration must be regarded as one of the most brilliant discoveries of the century.' Unilateral castration will answer, as this is followed by the shrinking of the corresponding lobe of the prostate. Memphis Medical Monthly Subscription Per Annum, One Dollar in Advance. The MONTHLY will be mailed on or about the first of the month. Subscribers failing to receive it promptly will please notify us at once. We cannot promise to furnish back numbers. Original communications, etc., should be in the hands of the Editor thirty days previous to date of publication. Clinical experience-practical articles-favorite prescriptions, etc., and medical news of general interest to the profession, solicited. Communications of a literary character, and books for review, should be addressed to A. G. SINCLAIR, M.D., EDITOR, Communications relating to advertisements or subscriptions should be addressed to C. H. BRIGHT, BUSINESS MGR., 126 Hernando Street, Memphis, Tenn. SITE FOR THE NEW CITY HOSPITAL.-In our June issue we gave a number of reasons why the present hospital location should be retained, but there are others which must appeal to the good judgment of every citizen who has the prosperity of Memphis at heart. Among these is the unfavorable effect which the removal of the hospital to some other portion of the city would have on the welfare of the Memphis Hospital Medical College. This institution was founded about sixteen years ago through the liberality and enterprise of a few physicians (there were but a few left when the yellow fever got through with them) and a number of the most solid business men of this city, all of them property owners and heavy taxpayers; all of them men who stood by Memphis in the hour of her adversity, and who out of the wreck left by repeated epidemics have been among the most efficient and untiring workers in the rebuilding of her fallen fortunes and the establishment of the high degree of prosperity which she enjoys today. And these men say today in no uncertain terms that the founding of the college was one part of their plan for the salvation of their ruined city. They reasoned that such an institution would bring thousands of young men here; that these men would necessarily contribute directly to the wealth of the city; and what would be of still more value, the college and its classes would prove most effective and everincreasing disseminators of the commercial, no less than the VOL. XV-24 educational, fame of Memphis throughout the territory on which her prosperity depends. Let us see whether or not they reasoned wisely. The college brings to Memphis about two hundred and fifty students each year. They remain here for six months, and in that time spend for board, clothing, books, instruments, drugs, tuition, and in other ways, not less than seventy-five thousand dollars, or six per cent. on a capital of one million and a quarter of dollars, and this money is spent among the merchants, grocers, boarding-house keepers, for house rent, and so on-every dollar of it a direct addition to the incomes of these various classes of our taxpayers. But this is not all. These men come from every portion of the South, showing the extent to which Memphis is advertised by her college, and in every part of the South they afterwards make their homes, and are for life the friends, advocates and patrons of the city of their Alma Mater. In this way Memphis is already indebted to her medical college for an army of staunch representatives in the territory tributary to her interests. Is the welfare of such an institution to be disregarded? Memphis through her Business League is striving to induce all kinds of legitimate enterprises to locate here. Can she afford now to reverse her policy and strike a blow at one that is already established and contributing so much to her prosperity? Are the opinions and wishes of those taxpayers who have accomplished all this not entitled to serious consideration by those who are to decide the hospital question? These men wisely selected the site occupied by the college because of its proximity to the hospital, and, not believing that the question of removal of the latter from so eligible a location could ever be entertained, with their money aided in the erection of the college buildings. These men are taxed to support the hospital, and were earnest advocates of the hospital tax bill which, through their efforts, became a law, and their judgment should weigh heavily with those in whose hands rests the decision of the hospital question. We are not advocating any official connection between the medical college and the city hospital, nor is this desired by the faculty, but that proximity of each to the other is of mutual advantage admits of no question. Very often there are patients in the wards who, with the consent and approval of the hospital surgeon, gladly avail themselves of the services of members of the faculty, and are entirely willing to appear before the class in order to obtain these services. Why then should this be prevented, to the disadvantage of the patients, the disadvantage of the class, and the consequent detriment of an institution which contributes so largely to the prosperity of our city, by removal of the hospital, especially when, as has already been shown by the MONTHLY, the present location is for its purpose, from every point of view, far superior to any other that can be selected? ONE of the most active and efficient of our State boards of health is that of Michigan. For several years it has by means of pamphlets, sanitary institutes, and so on, been educating the masses in methods for the restriction and prevention of dangerous diseases. It has now secured the enactment of a law requiring instruction of this nature to be regularly given in all the public schools, the data and statements necessary for this purpose to be furnished to the teachers by the Board of Health. There are sixteen thousand teachers in the State, and the amount of good that may be accomplished by this army of instructors in sanitation is beyond computation. In Michigan the most dangerous communicable diseases are the following and in the order named: Consumption, pneumonia, influenza, diphtheria, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, measles, whoopingcough and smallpox. The information furnished the teachers is on these disorders, and is condensed into a four-page leaflet, but is given in detail when desired. After describing the principal modes by which the communicable diseases are spread, it continues as follows: Some of the chief sources of danger of contracting diseases are : 1. Dust from infected handkerchiefs. (A general rule applicable to all persons, sick and well, is that handkerchiefs should be looked upon with suspicion. They should not be used after any secretion from the nose has been permitted to dry upon them. After being used they should be put into a paper bag which may then have its top twisted shut, there to remain until put into boiling water.) |