PROFESSOR TIFFANY thought the galvano-cautery far superior to the acid, as being far more easily controlled. One can go in with the wire cold, after using cocaine, then turn on the current, and very little pain is felt. Besides, one can see exactly what is being done as the cautery illuminates of itself. DR. H. C. CROWELL related his personal experience. He had a bad laryngitis and pharyngitis and went to Professor Clarence E. Rice who, without looking at the throat, thrust a speculum up his nose and said, "Here is the source of the trouble." He burned one side with the galvano-cautery, and there was very little pain; the other side was trephined under cocaine and without much pain. This treatment cured the pharyngitis, and has relieved the headache from which he suffered so much before the operation. PROFESSOR THOMPSON explained that he did not wish to be understood as condemning the galvano-cautery in toto, because it is often of benefit in the treatment of affections of the anterior part of the nose, but as objecting to its indiscriminate use. DR. CHARLES C. PARTRIDGE had had some experience with chromic acid, and believed it to be far more powerful than usually considered to be. DR. FOSTER said, in conclusion, that of course every nervous case could not be considered as having nasal cause, but yet in searching for peripheral irritation this portion of the body should not be ignored. As for chromic acid, all prominent men in the east have discarded it in favor of the galvano-cautery. DR. ARCH. LAWSON presented the report of a case of URETHRAL CARUNCLE which is published elsewhere in this number of the INDEX. DR. PARTRIDGE reported a similar case occurring in a colored woman twentyeight years of age; she presented for treatment for "womb trouble." Examination showed a kind of cauliflower growth around the orifice of the urethra, fully one and one-half inches by one inch, and so extremely painful that cocaine had to be applied before an examination was possible. She said it had been growing since she was twelve years old. A solution of chromic acid applied at four or five different visits totally destroyed the growth and relieved all trouble. The three points of particular interest in the case were : 1. The caruncle sprang from the orifice of the urethra. 2. 3. The nervous disturbances arising from it were most profound. The growth was extremely vascular, bleeding at any time from comparatively slight irritation. DR. T. J. BEATTIE related a case in which ovariotomy had been performed; the tumor had many strong adhesions, and in breaking these down the bladder was severely torn; it was sewed up and the end of one of the sutures left hanging inside of the viscus. About two months afterward the young lady called at his office, and he removed a very considerable calculus that had formed around the thread. Some time afterward she returned thinking she had another; examination showed several fungoid growths, like caruncles, with profound nervous symptoms. They were removed with the knife and the base cauterized with acid nitrate of mercury. He has met a considerable number of these urethral caruncles during the past two years; his treatment has been to remove the caruncles and then put the patient upon constitutional treatment. DR. CROWELL thought the plan adopted as the best. The latest authorities have abandoned the use of acids, and employ the tenaculum and scissors followed by the actual cautery; by this means the whole of the diseased tissue can be removed, a point imperative in effecting a cure. The pathology is not thoroughly understood; in many cases a forming caruncle accompanies a prolapse of the vagina with its attendant vaginitis. Sometimes they seem to be analogous to hæmorrhoids, dependant upon interference with the portal circulation. DR. WM. FRICK called attention to the liability to return, especially unless completely removed. He had seen cases cut and treated with chromic acid return again and again. But by thorough extirpation with knife and galvano-cautery they can be cured. DR. F. W. LUSCHER said these cases occur not only in women of middle age or married ladies but also in children, especially the pedunculated form of urethral caruncle, though the sessile tumor may also be found in children. He has been in the habit of following the Goodell plan of treatment: dissecting back the mucous membrane, thoroughly cutting out the growth and allowing the membrane to close over the wound. If pedunculated, they should be cut off and the base cauterized with nitrate of silver. Sometimes these little tumors are as small as pinheads, requiring the closest scrutiny for detection, but even then producing very grave symptoms -hence the matter of diagnosis is important rather than treatment. DR. LAWSON, in closing, said the prognosis is always bad, as there is a tendency to recurrence. As to the point made by one speaker to remove the cause by placing the patient upon constitutional treatment, he would like to ask: What is the cause? It has never been pointed out. Sometimes the lithic acid diathesis accompanies it; if so of course the patient may be benefitted by withdrawing nitrogenous food and setting the liver to acting by the administration of mineral acids. E. L. EDITORIAL NOTES. CLINICAL FACILITIES OF KANSAS CITY. Those who imagine there is "nothing to see" in the clinics of Kansas City may possibly be surprised to read the following list of operations posted upon the bulletin-board of the University Medical College: (1) Von Millegen's modified operation for Entropion; (2) Extraction of Senile Cataract; (3) Transplantation of Pterygium; (4) Tiffany's operation for Entropion; (5) Syndectomy; (6) Trachoma removed by Electricity; (7) Iridectomy; (8) Advancing the Rectus for Strabismus. This was the list of operations set for performance by Prof. Tiffany November 10, 1888. How is that for an eye clinic? neutral or alkaline; it may be advan tageously combined with bicarbonate of sodium or subnitrate of bismuth. Charcoal may be given two hours after meals. If pepsin be employed it should be prescribed in acids and given immediately after meals. BRYSON ON ELECTROLYSIS. Dr. John P. Bryson, of St. Louis, who read a paper upon this subject at the Missouri State Society, writes as follows: You will permit me to correct the error in the abstract of my paper on Electrolysis in the Treatment of Urethral Strictures, published on page 322 August number of the INDEX, current year? So far from advocating the use of electricity in the treatment of these conditions, I took the opposite ground. As the paper is published in the St. Louis Coruier of Medicine for July of this year, and also appears in the transactions of the Missouri State Medical Association, it seems unnecessary to say more here than to call attention to the fact that any one reading it will not fail to see that, in order to make sense, the words anode and cathode should be transposed. TREATMENT OF YELLOW FEVER.Dr. C. E. Fisher, editor of the Southern Journal of Homeopathy, gives his experience in the epidemic of 1878. He gave aconitum for the chill and fever of the first stage with an occasional alternation with belladonna when headache, flushed face, trembling caretids and injected eyes were present. When perspiration was slow in appearing, bryonia 3x, was given; a warm foot-bath with mustard in the water, or hot bottles to the legs or thighs assisted in obtaining diaphoresis. Where there was intense dryness of the skin, five drops of tincture of jaborandi hourly induced copious sweating. Nausea and vomiting were arrested by small doses of ipecac and arsenicum. Pretty good "allopathic' treatment that, Bro. Fisher; where did you learn it? KANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY [STATE]. -The following is received just at the moment of going to press: The adjourned meeting of the Kansas State Medical Society will convene in Lincoln G. A. R. Hall, Topeka, the third Tuesday in January (15), 1889, at 7:30 P. M., to take action on the death of Dr. Stormont, and to officially receive the magnificent gift of Mrs. Stormont ($5,000), for the purchase of a library for the Kansas (State) Medical Society, and to take such action to legalize the receipt of the gift as may be necessary. The President, Dr. J. Bell, and Dr. W. W. Cochrane will have appropriate papers for the occasion. There will be time for voluntary scientific reports on the progress of medicine and surgery, and an opportunity to join the Society will be given. DR. J. BELL, President. DR. J. E. MINNEY, Secr'y. LONGER COURSE OF STUDY.-At its October meeting the Illinois state board of health reiterated its previous statement that after the winter of 1890-91 the diploma of no college will be re cognized that does not require four years' study that is, one year with a preceptor and three regular courses of lectures of at least five months each. This action, backed by a similar requirement in Minnesota as well as in one or two other states, has had the effect of bringing the announcement from a number of colleges that the requirements will be rigidly enforced; among the western schools the Medical College of Ohio, Miami Medical College, Medical College of Indiana, Chicago Homœopathic Medical College and Medical Department University of Nashville and Vanderbilt University have announced an intention of complying with the rule. The action of larger schools, like Rush, the Missouri Medical, Bellevue Hospital. etc. is awaited with interest. It is probable and devoutly to be wished, that they as well as all other reputable colleges in America will adopt the obligatory three years' attendance with one year of preliminary study. MCKENZIE'S BOOK.-Morell McKenzie's book, entitled "The case of Frederick the Noble," has been issued and is meeting with extraordinary sales. One London dealer is said to have sold nearly five thousand copies in one day. At Leipsic twelve thousand copies intended for sale in Germany were seized and suppressed by the government-a more effective advertisement than any McKenzie himself could have devised. As for the book itself-it is evidently written solely as an advertisement and to gratify the vanity of the author. The one fact of its having been sold by McKenzie to the publishers for $250,000 of itself shows the expectation of notoriety held by him The story as told by "Sir Morell" is anything but a plain one; the truth is too palpably "stretched" in too many places to satisfy the impartial reader; it is a most pitiful combination of mingled spite and vanity with a mass of irrelevant rubbish intended to interest the common herd. But upon it McKenzie will rise to the peerage-an ambition to satisfy which he has written the work; in after years he will bow his head in shame over the part he has played in the most disgraceful controversy of medical history. LITTLE ITEMS. A school of surgeons has been established at Rome, Italy, In incontinence of urine in children ergot may be tried in small doses. Dr. E. R. Lewis has removed from Seventh and Main to the Times Building. Dr. J. E. Logan has removed his office to the south-east corner of Ninth and Walnut streets. Dr. C. W. Scott has concluded to rebuild his Sanitarium at Independence in the early Spring. Dr. John W. Elston, formerly editor of the INDEX, has been re-elected to the office of coroner. Dr. John B. Tyler has moved his office to the Pennock Building, corner Twelfth and Main streets. Dr. W. B. Wood, of Springdale, Kansas, has removed to McPherson, Los Angeles County, Cala. In diabetes diluted phosphoric acid quiets the inordinate thirst more effectually than any other drink. In November five laparotomies were performed in Kansas City. One patient died from uremic poisoning. Dr. J. H. Thompson has removed his office from No. 17 E. Sixth street to room 31, Times Building, this city. For sweating of the feet the Prussian military law prescribes salicylic acid, two parts, and mutton suet one hundred parts. Prof. D. Hayes Agnew, M. D., LL. D., has sent in his resignation as professor of surgery in the University of Pennsylvania. The inhalation of the fumes of tobacco for even a short time by children unaccustomed to them may cause alarming illness. Dr. Alexander Dunlap, of Springfield Ohio, recently performed a laparotomy It was sucupon a child one hour old. cessful. China, have passed a law making vaccination compulsory. A mixture of three parts of salicylic acid, ten of starch and eighty-seven of talc is advised by a foreign exchange for sweating of the feet Dr. Coryell, of Cato, gave the INDEX & pleasant call recently when returning from New York, where he has been pursuing post-graduate studies. For the cure of scabies, Kaposi uses lard 100 parts; green soap 50 parts; powdered white chalk 10 parts. Mix. It is also recommended for acne. Dr. J. M. Langsdale, one of the most prominent physicians of Independence, Mo., has moved to Kansas City and opened an office in the Times Building. Dr. C. Klippel, one of the successful practitioners of the "Queen City" of Kansas-Hutchinson-was among the callers at the INDEX office last month. Dr. Wm. Osler has been elected professor of principles and practice of medicine in Johns Hopkins University. He will move from Philadelphia to Baltimore in May. The Medical Department of John Hopkins University, Baltimore, is to have an obligatory five years' course. How is that for America, Messieurs France and Germany? Dr. Samuel Clark, of Belton Mo., in the Philadelphia Medical Times, attests the favorable results to be obtained from the use of jaborandi in the treatment of erysipelas. Dr. Felix Simon (British Medical Journal) says no specialty can lastingly flourish which aims at independence—at too complete a separation from the general profession. Montefusco, physician to the Contungo small-pox hospital, recommends phenic acid, locally and internally, as the best treatment of variola.-Buffalo Medical Journal. The Medical Record says that in Norway, after the removal of the tax on whisky, insanity increased fifty per cent. and idiocy one hundred and fifty per cent. Comment is unnecessary. Maryland Medical Journal says several cases of perforation of the bowel by round worms (ascaris lumbricoides) are reported. The moral is to remove the worms by anthelmintics as soon as discovered. A St. Petersburg physician carefully followed up the history of a syphilitic woman he had under his care. She infected no less than three hundred men during the time she was under his observation. Prof. Gerhardt, the associate of McKenzie and von Bergmann in the treatment of the German Emperor, has been elected Rector of the University of Ber lin, and his election has been confirmed by the Emperor. A competent physician is wanted in a growing country town in a fine section of Kansas; he must be a good catholic and a German. Particulars may be obtained by addressing Rev. A. Buechel, Piqua, Woodson Co., Kas. Among the text-books used in the med. cal schools of England, may be found those by Bartholow, Napheys, Stimson, Stephen Smith, H. C. Wood, Flint, Pepper's System, Lusk and Duhring—a high compliment to American authors. The low mortality-rate in the recent yellow fever epidemic is surprising, At Jacksonville to October 10 there were three thousand three hundred and nineteen cases, with only two hundred and ninety-nine deaths-about nine per cent. The Michigan College of Medicine and Surgery has organized a school of Pharmacy to be run in connection with the College. The American Lancet says the fees for the eight months' course will be $8.00! What a cheap school it must be! Much complaint has been made concerning the insolubility of saccharine. Manifold experiments have therefore been made to obviate this shortcoming, and the result is the production of a pure saccharine that is perfectly soluble in water. Morell McKenzie accuses von Bergmann of being intoxicated at the time he attempted to introduce the new tube into the throat of the Emperor Frederic, and that in his attempts he forced a false passage which was the immediate cause of death. Prof. William Tod Helmuth, the most celebrated homoeopathic surgeon of the world, complains bitterly because the Index Catalogue Library of the Surgeon General, U. S. A., contains so few references to deserving articles in homœopathic journals. Keith says and Keith is authority upon such subjects that hysterectomy is an operation that has done more harm than good. One out of every four operations has been fatal. Cancer is the only disease for which the procedure is at all justifiable. Among the changes at the East Side Free Dispensary may be mentioned the election of Dr. T. R. McClintock as As sistant to Prof. E. R. Lewis in the general clinic, and Dr. Charles C. Partridge as Assistant to Prof. John H. Duncan in the dermatological clinic. In operating upon the brain, after the skull has been opened the wound in the bone may be enlarged even to include one of the cerebral sinuses if necessary, hæmorrhage being controlled by plugging the sinus or closing its wound by a fine needle and suture. Dr. Samuel Ayers, formerly dean and professor of clinical surgery in the Hospital College of Medicine, Louisville, has located at 1006 Main street, this city. As Dr. Ayers has always been regarded as one of the brightest men in Louisville, the INDEX gladly welcomes him to Kansas City. For the relief of severe coxalgia Méniere recommends : Ꭱ Extracti valeriana Chloral. hydrat. aa gr.iss Dj Sig. To be in Olei theobroma Misce et ft. suppositor. serted in rectum for pain and repeated when necessary. In a paper read before the American Association of Obstetricians and Gynæ. cologists, September 18, 1888, Dr. W. W. Potter, of Buffalo, reported a case in which he had performed double ovariotomy in a pregnant woman. The patient subsequently went to full term and was delivered of a living child. Electricity is of much service in the treatment of gleet, says Dr. W. A. Stevenson, in Provincial Medical Journal. The electrode connected with the positive pole is placed over the lumbar re |