other sign of vitality than feebly to beat the water with its vibratile cilia; on every side of it scattered the darts that were used to strike it. Its enemy then approaches and quickly thrusts forth from its mouth an organ shaped like a tongue, relatively long and resembling a transparent cylindrical rod; the free, extended extremity of this rod it fastens on some part of the paramecium's body. The latter is then gradually brought near by the recession of this tongue-shaped organ toward the buccal aperture of the didinium, which opens wide, assuming the shape of a vast funnel in which the prey is swallowed up."-From Binet's Psychic Life of MicroOrganisms. Gleanings. NORMAL POSTURE OF A PARTURIENT WOMAN.—The subject of posture in labor is one which has engaged the attention of a number of writers. Dr. A. F. A. King devotes a paper, in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children, to the question as to what is the normal posture for a parturient woman? While he says that the most prudent and truthful answer is, we do not know, he concludes as follows: 1. There is no one posture that can be normal for the parturient woman. 2. The continued maintenance of one posture wastes and exhausts the forces of labor, interferes with the normal mechanism, and adds to the duration and intensity of the woman's suffering. 3. Exactly opposite results are produced by proper changes of posture. 4. The indications for change are: instinctive desire for it; arrest of the mechanism of labor; emotional discontent, peevishness and despair. 5. The normal mechanism of labor being at present imperfectly understood, and the influence of different postures upon this mechanism, during the several stages, of the several "positions," of the several "presentations," being unknown, the selection of given postures for given conditions can not be defined without further study. SPEECH WITHOUT THE TONGUE. -Primary tubercular ulceration of the tongue is very liable to be mistaken for cancerous disease. Mr. Butlin states that all the primary tuberculous ulcers of the tongue described and examined by Nedopil, had been cut out under the impression that they were cancerous. Dr. Wm. T. Bull has recently reported a case in which this mistake was, fortunately for the patient, made. Kocher's operation was performed, the muscles of the tongue being cut through on a level with the hyoid bone, and an enlarged lymphatic gland removed, together with submaxillary and lingual glands. The man made a very good recovery, and, three years later, came under observation again with a broken leg, but otherwise in good health; he was able to speak sufficiently clearly to enable him to pursue his daily avocations without attracting attention, and was, in fact, in hospital two days before it was discovered that he had no tongue; he stated positively that the sense of taste was as acute as it ever was. The floor of the mouth was covered with mucous membrane; in speaking he had no difficulty, with vowel sounds, but g, k, t, q, m, ch, x and th were imperfect. In 1873, the Hon. Edward Thistleton published a curious book, "The Tongue not Essential to Speech," in which he collected a number of cases in which speech was retained after complete as well as partial removal of the tongue. In one case, that of a railway guard, in which the whole of the tongue was removed by Mr. Nunneley of Leeds in 1861, Professor Huxley, who carefully examined the man as to the impairment of speech, in 1862, reported that the only consonants which he was wholly unable to pronounce were t and d, but 1, r, s, v, and z, as well as the final g, were imperfect; th was very fair." In another case operated on by Professor Syme, only d, j, g, and s were markedly imperfect. These results as to speech were remarkably good, but they might probably now be easily paralleled. The chief interest of Dr. Bull's case was the apparent complete freedom of the patient from any trace of tubercular disease three years after the operation." By a radical operation," writes Dr. Bull, the man has been saved from a disease quite as destructive in its career as cancer." Mr. Butlin also, in the work already quoted, expressed the opinion that the manner of dealing with these cases "thus summarily was the best that could be devised."-Ed. Brit. Med. Jour. 66 PARALDEHYDE IN ASTHMA.-Paraldehyde in half-drachm doses has proved a most valuable remedy in my hands in cutting short the paroxysm of asthma. I have tried it repeatedly with the happiest results. But a combination of remedies often acts nicer, and the following combination has never failed to give immediate relief to the troublesome affection: B.-Tinct. ipecac. comp. Sp. ammon. aromat. Paraldehyde. Sodii nitrit. Aquæ menth. pip. Sig.-Teaspoonful in sweetened water until relief is obtained. R. T. gtt. xvj. 3j. 3ij. gr. v. q. s. 3j-M. every half hour SCOTT, M. D. IDIOSYNCRASY FOR IPECAC.-A rather singular instance of idiosyncrasy for ipecacuanha happened the other day in a patient, a woman of some thirty-two years. For indigestion, with eructations of gas and bitter taste in mouth, I gave her this mixture : B.-Sodi carbonatis Vini ipecacuanhæ Sig.-Teaspoonful in hot water before meals. gr. xlv. m xlv. 13 iss ad 3 iij.-M. In this preparation there was slightly less than two drops of the wine of ipecacuanha, yet she complained that shortly after taking each dose she felt her face flush, her head become hot and dizzy, and she grew so sick that she was forced to lie down for some time. The last dose she took before coming back had the further effect of partially blinding her, or rather of making her hypermetropic; for, in order to thread a needle, for instance, she had to hold it about two feet from her eyes. I have recently heard of another case in which a mixture of otherwise innocent drugs, containing in each dose two and one-half minims of syrup of ipecacuanha, produced violent nausea, vertigo and vomiting, and marked injection of the conjunctivæ with bile. ERNEST SANGREE, M.D. RECTIFIED ESSENCE OF TURPENTINE IN CROUP.-Dr. Lewentaner, of Constantinople, reports four cases of idiopathic croup when the symptoms were so severe as to afford but little hope for recovery. As in each case tracheotomy was refused, he determined to follow the treatment of Dr. Demolow, and administered the rectified essence of turpentine in tablespoonful doses. The symptoms promptly ameliorated and recovery followed in each instance. He also makes use of the following spray : To be used in atomizer night and day.-Bulletin General de Therapeutique. INCONTINENCE Of Urine in CHILDREN (Descroizilles). — Sulphate of strychnine Syrup Water o gr. 05. 96 gr. 4 gr.-M. To be given in tablespoon doses: one to twenty a day. Strychnine O gr. 05 Conserve of red roses 2 gr. Divide into 20 pills. Take one to four a day. Prepare by displacement. 200 gr. 800 gr. A tincture will be obtained of which the dose will be from ten to sixty drops a day. -La Bulletin Medicale. INJECTION FOR UTERINE CANCER (Cheron). Tincture of iodine Salicylate of soda Tar water 1⁄2 drachm. 2 1⁄2 drachms. 1⁄2 pint. Dissolve three to six spoonfuls in a pint of warm water. -La Gazette Mèdicale de Montréal. POWDER STAINS ON THE SKIN.-The bluish-black spots produced by gunpowder may be removed by painting with the following solution : Biniodide of ammonium, Distilled water, equal parts. Then with dilute hydrochloric acid to reach the tissues more deeply affected.-Revue de Thérapeutique. FATTY DEGENERATION OF THE HEART (Kisch.)— B.-Powdered rhubarb root, Extract of aloes Extract of jalap, Extract of trefoil, q. s. Make 30 pills: one to be taken at night. ǎă 2 gram. If anæmia coexist, the following pills are useful: B.-Sulphate of iron (very pure) Aqueous extract of aloes Extract of trefoil, q. s. 3 gram. 2 gram. . Make 30 pills. Take one pill night and morning. In addition, a diet calculated to excite urinary secretion should be ordered. If indications of a sluggish circulation should be present, digitalis is indicated in combination with a purgative. R.-Powder of rhubarb root, Aqueous extract of aloes, Powdered digitalis Ext. of trefoil q. s. Make 30 pills: one every three hours. āā 2 gram. At the same time, and in order to increase the cardiac energy, wine or spirits. should be administered; but cutaneous injections of ether may also be employed.-Revue de Therapeutique. BORACIC ACID IN GYNECIC PRACTICE.-Dr. W. W. Potter, of Buffalo, New York, applies the remedy as an injection, dry, to the vagina, and in the form of boracic acid with alternating layers of cotton. He allows this dressing to remain a week in some cases, and thinks once a week often enough for these applications. He has had good results with boracic acid after plastic operations. In these cases he leaves a rope of borated cotton hanging from the os over the perineum. Dr. Potter also regards boracic acid as a remedy of great value in sterility due to acrid secretion, which destroys the fecundating power of the sperm. He says it is one of the best powders to render operative wounds in the genital aseptic. Boracic acid is suited to many gynecic uses in which an antiseptic is required. CALIFORNIA HUMOR: Delayed Menstruation from an Unusual Cause.-A druggist in this city was recently consulted by a lady in a case of delayed menstruation, she having passed the regular period by three weeks. She was unable to assign any reason for this unusual occurrence, as she had hereto |