the first rib in order to give greater freedom of action to the apices of the lungs if threatened with phthisis, we can realize the value of a mech

anism which enables us safely and steadily to produce enlargement of the capacity of the chest. The children of consumptives naturally have narrow chests and contracted apices. A systematic daily or triweekly use of the cabinet will result in increasing the chest from one to two inches, and during this development we see a very manifest change in the

The color improves, the

appetite is increased, and strength is developed; in other words, it acts through increasing circulation, as a general tonic."

general condition of the individual.

"The mechanical effects," Dr. G. W. McCaskey says, "are many and far reaching.

"There is, first, the removal of a certain amount of atmospheric pressure from the body, which tends slightly to increase the capacity of the cutaneous capillaries, and possibly relieve internal engorgements. The relatively denser air from the outside rushes in, filling every permeable lobule, and distending alveoli and air-cells which were partially collapsed before. In this respect it resembles the inspiration of condensed air, and accomplishes expansion and ventilation of lung structure which could not have been done

would alone, in many cases, prevent the development of phthisis, or arrest it if developed. The quickening of nutritive processes, the removal of blood stasis, and the mechanical pressure exerted upon the pulmonary structure, are alike beneficial in their results. With nutritive processes normally active, the deposition of tubercle would probably be impossible. And any agent, be it mechanical or otherwise, which brings about a higher tone of general or local nutrition is antagonistic to the development of tubercle."

From a careful study of the subject, Dr. A. B. Houghton draws the following conclusions:

"1. Pneumatic differentiation is of undoubted service in all conditions of primary infiltration.

"2. Where the febrile movement has been unchecked for many weeks before treatment, improvement, if any, will show itself within the first ten or twelve applications; if there is no abatement of symptoms its continuance is of questionable utility, and it may be absolutely contraindicated.

66

3. That phthisical disease at the apices is more favorably treated than when at the base of the lungs.

"4. That it is possible by this means to more thoroughly medicate the lungs than by any other known method.

"5. That the expansion of the lungs by differentiation is itself a therapeutic measure of great merit.

"6. That peri-and inter-vesicular exudation is capable of cure by this method, and even third stage phthisis is benefited, at least temporarily.

My experience is that when the febrile movement is excessive, when the evidences of septicemia are pronounced, it is not wise to use the pneumatic cabinet, certainly until these symptoms have subsided. In cases of chronic bronchitis I have had so little experience that I can only say that if the proper remedy can be found its application is easy enough."

MONEY Making, one of the essentials of professional life, occupies the attention of a writer in the Medical Reporter. Disguised as a lumorist he makes some rather telling points. He says: : I am capable of giving you advice, for in the long years I have been in practice I have amassed a fortune and can now show you the way to do likewise.

In the first place I would strongly recommend you to start in practice with a new theory. Attempting to prove that the blood does not circulate would ensure a great deal of notice and might prove highly beneficial to you. Endeavor to prove the unwholesomeness of some favorite and common article of diet-the more startling and extraordinary the opinion the better--you will then obtain an enviable degree of notoriety. Be singular and eccentric in your manners. Singularity fills the general run of mankind with wonder, and from wonder to admiration the transition is obvious. Never under any circumstances affect ignorance of the cause of a complaint; place it in the pancreas or pincal gland, if you have no other local habitation ready at the moment. Be always ready with an answer to every question a lady puts to you; the chance is she will be satisfied with it. A lady once asking her doctor from what substance castor oil was made: he, (more au fait with the slang of the ring than with the science of botany, a hat or beaver being by the fancy termed a "castor,") unembarrassed, said that it was made from the "beaver." The fair questioner was satisfied, and considered her medical adviser a quick and sensible gentleman. A patient of mine was one day very anxious to know how long she would be ill. "Madam," said I, "that depends entirely upon the duration of the disease." "I am much obliged to you, doctor," was her answer. Never readily acquiesce in anything your patient or nurse should say. Old women are extremely fond of putting puzzling ques tions to the doctor. I remember once hearing an elderly lady observe, "My doctor always assents to whatever I say. I think he must be a great fool." You will always find it of great use to belong to some particular sect in religion. Attend church regularly; you will then obtain your share of the patronage of the members thereof. It is related of a celebrated English physician, who was the son of a dissenting minister, that every time he was called out of his father's church, which was quite often, the preacher would stop in the middle of his discourse and say, "Dear brethren, let us offer up a prayer for the recovery of the patient to whom my son has gone to administer relief." It is not said how much this circumstance tended to the celebrity of the eminent physician, but I have little doubt that it brought him many a patient.

In trying little tricks like these you must be judicious. When I first came to Chicago I attended service regularly at a church where the pastor was a relative of mine. There was a physician already in the parish, one Dr. Grosgrain, who looked upon my advent as a personal affront. I insinuated to my reverend friend how advantageous it would be to me if he would notice my being called occasionally out of church, and he did. Dr. Grosgrain wanted some, too, and he insisted on receiving clerical attention. The next Sunday an office boy came running into the building and whispered to my opponent, who immediately left. The pastor, who was about to begin his sermon, hesitated, and then said: "Brethren, let us pray for a sick man who is in great danger;

Dr. Grosgrain has been called to see him." This settled the Doctor and left the field to me.

In your instructions to your patients be particular in giving minute directions concerning diet. This has great effect on the minds of old women, especially if their maladies are, in a great measure, imaginary. I brought myself into notice and gained several prominent families by recommending to a wealthy old lady the left leg of a boiled fowl. Once when I was away on a short vacation this old lady took sick and was obliged to send for a neighboring physician who, by the way, was a wellread man. On his attempting to persuade her that the left leg possessed no particular virtue she became quite indignant, and exclaimed that so sensible a physician must know better than you."

66

If you can make yourself talked about you have little to fear. If you depend solely upon your medical knowledge, judgment and experience, how fearful will be the opposition with which you will have to struggle! I would urge you strongly to keep a carriage whether you can afford it or not. People consider that a physician who drives in a carriage must be skillful, and he is patronized accordingly. A millionaire pork packer was taken seriously ill with rheumatism. Some friends, warmly recommended a certain medical man, who, they stated, was very successful. He sent for him. On the doctor's being announced the porcine baron demanded of his servant: "Does this famous physician come on foot or in his carriage?' On foot," was the reply. Send the scoundrel about his business; did he possess the great skill he pretends to have he would ride in his coach, and I should have been happy to have entreated him to deliver me from this terrible disease."

An excellent way to make your name known is to write a book, and I would advise you, unless you be naturally very clever, to write so that no man can make anything of it, so as neither to make downright sense, nor nonsense, thereof, than otherwise. Because thus none of the profession can well lay hold of you for any particular part; or, if they should, there is room for you to defend it, being as easy to be understood one way as the other. Write a treatise composed of well-chosen and well-joined words, which nevertheless on the whole makes not up any real sense or intelligible meaning. Thus I will suppose a man to write of sleep; now, if I wrote in this manner, it is ten to one but that it would make all who read it fall asleep, and consequently what can be better said on the subject?

But, you may say, here you have advised us to do many things which will cost us much money, whereas just now we are sadly deficient in that useful commodity. Let me tell you, people are generally employed in proportion to the manner they live, especially if once a little known; for by the employing of many artificers and tradesmen you may not only become more known, but they may also support and employ you. Thus, if you get much, you must spend much; and if you spend much you will readily get much, particularly if spent in a proper way and you are once a little known. Don Quevedo is of the opinion that the best way to run into business is to run into debt, because your creditors will employ you to get paid; as to putting this experiment into prac tice, I shall rather choose to leave it to your own natural genius to

direct you therein than much to persuade you thereto, since there may be danger should it not succeed.

To all these hints I will add that dancing and dressing well are not such slight accomplishments to introduce a young physician into good practice as you may imagine, because they will make you acceptable to fine society ladies; your fashionable gestures and gentle way of feeling a pulse agreeably are half the battle; nay, that, and very little else, may in time, for aught I know, go a great way to introducing you to a splendid practice.

Yours in vinculis fraternitas,

ISID. SOLOMON PLETHORA, A. M., B. M., M. D., LL. D., A. S. S. Prof. of Climatology, Chicago College of Aereology, i'rof. of Orgasms, Chicago Institute of Specificology. Member of all the Domestic and Foreign Scientific Societies and of others too numerous to specify.— Med Reporter.

A PRACTICAL Mode of Disinfecting the Room in Case of Cancer.— From Sept., 1886, until March, 1887, I had in my house, and under my daily care, a case of Uterine Cancer. To counteract the offensive odor of this dreaded disease I made repeated experiments with the prominent disinfectants. The following proved to be all I could desire, viz. : Three (3) drachms of Potassæ Nitras dissolved in eight (8) ounces of Platt's Chlorides, full strength. In this I saturated thin muslin (cheese cloth), then dried it thoroughly. When necessary to cleanse or purify the room, I would burn small strips of the cloth on a shovel in different parts of the room and under the bed-clothing. The effect was magical. Almost instantly all offensive odors disappeared. This was repuated when necessary. (The nitrate of potash was used to aid combustion.)

The result was such that no discomfort was experienced by the attendants and no offensive odor could be detected in the adjoining rooms. The undertaker said it was the first case of death from cancer where he could detect no trace of the disease.

This method of disinfection would be equally efficient in all contagious, pestilential or infectious diseases.

H. Gerould, M. D., Cleveland, Ohio.

MAMMARY Abscess.-Mrs. J. H., white æt. 22, delivered seven months ago of a healthy child, which she nourishes at the breast. After exposure she experienced a succession of rigors, accompanied by severe aching in head, back, and limbs, lancinating pains through the right mamma, and followed by fever. I saw her eighteen hours later. Pulse was 120; temperature 130° Fahr.; tongue furred, marked general malaise. The outer and lower segments of right mamma were swelled, red, tense, and glistening, and exquisitely sensitive to the touch. I applied to the breast a square piece of rubber tissue, such as is used by dentists, sufficiently large to cover the whole organ, by tying a tape to each corner. Two of these tapes were passed around the waist and tied at the back. The two upper tapes were passed, one over the left shoulder, the other under the left axilla, and tied so as to maintain