are to be "picked up," or even that the science is to be sufficiently mastered by about nine months of special study, what cause of wonder is there that these mistakes occur, for it cannot be a science of any depth or stability. On the other hand, if it is true that there is a real science of the sort, which can, by being allowed to exercise its proper function, be made to do service in protecting public health and domestic industry, then why is it that a government, which should foster the interests of the people, is so unfortunately advised in this matter? The general public is beginning to realize how important a bearing the diseases of domestic animals and their control by proper measures resulting from their intelligent study is destined to exert upon the material prosperity of the country. People do not yet Some imported cattle coming to the station a little time after the diseased cargo, were put by themselves in a barn at some little distance away from the sick ones. Upon a certain occasion it became necessary to have for a little time a few extra men in attendance upon them, and one of the members of the commission, who happened to be present, ordered that certain men who were then in attendance upon the diseased animals be called to come directly and give the required assistance. To this the owner promptly objected, referring the matter to his own veterinary sur-appreciate, however, the intimate connection which a geon, there present, who sustained the objection; the order was countermanded, and the blunder prevented. When it is understood, as it is among all properly qualified men, that the contagious principle of foot and mouth disease is surely and easily conveyed by media, as of clothing, ropes, pails, litter, and the like, one is forced to the conclusion that this unqualified member of the commission had better be superseded by a capable man, or else that the government holds itself fairly open to the criticism of keeping an establishment for the propagation of contagious diseases Is it that even this service must be among cattle. so strangely mixed up with politics and political expediency in this country that nothing but a show of action in this direction is tolerated by the authorities at Washington? Or is it, perhaps, that properly qualified men are so few among us that their services for this work cannot be obtained. Let us look at another phase of this same matter. During the month just passed we were informed by the daily papers, which had received the news by telegraph, that foot and mouth disease was reported by "the United States veterinary surgeon at Fort Leavenworth," who had been detailed to investigate the matter as existing in a certain part of Kansas. In the dispatch there followed such a description of the nature of the outbreak as to lead any one with a knowledge of matters of the sort to decide at once that whatever the disease was it was not "foot and mouth." Rapidly following this outbreaks were reported from at least two other States. Much excitement was worked up, and a large appropriation was obtained to stamp out" what we were told, a little while after, by another governmental veterinary surgeon, if he is correctly reported, was "ergot in the hay." In view of the rather farcical ending of the whole matter we can this time if we do not belong to the veterinary profession — afford to smile, but still the more thinking mind will ask itself what the meaning of all this is. In the first place the government has employed an unqualified man; in the second, one who is a graduate of a school in which the total time demanded for professional study is something less than ten months. Perhaps we need look no further. If it is true that the "principles and practice" of veterinary medicine 66 more exact aetiology and pathology have shown to exist between many of the diseases of domestic animals and of men. This very foot and mouth disease which has of late been occupying so much attention is an excellent illustration of such connection. An extensive epidemic of aphthous sore throat at Dover, England, having its origin in a dairy supplied with milk from infected cattle, is at this very time under investigation by the medical health officer of the district. That man is liable to contract the disease has been sufficiently proved before. We do not know how many epidemics, among animals and human beings, nor how much loss must take place before the needed lessons are taken to heart, but fear that the process will be expensive if not slow. MEDICAL NOTES. - Dr. D. Humphreys Storer, of Boston, celebrated his eightieth birthday last week, when "honor, love, obedience, troops of friends," found themselves appropriately and happily sheltered beneath his roof. The Legislature of Connecticut, in session at Hartford, passed a bill recently prohibiting the sale, for hotel or family use, of any ice cut from waters made impure by sewage, mill refuse, etc. There was no objection in the bill to the use of such ice by market men or others for preserving articles. After a very short debate a member rose with an amendment that the bill should not go into effect until next November. He frankly stated that one of his constituents had a lot of impure ice, and as he had expended his money in cutting and housing it it was only fair that he should be permitted to sell it wherever he could. In spite of the whimsical character of this objection the House, to the surprise of everybody, agreed to the amendment. The Senate promptly concurred, but within the next few days so many indignant protests were received that the Senate, last week, recalled the bill, and struck out the obnoxious amendment. - M. Jaccoud, in an analysis of a large number of temperature charts in typhoid fever (Journal de Médecine, February, 1884), shows that the general impression as to the average date of the attainment of the maximum temperature in that disease is not correct Not the sixth to eighth day, but the fifth represented the maximum; in fact it was not very rare for the maximum to be reached on the second day. In the light of these observations it evidently is unsafe to exclude typhoid on the score of having a temperature of 104° F. on the second or third day. The examination of these charts showed that precocity of the fever constituted a rather unfavorable element of prognosis. -At the "Health Exhibition" to be held in South Kensington, England, in May next, food, dress, the dwelling, and the workshop are to form the staple attractions. The exhibition of food will, we learn from the Lancet, be international, and will embrace raw food substances from all parts of the world, and the different methods of preparing food which are in vogue in different countries will be fully illustrated. The storing, conveying, and preserving of food, as well as its adulteration, and the diseases produced by unwholesome food, will all form the subject of exhibits. Educational machinery and the hygiene of the school-room will also form subjects for illustration. Surgeons J. S. Billings and J. S. Brown, United States Army, have been detailed to attend this exhibition. They will also represent the United States Army Medical Corps at the International Medical Congress, which will convene at Copenhagen in August next. The question has been raised as to the frequency of epilepsy in the colored race, by the following remark of Dr. Lawson Tait in a discussion as to deafness in white cats (Nature, xxix., 164): "Every kind of white animal I have kept as a pet has proved to be the subject of epilepsy; and the association is suggestive, when we are told, as I have been frequently, that the disease is unknown among negroes." In Science, February 29, 1884, Alexander Graham Bell, in a communication, denies this assumption regarding the colored race, at least in America. Another writer, in the same periodical, claims that epilepsy is more frequent in negroes than among whites, which claim is apparently borne out by the following table furnished Mr. Bell by General Seaton from the unpublished figures from the tenth census: Percentage of epileptics in the United States, 1880, by race one of the great needs of the day, and it must be built. We want a cancer hospital on its own foundation, wholly independent of all other hospitals. . . . Its medical board ought to be men who go into it with zeal, determined not only to give temporary relief to human suffering, but to do something toward discovering better methods of treatment. We are now making great progress in every department of medicine. Why should not cancer derive some benefit from this general onward movement? Doubtful points of practice can only be settled in the wards of a great hospital, and success in treatment can only here be demonstrated. We want a medical board of large and liberal views. I would take knowledge wherever it can be found. I would invite any man who claimed to have a specific to come and try his remedies under the supervision of a committee specially appointed for that purpose. I would offer a large premium for any improvement, whether in constitutional or local treatment. I would do everything to obtain practical knowledge on this subject, regardless of the source from which it emanated. . . . Let me beg you to take steps at once to inaugurate a movement which must culminate in a great work so much needed here and now. The subject of cancer is too large and its interests too great to be lodged in a pavilion subsidiary to any other hospital, whether special or general." Correspondence. ARTIFICIAL INFLATION OF THE COLON WITH GAS. BOSTON, March 20, 1884. MR. EDITOR, In regard to the artificial inflation of the colon with gas, as recommended by Professor von Ziemssen, and mentioned in No. 12 of the JOURNAL, it may not be wholly useless to quote the statement of Austin Flint in his Practice of Medicine,1 who, in treating of Intussusception, says: "I have known rupture to result from the injection successively of an acid and alkaline liquid, giving rise to the evolution of gas by combination within the intestine.” It is also on record that injections of water, given to relieve intussusception, have ruptured a portion of normal intestine, below the displaced part, so that it seems clear that, in clinical experiments, we should keep very far on the safe side of an enormous degree of inflation" or even "extreme expansion" of the colon. Respectfully yours, 66 HERMAN F. VICKERY, M. D. Dr. Flint gives no particulars as to the condition of the intestine to which he refers, nor do his words indicate whether the accident occurred within the writer's personal knowledge or was merely reported to have happened. On the other hand, V. Žiemssen's language is very explicit, especially in regard to the experiments on intestines immediately after death. We should think by following the suggestion as to introducing the acid and alkali in divided portions any danger of rupture would be easily avoided. Water, from its weight, is probably more dangerous than gas. REP. 1 Fifth edition, 1881, page 490. Miscellany. patient before it was performed. Regarding the division of the disk of bone before its replacement, it was held by one speaker that it was a decided advantage to di A CONTRIBUTION TO THE SURGERY OF THE vide the disk of bone into parts, and he was of opinion 1 BRAIN. A PATIENT was recently exhibited by Dr. Macewen before the Pathological and Clinical Society of Glasgow, whose brain had been operated on for the relief of left hemiplegia, and who has recovered the power of movement to such an extent as to enable her to walk freely about, though with a paraplegic gait, to raise her arm to the level of her shoulder, and to grasp with considerable power, though there is a deficiency in co ordination of movement of the hand. that it would be a still greater if the centre of the disk SILVER WIRE. She had a syphilitic history. The hemiplegia was preceded by a tingling sensation and a numbness of the left arm and leg, which increased until it ended (within six weeks from its commencement) in complete motor paralysis and a deficiency in the perception of touch. The left side of the face was also slightly af- THE SURGICAL ABUSE OF SPOnges and of fected. This was accompanied by mental confusion and loss of memory. Full antisyphilitic treatment had been tried along with counter-irritation to the head, previous to her coming into the Royal Infirmary, and while she was in the medical wards of that institution. These did not seem to have relieved in the slightest the condition spoken of above. UNDER the somewhat sensational title of "Seven Surgical Follies," Dr. John B. Roberts (Polyclinic, February 15th) considers what he calls the ether folly (the abandonment of ether for chloroform on account of lack of knowledge of how to secure anesthesia by the former), the incision folly (too short incision), the styptic folly (use of styptics to control hæmorrhage), the adhesive plaster folly (plaster in the place of sutures), the dose folly (inadequately small doses), the sponge folly, and the suture folly. On these last two points he says: Trephining was performed over the middle of the ascending frontal and parietal convolutions. The internal table of the disk removed was found softened and thicker than usual, having on its internal surface a series of projections or roughnesses, some protruding for nearly one eighth inch beyond the general level. "What I term the sponge folly is the habit of emA second opening was made over the occipital region, ploying sponges for absorbing blood from wounds, when and a similar thickening of the internal table was napkins or towels are always obtainable, and are far found. Opposite to the first opening the dura mater less liable to introduce septic material into the wound. was paler than normal, and somewhat thickened. It Sponges, while too expensive to be thrown away after was elevated, and a false membrane of yellow color, each operation, are cleaned with great difficulty. Serand about one sixteenth of an inch in thickness, was vants and nurses, therefore, not appreciating the imporremoved. An incision was made into the brain in the tance of thorough cleansing and disinfection, often negdirection of the paracentral lobule, when a gush of gru- lect this duty. Hence I prefer towels, and if I do an opermous red-colored fluid escaped out of the opening. Its ation at a patient's house, always use clean towels obquantity was not measured, as it could not have been tained there. Thus I secure an almost certain immucollected. Approximately, there would be about a nity from purulent or septic dirt in the articles used for couple of drachms. The brain pulsations previously absorbing blood. Perfectly clean surgical sponges are were not discernible, but, after the escape of this col- the exception, but clean household towels are the rule. lection of fluid, it was thought that very feeble pulsa- At the polyclinic I use for this purpose, to a considertions were seen. Some of the surgeons standing by ble extent, Japanese paper napkins, which are thrown doubted the presence of the cerebral pulsation. The away after being once used. Absorbent cotton is too disks of bone were carefully divided into segments and expensive for such uses, except to a limited extent, replanted, and are now quite firm. Wounds treated and besides, has a tendency to leave filaments entanwithout pus production. gled in the wound.” 1 The day after the operation the patient expressed herself as very much better. On the third day she moved her toes. Within a week she lifted her leg from the bed and stated that she was so much better that she could turn in bed, and believed she could walk. The fingers were moved within a week. Her mind greatly changed for the better, her memory improving, and her intelligence becoming much brighter. She can now walk freely about, and does a considerable amount of domestic duty in the ward. She lifts her arm to the level of her shoulders, and can grasp with considerable force. In the discussion which ensued upon the exhibition of the patient the improvement was attributed to the result of the operation by surgeons who had seen the 1 Glasgow Medical Journal, February, 1884. Regarding the "suture folly," the author says: "I do not refer to the erroneous opinion, long held, that sutures should not be used in the scalp. This tradition has been disproved so often that few surgeons would now hesitate to use sutures as freely in the scalp as elsewhere. What I call the suture folly is the ad 1 We learn by a note in another part of the same journal that these Japanese napkins are found by Dr. Roberts as efficacious and clean as cotton ones, and are so cheap that they can be thrown away of washing a large number of ordinary towels is thus avoided. The after being used. They cost from $6 to $7.50 a thousand. The cost paper towels are scarcely suitable for drying hands after washing, unless several towels are used at once, because the large amount of moisture on the hands soon saturates a single towel. For removing blood from wounds, a paper towel is crumpled up into a sort of ball and then used as a sponge. Such balls absorb blood rapidly. The crude ornamental pictures, in color, on the towels, are of no advantage, nor are they, as far as is known, any objection. herence of many to the theory that silver wire only should be employed for suturing purposes. Nothing could be more fallacious. Do we use silver hare-lip or acupressure pins? Why, then, employ silver sutures, when iron wire is stronger and far cheaper? When large and gaping wounds require the sutures to stand much tension, silver wire, if used, must be very thick. Iron wire of much smaller diameter, and therefore much more flexible, gives an equally strong suture, and in addition to being better adapted to the purpose is much cheaper. I recollect that, in hospital practice, nearly eight years ago, I discarded silver wire, which cost one dollar for each small coil, and bought, at a hardware store, enough iron wire for ten or fifteen cents, to last many months. The nicest iron wire I have seen, and which I now use for the purpose, because it is strong, very flexible, and free from elasticity, can be bought for five cents a spool. If it becomes a little rusty, it can be rubbed clean in a moment, should the operator object to the small amount of oxide of iron upon it." NEW FACTS ABOUT DR. O. W. HOLMES. THE following amusing instance of English insularism was handed us by a friend who chanced to consult a paper on Oliver Wendell Holmes, his Writings and two pages of the thirty-fifth number of the Proceedings Philosophy, by Robert F. Green, which occupies thirtyof the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool for 1881. Among other "facts" about Dr. Holmes the writer gives these: "Besides the Professorship at Dartmoor, he founded and carried on a medical school at Tremont and had a large private practice." It must be confessed that this is no more singular than the biography of Tennyson we recently saw in an Indiana newspaper headed by a cut of Longfellow. THE BERLIN POLICLINIC. THE Berlin Policlinic, 3 Fiegelstrasse, celebrated last November its first anniversary day. During this time more than two hundred medical men, amongst them many strangers, have attended it. Specialties are taught in monthly courses which begin every first working day of the month and last every day during the whole month except Sunday and holidays. To the Berlin Policlinic two laboratories, one for chemistry and one for histology, are attached. In both medical men find ample opportunity for executing researches on scientifical objects. The first of January a third laboratory, destined for working in Bacterioscopy, will be opened. At the same time a monthly course of Bacterioscopy will join the other courses. favorite authority. As it is now the fifteenth edition of the Dispensatory which comments upon the sixth revision of the Pharmacopoeia, if they wish to keep up with their standard they must buy a copy of that work twice and a half as often as they would of the Pharmacopoeia, the present standard, and as the retail price of the Pharmacopoeia is $4, while the Dispensatory is $8 twice as much - it would cost them, even at the present rates, just five times as much to enjoy their desired uncertain standard. But as the publication of the Pharmacopoeia began thirteen years before its commentary, the Dispensatory, and the price of the former edition of the Pharmacopoeia was only about $1.50, while that of the Dispensatory has always been about as much as now, it would, with the former editious of these works, have cost really much more than this. ELECTRIZATION OF THE SYMPATHETIC AND PNEUMOGASTRIC NERVES, WITH SIMULTANEOUS BILATERAL COMPRESSION OF THE CAROTIDS. DR. J. LEONARD CORNING, of New York, writes in the New York Medical Journal (February 23d) advocating a method of electrization which he believes to ated between the angle of the lower jaw and the hyoid possess a substantial value. bone, on the one hand, and between the internal border of the sternocleido-mastoid muscle and the continua- tion of the tracheal line on the other, one may embrace by one electrode three important structures at once, namely: (1) the internal carotid; (2) the pneumogastric nerve; (3) the sympathetic nerve. Besides these important structures, we have the jugular veins, adjacent subsidiary nerve-stems, etc. Taking into ac count the physiological functions of the three principal structures named, it will be seen that galvanization exerts a threefold action on the encephalon, due to (1) diminution of the amount and pressure of the cortical blood-stream; (2) contraction of the cerebral capillaries; and (3) retardation of the heart's action (when currents of considerable strength are employed). Advantage is taken of the fact that at a point situ The apparatus consists essentially of a bifurcated conducting rod admitting of the application of an electrode on the two sides of the neck simultaneously, with provisions for adjusting accurately the current through each pole. Of course, precautions are laid down in view of the importance of the structures acted upon. The amount of compression of the vessels as well as the strength of the current must be carefully watched. Dizziness and syncope must never be allowed to be produced. Therapeutically the author reports admirable results in congestive headaches, which may be cured in a few minutes. He also has hopes (the experience being not yet sufficiently extended to prove their success) of its value in epilepsy and incipient general paralysis. The galvanic current is generally preferable to the faradic. Besides the more obvious physiological effects already referred to, the author notes the following phenomena in connection with the procedure described: (1.) Dilatation of the pupil. (2.) Drowsiness. (3.) Dizziness (where too great pressure or excessively strong currents are employed). (4.) Drooping of the eyelids. (5.) Retardation of the heart's action (where strong Deaths reported 2641 (no reports from New Orleans, Buffalo, and Milwaukee): under five years of age, 694 principal in fectious diseases (small-pox, measles, diphtheria and croup, whooping cough, erysipelas, fevers, and diarrhoeal diseases) 434, consumption 425, lung diseases 406, diphtheria and croup 125, scarlet fever 98, diarrhoeal diseases 54, typhoid fever 43, measles 20, whooping-cough 20, puerperal fever 19, erysipelas 18, cerebro-spinal meningitis 17, typhus fever six, small-pox three. From typhoid fever, Philadelphia 14, Chicago five, New York, Brooklyn, Baltimore, and Lawrence three each, Boston, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, and Holyoke two each, St. Louis, District of Columbia, Fall River, and Salem one each. From measles, New York eight, Baltimore six, Philadelphia and Brooklyn two each, District of Columbia and Pittsburg one each. From whooping-cough, New York four, Pittsburg three, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Fitchburg two each, Brooklyn, District of Columbia, and Cambridge one each. erperal fever, Chicago seven, St. Louis three, New York two, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Nashville, Salem, and Northbridge one each. From erysipelas New York 10, Chicago three, Baltimore and St. Louis two each, Philadelphia From cerebro-spinal meningitis, New York six, Chicago, one. From pu St. Louis, Lowell, Lawrence, Holyoke, Quincy, Woburn, AmFrom malaherst, Holliston, Nantucket, and Natick one each rial fevers, New York five, Brooklyn and St. Louis two each, Philadelphia and Baltimore one each. From typhus fever, New York and Brooklyn three each. From small-por, Philadelphia two, Nashville one. Five cases of small-pox were reported in St. Louis, Cincinnati one; scarlet fever 35, diphtheria 13, and typhoid fever 11 in Boston. In 101 cities and towns of Massachusetts, with an estimated population of 1,428,666 (estimated population of the State 1,955,104), the total death-rate for the week was 18.21 against 17.07 and 20.31 for the previous two weeks. In the 28 greater towns of England and Wales, with an estimated population of 8,762,354, for the week ending March 8th, the death-rate was 22.5. Deaths reported 3773: acute diseases of the respiratory organs (London) 384, whooping-cough 138, measles 109, scarlet fever 94, fever 44, diphtheria 25, diarrhoa 25, small-pox (Sunderland seven, Birmingham four, Liverpool two, London and Wolverhampton one each) 15. The death-rates ranged from 13.8 in Birkenhead to 35.1 in Preston; Birmingham 19.6; Bradford 20.2; London 21.3; Leeds |