suppuration of the gland. It is very acute and may occur in children; the staphylococcus pyogenes aureus is found in the pus. Lastly comes gonorrhea of the duct with abscess of the gland. This form is the result of mixed infection from the gonococcus and staphylococcus. It is significant that the duct often remains diseased for months or even weeks after the opening of the abscess in the gland. The abscess cavity is in many cases difficult to close, and its duct may ultimately become a fistulous tract. Some authorities believe that cysts of the duct represent degeneration of that canal through one of the above forms of inflammation.-British Medical Journal

ENTERIC FEVER AND THE POLLUTION OF RIVERS.-A remarkable instance of the danger of drinking river-water which receives the unpurified sewage of towns has, we understand, lately come under the notice of the local government board. Mr. Jacob, the well-known medical officer of health for the Guildford rural and urban sanitary district of Surrey, reports that on or about June 16th, fifteen persons employed at a paper mill on the banks of the river Way, nearly a mile below Godalming, fell ill with enteric fever. That for several months previously the district of Farncombe, in which thirteen out of the fif teen persons attacked lived, had been entirely free from enteric fever. That it is only among persons working at the mill that cases of enteric fever have occurred. That on inquiry at the mill as to the circumstances common to the persons attacked, he found that up till June 2d-that is, fourteen days before the bulk of the cases occurred-the water supply was, as usual, from a well which was not suspected of contamination. That on that date, in consequence of alterations which were in progress, the usual supply of water could not be pumped into the tanks from which the factory hands helped themselves when thirsty, but that on June 2d, and for three or four days after, riverwater was pumped into the tanks and was at hand for the use of the employes. Enteric fever was known to have occurred in Godalming during April and May; consequently the river-water into which the excrements and foul water of that town are discharged was contaminated at the time and at the point from which this polluted water was drawn for drinking purposes. The persons attacked with the fever habitually took the water supplied on the premises, and there can be but little doubt as to how their illness was caused. Mr. Jacob has made a careful inquiry locally, so far as his opportunities allow, but we understand that two of the fifteen cases have occurred in the

sanitary district of Godalming Borough, and that with regard to these he is not in a position to give the information required. This seems to be a reason for the central authority at once undertaking an inquiry into all the facts of this outbreak, the full particulars of which should, on public grounds, be made widely known.-Ibid.

BRAIN GRAFTING.-A very curious and apparently quite novel observation has been made by Dr. Gilman Thompson, of New York. Two large dogs, A. and B., were simultaneously trephined over the right occipital region; eight cubic centimeters of brain tissue were excised in one piece and exchanged; the piece from dog A. was put into the opening in the brain of dog B., and vice versa. On the third day both dogs were killed, and the transplanted pieces of brain tissue looked normal, and in each case they were so adherent and firmly covered with fibrous exudation that it was impossible to pull them off with forceps without laceration. Total blindness of the eye opposite the lesion resulted in each dog, as was expected. In another case, 1.5 cubic centimeter of brain was removed from the occipital region of a cat and transferred to a corresponding position in the brain of a large dog, which was killed at the end of seven weeks, when the piece of transplanted cat's brain was found firmly adherent to the dog's brain, with the pia mater intact. Careful microscopial examination was made, and it was found that there was complete union, through organized connective tissue, of the contiguous portions of the two brains. There was descending secondary degeneration of the dog's brain on the side of the graft, as is usual in cases of simple excision of brain cortex; hence the cat's cortex had not succeeded in acting as a nutrient center for the dog's brain.-Ibid.

THE PREVENTION OF COCAINE POISONING. Every now and then alarming symptoms, especially in neurotic patients, follow the application of cocaine, particularly in the treatment of disease of the nose and throat. Dr. I. Gluck, of Omaha, in the New York Medical Record, states that the risk of such undesired consequences is very much diminished if the solution of cocaine be prepared with phenol. He directs two drops of phenol to be dissolved by agitation in a dram of distilled water, and ten grains hydrochlorate of cocaine added; this mixture can be kept indefinitely without any impairment of its qualities, and can be diluted when required, if necessary. Dr. Gluck claims that this addition of phenol not only prevents toxic effects, but increases the anesthetic action..

of meeting with illustrious lights in the profession which otherwise could never be gained. It is therefore perhaps not to be complained of that little fellows should jump at the chance thus afforded to push themselves forward, and take the up valuable time and ill-afforded attention which the great must by courtesy give them. Every man naturally feels that life must be made in some way a success, and if this can be done only by forcing himself on the attention of the public at Congresses, State Associations, and the like, why should he be prevented from lifting himself from an oblivion that he alone recognizes as unmerited?

These Congresses have already become too large for any practicable usefulness to science, and in the near future Congresses within the proper meaning of the term must be devised for the accomplishment of the important ends. to be gained by such assemblages.

THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS AT BERLIN.

Since our last issue the Tenth International Medical Congress has been.

In point of numbers the meeting seems to have been a decided success; no less than eight thousand medical men being reported as present. The American delegation alone numbers seven or eight hundred.

Of the success of the meeting as a scientific gathering little can be said until a fuller record of its transactions has appeared. But, from the limited reports so far received, no very important contributions have been made to the world's fund of medical knowledge. Nor indeed is it to be expected that any valuable scientific discoveries would be reserved for the meeting of the Congress. The greatest help the International Congress can be to science is in the way of simplifying nomenclature and the classification of disease. All the rest can be attended to by the scientific medical journals.

Undoubtedly the prospect of cutting a figure among such a multitude as is now accustomed to attend these Congresses is a great stimulus to many who, without such opportunity, would be content with smaller attainments than they now aspire to. Besides, these colossal gatherings offer opportunities to the profession in general

THE LOUISVILLE SURGICAL SOCIETY.

On the evening of the 25th ult. this vigorous Society celebrated the third anniversary of its being. The officers elected for the ensuing year are: President, Dr. D. W. Yandell; VicePresident, Dr. E. R. Palmer; Secretary, Dr. A. M. Cartledge.

In consequence of the illness of the Presi dent, the usual retrospective address had to be omitted, but the regular scientific proceedings (which appear elsewhere in this issue) were

evolved with wonted zest.

In the elevation of the former secretary to the office of Vice-President, our journal loses a very regular contributor to one of its departments; but his successor will doubtless see that the interesting proceedings of the Society, which have appeared with unfailing regularity since the day of its first meeting, are still laid before our readers.

At the close of the meeting the members, with several invited guests, sat down to a collation given by Dr. Turner Anderson, the genial host.

SINCE 1866 the University of France has conferred the degree of M.D. on thirty-five women.

Notes and Queries.

FRENCH POPULATION STATISTICS.-The last French census showed that the population of France consisted of 37,930,759 souls. A contemporary has analyzed the figures supplied by the census returns as to occupations, and from its report it is found that the number of persons depending on agriculture was 17,698,402; on industrial pursuits, 9,289,206; trade, 4,247,764; liberal professions, 1,094,233; transport service, 1,020,721; public administration, 711, 027; public forces, 613,362; independent persons, 2,295,966; giving a total for the classified population of 36,970,681. The difference is made up by 490,374 persons not classed, 237,899 persons without professions, and 231,805 persons with unknown professions. The mean proportion of the agricultural classes to the total population is 48 per cent for the whole of France, but it varies from 83.6 per cent in the Department of the Lozére to 2.3 per cent in that of the Seine. The proportion of the agricultural population is much larger in the center and west of France than in the north and east. The agricultural and industrial classes in France absorb together three-fourths of her total population, and they are distributed in inverse ratio to each other. The mean proportion of the industrial population of France is 25 per cent, but it is not found in any department, the nearest proportions being 12 and 26 per cent. The average extent of the French trading classes is 11.5 per cent of the the total population. The following departments are essentially commercial: Seine, 27.5 per cent; Bouches-du-Rhône, 25 per cent; Rhône, 22 per cent; Alpes-Maritimes and Isere, 19 per cent; Gard and Seine-Intérieure, 17 per cent; Hérault, Nord, and Seine-et-Oise, 16 per cent. The proportion of the liberal professions to the total population of France varies but little in the several departments. Its mean is about 5 per cent of the population. Finally, as to the class of the population described as independent, its mean proportion over the whole. of France is 11.5 per cent. We find the highest percentages in the following departments: Seine-et-Oise, 22.3 per cent; Haute-Garonne,

out.

AN ORIGINAL EMERGENCY OBSTETRIC FORCEPS.-At the recent Nashville Convention many, stories were told by those in attendance, while comparing notes concerning professional experiences. One practitioner, Dr. W. C. Blackman, of Davidson County, Tenn., related his experiences in two obstetric cases. In both instances he decided that immediate delivery was necessary. The natural forces had given He had no forceps with him; no neighbors to call on for assistance, and he was miles from home. Fortunately in both houses there happened to be pairs of shoemaker's pincers with stout, curved handles. The latter were slipped over the heads of the children, and by pulling against the pivoted lock successful extraction was made. Both mothers and both children made perfect recoveries. One of the latter had a scar just at the edge of the hair. but the growth of the latter.(the child being a girl) soon covered it up. This girl grew up into blooming womanhood and was married the week before the convention met.-Medical Record.

[Great Heavens! we would like to see the pincers.]

POISONOUS EFFECTS OF EXALGINE.--A. B., aged about forty, a lady of hysterical temperament, has suffered from nervous headache monthly for the last ten or more years, and has been treated with all kinds of drugs, but without avail. Latterly I have been adminis tering exalgine, commencing with two grains twice a day, which gave great relief. The attack, however, recurred the next month, and two grains every four hours had very little effect, so I increased the dose to five grains twice a day. The first dose was taken at 10 P. M., after supper, with great relief to the pain, and the patient slept till 6 A. M., when she awoke and felt headache coming on again, so took another dose and lay down. In about a quarter of an hour she jumped up with a sud

den start and a scream, and thought she was dying; she had such curious sensations, felt numb all over,. fingers and toes tingled and felt dead; eyelids twitched continuously; the whole head felt as if it were swelled, and kept expanding and contracting alternately. There was great oppression in the region of the diaphragm. In a few minutes the patient vomited and ejected the remains of the medicine. She then felt much relieved, and lay down and slept after taking a little tea. Two hours after the patient got up, but felt ill; the headache was slighter, but not gone; the numbness of the fingers and toes remained nearly all day, but beyond this the patient was little the worse for her experience. She went out the next day, but says she will be afraid to try the medicine again. I think that this so-called poisoning with exalgine is due to being taken on an empty stomach, as the former dose was well borne when food was present, so I always order it to be taken after a meal. I give the drug I give the drug dissolved in tinctura aurantii and diluted. I have found it useful in toothache, facial neuralgia, and in case of long-standing lumbago. No beneficial effect of the drug have I found in less than two grains for an adult.-British Medical Journal.

DELIVERY OF THE MORIBUND OR POST-MORTEM CESAREAN SECTION.-This is one of the most serious ethical questions in relation to obstetrics. Dr. Barton C. Hirst, Professor of Obstetrics in the University of Pennsylvania, has recorded a case of artificial delivery of a child when the mother was dying. This step was undertaken in preference to cesarean section after death. The woman was pulseless and unconscious; the fetal heart could be distinctly heard, and the child's movements were active. Full arrangements had been made for abdominal section immediately upon the death of the mother. Dr. Hirst dwelt upon the child's good condition at the time, and the possibility that as the mother might live for some hours, it might die, from various causes, first. He therefore advised the resident physician at the hospital where the case occurred to dilate the cervix, turn and deliver. This was done, the child being extracted in less than five min

utes. It was born alive and cried vigorously. A week later it died of some condition quite unconnected with the circumstances of its birth. The woman's death was certainly not hastened by the operation; in fact she seemed a trifle. better after delivery. At the necropsy it was found that death was due to meningitis. Dr. Hirst preferred this proceeding to a "disfiguring and bloody operation which would horrify the friends of the dead patient." On the other hand, version and extraction were as quickly performed as section, the child was rescued while in good condition, there was nothing repulsive about the operation to the bystanders, and the mother's death was by no means necessarily hastened.-Ibid.

EXPERIMENTAL RABIES.-Drs. Vestea and Zagari, who have for years been investigating the action of the virus of artificial rabies in the laboratory of Cantani, in Naples, have recently. published the results of some experiments in support of the theory that this virus has a peculiar affinity for the nerves, and that it seems to travel to the spinal cord and medulla by the route of the nerves rather than by that of the veins of lymph channels. These experiments are described in Fortschritte der Medicin, Bd. vii, and are summarized in the Centralblatt für Chirurgie, June 28, 1890. The results are very curious in certain respects, as they showed that when the virus was applied to a small nerve filament far from the central system it was as sure to act as when an inoculation was made in the substance of a large trunk close to the spinal cord. This seems to present a contradiction to the claim of Pasteur, that bites near the brain are more dangerous than those at the periphery because of their nearness itself.--Medical and Surgical Reporter.

A QUININE FACTORY IN INDIA.-The South of India Observer states that there is a probability that the Wynaad Planters will start a quinine factory of their own, for the treatmeut of bark grown in their district. If, by united effort, such a factory could be established, it is thought that much benefit would result to the planter in the saving of freight on a large quantity of useless material now transported.

A LONG FAST.-The daily papers of July 16th reported that a man named John Roth had died July 14th, at the county asylum, Galena, Ill., having passed his sixtieth day of total abstinence from food of any kind.

The man was said to have been attacked by progressive paralysis two months ago, which incapacitated him from work, and soon made it impossible for him to eat. After a week of fasting he was brought to the county asylum on May 23d, and there lingered fifty-three days without food.

In reply to inquiries from the Reporter as to the correctness of these statements, Dr. Hugh F. Gunn writes that they are substantially true, but that the man could take liquid or solid food if inclined to do so. He was in a state of stupor, from which he could be aroused, however, and at no time was any food adminis tered by means of mechanical appliances. The man occasionally swallowed a little water. The account of the case rests upon the assertions of the superintendent and the nurse at the asylum. It is not as accurate and exact as might be wished, but indicates a long resistance to the effects of starvation.--Med. and. Surg. Rep.

LUPUS OF THE LARYNX.-A case of lupus of the larynx has recently occurred in Professor Rydygier's wards in Cracow, and an account of it is given by Dr. Langie in the Przeglad Lekarski. The patient was a laboring man, aged thirty-two. He had suffered from a slight cough, hoarseness, and a difficulty in breathing for a couple of years, these symptoms having increased so much during the preceding two months that he had been obliged to seek medical advice. Externally, there was nothing to be detected, except that the subclavian lymphatic glands were much enlarged. On examination with the laryngoscope a gray growth could be seen, with a rough, granular surface, extending from the base of the epiglottis into the right half of the larynx and involving the right vocal cord. On the left half of the larynx discrete tubercles of the size of a millet seed could be seen, and the rima glottidis was much narrowed. In consequence of the extreme dyspnea from which the patient was suffering laryngotomy was performed, and then, as the

growth appeared to be of a malignant character, the larynx was excised. Four months later the patient was fitted with a Bruns' artificial larynx, which proved quite satisfactory. The microscopic examination of the tumor showed it to be lupus.-London Lancet.

METHYLENE BLUE AS AN ANALGESIC--The Chemist and Druggist, June 21, 1890, says: Since, with the introduction of coloring agents as antiseptics, what may be called a new step was taken, or rather, perhaps, a new source indicated for remedial agents, we may expect to soon find other substances obtained from the same class and brought forward as medicants, the value of which may exceed that of the first found. We have now to note methylene blue, which is claimed to possess analgesic properties. Those who have a great admiration for blue blood should seize the present opportunity of obtaining it cheaply, since, besides relieving them of muscular or articular rheumatic pains, it passes so rapidly into and through the circulatory system that an hour at the latest after the dose the urine is colored pale-green, then bluish-green, and after four hours a fine aristocratic deep blue.

As is always the case with remedies recommended by the discoverer, no unpleasant secondary effects were observed, even after continued use. Drs. Ehrlich and Leppmann, who investigated the medicinal properties of the substance, tried at first to administer it as a hypodermic injection, but without success, as they could not get a sufficiently strong solution.

A GREAT CHILD.-It is reported that an extraordinary child was recently found by a correspondent of the Lancet in West Cornwall, Great Britain. He is now five years and six months old, and is of the following dimensions: Height, four feet; weight, 117 pounds; circumference of abdomen, 42 inches; waist, 37 inches; chest, 37 inches; neck, 14 inches; head, 22 inches; thigh, 23 inches; calf, 15 inches; arm, 11 inches; forearm, 16 inches. He is very healthy, eats all day long if he can get it, and is fairly intelligent. The parents and their other children are of ordinary size.