ANTISEPTIC COLLODION.-Journal de Médicine.—Mastic in globules, 3 grammes; balsam Peru, I gramme; narcotine, 1 gramme. Grind each ingredient separately, and add 5 grammes of chloroform. This is a new kind of collodion, which is antiseptic and promotes cicatrization. It does not cause inflammation, and may be used in the treatment of wounds; relieves neuralgic pain, and acute or chronic rheumatism. The afflicted parts should be sponged every twenty-four hours, and in severe cases every six hours. Strips of linen or silk soaked in it makes an excellent sticking plaster, which quite equals English court plaster--N. Y. Med. Record.

FOR ACNE ROSACEA AND SYCOSIS.-Lac sulphur, 3ss.; thymol, gr. iij.; zinci oleate, gr. xx.; agnine, 3ss. M.

THE CHINA MEDICAL MISSIONARY JOURNAL is the title of a new journal published at Shanghai, China, and edited by Drs. J. G. Kerr, J. K. Mackenzie and E. Reifsnyder. It is said to be the first medical missionary journal published in heathen lands.

AN ipecac famine is threatening Brazil. This is the country where that drug is largely obtained, and the presence of cholera threatens an interference with the harvesting. To the homeopaths this is not alarming, as long as alcohol can be obtained. One of their leading periodicals suggests to just run the drug up to another potency, which will undoubtedly take them through the famine. Our allopathic brethren are looking around to find some other drug to turn stomachs inside out. We suppose, if the eclectics have to come to it, they can use lobelia.

EXPERT TESTIMONY.-Judge C. C. Fuller, of Michigan, decided, when a physician refused to testify on the ground that the evidence would be expert testimony. "After many years' study and observation, I decide that a physician's knowledge is his stock in trade, his capital; and we have no more right to take it without extra compensation than we have to take provisions from a grocery, without pay, to feed the jury. The court rules that the witness is not compelled to testify."-Pharmaceutical Record.

A STOMACHIC TONIC.-R. Acid phosphoric dilut., f3j.; strychinæ sulph., gr. j. M. Sig. Ten drops in water before meals.-Barthol

omew.

THE

AMERICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL

OF SAINT LOUIS, MO.,

A Monthly Journal of Medicine and Surgery and the Allied Sciences.

Subscription Price, $2.00 a Year in Advance.

Original Articles solicited from all sources.

Clinical Reports, Surgical Operations and Notes of Interesting Cases specially invited.

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EDITORIAL.

THE ARTIFICIAL FEEDING OF INFANTS. In an editorial in Home Knowledge we read the following: "Among the subjects demanding special attention during the summer season, the most important is the care and feeding of infants and children under five years of age. The frequency of cholera infantum, or summer complaint, is due to improper diet and a consequent disturbance of the digestive organs of the child; and to prevent the frequency of this disease, and the attendant fatality, the feeding of children must be carefully watched. One of the most

common causes of stomach and bowel troubles in children is the common custom of feeding very young children potatoes, rice and bread before their digestive apparatus is capable of properly digesting these starchy ingredients. A child should be fed entirely on milk until it is at least six months old; and when artificial feeding is necessary, care should be taken to procure good cow's milk, which should at first be skimmed and reduced by adding one part of water to four parts of milk, and a few grains of sugar of milk. This will give a close approximation to the composition of mother's milk.”

We have made this quotation and emphasized that part which we regard as a very grave error. No infant can thrive on such feeding as that. Why should cow's milk be skimmed when it is too deficient in fat already? Indeed, more cream should be added. Professor J. Lewis Smith, who has made infant-feeding his study, says: "Add to cow's milk cream-enough to make up the fat-and some sugar of milk." Human milk contains more milk sugar and fat, but a smaller percentage of albuminoids than cow's milk. As cow's milk has in it more caseine than human milk, water is added to lessen the quantity of caseine; but when this is done, it should not be forgotten that the process of watering still diminishes the proportionate quantities of fat and milk sugar in the substitute already defective. Mother's milk is alkaline; cow's milk is acid. Cow's milk should, therefore, be made to have an alkaline reaction.

Human milk contains more milk sugar; cow's milk must, therefore, be supplied with this.

Human milk has more fat; cow's milk must, therefore, have more cream added.

Human milk has less caseine; cow's milk, with the addition of water not to weaken it, but to lessen only the albuminoids, the problem is: how to reduce the caseine and at the same time increase the nutritious elements, and render all digestible. Withal, though the caseine of cow's milk be brought down to the same proportions as that of mother's milk, still it is tougher and more indigestible than that of human caseine. To Professor Pfeiffer is due the idea of digesting the caseine before entering the child's stomach. There is no subject that calls for a more scientific study than that of arti ficial feeding of infants-none in which there is a greater display of ignorance, and none followed with more disaster.

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL, AT WAUKESHA.

The Annual Meeting of this great body is over for this year. The meeting was well attended, and the business transacted was fully up to any of the past years. Those who were present not only enjoyed the professional topics of the meeting, but as a recreating tour this seemed to surpass all others. The quiet retreat, the beautiful shades and gushing springs, as well as the citizens of Waukesha, seemed all eager to add to our comfort and pleasure. After the meeting was over every member of the National reluctantly took his departure, feeling that so good a time was seldom enjoyed. Those who were absent have certainly lost one of the beautiful niches in their professional life. The officers of the Association were all present except Treasurer Anton, who was prevented on account o an accident that of breaking one of his legs. He was, however, well represented, by the presence of Miss Nellie Anton, his accomplished daughter, who, by slight assistance, did the work of the Treasurer.

President Russell came in a little late, but after a two hours' session he put in his appearance-sufficient in quantity for the occasion. His annual address will be found in this issue. The indefatigable Secretary, Alexander Wilder, was at his post, and dispatched his part of the work in his usual jolly mood. The "Arena of Debate" took the place of section work this year, and I believe it is an improvement. Contest adds spirit, and spirit calls attention. As the topics were discussed there was no confusion in change of officers, and a greater quiet prevailed in the general convention.

Debate was opened by Professor A. J. Howe, on the question "Shall Listerism be Abandoned in Surgical Practice?" It seemed as if the doctor thought himself an opponent of Listerism at the start, but by the time the discussion ended he favored ascepticism, though he cared not for the Listerian paraphernalia. He opposes the germ theory, though he inclines to the belief that germs may produce some diseased conditions. His position at some points is seemingly paradoxical. Certainly, if he was on the affirmative of this question, he lost his case; for ascepticism and Listerism being the same, and resting not in traps, sprays and trimmings, but in a great principle, it is found in every hospital and

in every country. Those who therefore seek to overthrow the Listerian principles will be compelled to substitute, not the practice of older days, but newer and better plans. Other subjects were also discussed with much profit and vigor.

On the first evening of the convention, a reception was given in the great dining-room of the Fountain Spring House. The exercises consisted of music, speech-making and refreshments, all of which were well-calculated to form a feast of reason and a flow of soul. Indeed, it became a question as to whether the citizens of Waukesha were receiving the delegates or the delegates were receiving the citizens of this place; though to Mr. Lee, the proprietor of the Fountain House, the reception was mainly indebted. The reception was opened up by addresses from Ex-Congressman D. H. Sumner, Judge Griswold and others, who, though not having made medicine a study, yet seemed to understand fully the distinctive plea of Eclecticism, and were in full accord with the idea of selecting from all sources. We wondered, as we sat and listened to these men, why it was that others, in the study of medicine, and therefore in closer relation to us, should possess such apparent ignorance and prejudice in regard to Eclectic medicine.

Another feature of the National is worthy of mention—namely, the ladies of the convention. Absolutely, we have ladies who are interested in the discussion of medical and surgical topics. Some of these are physicians, and some are physician's wives. There are some whose faces we see at the National every year. It is not S. B. Munn, of Connecticut, merely, but Mrs. S. B. Munn, his excellent wife. It is not merely Dr. H. K. Stratford, of Chicago, but Mrs. Stratford, his excellent wife.

By some means, the impression has gone out that, where women take up medicine as a profession, they are of the peculiar "wishywashy" sort; but to overcome this impression, we have only to attend the National. Mrs. Henrietta K. Morris, M. D., is worthy of mention. She occupied the chair of Vice-President with dignity, and her sensible arguments on the question "Ought we to regard Cholera Infantum as a Result of Ferment was deliberately given and well received. Mrs. L. J. Phelps, M. D., attributed many of the feminine weaknesses to the weakness of the male.

Among the unmarried ladies at the National were Miss Nellie