MARYLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL which are worthy of notice. The etiolA Weekly Journal of Medicine and Surgery, ogy of these affections is beginning to be

T. A. ASHBY, M. D., EDITOR, Subscription $3.00 per annum, payable in advance.

clearly understood. Mr. Tait lays down four lines on which the causation of the diseases, in the cases observed by

Contributions from practitioners in good standing him, rested: first the simply catarrhal;

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Editorial.

second, that which can be clearly traced to the influence of exanthemic disease occurring at the period of puberty; third, gonorrhoeal infection; fourth, the occurrence of inflammatory mischief in the pelvis in the post-puerperal condition, either following miscarriage or full-term labor. Mr. Tait also inclines to the belief that there is a distinct group of cases in which the only explanation available of the occurrence of chronic inflammatory trouble in the uterine appendages was the existence of an infantile condition of the uterus due to arrested development.

been pregnancies. In four only could Mr. Tait draw no conclusions as to the causes of disease, though in two cases he was inclined to regard the condition as due to scarlet fever.

THE PATHOLOGY OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASES OF THE UTERINE APPENDAGES.-Years ago Ruysch recog- The preponderating influence of the nized the conditions resulting from third and fourth causes is fully illuschronic inflammatory disease of the trated by Mr. Tait's experience. Out uterine appendages, but it has only been of 63 cases there were 10 unmarried within recent years that the frequency women, and of these 10 single women and serious character of these inflam- there could be no doubt that in at least matory affections have attracted much three of the cases the origin of inflamattention. Indeed, we may assert that matory trouble was gonorrhoeal. In two it has only been within ten years past others of these single women there had that this important field of clinical work has been diligently cultivated. The literature of this subject is fast as suming an extended scope, and has already become conspicuous for the clearness and accuracy with which it has In the 53 women who were married, presented the work of the pathologist 23 had never been pregnant, although and surgeon in this important field of married on the average ten years. Sixinvestigation. The very recentness of teen had been pregnant only once, the the subject and its importance have pregnancy occurring immediately after aroused unusual zeal and earnest study, marriage and being associated in every both of which facts account for the dis- case with subsequent pelvic trouble. cussions which have, within the past Only 14 cases had had more than one year, been carried on among those who child and between the last pregnancy work in abdominal surgery. We have and the time of operation was an averno way of determining the frequency of age of 6 years. These facts prove very these diseases, but that they are more conclusively the influence of chronic incommon than could have been imagined flammatory disease of the uterine apa few years back, the experience of Mr. pendages in the production of sterility. Lawson Tait fully exemplifies. During In every one of Mr. Tait's cases the the year 1886 Mr. Tait operated on 63 condition of the appendages was such patients with the result of only one that the patients could not by any posdeath. We have before us some of the sibility become pregnant. The tubes deductions obtained from this work were either occluded or so adherent to (Brit. Med. Jour., April 16, 1887), the ovary or adjacent tissues as to de

stroy their function in connection with numerous discouragements and reverses, the process of ovulation. of the great difficulties which have been.

stances as they arose we have honestly endeavored to do our best. We have trusted largely to the generosity of our readers and we take this occasion to render thanks to all who have by word, act or deed, befriended our enterprise. What has been attempted in the past we hope will be more satisfactorily done in

In the group of 23 women married in our pathway. We are also aware, to for an average period of ten years with- a painful degree, of the many imperout becoming pregnant Mr. Tait ob- fections which have been inseparable served that in one third of these cases from our work. Under all circumthe disease arose from old gonorrhoeas or gleets in their husbands, excited into activity by the indulgence of early married life. In rather more than one third of this same class he believed the disease originated in the exanthematic diseases of girlhood, more especially scarlet fever. In the second group of 15 women all of whom had been pregnant once the future. only, pelvic peritonitis following their The right of this JOURNAL to live only labor was the cause of subsequent another decade is vested in the hands of trouble. In the third group of 14 the profession of this city and State to a women whose fecundity was not limited very large extent. If they continue to to one child in 8 cases acute gonorrhoeal extend to it a generous moral and masalpingitis was the origin of the trouble. terial support it will undoubtedly go ahead in the work before it. During the ANNOUNCEMENT.-With the press of past ten years the editor has made inother professional duties the editor of numerable personal and pecuniary this JOURNAL is often compelled to per sacrifices that this work might survive a form his editorial work in the most un- decade. He has reached this point satisfactory manner to himself and and he now is willing to place the reequally so, no doubt, to many of the sponsibility for its future in the hands of JOURNAL readers. To lessen his own others who, no doubt, will be better quallabors and to improve the editorial work ified to conduct a work which he was of the JOURNAL he has secured the ser- instrumental in organizing and, in vices of Dr. G. J. Preston, of this city, placing upon a solid financial basis. who with the present issue assumes a formal position in connection with this work as Associate Editor. Dr. Preston has been a frequent contributor, during OFFICERS, COMMITTEES, AND SECTIONS OF the past two years, to this and other publications. His experience, training, and literary talents eminently fit him for the duties which he will undertake in the field of medical journalism. We, therefore, take pleasure in commending him to our readers, believing, as we do, that his services will add to the better conduct of a work to which many members of the medical profession in this and other States have contributed a warm personal interest and a generous pecuniary support.

In this connection we may be permitted to remind our readers that this JOURNAL has now survived a decade and enters, with the present issue, upon its eleventh year. In reaching this period of its existence we are mindful of

Miscellany.

THE MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL FACULTY
OF MARYLAND, FOR THE ENSUING
YEAR.

Officers were elected as follows to serve for one year:

President.-Dr. I. E. Atkinson.
Vice-Presidents.-Dr. Chas. H. Jones, Dr.
James Carey Thomas.

Recording Secretary.-Dr. G. Lane Taney

hill.

Assisting Secretary.-Dr. Robt. T. Wilson.
Corresponding Secretary.-Dr. Joseph T.

Smith.

Reporting Secretary.-Dr. Edward E. Mackenzie.

Treasurer.-Dr. W. F. A. Kemp.

Executive Committee.-Dr. Geo. W. Miltenberger, Dr. J. Edwin Michael, Dr. Philip C. Williams, Dr. John S. Lynch, Dr. Randolph

Winslow.

Examining Board of Western Shore.-Dr. S. C. Chew, Dr. T. S. Latimer, Dr. Frank Don

aldson, Sr., Dr. T. B. Evans, Dr. Wilmer 1887.-Drs. A. B. Arnold, T. A. Ashby, W.
Brinton, Dr. T. A. Ashby, Dr. H. P. C. Wil- D. Booker, J. J. Chisolm, John S. Conrad,
John Dickson, T. B. Evans, W. S. Forwood,
Examining Board of Eastern Shore.-Dr. G. W. T. Howard, C..H. Jones, W. F. A. Kemp,
T. Atkinson, Dr. B. W. Goldsborough, Dr. A. John S. Lynch, J. E. Michael, John N.
H. Bayley, Dr. James Bordley, Dr. J. K. H. Mackenzie, John Morris, H. T. Rennolds, R.
Jacobs.
H. Thomas, G. Lane Taneyhill, W. C. Van
Bibber, P. C. Williams, W. H. Welch, Henry
M. Wilson.

North Carolina.-Drs. W. S. Maxwell, L. McLane Tiffany. 7. The danger in cerebral syphilis lies Delegates to the International Medical in the local organic changes produced in Congress Washington, D. C., September, the brain.--Amer. Practitioner.

B.-Quiniæ sulphatis, gr. xviii;
Liquoris arsenicalis, m xii;
Liquoris atropinæ, mi;
Extracti gentianæ, gr. xx;
Pulveris gummi acaciæ, q.s. ut fiant
[pilulæ xii.
Sig. One every three, four, or six
hours, according to circumstances.

PROGNOSIS IN ALBUMINURIO RETINITIS and arsenic almost specific in aborting -The volume of the Transactions of common colds if commenced in the American Ophthalmological Society, early stage of the affection, while it is which has lately been issued, contains an still confined to the nose and pharynx. important paper by Dr. Steadman Bull The formula which he uses is the folon Albuminuric Retinitis. It is an lowing: analysis of a hundred and three cases, most of which were under observation a considerable time, and has an important. bearing upon the question of prognosis, both as regards vision and the duration of life. In thirty-two cases there was temporary improvement of vision while the patient was under treatment; this was due to the disappearance of retinal oedema, but in no instance did any absorption of the glistening stellate exudation at the macula take place. Dr. Bull confirms the unfavorable prognosis as to the duration of life which the presence of albuminuric retinitis is generally held to imply. It is, of course, nearly always impossible to fix the date He does not profess to explain how at which the disease commenced, but of his remedy acts, unless it be as a powerthe hundred and three cases eighty-six ful nervine and general tonic.-Ther. died, fifty-seven within a year, and Gaz. eighteen within two years after first coming under observation, cases of renal

Dr. Whelan states that at starting one pill should be taken every three or four hours, and later on six hours, and he believes that if a catarrhal subject has a box of these pills always at hand he will almost invariably succeed in aborting a cold.

IODOL IN DIPHTHERIA.-In order to disease due to scarlet fever and vision test the statements of Dr. Mazzoni, Dr. being much more favourable.-British L. L. Stembo, of Vilna, tried (ProceedMedical Journal.

ings of the Vilna Medical Society, No. v, 1887, p. 114) the local use of iodol in A FRENCH VERSION OF DR. SAYRE's seven cases of diphtheria, two of which ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY.-A very satisfac- were severe. The drug was applied tory translation of the second edition of either alone, in powder, or in the form Dr. Lewis A. Sayre's "Orthopaedic Sur- of a solution (B Iudoli, Oss; liq. vini, gery and Diseases of the Joints" was 3 ss; glycerini, 3 iijs). All the patients made by the late Dr. Henri Thorens. recovered after treatment lasting from We regret to learn that Dr. Thoren's four to six days. The advantages death prevented him from quite com- claimed by Dr. Stembo for iodol are its pleting the task, to which he devoted a complete harmlessness, its freedom from great deal of care. The volume has re- unpleasant sinell or taste, the painlesscently been published by Steinheil, of ness of its application, and the absence Paris, the concluding work on transla- of any untoward secondary effects, such tion having been done by Dr. J. Pignol, as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, a hospital interne. An interesting and etc.-Brit. Med. Jour. appreciative preface has been written by Dr. Polaillon, and the book makes a very creditable appearance.-N. Y. Med. Jour.

THE TREATMENT OF COLDS. -Dr. J. H. Whelan states in the Practitioner for March, 1887, that he has found a combination of belladonna, quinine,

A NEW REMEDY FOR ITCHING PILES.

R. Tinct. capsicum, 1 part;

Spts. turpentine, 2 parts;
Spts. camphor, 3 parts;
Decolorized iodine, 3 parts. M.

-Chicago Med. Times, February, 1887.

BINIODIDE OF MERCURY AS AN ANTI- stinate constipation, by Gauldmel in the SEPTIC.—Dr. P. K. Bolshesolsky, of St. night-sweats of phthisis, by Martini in Petersburgh (Vratch, No. xi, 1887, p. spermatorrhoea, by Demange in some 220), from numerous experiments made forms of typhoid fever, and by Girma by himself and Professor A. P. Dobro- in general paralysis. It has been also slavin's laboratory, concludes that bini- employed in chorea and in dysentery. odide of mercury is a more powerful The theory of its action in these disand less poisonous antiseptic than cor- eases he does not pretend to expound, rosive sublimate. Thus he fully con- but he calls attention to the similarity firms the observations of Bernhardy. of the action of quinine and ergotine. A solution of 1 in 4,000 destroys putre- Both, he says, undoubtedly cause confaction microbes more completely than traction of the uterus and the spleen, a sublimate solution of 1 in 2,000. The the effect of quinine on the uterus havbiniodide dissolved in a solution of ing been scientifically worked out in a iodide of potassium was recently tried, dissertation published by T. T. Smolski with apparently good results, in three in 1876, and that of ergotine on the cases of laparotomy, under Professor A. spleen having been shown by DobodI. Krassowski. For washing the floor, chiki (Vrach, 1880) and by Semchenko a solution of 1 in 4,000 was employed; for disinfecting the hands, 1 in 2,000; for instruments, 1 in 2,000 and 3,000.Brit. Med. Journal.

(Vrach, 1883). This similarity led him to think that one of these drugs might serve as a substitute for the other, and he therefore made a large number of observations on the effect of ergotine upon THE MICROBE OF TYPHOID FEVER. the cases of intermittent fever occurring At the recent meeting of the Société in the Lubinski regiment with excellent des Hôpitaux, M. Chantemesse made an results, especially where an enlarged interesting communication concerning and tender spleen was present. He the morphological and biological char- finds that a combination of ergotine with acteristics of the typhoid-microbe. The quinine acts very satisfactorily, and that sporulation of this microbe takes place in this way considerable quantities of between 19° and 48° C. (67° to 104. 4° quinine can be saved, as half the dose of F.). It develops in water, even if sterilis- quinine which would be required if ed. At a temperature of 15 C.-(113° given alone will suffice if combined F.) the cultivations live for several days; with ergotine. The preparation of erthey are destroyed by boiling. This gotine used was Bonjean's, the dose in microbe retains its vitality in damp chronic cases being about a grain three ground. Corrosive sublimate (1 in times a day.-Lancet, Feb. 19, 1887. 20,000) and sulphate of quinine (1 in 800) destroy it. Carbolic acid (1 in 400) has no effect on it; hydrochloric acid is PERSONS.-From au examination of 134 also inert, therefore the acidity of the healthy recruits, Dr. G. S. Ivanoff, of stomach is not inimical to this microbe. Kirilov, came (Vratch, No. vii, 1887, p. -British Medical Journal. 162) to the following conclusions: 1. Equal or symmetrical pupils, as well as ERGOTINE IN INTERMITTENT FEVER. equal or symmetrical halves of the face, Dr. S. L. Savitski, writing in the Vrach are met with but seldom, the foriner on the value of ergotine in the treat- only in 9 per cent. of the persons exment of intermittent fever, remarks that amined, and the latter only in 1.2 per the drug has been used with success in cent, 2. The inequality or asymmetry the treatment of many affections,-e. g., is probably dependent upon an asymby Vidal in prolapsus recti, by Hunt metrical development of the cerebral and Pepper in diabetes, by Saunder, Murrell, and Noakes in diabetes insipidus, by Allan in the cough in some lung affections, by Granzio in ob

INEQUALITY OF PUPILS IN HEALTHY

hemisphere. 3. In 54.5 per cent. of persons, the left pupil, and in 73.9 per cent. the left side of the face is larger than the right one.-Brit. Med. Jour.