more from the withdrawal of gluten Is THERE A GOOD GLUTEN FOOD, MOR from flour, which is such a general article of food. Not all the gluten is withdrawn from flour, else dough could not be made; but too much is withdrawn for health giving purposes. The mills of fashion in food grind so fine, and fashions in food have such ruts, that to get people generally to give up the idea of whiteness of their flour bread is as impossible as it is to get ladies to give up corsets. Hence any effort to restore the lost gluten to the food should be warmly welcomed by all physicians. There are many such preparations in the market, with so many claims to peerless superiority over each other that the mind is bewildered to know what is best. It is noticed that most of the so-called gluten foods do not come up to their own standards as stated on their labels. This is so true that the writer hitherto has morphologically found whole wheat ground fine, with all the coats left in after going through the smutting mills, the best gluten food. The Arlington wheat meal is a fair type of these meals. The writer, after careful studies of the morphologies of fæces of people who have subsisted on wheat meals, is not prepared to join in the wholesale denunciation of the presence of the coats of wheat in the bread. So far as their mechanically irritative effects are concerned, there are plenty of mucous to develop such irritating substances, which are not so irritating as the intestinal calculi shown in the Royal College of Physicians, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. Still, meals do not make as good bread as white wheat flours, unless in very skilful hands. Moreover, so long as the curious ethics of modern times places the difficult art of breadmaking in the hands of the lowest class of unskilled labor-the ordinary careless, time-serving, unthinking queens of the kitchen-it becomes an important question: PHOLOGICALLY? The writer thinks there is under the purposely meant to be ugly name of "Poluboskos." The preparation is worthy of a better name. Etymologically it should be polyboskos, as we say polygamy, polygonal, etc. Under the microscope it is mainly made up of masses with acute angles, composed of the granules of gluten and starch embedded therein. There is less starch to the gluten granules than in any other gluten foods we have examined.* A This starch acts not on polorized light, and some graius are flattened, wrinkled and distorted as if cooked. I found no gluten cells as such, only one set of gluten comb cells empty. Very little of the integument in any specimen. portion taken dry in the mouth and chewed soon forms an elastic mass of gluten which is superior to chewing gum and much more healthful for those who must chew gum. It would be very easy to name other preparations which are called gluten foods and which have been examined in a like manner, but which do not compare with "Poluboskos" in sustaining their alleged character under morphological tests. It should be said that the specimen on which these statements are made was bought in open market. So long as the makers keep the present standard of quality it deserves to stand at the head of gluten foods, in my opinion. :0: EXAMINATION OF THE URINE FOR LIFE INSURANCE.-1. If albumin is found in the urine, do not recommend the application for insurance because the quantity of albumin present is small, even though it be mere traces. 2. If albumin is present in the urine *See "Cereal Foods under the Microscope," American Medical Weekly, Gaillard's Medical Journal, 1882, Scientific American, 1882. and the applicant is over forty years of ing perfectly normal, and no pain is presage, decline the application. 3. If albumin and renal casts are found in the urine, decline the applica tion regardless of the age of the applicant or the quantity of albumin present. 4. If albumin is found in the urine in large amounts-two or more grammes to the litre-decline the application. 5. If the applicant is of middle age or over, and has always been a generous eater, especially of meat; and if he rises regularly at night to void considerable quantities of clear urine of low specific gravity; and if, in addition, there is decided tension of his pulse with accentuation of second sound of the heart, decline the application, even though the urine be free from albumin. 6. If true renal casts are unmistakably present in the urine, either epithelial, granular, fatty, hyaline, or composite, decline the application, even though the urine is free from albumin. 7. If the specific gravity of the urine is normal (1.020) or above, but it contains albumin at times, while at other times it contains none, especially on rising in the morning, and no casts are present in the urine of an applicant who is under thirty years of age and apparently in good health, the albuminaria is doubtless of the so-called functional form, and, in the discretion of the home office, the application may be accepted for a ten years' endowment policy. As yet, however, such risks cannot be considered altogether safe for life policies. 8. If the applicant is subject to frequent or occasional attacks of gravel one or more of which was recent-the application should be declined. 9. If the applicant has had one or more attacks of gravel, and more or less dull pain is present in the renal region, and the urine is more or less turbid from the presence of pus, the application should be declined. 10. If the applicant has had attacks of gravel, but five years have elapsed since the last attack, the urine remain ent in the region of the kidney, the application may be accepted. 11. If the applicant is over fifty years of age and voids his urine with more or less slowness and difficulty at times, the stream being small, forked, or dropping, and at times involuntarily shutting off before the finish, and if he rises regularly at night to void urine, and is subject to periodical attacks of frequent urination, the application should be declined, even though the urine itself is in every respect normal. 13. If the urine contains sugar, the application should be declined. 13. If the urine is turbid from admixture with pus or blood, the application should be declined.-Purdy, N. Y. Med. Journal. ICHTHYOL FOR DISEASES OF WOMEN. -Dr. H. W. Freund recommends ichthyol as an excellent remedy which has marked soothing and absorbing properties for all local inflammations. He has had remarkable success with it for chronic parametritis, chronic and subacute perimetritis with exudations, adhesions or cicatrices; inflammations of the tubes and ovaries; erosions of the cervix and pruritus of the external genitals. He employs the remedy externally and internally; for the latter purpose, he gives 0.1 gm. three times a day at first and later in doubled doses. For external use he combines it with glycerine (ammon. sulpho-ichthyol. 5.0, glycerine 100.0), and applies it on cotton tampons for the vagina. For the purpose of stimulating absorption he employs a salve (lanolin equal parts) or as a soap (ammon. sulpho-ichthyol. 8.0, sapon. virid. 80.0) rubbed on the abdominal walls or as a suppository (0.05-0.2 with butyr. cacao) introduced into the rectum. For erosions of the cervix uteri, he paints on the pure ichthyol. -Schmidt's Jahrbuecher. NEW ENGLAND The Rush Medical College of Chicago. Government loses in his retirement a MEDICAL MONTHLY. faithful hard-working officer, and Rush William C. Wile, A. M., M. D., Editor. ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Medical College gains a skilful surgeon and a splendid Teacher. Dr. Hamiltons successor Dr. Hal. C. Wyman, is a most excellent choice of the President's and we are assured that the well laid plans which have been formulated by the late Surgeon General for the good of the service, will be faithfully carried out for Dr. Wyman has been for several years Dr. Hamilton's Dr. Wyman possesses THE DANBURY MEDICAL PRINTING COMP'Y, right hand man. T a recent meeting of the Journal THE ANNUAL Meeting of the Con AT trustees of the American Medical Association, held at Chicago, Dr. J. C. Culbertson, the talented editor of the Cincinnati Lancet and Clinic, was unanimously elected, Editor of the former. Dr. Culbertson has been long and favorably known to the medical profession of this country as an able writer, and a man of great executive ability and a well balanced mind, we are sure that he will develop the journal to the full extent of his ability. necticut State Medical Society last month, was marked by an increased interest by the medical profession of the state. This in our opinion is due to the fact, that the president Dr. Storrs, is one of the most popular members of the profession in the state, and his personality drew many. He also worked hard to make the meeting a success, and the result ought to have satisfied him. Then the new order of things went into effect, increasing the number of days of the session, which gave many, an opportunity of attending at least one of THE RETIREMENT OF DR. HAM- the three days, when they might not ILTON. THE resignation of Dr. J. P. Hamil ton from the Surgeon-General ship of the Marine Hospital, was a great surprise to his friends and the profession. To this was added another surprise in the shape of his accepting the position of Professor of Surgery in have been able to do so under the old regimen. The address of the talented president was dignified in tone, scholarly in composition, and full of valuable suggestions. We hope, at no distant day to be able to present it to our readers. The papers read at the sessions were above the average, and we predict that the next volume of the transactions will exceed in value any of its predecessors. FORENSIC MEDICINES. FORE ORENSIC Medicine is too generally regarded as an optional study in our medical colleges. The intimate kinship of medicine and law is overlooked, the training of the medical witness is under estimated. With the rapid advance of chemistry, particularly toxicology, there has been an increasing use of poisons for homicidal and suicidal purposes. The method of miscroscopic examinations, and chemical analysis are now greatly elaborated. Post-mortem appearances are noted with delicacy and minuteness of observation. Professor Reese devotes 268 pages to this one engrossing department of medical jurisprudence in his newly issued work. Excepting the casualties of war, the most frequent cause of violent death, he makes to be poisoning. The facility with which poisons may be obtained, the ease and secrecy with which they may be administered, and the close resemblance of their results, in many cases, to the results of disease or postmortem changes, account for their extensive use. This department of Forensic Medicine should therefore receive the most patient and thorough attention, on the part of every student and practitioner. The data and reasoning of Prof. Reese are very helpful. Not less important is the subject of civil and criminal responsibility of testamentary capacity and the whole field of mental defects and disorders. The legal relations of imbecility, idiocy, inebriety, mania, real and pre tended insanity, are vital and essential questions. Our civilization is more intricate, its complexity more embarassing in its relations, than the world ever saw before. But with the continual metamorphosis of social conditions man remains the central problem after all. He is to be studied biologically and sociologically, in the normal and aberrant features of his mind. Our methods, whether primitive or philanthropic, and remedial must be elaborate, minute and sagacious, in keeping with the delicate and intricate conditions of our social and civic life. Medical malpractice, suits for the same, inebriety in physicians, liability of druggists and the forensic features of life insurance, are topics treated in this volume by Professor Reese in his usual lucid and suggestive style. The volume as a whole is a practical and exhaustive treatise and an admirable contribution to the important department of medical jurisprudence. THE ADDRESS ON SURGERY. `HERE was one notable feature of THERE the Washington meeting of the American Medical Association which received the encomiums of all that heard it, and that was the scholarly address of Dr. Matthews, on surgery. The talented author took for his subject the theme of rectal surgery, of which he is a master and authority, and handled it in such a thorough manner as to bring forth praises on all sides. It is published in full in this number, and we are sure it will amply repay the careful perusal and study of our readers. It was one of the most able and learned addresses ever delivered before the American Medical Association. FORDYCE BARKER, M. D., LL. D., age, he became Professor of Midwifery IN OF NEW YORK. N THE death of Dr. Fordyce Barker, the medical profession of this conntry has lost one of its most brilliant ornaments. Dr. Barker's career furnishes an incentive to the younger members. Commencing in a humble way he advanced by gradual steps till he attained the highest rung of the ladder. His personality was delightful, he made the warmest kind of friends and kept them till death closed his eyelids. The editor of the NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL MONTHLY is under many obligations to this distinguished man. When the first number of the MONTHLY was issued, a copy was sent to Dr. Barker; he instantly sat down and wrote me, though an entire stranger, a most kind and flattering letter, filled with good advice and enclosing his check. He remained a subscriber till his death. proverbially kind to the young practitioner and was always ready to lend a helping hand. He was at the Bowdoin College Medical School. Dr. Barker was a prominent member of many medical associations, chief among them being the New York Academy of Medicine, of which he was president from 1878 to 1884; the New York County Medical Society, the New York Obstetrical Society, the New York Pathological Society, the Medical Society of the State of New York, of which he was formerly president; the New He died on Saturday, May 30th, of York Medical and Surgical Society, and an apoplectic stroke. The seizure oc- the American Gynecological Society, of curred on Thursday, and he remained par- which he was the first president, in tially conscious until Saturday morning. 1876. He was also Honorary Fellow of He was born at Wilton, Me., May 2, the Royal Medical Society of Athens, 1818. He was graduated from Bowdoin and a member of the Obstetrical SoCollege in 1837, and went to Boston, cieties of Edinburgh, London, Philawhere he studied medicine with Dr. delphia, and Louisville, and of the Henry I. Bowditch and with Dr. Chas. Philadelphia College of Physicians. In H. Stedman at the Chelsea Hospital. his practice, also Dr. Barker was very Afterward he studied in Edinburgh and widely known. He attended General Paris and received the degree of M. D. Grant in his last illness, and was the in the latter city in 1861. In this family physician of many of the leading country he began the practice of his families in this city. Outside of his profession at Norwich, Conn., in the fol- professional position, however, which lowing year. He made a specialty of was high, Dr. Barker was most popular obstetrics and women's diseases, and in as a man, and was universally regarded 1845, when but twenty-seven years of as a thoroughly lovable, refined, and |