Page images
PDF
EPUB

would be a considerable aid to diagnosis in those cases in which the physical signs of pneumonia are doubtful. Especially would it be of value in the case of children if a sample of sputum could be obtained, as can usually be done with little trouble. But further trial will be required before it can be generally accepted.

CIRCULAR TO THE CORPS OF ASSISTANTS OF THE BUREAU OF OBSTETRICS OF AMERICAN

INSTITUTE OF HOMEOPATHY.

At the next meeting of the American Institute of Homeopathy at Newport, it is the wish of your chairman that a very complete report shall be made exhibiting the advances in the art and science of obstetrics up to the present date. Gynecology has been studied and cultivated with so much dilligence and enthusiasm that it has been said that "obstetrics and obstetrical science seems to be getting out of fashion." We hope that this is not so, but at medical associations and gatherings gynecology is usually well represented, and comparatively very little is said about obstetrics. trusting that this will not be true about the institute, I have carefully selected the corps of assistants, and have recei· ed from each one a response expressing themselves heart and soul ready to present a valuable paper. Accordingly, each one of the assistants whose names are appended, is personally requested to communicate with the chairman as soon as convenient, and announce the title of their paper. As the number of the assistants is founrteen, if they please to make their papers brief they will be very acceptible, and, moreover, they should be handed in at least one month before the meeting of the institute.

The following physicians were appointed as the corps of assistants:

Prof. Dr. Walter Wesselhoeft, Cambridge, Mass.

Prof. R. N. Foster, Chicago.

Prof. Dr. G. R. Southwick, Boston.

Dr. H. E. Spalding, Boston.

Prof. L. C. Grosvenor, Chicago.

Dr. C. S. Stettler, Chicago.

Dr. J. K. Culver, Boston.

Dr. E. V. Van Norman, San Diego, Cal.
Prof. Dr. J. N. Mitchell, New York.
Prof. Dr. W. A. Edmonds, St. Louis.

Prof. L. L. Danforth, New York.
Prof. Dr. W. C. Richardson, St. Louis.
Prof. Emil G. Freyermuth, Denver.

Dr. E. G. Cox, Albany, N. Y., Secretar.

T. Griswold Comstock, Chairman, St. Louis.

I tried Peacock's Bromides in epilepsy, and it acted very well as a nerve sedative. I think it a good remedy and far superior in many particulars to the ordinary commercial bromide preparations. J. H. WALLING, M. D.

Pinnecle, Ala.

CITRIC ACID IN THE LOCAL TREATMENT OF DIPHTHERLA Most suggestions for the local treatment of diphtheria have been consciously or unconsciously based on the now well- established fact that the throat affection, which in scarlatina is simply one local manifestation (the rash being another) of a general disease, is in diphtheria the indication of the recent invasion of that peculiar mucous surface by the bacilli, the cervical glands at the farthest, though diffusing thence a poison, as Roux and Yersin have shown; or more accurately, according to Hunter, a ferment that generates the poison to which the general and nervous phe nomena are due. To destroy the bacilli in their first landing, as it were, before they have had time to intrench themselves in the deeper tissues, is the aim of such treatment; and the local application of germicides, among which the strong caustics, mineral acides, perchloride of iron, etc., of the older practitioners, must be included, as well as the mercury iodide and the eucalyptus oil of Illingworth and Curgenven respectively, has been productive of more or less encouraging results in lessening the subsequent general infection.

Dr. Hugo Laser, assistant in the Hygienic Institute of Koenigsberg, considering the difficulty of applying caustics in children, and fearing that any injury to the mucous membrane by the use of stiff brushes or otherwise, might actually assist the entrance of the bacilli into the submucous tissues, proposed to try citric acid in solutions that should be astringent rather than caustic. Espine and De Marignac had shown that salicylic and citric acid andlemon juice destroyed both the false membrane and the bacilli (boric acid, alum and potassium chlorate being quite useless), and Abadie used it in strong, almost caustic, solution every five hours at first, and every eight to twelve later on. Babes had treated cultures in various ways with a number of established or reputed germicides, of which, under all circumstances, sublimate proved the most active, potassium permanganate far better than one would have expected, and citric, lactic and acetic acids fairly satisfactory.

Laser confined his attention to citric acid and lime juice (citric acid, seven-eights per cent; sugar, etc., three-fourths per cent, and salt, two percent), varying his experiments in every way as regards the strength of the acid, the frequency, duration and mode of its aplication, and the nature of the culture medium. He next treated portions of diphtheric membrane by dippings and washing, and last of all he applied the results in actual clinical practice, using frequent applications with a full camel's hair brush, of a 5 to 10 per cent solution, which, diluted in the proportion of one tablespoonful to a glass of water, he used as a gargle, and also internally, the dose in the latter case being from one or two teaspoonfuls for a young child, to a tablespoonful or more for an adult every hour or two.

Raw lemons, in thin slices, should at the same time be eaten, or rather sucked, one or two per diem, or the expressed juice drunk as lemonade.

He does not pretend to have found a specific, but states that of fifteen cases thus treated, some of them with very severe and extensive exudation, fourteen were cured within three days. The only fatal case was that of a child in which the tonsile, uvulva and nares were involved, streptococci were abundant, and death was brought about through septic infection.

Seventy cases of angina and twelve in which the diagnosis of diphtheria was doubtful, were treated in like manner, and all recovered in a couple of days.-Am. Jour. Med. Sciences.

REMARKS ON "COMPOUND TALCUM" "BABY POWDER." THE HYGIENIC DERMAL POWDER FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN.

Talcum, the Silicate of Magnesia (4 MgO. 5 SiO2——3-4 HO.),* although known in olden times, as far back as 2200 years ago, when that immortal Greek scientist and naturalist, Theophras tus (370-286 B. C.), in his venerable work on "Stones," described it, was, up to the present days, entirely overlooked by therapeutists and never used by dermatologists. Strange to say! Only in the year 1868, it was the good fortune of the writer to be induced byp eculiar circumstances to make researches in the pharmaceutic realm for a dermal application which might be acceptable to the medical profession in the treatment and prevention of skin affections. In these researches Talcum was also experimented with, which proved to be the very substance looked for. Further investigations showed that, with the addition of carbolic acid, a preparation was produced most efficacious in preventing erythema intertrigo and in curing the same in very

severe cases.

Besides, the "Compound Talcum" is indicated in cases of minor Exanthemata, viz., urticaria, roseola. In Papulae, viz., lichen simplex, lichen tropicus, strophulus, etc. In Vesiculae, viz., eczema, herpes, crusta lactea. In Pustulae, viz., ecthyma, impetigo. And, further, in Dermatopathia of parasitic origin, viz., scabies, favus, sycosis, tinea decalvans, tinea circinata, chloasma versicolor. And, lastly, in the treatment of Exanthemata Majores and zymotic diseases.

Refraining from producing any testimonials, the writer deems every physician perfectly able to judge for himself of the therapeutic value of the Compound Talcum. Respectfully, JULIUS FEHR, M. D., Ancient Pharmacist.

Пoboken, N. J., June, 1891.

THREE INCHES IN SIZE.

I have used two bottles of Phytoline "Walker" and reduced my weight fifteen pounds and three inches in size around the waist; breathe freely and can walk with ease, something I have not been able to do in four years. I can now walk up a flight of stairs without stopping. DR. H. L. HENSLEY.

[graphic]

DIAGNOSIS, DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF THE EYE. By A. E. ADAMS, M. D., ETC. Pp. 94. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.

The author has admirably succeeded, we think, in putting into the smallest possible compass and most rapidly accessible form just the information which an intelligent practitioner of medicine, not a specialist in ophthalmology, needs for the identification of the eye diseases that come to him. We commend the book.

TEXT-BOOK OF MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE AND TOXICOLOGY. By JOHN J. REESE, M. D., ETC. Fourth Edition. Revised by HENRY LEFFMANN, A. M., M. D., PH. D., ETC. 12 mo., pp. 628. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Co. Price, $3.00. As a student's manual, Reese's work has deservedly held a high place for a number of years. The revision of this latest edition by two such scholars as Drs. Leffmann and Mills has added to its authoritativeness and practical value, and it is now a satisfactory general text-book upon the important subject of legal medicine.

THE PHYSICIAN'S VISITING LIST FOR 1895. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Co. There is no better visiting list made than this one, and if there be one as good (to our way of thinking) we do not know it.

ESSENTIALS OF THE DISEASES OF THE EAR. By E. B. GLEASON, S. B., M. D., ETC. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.

This is number 24 of Saunders' Essentials Series. Eighty-nine illustrations add clearness to the text, which presents in condensed form all the main points of practical otology.

The index for Vol. VII. will be inserted in the January, 1895 issue.

Dear Doctor:

The following item appeared in the last number of the "Alienist and Neurologist, Dr. C. H. Hughes, editor:

Antikamnia. The adoption of the monogram on the new tablets and the recall of the old stock from the market, will prove of benefit to this firm and the many physicians who may hereafter desire to afford relief by its use. It will henceforth be sold only in tablet form.

This item appeared in all friendliness to Antikamnia, than whom no better friend exists than Dr. Hughes, and the first paragraph is a succinct statesment of an undoubted fact. It is to the last sentence that we call your attention particularly, and which, if permitted to go unnoticed, will mislead and injure the demand for "Antikamnia Powdered," its most popular form. The changes in style of packages and form of tablets in no sense changes Antikamnia, nor withdraws "Antikamnia Powdered" from the market, which remains now as always, and in stronger demand than ever.

We trust you will bear testimony to this fact "both in and out of season," whenever opportunity offers. Sincerely yours,

THE ANTIKAMNIA CHEMICAL CO.,

Frank A. Ruf, Pres. and Treas.

Doctor-If you have a copy of THE CLINICAL REPORTER June,1892, will you kindly mail it to us?

THE CLINICAL REPORTER,

St. Louis, Mo.

Celerina is one of the most prompt and efficient of remedies for devitalized or broken down constitutions.

I have used Cactina Pillets and find them to be very efficient in cardiac debility

St. Louis.

R. H. DISSE, M. D.

Ihave used Peacock's Bromides in my practice with success. Shall continue to use it.

Brooklyn, N. Y.

HENRY TUTHILL HALLECK, M. D.

MUSIC FREE.

Cut this out and with 25 cents send to Kunkel Bros., 612 Olive street, and receive for the purpose of introduction 15 to 25 pieces of music of their latest publication in regular sheet form, worth $6.50. This is a bona fide offer. Reference, publishers of this paper.

Cactina Pillets continue to be my favorite resource in heart and complication of heart and lung troubles. They have served me well; promptly curing functional heart disorders, and markedly palliating organic cases. They are specially valuable in heart troubles with cough or physical debility.

St. Louis.

W. A. EDMONDS, A. M., M. D.

The war among the tablet manufacturers gives an idea of the immense profits druggists have been reaping for years. The Physicians' Mutual Manufacturing Company of Chicago claims the credit of breaking the combination as the first manufacturers to sell direct to the physician, reserving no profit for the druggist. Prescriptions at its prices average about one quarter of a cent each. See the Ad. in this issue. All its preparations are fully guaranteed.

Phenique Chemical Company, St. Louis:

Your two preparations, Chloro-phenique and Campho-phenique, I find so useful that I always have them within handy reach. Chloro-phenique is agreeable to patients, is non-irritating and withal a reliable antiseptic. In gynecological as also in surgical practice, I find it useful.

Campho-phenique is to me indispensible, as I have found it a specific for pruritus ani, and pruritus vulvae. For itching piles it is also excellent and in these affections I know of no other local application its equal. Yours very truly,

Dec. 4, 1894.

T. GRISWOLD COMSTOCK.

« PreviousContinue »