ance and interest was splendid-in fact, some of the best essays ever produced by this society were read and most ably discussed. It would be unfair to particularize in regard to one of them and not all, as they all bore the marks of much thought and the most careful preparation, and reflected the leading thoughts of the profession at this time.

Dr. Mutz, representing Parke, Davis & Co., made a grand display of their medicines, in a side room. He also illustrated some beautiful tests, before the Association, in urinary analysis.

As the next meeting will be the twentieth anniversary of the organization of the society, it was decided to hold a re-union and free banquet at that time, the intention and expectation being to have. all the original charter members that are alive and able to attend, as well as every other member and friend of the society that can be induced to be with us; so that at least 200 guests may be expected at the grand re-union and banquet.

Springfield was selected as the place for holding the meeting.
Delegates were elected to the National.

Dr. W. W. Houser, of Lincoln, was elected president for the ensuing year, and Prof. A. D. Cashman, of Chicago, as secretary.

TO PREVENT WASTE OF TISSUE.-The following mixture I have found to be an excellent preparation in wasting diseases-in tuberculosis, convalescence from pneumonia, general anæmia, scrofula, mollities ossium, etc.: R. Hoff's malt extract, Oj.; syr. lactophosphate lime, 3vj., crystalline phosphates, ziij.; syr. auranti cort., ziv.; best French brandy, 3vj. M. et S. From one teaspoonful to a tablespoonful, according to age, every two, three or four hours. The crystalline phosphates should be rubbed up with a little of the syrup before adding to the whole amount.-Editor.

CARBUNCLE.-Dr. James Collins says, in the Philadelphia News, that in treating a carbuncle he gives an anesthetic, and then makes a linear incision; after which he takes a scoop and removes all the necrosed tissue; then washes the parts thoroughly with an antiseptic lotion of mercuric bi-chloride. He inserts a drainage tube, and brings the central parts together, securing with two sutures. He washes out the cavity each day with the antiseptic.

MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ITEMS.

A NEW REMEDY FOR BURNS.-Dr. W. C. Wile (Medical Register) says: I was called in some haste to a little child about three weeks ago, who was badly burned about the hands and face from falling on a hot stove. The burns were deep, the pain excessive, and the shock very considerable. I hastily sent to the drug store for a mixture of lime water, olive oil and carbolic acid. While waiting for this, I prepared to give the child a hypodermic injection of morphine, with which to allay the agony, which was so great that convulsions seemed imminent. While I was getting ready to do this, I espied upon the shelf a bottle of Pinus Canadensis (colorless), which I had some time before ordered to be diluted as a vaginal wash for her mother. Remembering its wonderful soothing influence in acute inflammations of the vagina, I at once concluded to try it. Taking a corner of a soft handkerchief, I rapidly painted the injured parts, when like magic the pain ceased. You can well imagine my surprise and delight at the result. I directed a camel's-hair brush to be purchased, and had the mother make free applications; and the case had no other treatment, save a little iodoform ointment later on. Since this, I have tried it in several cases, both slight and severe, and with the same delightful results. The preparation used was made by the Rio Chemical Co., of St. Louis, Mo.

NOTES RESPECTING SPECIAL CATHARTICS.-Dr. Henry M. Field Journal of the American Medical Association) calls attention to the following points respecting a few cathartics:

1. The salines do not agree with the aged-they find them too chilling; and a dose of epsom salts, which may operate very kindly upon the young and middle-aged and vigorous, may bring a serious disaster to the old man or woman. A sudden depression of vital energy and the function of calorification thus procured, together with other favoring circumstances, have more than once precipitated the subject into fatal pneumonia.

2. All cathartics are apt to be attended with colicky complications when given to a woman at the epoch of menopause; and especial combination at such time, as with carminatives, should be directed against this painful action.

3. The common domestic cathartic senna should never be prescribed to the subject of cumulative constipation or of impacted fæces; if there be anything answerable to a fæcal plug formed in the course of the small intestine or near the valve, on either side, such a peristaltic cathartic as senna will infallibly occasion serious and even alarming colic before evacuation can be accomplished; and the same restriction applies to a similar use of an integral dose of calomel.

4. In a case of impacted constipation, in which it is presumed that the bowels are more or less distended with hard, dry, knotty, scybalous masses, nothing works so well as epsom salts, combined perhaps with small doses of tartar emetic.

5. In cases of uterine hemorrhage, habitual constipation can best be treated by cream of tartar. This does not induce muscular contraction of either the intestines or uterus, while it reduces temperature and lowers blood pressure.

THYMOL.-Thymol is a light crystalline solid, obtained from thymus vulgaris, monarda punctata, m. didyma, ptychotis ajowan, etc. It is nearly or quite colorless, having an aromatic, thyme-like odor, and a pungent, aromatic taste. Soluble in 1000 parts of water and I part of alcohol; also freely soluble in ether, chloroform, benzin, glacial acetic acid, etc. It was first introduced by M. Bouillion as a substitute for carbolic acid. It has found a wide range of application in dentistry as well as surgery. In its concentrated state it is used for cauterizing the dental nerve, and when applied to warts it causes them to shrivel and disappear. All its other applications are identical with carbolic acid. Mr. Spencer Wells, in a series of ovariotomy operations, gave it the preference over carbolic acid. He used a solution 1-1000 for spray, irrigation, sponges, instruments, etc. In sloughs, it causes more rapid separation, healthier granulations and a better cicatrix than carbolic acid. A solution of 1-3000 is highly recommended in diphtheria as a spray and injected into the nostrils-also in fetid bronchitis; in obstetrical practice, when the lochia are offensive, and in fetid uterine and vaginal leucorrhoea, even when the discharge is due to cancer, the fetor is not only neutralized, but the inflamed and ulcerated tissues are favorably modfied. It is an agreeable and efficient deodorizer for the hands. As

a substitute for the antiseptic surgical dressings prepared with carbolic acid, a solution is recommended as follows: Thymol, i gram; alcohol, 10 grams; glycerine, 20 grams; water, 1000 grams. In skin diseases it may be used instead of tar in the form of ointment, 5 to 30 grains to 1 oz. of soft paraffin; or, in lotion, thymol, 5 grains; rect. spirit and glycerine each, 1 oz.; water, 8 ozs., in psoriasis and chronic eczema. It never, like carbolic acid, gives rise to constitutional symptoms.-Medical Clippings.

COMPARISON OF CHLORAL, PARALDEHYDE, URETHAN, HYOSINE AND HYPNONE.-Dr. Webber, in the Practitioner, states that he has had opportunities of testing these new hypnotics in the cases of patients in the Adam's Nervine Asylum, U. S. A.

Paraldehyde has, he considers, advantages over chloral, in that its immediate effects are less unpleasant, and that it very rarely causes headache on the following day, although sometimes the patients have a sensation of fullness or pressure in the head for a few hours after waking. He gave paraldehyde in a case of doubtful disseminated sclerosis, where the patient had been taking large doses of chloral, and had been injuriously affected thereby. The paraldehyde gave, in this instance, better and more prolonged rest, the patient partially recovering his mental powers and some measure of strength. It was continued in doses of forty minims nightly, for several weeks.

The chief objection to paraldehyde is its disagreeable odor and taste, and also the odor it imparts to the breath; but unpleasant symptoms arising from its use Dr. Webber does not remember to have met with, but has never seen a case in which it has been used habitually for a long time. Whilst 60 minims may be considered a large dose, 80 minims have occasionally failed to produce sleep.

Urethan is much more pleasant to administer, having scarcely any taste or odor. Dose, 20 grains, although sometimes much larger doses are necessary. The after-effects are generally unimportant. It has seemed once or twice to have given rise to nausea the day after, but generally the patient says the sleep has been natural and refreshing. It is, however, not so sure to produce sleep as paraldehyde.

Hydrobromate of hyoscine has the advantage of being almost

tasteless, and being efficacious in very small doses, 1-60th grain being about the average dose necessary. As it is almost tasteless, it may be given in some simple drink, as gruel or beef tea, without the knowledge of the patient. The sleep produced is quite natural, the patient awaking much refreshed. It is, however, rather more likely to produce unpleasant after-effects, and seems to lose its power by repetition sooner than either urethan or paraldehyde.

Hypnone Dr. Webber has given in capsules, in doses of 8 to 10 drops, when it caused natural and refreshing sleep. It is, however, of much less value than the other drugs enumerated, failing more frequently to produce sleep; but it may be conveniently substituted for the others when they have been given for some time consecutively.

A SPECIFIC FOR DIABETES.—At a meeting of the Société de Therapeutique, M. Martineau stated that he had been treating diabetes for the last ten years, with almost invariable success, by a method which he had borrowed from a practitioner now dead. He had hitherto made no communication on the subject, because he had wished to be perfectly certain that his conclusions were not premature. The treatment consists in the administration of a solution of carbonate of lithia and arseniate of soda in aerated water, to the exclusion of all other drinks. Besides taking this with his meals, the patient uses the same as a beverage when thirsty at other times. M. Martineau affirms that this regimen has cured sixty-seven of seventy diabetic patients he has had occasion to treat.-London Lancet.

A NEW REMEDY FOR ITCHING PILES.-The Chicago Med. Times gives the following for itching piles: R. Tinct. capsicum, 1 part; spts. turpentine, 2 parts; spts. camphor, 3 parts; decolorized iodine, 3 parts. I would be inclined to experiment with this, by trying it first under the tail of a dog.

SPRAINED JOINTS.-I believe that a sprained joint should be treated the same as if a fracture occurred near a joint.

Immobilization and compression are the prime factors in the speedy cure. Let the parts be secured by a plaster-of-Paris casing, and thus effusion will be prevented and pain relieved. This plan far exceeds lotions, bandages and ice-bags.-[EDITOR.