In chronic rheumatic irritation of any of Hardaway, of St. Louis; Secretary, Dr. A. Van Harlingen, of Philadelphia. The next meeting will be at Newport, R. I., the last Tuesday in August, 1880. the fibrous structures of the body, Dr. N. S. Davis has obtained excellent results from the administration of the fl. ext. of senecio aureus. Giacomini's process for hardening the brain is (1) to place it in a 50 per cent. solution of zinc chloride for ten or twelve days; (2) then in alcohol for ten days; (3) then immerse it in glycerine with one per cent. of carbolic acid; (4) when sufficient glycerine has been absorbed it is set aside to dry and then varnished with gum elastic. It is now firm enough to be handled, and looks like a wax model. * Dr. Michel (St. Louis Courier Med., Sept., 1879) states "that he is firmly convinced that of the cases of catarrhal conjunctivitis terminating unfavorably, at least one-half, if not more, are directly chargeable to the ordinary medication of the practitioner and ophthalmologist, or the abominable tamperings of quacks." The author believes in cleanliness, emollient applications externally, and large doses of tincture chloride of iron internally, as the proper treatment for uncomplicated cases. ninety-nine cents. The doctor is expected to Cer The Medical Press and Circular says: "It is mortifying to have to record that another The Ohio Medical Recorder states that the session will commence under the old unsatis- jail practice of Columbus was a few weeks factory regulations by which the education since let to the lowest bidder "for the of the medical practitioner is guided." * year for the sum of forty-nine dollars and "Until another parliament sees fit to pass a much needed measure of medical reform, it seems most probable that the abuses and evils everywhere lending indignity and opprobrium to the name of physician and surgeon must continue unabated, unrepressed." Dr. Bulkley will give his third course of lectures on dermatology at the New York Hospital, on Wednesday afternoons, from 2.30 to 3.30 o'clock, commencing October 8, 1879. The course consists of twenty-four lectures and is free to physicians and medical students. Didactic and clinical in character and abundantly illustrated, these cannot fail to be of great practical good. A writer in the Brit. Med. Four. gives the following advice to parents: "If you have a son who is notoriously slow in intellect, wanting in application, or who prefers pleasure to steady work, as you value his future happiness and your own peace of mind, put him to any profession or business you like save medicine, where the competition is not only severe but lasts from the first to the last day of professional life." We learn that two new medical colleges have been formed in Indiana-one at Fort Wayne and one at Indianapolis-making for that State a total of five medical schools. It would be a good plan if a law could be passed by every State Legislature requiring a paid up capital of one hundred thousand dollars before any new medical college could be organized. Dr. W. O. Moore, of N. Y. Eye and Ear Infirmary, (Med. Record, Sept. 20), says that in view of the lack of attention to the treatment of ophthalmia neo-natorum, "he would almost urge the reporting of every case to the Sanitary Bureau that it might be investigated and have proper treatment." He gives his plan of treatment as consisting in daily application to conjunctiva of nitrate of silver, extreme cleanliness, cold locally and The Bellevue Hospital Medical College the application of astringent drops. These announces a change in its requirements for are old measures, and will probably ere long graduation, to go into operation at and after give way to milder means, based upon a the session of 1880-81. Briefly it will remore accurate pathology and broader clinical quire a preliminary examination and a graded study. course of three years. The youngest of these New York schools first steps into the front rank of medical educational advancement. The Dermatological Association elected as officers for next year: President, Dr. L. A. Duhring, of Philadelphia; Vice-presidents, Dr. E. Wigglesworth, of Boston, and W. A. Med. Press and Circular remarks: "It is in so far that physiology makes anatomical knowledge useful that the chief utility of bers. Dr. H. A. Cleland was elected Presithe latter lies. Without physiological knowl- dent for the ensuing year, and Dr. Willard edge anatomy is only useful from its regional Chaney, Secretary. The other officers are aspect; that is, surgically or diagnostically in such as to render it certain that the coming examining the viscera or following out neu- year will be the most prosperous of any in ralgia. It is the light which physiological the history of the association. investigation is throwing upon anatomical details that is giving them importance and practical value to the student, provided he is instructed with regard to the requirements of actual practice." The new library hall of the New York Academy of Medicine was formally opened Oct. 2d, 1879. The entire cost of this hall was $9,556. The entire real estate owned by the Academy now amounts to about fiftyFrom the Clinic we learn that Dr. Samuel two thousand dollars. It has a library fund G. Armor has been a teacher in the following of $3,000 Its library contains upwards of colleges: British Medical College; Iowa ten thousand volumes, and its tables upwards University, Medical Department; Cleveland of ninety medical periodicals. When it University Medical College of Ohio; Missouri moved into its present quarters in 1879, its Medical College; Medical Department Michi- library amounted to five hundred volumes. gan University, and the Long Island Hospital College. As presented to Americans, the metric system has no uniformity. "The Boston Metric Bureau advocates the Continental The new hall is described as a model for society purposes, as to convenience, light and ventilation. Altogether we must say "well done" to the Academy. As a nucleus about which the profession of New York may gather, its influence in the profession will be of great good. Dr. L. P. Yandell, writing from Paris to system, in which liquids are invariably prescribed by weight. The Chicago Metric Club advocates the use of volumes for liquids. The U. S. Marine Hospital service allows the Louisville Medical News, says: "The either, believing that a difference of eight per cent. is of no importance. The metric system is thus practically a varying affair. In her work on the Bedouin tribes, Lady Anne Blunt says: "In spite of their absolute temperance and constant open air life, the Bedouin Arabs decay prematurely. Well made and handsome in youth, at forty their beards are gray; at fifty they are old, and the age of sixty is reached by few. From childhood up they are in hard training, eating but once a day, and then sparingly, and sleeping on the ground. This ensures them high health and full enjoyment of all their faculties at the time, but uses the body rapidly, and a certain staleness follows which the Bedouins acknowledge by withdrawing from all unnecessary exertion. The reaction is quickly felt; men of forty complain of indigestion, rheumatism, etc., and of the first positive disease they die."-Brit. Med. Four. The late annual meeting of the Detroit Medical and Library Association was very satisfactory to its friends. A considerable number of volumes have been added to its library, its expenses all met, its membership considerably enlarged, and an increased feeling of fellowship manifested by its mem French physician is eminently scientific in the common comprehension of this term. But he is eminently not a practical physician, and he does not cure his patients. Indeed, in the hospitals, the healing of the sick seems a matter of very minor consideration. Clinical material in Paris is unlimited in variety and amount, and the physician who desires a large field for the study of the natural history of disease, will find all he could desire. But there is no more unfortunate step that a medical student can take than to go to Paris or Vienna to study medicine. He might just as wisely go to either place to learn morals as to learn how to practice physic. The United States is the best place in the world to make doctors." President Eliot says: "Now everything depends with us and in the learned profession upon vigor of body. The more I see of the future of young men who go out from these walls, the more it is brought home to me that professional success and success in all the learned callings, depends largely upon the vigor of body, and that the men who win great professional distinction have that as the basis of their activity." The Brit. Med. Four., Sept. 13, says: “The day is rapidly coming-if it be not come when the social, intellectual and professional successive day, as you attended the course position which belongs to university gradua- you became more impressed with the skill tion, will be considered as an essential ap- and genius of the lectures. You came to pendage of the medical practitioner." * *know him personally, perhaps at one of his "We would, therefore, strongly advise the breakfast parties. You got into his library, student now commencing to read aright the overflowing with books and instruments of signs of the times; to measure himself, so to all kinds, with people waiting from all parts speak, against the curricula; to consider his of the world. You found round his table a prior education, his intellectual means, his miscellaneous group of practitioners, sturesources of time and finance; and to de- dents and young graduates, of professors, termine to enter medicine, if possible, with literati, clergymen, antiquaries, artists, no less diploma than that of an university." ladies, and you found him the life and the By substituting college for university, the soul of the party, pouring out in all direcabove remark will apply aptly to students in tions the most interesting experiences and America. stories, and drawing from each one at table A writer in the Fournal of Medical Science, whatever he knew that was most worth April, 1878, says: "The value of swearing, hearing, answering notes and verbal mesas a safety-valve to the feelings and substi- sages, and always full of good humor and tute for aggressive muscular action in accord- sympathy. You came to read the long arance with the well-known law of the trans-ray of papers which he had published, many mutation of forces, is not sufficiently dwelt of them of the greatest value, and you felt upon. Thus the reflex effect of treading on that the world was right when it esteemed a man's corn may either be an oath or a blow, the Edinburgh professor of obstetrics as one seldom both together. The Scotch minister's of its foremost men." man had mastered this bit of brain-physiology when he whispered to his master, who was in great distress at things going wrong, "Wad na an aith relieve ye?" It is said that he who was the first to abuse his fellow-man, instead of knocking out his brains without a word, laid thereby the basis of civilization. The Edinburg Med. Four. remarks "that a poor book is as injurious to the mental digestion as a badly-cooked dinner to the bodily. What a healthy sense of freedom is experienced when we turn from a compilation, a multum in parvo, with its compression and wooden face to the natural, the fresh, the spontaneous aliment provided by some master in the profession who feeds his friendly readers with the mutton which he has been rearing for many years on his own green pastures." The Boston Med. Four. has been comparing the preliminary examinations of the sev eral medical colleges, and remarks: "It will be a matter of some surprise to many to find that Harvard's standard is lower than that of any other of the above schools, and we may add that the method of conducting the examination is so lax as to make it of little, if any, value as a test of the applicant's fitness to study a profession." The councilors of the Massachusetts Med ical Society have decided to admit women to their organization. In commenting upon the action, the Boston Med. Four. says: "The real point of issue is systematically ig nored. In this progressive age we are expected to overlook any little scruples of decency or morality which the etiquette of bygone time has thought necessary as a reProf. Grainger Stewart (Edin. Med. Four.) straint to the sexes in their social interspeaks of Sir James Simpson thus: "Per- course. Enshrouded in her mantle of scihaps you first saw him in his lecture-room ence, woman is supposed to be endowed with and were struck with the massive and mag-power to descend from that high pedestal nificent head, the keen, sparkling eye, the upon which we men have always placed her, whole figure, although so bulky, full of ener. and to mingle with us unscathed in scenes gy and character. You found his lecture so from which her own modesty and the esteem clear and vivid, illustrated in every possible of the other sex has hitherto protected her. way, and not least by experiences and anec- We do not believe it possible that she can dotes full of meaning and full of fun. You frequent our public meetings or lecturefound that the driest details and statistical rooms when certain topics are discussed statements were made interesting, and each without breaking through barriers which de cency has built up, and which it is for the interest of every lady and gentleman to preserve." * * The action of the society will gain temporary applause, but the reaction will be a loss of influence among a certain portion of the profession whose support it cannot afford to be without." At its fourth annual meeting, held at Baltimore, September 17 to 19, inclusive, the American Gynecological Society elected as President Dr. J. Marion Sims; Vice Presidents, Dr. Robert Battey and Dr. W. T. Howard, of Baltimore; Members of the Council, Dr. W. Goodell, Dr. E. W. Jenks, Dr. A. D. Sinclair and Dr. A. J. C. Skene; as Secretary, Dr. James R. Chadwick, and as Treasurer, Dr. Paul F. Munde, Next annual meeting will be held at Cincinnati, beginning the first Wednesday in September. Editor's Book Table. The Books Noticed in these Pages are for Sale by E. B. SMITH & CO., Detroit, Mich. Flint's Clinical Medicine* noted; that is past diseases, general state In discussing the sources of error in diagnosis, while admitting that the most skilled. and experienced man falls into error, he says, "other things being equal, one is the less likely to commit errors the greater his familiarity with symptoms, and the more accurate his appreciation of their relative diagnostic value. This practical knowledge is For many years the name of Austin Flint required alike for recognizing the direct evihas been connected with works on practical dence of diseases, the exclusion of other medicine as a whole, and as special parts. diseases, and the points involved in differenOne would have thought that having written tial diagnosis." Of the skepticism respect"A Treatise on the Principles and Practice of ing the therapeutic value of drugs, he reMedicine," "A Manual of Percussion and marks, "leaving the question whether more Auscultation," "A Volume on Phthisis," "A harm results from too little than too great Practical Treatise on the Diagnosis, Pathol- confidence in active treatment, it is certain ogy and Treatment of the Diseases of the that a physician who is hopelessly distrustful Heart," and a "Practical Treatise on the of all curative agencies, had better have Physical Exploration of the Chest, and the chosen some other calling than the practice Diagnosis of Diseases affecting the Respira- of medicine. The wise practitioner is the tory Organs," little more would have been servant not the master of nature; but he is left for him to write. But lo! we are met an unprofitable servant, who is content to be with another immense book on clinical med- always an inactive spectator of disease. A icine, devoted exclusively to the two great just appreciation of the powers of nature practical objects of medical science, viz: diag- and of the resources of therapeutics will senosis and treatment viewed in the light of cure against the errors on the one hand, of the latest observation and experience. As credulity, and on the other hand of skeptito the best mode of examining a patient, there cism.' Aside from the introduction, the is room for difference of opinion, but that work is divided into six sections, treating in which so careful an observer has found prac- detail the diseases of the respiratory, circutically the most useful is worthy of consid- latory, digestive, urinary, and nervous syseration. Then he says, "After the name, tems. It closes with a chapter on fevers age, and occupation, the antecedents are *CLINICAL MEDICINE. A systematic treatise on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Designed for the use of students and practitioners of medicine, by Austin Flint, M. D. Cloth; pages 795. 1879. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea. and other general diseases. From time to time works have been written, more or less completely, fulfilling these indications. One of the latest of these is that before us. Its popularity in Germany and Austria is very great. Within the first year of its first appearance it was published in three languages. Briefly as to its scope, we may say that in a concise form it explains the methods of analysis so clearly, and states the results in all their bearings so fully that the student is able without other aid to perfect himself in the rapid analysis of the urine and to draw therefrom his own conclusions. of the entire book. As introductory he dis- presentation of our absolute knowledge of cusses the symptoms, especially diagnostic the urine as they can readily apply in their of nervous diseases, viz: those relating to daily work. general sensibility, the special senses, the mental faculties, and muscular movements. Then he treats of acute inflammatory affections within the cranium and spinal canal. Afterwards different affections are distributed in groups on the basis of a leading symptom common to the affections in each group. (a) Affections giving rise to coma. (b) Paralytic affections and locomotor ataxia. (c) Spasmodic or convulsive affections. (d) Neuralgic affections. Briefly, yet clearly, he gives the diagnostic features and rational treatment of each. As in all his other writings, our author is more happy in the former. We greatly mistake if the verdict of the profession upon this work will not be, "That it is infinitely valuable for diagnosis, but far less for treatment." As a whole, we As a whole, we think that if possible it surpasses any of the author's former works. Better than any, it gives scope for the author's infinitely varied attainments, his rare analytical powers, and his matured judgment. Most heartily do we commend this model clinical work to every advanced medical student and practicing physician. With his usual good taste and liberality, the publisher has performed his share of the work. Hofmann and Ultzmann on Urine Analysis.* The importance of accurate analysis of the urine becomes each year more important to every practicing physician. In no other way can we obtain definite and certain evi dence of the nutritive changes going on in the body. As the nature of these changes depends upon the normal or abnormal activities going on in the several tissues and organs of the body, a knowledge of the composition, etc., of the urine enables us to determine what tissue or organ is at fault in any given case. Even as yet our knowledge of the urine is imperfect, and still more imperfect is our ability to trace to its proper source the nutritive derangement which measures the activity of any given pathological process. It is highly desirable that all students and physicians shall have at their disposal such a *ANALYSIS OF THE URINE-With special reference to the diseases of the genito-urinary organs, by K. B. Hofmann and R. Ultzmann. Translated by Drs. Burne and Curtis. Cloth; pages 269. 1879. New York; D. Appleton & Co., After a brief historical introduction we find in regular order: Histology of the Urinary Organs; Excretion of the Urine; Full Description of the Urine in every Respect; Concretion of Urine; Re-agents and Apparatus for the Approximative Determination of the Urine Constituents; Quantitative Determination of a few of the Constituents of the Urine; Key to the Approximate Analysis of the Urine; General Diagnosis, and finally, Diagnosis of the Diseases of the Urinary Apparatus. Eight plates illustrate the morphology of the several forms of urinary deposits. At the present time we are unacquainted with any work at all equal to this in meeting the needs of the medical student. The elegant form in which the publishers have issued it adds still further to its desirable qualities. In the Turnbull on Anæsthetics.* The exhaustion of one edition of this work in one year proves that it was wanted by the profession. Encouraged by its success, the writer has carefully re-studied every part and remodeled such as did not harmonize with the latest researches. work we find: (1.) A very concise description of the most available anæsthetics. (2.) The chief chemical tests of the purity of each substance considered, with its composition, physical characters and medical properties. (3.) An exhibition of the best meth *THE Advantages and Accidents of Artificial Anæsthesia. By Laurence Turnbull, M. D., Ph. G. Second edition revised and enlarged, with illustrations. Cloth: pages, 322. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. 1879. |