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night death closed the scene. Any one who ever saw the agonizing suffering of a hydrophobia case can hope he may never see another. Dr. Curran Pope is a specialist of national reputation, and he fully confirmed the diagnosis, and requested me to write the history and progress of Clarence Saunders' case for the Louisville Medical Monthly, which I did. Of four reputable and experienced physicians who witnessed this case there was unanimity in diagnosis.

Another case which occurred near this city (Jeffersonville) just a few months ago. A rabid dog bit a hired man on the farm of J. C. Rous, and also bit his boy on the arm. The parents being well-to-do sent the boy to the Chicago Pasteur Institute.

The hired man refused to take treatment, and ridiculed the idea of danger from hydrophobia. The boy went through treatment to thorough immunization, and after many months he is as well as he ever was. In less than three weeks the man developed hydrophobia, and died a horrible death. His case closed with frightful convulsions at the very sight of water. The clinking of the spoon on the sides of a glass, which suggested the approach of some one with water, immediately threw him into a violent choking, quickly followed with a convulsion. He only survived about two or three days.

A negro woman was bitten here by a rabid dog, and the benevolent citizens sent her to the Pasteur Institute, and sent the rabid dog's head also. The examination proved beyond question that the wench was bitten by a rabid dog. The woman was treated successfully and is living here in her usual health. I have known of two unmistakable deaths from hydrophobia, but I have never heard of any one having it, even when the virus has invaded the system, after having been discharged as cured by the Pasteur treatment.

In Hartshorne we read: "Hydrophobia is a disease due to a specific animal poison, which resides in the saliva, of animals affected with it. It never originates spontaneously, and is communicated directly or indirectly, and usually by biting, from carnivorous or omnivorous animals, especially dogs, to man. It is alone recognized by its physiological effects on man or animals. It induces pain and stiffness in the inoculated part; exalted sensitiveness and irritability; feverishness, mental anxiety,

spasm of the throat in the sight of water or liquids; tremors, headache, vomiting, retching, tympanitis, great prostration and death. Its period of inoculation varies from a few days to months." The description and etiology of hydrophobia have been extant for centuries, and no reasonable investigator can have any excuse to doubt its origin and symptoms. It was described by Democrites, contemporaneously with Hippocrates, by Aristotle, by Asclepiades and Thomison; the latter having had the disease and recovered; by Aurelianus and Dioscorides, by Colsus and Galen. More recent writers on the disease were Von Sweiten, Cullen, Fothergill, Mead and Bardsley.

From 1803 to 1820 is a memorable period in the history of hydrophobia. In 1810 it spread rapidly through southern Russia, and the same year in America, in the State of Ohio, where it destroyed dogs, wolves, foxes, besides other domestic animals, and no small number of human beings. "During the years 1819 to 1826 rabies was rife in Italy, and a wolf bit thirteen persons, nine of whom died of hydrophobia."

Statistics of the prevalence, ravages and fatal effects on both man and beast have come down the centuries in evidences overwhelmingly conclusive of the disease.

The term "hydrophobia," meaning dread of water, is pathognomonic of the disease, and is an unfailing proof of it, and differentiates it from all other spasmodic nervous diseases.

Jeffersonville, Ind.

D. L. FIELD, M. D.

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS— WHO WILL ANSWER?

Editor Medical Summary:

What drug or combination of drugs is the most active diuretic that is known in medicine? Recently a physician asked me the above question, and I told him I would have to study awhile on it; after studying awhile on the question, I was still puzzled. I could think of active purgatives such as croton oil, active diaphoretics, like pilocarpine, but do not know of any sure powerful acting diuretics.

What is the most powerful antiseptic in the materia medica? Which of mercury bichloride and mercury biniodide is the most powerful antiseptic? What is the

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Aqua cinnamon ..q. s. ad. 3ij. M. Sig.-One teaspoonful every four hours until free diaphoresis.

What are all the conditions the ophthalmoscope would aid in diagnosis besides the following diseases: Chronic interstitial nephritis, pernicious anemia, leukemia, diabetes, syphilis, retinitis, in valvular heart diseases, especially aortic lesions (visible pulsation of arteries)? Optic neuritis may be present in the same condition or may indicate tumor.

Are there any other morbid changes that take place in acute edema of the glottis or edematous laryngitis besides the following: A true inflammatory edema due to severe irritation or infection. The submucous tissues at the base of the epiglottis and over the aryepiglottic folds, being greatly swollen and translucent or yellowish. The glottis is closed and asphyxia results unless the condition is relieved.

In edema of the larynx what else can be done besides free catharsis; application of blisters or leeches over the larynx; spraying with astringent solutions (tannic acid or alum), and if these fail scarification intubation or tracheotomy.

What is the results of the X-ray and radium in controlling sex in generation. J. A. BURNETT, M. D. Chismville, Ark.

EXOPHTHALMIC GOITER.

Editor Medical Summary:

It was named in England, Graves's disease; in Germany, Basedow's disease; and by some as "cardiac stenosis" and "exophthalmic cachexia;" but while these names may be confusing, it will be easy to recognize the diseased gland, when one has seen a case. The protruding eyes, wild and startled expression, rapid and powerfully pulsating heart, muscular tremors, inco-ordination of the eye balls, unsymmetrical development of the gland, groaning during sleep, involuntary twitchings of the fingers and toes, mental disturbance, amounting almost to mania, with delusions of both sight and hearing, and rapid emaciation and nervous exhaustion. As to the

various theories given of its etiology, I care nothing about, as they have nothing to do with the treatment. Such a case as described above, I cured!

The treatment was calmative: bromides, cannabis, strophanthus, to the limit; and best of all, phytolacca decandra. While I was treating the case, I read of what wonderful virtues there were in the local inunction of extract of poke root to the enlarged gland; and I proceeded to give it a trial. The results astonished me, as she began to mend steadily; the nervous symptoms abating, and it was not long till my patient was up and about. While I continued heart treatment, I am sure the reduction of the gland and the relief of the exophthalmus were due to the phytolacca. I use it now on ordinary enlarged thyroids, having discarded the iodides and iodine locally.

Bartholow says: "It exerts its influence in the spinal cord, chiefly on the medulla. He says ulcers, cutaneous diseases and ophthalmia are maladies which have been cured." The fluid extract may be applied to the thyroid, or the solid extract spread on cloth and applied to the gland. Try it. D. L. FIELD, M. D. Jeffersonville, Ind.

"The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions."

One should not rely on feeling a tonsil engaged in a tonsillotome; he should see that it is if he does not wish to take the hance of cutting away the pillars on the fauces, a portion of the tongue, the floor of the mouth or the uvula.

Hard foreign bodies in the nose may sometimes be removed, where other means fail, by wiping the cavity and foreign body dry and app ying sealing wax attached to

@otton.

At the moment when the sphincter is being divulsed in rectal operations it is a good plan, as advised by Dr. L. H. Adler, to see that the patient is getting plenty of air and to stop the anesthesia for a brief period.

to the profession.

The eruptions which frequently appear on the face at the time of puberty or a little later are well treated with berberis aquifolium.

Shoemaker recommends the use of triticum repens in irritable bladder and chronic cystitis. In combination with belladonna and bicarbonate of soda, he advises it in gleet and irritable prostate.

Dr. French says he has used triticum repens to a considerable extent in old men with irritable bladder and difficult urination, with satisfactory results. It is safe and harmless, and by its sedative action on the mucous membrane of the bladder it relieves the irritation, and adds greatly to the comfort of the patient.

A physician writes: During the past six

Strophanthus is a heart stimulant; digi- years I have treated eighteen cases of

talis a heart tonic.

Strophanthus slows the heart's action; digitalis gives the heart more tone.

Strophanthus immediately strengthens the cardiac systole.

Digitalis contracts the arterioles and as presumably adds something to the work of the heart.

Santonin is a frequently needed anthelmintic, and as a remedy against the ascaris (round worm) it has no superior. It is also an efficient remedy against the oxyuris (thread worm), but it has no effect on the Sape-worm.

Hydrastis is pre-eminently a bitter tonic and stomachic. It is not a remedy for active or acute inflammation; in fact, it is Contraindicated in such states. It is, however, valuable in so-called subacute inflammations and chronic inflammations.

Cactus is one of our most valuable remedies in either organic or functional diseases of the heart. It gives speedy relief a many of the nervous disorders of women, removing many of the most distressing symptoms arising as a result of reflex

neuroses.

Echinacea is our most efficient remedy whenever there is evidence of sepsis, and probably the best internal antiseptic known

chorea with gelsemium alone, and without a failure.

It seems to me that cactus stimulates the motor, but more especially the inhibitory, nerves of the heart. It strengthens and improves the systole, increases the muscular energy of the beart, and increases the tone of the organ.--Dr. Curtin.

The most direct action of phytolacca is upon inflamed glandular structures, especially the lymphatic glands. The more markedly lymphatic the structure, and the more acute the trouble, the more marked the action of phytolacca.

In acute tonsillar inflammation phytolacca is certainly as near a specific as there can be for any ill. It must, however, be given in larger doses than is usually recommended.

A case of obstinate hiccough is reported as promptly relieved by dilute sulphuric acid, in a person aged 73, who had resorted to all the ordinary remedies.

Cold baths may be taken winter and summer if the individual is in good health. Cold baths should be taken on rising in the morning; hot baths on going to bed.

For the cure of itch it is sufficient to coat with lard the whole surface, which destroys the insect by depriving it of oxygen.

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