ods of administering the various anæsthe- life has been the basis upon which the educatics, the most careful directions, and the pre- tion of the young has been conducted by cautions to be taken to avoid risk to the life parents, friends and teachers. Any instruc of the patient. (4.) The author's personal tion that has been given has come from the experience and that of his friends with the vicious. As a result it has borne a sensual cast various forms of anaesthetics and inhalers in and tended towards evil. Further, misconcepuse, with a selection of the most approved tions and all sorts of violations of evident sexones. (5.) A comparison of the relative ual laws have developed among all classes. mortality from all the anæsthetics now em- With such a conscious experience, adults with ployed, an endeavor to assist the reader in fine sensibilities have come to look upon the forming a fair and candid opinion on this sexual life as a bestial one, the very menmost important subject. tion of which is suggestive of pollution. The author gives his latest experiments with hydrobromic ether the boiling points the sexual relations of plants, animals and Dr. Kellogg, by linking in natural order and relative times of evaporation of the sev-human beings, places the topic on the basis eral agents employed in mixed anesthetics, of natural science. His manner of dealing and the best proportion in which ether alcowith the topic in all its bearings shows that hol, ether and chloroform should be united. he believes that the discussion of it in the He also adds recent experiments on the action of anæsthetics upon the blood and the proper place is as innocent as the discussion use of the spectroscope in relation to anæs-bration. Clear, positive and earnest, he of questions pertaining to digestion or cere thetics. deals with the vital questions at issue in an The new table of deaths from chloroform unequivocal manner. All will not accept his is of interest as showing the sex, age, charconclusions, but all will respect his manly acter of the operation, time at which the patient died, quantity of chloroform used, form way of stating and supporting them. While tient died, quantity of chloroform used, form discussing the relations of diet to chastity, of apparatus employed, general condition of he incidentally makes the following remarks: patient, prominent symptoms of chloroform-« Our most profound disgust is justly excited poisoning, causes of death, and post mor when we hear of laxity of morals in a clergy ing is to teach his fellow men the way of tem appearances. The period during which man. We naturally feel that one whose callthese cases were collected covers ten years, from 1869 to 1879. Ether he regards as contra indicated: (1.) In cases of very aged persons with emphysema, hypertrophy of we consider how these ministers are fed, we the heart, fatty heart, or great valvular lecannot suppress a momentary disposition to sion. (2.) In cases that are known to faint excuse in some degree their fault. When the from very slight causes. (3.) Habitual minister goes out to tea he is served with drunkards, or persons who drink in small the richest cake, the choicest jellies, the quantities frequently each day. (4.) Those most pungent sauces and the finest of fine with limited action of the lungs by adheflour breadstuffs. Little does the indulgent sions from old pleurisy or pneumonia, or irrihostess dream that she is ministering to the tation of the mucous membrane with excesinflammation of passions which may imperil sive secretions." Specific directions are the virtue of her daughter or even her own. given for the prompt meeting of any emerSalicity once aroused even in a minister algency that is likely to arise during the pro-lows no room for reason or for conscience. cess of etherization. Certainly every medical student and practitioner should be familiar with this little volume. We doubt not that it will speedily find its way into every medical library. If women wish to preserve the virtue of accordance with the laws of health. Minis Again he says: "Few are aware of the inKellogg on Sexual Life.* fluence upon morals exerted by that filthy This is an effort at reform in sexual mat- habit, tobacco using. When acquired early Total ignorance of the human sexual it excites the undeveloped organs, arouses *PLAIN FACTS ABOUT SEXUAL LIFE. By J. H. pages 416. 1879. Battle Creek, Mich. : Good Health Kellogg, M. D. Second revised edition. Cloth; Publishing Co. ters. the passions, and in a few years converts the (2) "The fact that the males of other once chaste and pure youth into a veritable animals besides man, in which the sexual volcano of lust, belching out from its inner organs are in a state of constant developfires of passion torrents of obscenity and the ment, do not exercise those organs except sulphurous fumes of laciviousness. If long for the purpose of reproduction, is proof of continued, the final effect of tobacco is emas- the position that the constant development culation; but this is only the necessary con- in man is not a warrant for their constant sequence of previous super-excitation. The use." tive act is performed only when desired by the female is sufficient ground for supposing that such should be the case with the human species also." lecherous day dreams in which many smok- (3) "The general law that the reproducers indulge are a species of fornication for which even a brute ought to blush, if such a crime were possible for a brute. The mental libertine does not confine himself to bagnios and women of the town. In the foulness of Necessarily, the author discusses the "sohis imagination he invades the sanctity of cial evil." In getting rid of it he finds no virtue wherever his erratic fancy leads him. other available means than prevention. This We are aware that we have made a grave he would have begun by proper early traincharge against tobacco, and we have not hes-ing, resulting in self control, mental and itated to state the naked truth, yet we do physical culture and proper associations. In not think we have exaggerated in the least short, the whole current of the child's life the pernicious influence of this foul drug. should be turned toward the true, the beautiAs much, or nearly as much, might be said ful, the useful and the good. Having learned against the use of liquor on the same to love work for the attainment of noble grounds." ends, he will be effectually prevented from entering upon a career of licentiousness. Were such a course universal the "social evil" would cease to exist. Among other causes of licentiousness he adduces bad books, novel reading, idleness, extravagant dress, improper dress, round dances, constipation, local uncleanliness, The chapter on masturbation is a capital super-heated rooms, sedentary employments, one, and the treatment recommended wise. the development of the mental and nervous Altogether the author has performed a organizations at the expense of the muscular, delicate and difficult service with tact and the cramming system in schools, too long faithfulness. It fills an entirely vacant place confinement of school children in a sitting and meets a rational want among the hunposition, the allowance of too great freedom dreds of thousands who have sexual apparbetween the sexes in the young, the demora- atuses to regulate and look after. lizing influence of most varieties of public We could have wished that the publishamusement, balls, church fairs and other like ers had exercised as good taste in the meinfluences, too numerous to mention, all tend chanical execution of the work as the author in one direction, that of abnormal excitation has in writing it. Still the paper and type and precocious development of the sexual are such as to render its perusal restful to the function. It is not an exaggeration to say eye. Medical students, physicians and all that for one conforming to modern modes of intelligent persons of either sex can scarcely living, eating, sleeping and drinking, absolute be other than profited by a careful reading chastity is next to an absolute impossibility." of this volume. The fact that it was writAfter stating the facts as given by stand- ten for the non-professional does not mar its ard authors on physiology, he deduces the suggestiveness to the professional mind. following conclusions respecting the fre- That some of the author's opinions are dequency of sexual intercourse by the married: (1) "The fact that in all animals but the human species the act can be performed only when reproduction is possible, proves that in the animal kingdom in general the sole object of the function is reproduction. Whether man is an exception must be determined world's history have died consumed by their from other considerations." batable or untenable, does not in any degree interfere with the proper influence of admitted facts and the suggestiveness of all. Especially does the topic assume a national importance when it is remembered that as a rule the ruling nations in past ages of the abuses of their sexual lives, Phillips' Materia Medica and Therapeutics.* typhoid fever, and the results were so favorThis volume treats exclusively of medi- able that he subsequently used it during an cinal substances derived from the vegetable epidemic of dysentery, in seventeen cases. kingdom. Its aim is to "bring together in The results in all were very satisfactory. moderate compass a more extensive series of He first gave it in combination with chlorate facts respecting the action of drugs, and es- of potash, but he afterwards gave it alone, pecially a more enlarged view of what has using barley water as a vehicle. It was been done in other countries than will be given both by mouth and enema. When found in ordinary text books." No claim is given by the mouth the dose was from one made for any originality other than that de- to three grammes a day; as an enema, one rived from the author's personal experience. gramme of chloral was dissolved in two A somewhat careful examination of the work hundred grammes of barley water. When justifies us in the statement that the author's given by the mouth Curci advises the use of claim is fully met. The American editor has a mild purgative first, in order to prepare so done his work as to adapt the volume to the bowels for the action of the medicine. the needs of the American student. Gradu- It acts not only as a soporific, but also as a ally our therapeutics is becoming more and sedative, astringent, anti-spasmodic and antimore definite. The reasons for the use of septic. If it only lessened the pain by drugs are looked into more closely than in producing sleep it would be anything but a former years. The volume before us makes another step in the transition of this branch from empiricism to scientific knowledge. Leonard's Dose Book.t desirable remedy, as the disease must be progressing, while the patient and physician are lulled into a false security. It has a very decided action, however, aside from this, through its action on the cerebro-spinal The fact announced by the publisher, system as well as on the sympathetic, the "that the present is the twenty-third thous- nerves being very much affected in dysenand" sufficiently attests the estimate placed tery, the discharge will be lessened and the upon this compilation. The names and formation of flatus, a source of so much doses of very many new preparations pain in this disease, prevented. He believes that a portion of the chloral is absorbed in the intestinal canal and a part is carried on by the peristaltic movements into the large intestine. After two or three grammes have been taken (in some mucilaginous vehicle), there is first an increased peristaltic movement, which is followed by diminution in the have been added to the present edition. It contains a very complete list of the doses of all medicinal preparations, old as well as new, rules for pronunciation; rules for genitive case endings in prescription writing; incompatibles; poisons and their antidotes; tests for urinary deposits; a list of facts important to the obstetrician; the pronunciation of sensibility and the frequency of the stools. medico-biographical names, etc. Altogether it forms a convenient book for those desiring such a reminder of these facts. Abstracts from Exchanges. and E. A. Chapoton, M. D. This effect is due to the action on the sympathetic, there being first an excitation and then a paralysis produced. In this way the chloral lessens both the pain and the discharge. Curci thinks that purgatives given in the early stages of the disease, are the only medicines comparable in value to chloral. He condemns anti-phlogistic remedies, as well as the use of opiates and astringents.-New Orleans Med. and Surg. Four., Aug. 1879. TREATMENT OF CARDIAC DYSPNEA.(Lyon Medical, July, 27, 1879). Potassium iodide is the remedy from which Prof. G. Sée has obtained the best results in the treatCHLORAL HYDRATE IN DYSENTERY.ment of continued cardiac dyspnoea. The (Rundschau, May, 1879.) Curci states that effects of the iodide are particularly remarkhe first used chloral for the diarrhoea of able when the symptom is due to a lesion of the cardiac tissue (dilatation of the cavities Finally, as certain patients take digitalis with great difficulty, chloral may be substituted for it and in these cases proves of immense value: of the heart, degeneration of the cardiac muscle). Still, it is also quite usefui in valvular lesions. R-Syr. acac., aquæ, a, 60 gr; potass. iod., in even doses, and take during the twentyfour hours. The diagnostic error of mistaking a simple cardiac dyspnoea for a true asthma, is not in 2 gr.; chloral hydrat., 4 gr. M. s. a. Divide this treatment of great consequence, since the remedy is here also of great value. -(Trousseau, G. Sée, Hyde, Salter, Pidoux, Jaccoud.) The action of the iodide in these cases is to increase or rather to liquify the bronchial secretions, so that they are more permeable to air, thus rendering respiration much less laborious, (G. Sée.) EPIDEMIC OF VACCINAL GLANDERS (?) — The following facts are calculated to dampen the enthusiasm of the apostles of animal vaccination, for by the use of bovine virus all danger of the inoculation of other diseases, and especially of syphilis, was supposed to be avoided. The daily dose given by Sée is, gr. 20, Imbued with these ideas, a semi-official which is gradually increased to 2 and 3 committee of Rome, Italy, offered bovine grammes, R Potass. iod. 10 gr., syr. auran. virus to the surrounding country. The towncort. 200 gr. Two to four teaspoonfuls ship of San Quirico d'Orcia sent twenty daily. Each spoonful should be given in francs to the former for animal virus. On a glass of water. Potassium iodide is rela- April 22, tubes were forwarded to the latter tively better supported by patients suffering place. They were received on the 24th. from cardiac troubles than those otherwise On the 26th and 28th the local physicians affected. According to G. Sée, the former vaccinated thirty-eight infants, all under have a tolerance for the remedy. twenty months of age. Whilst they were The inconveniences of the treatment are awaiting the appearance of the vaccinal pusthe following: tules, the doctors soon perceived that they 1. A sanguinious oozing from the buccal had inoculated a terrible disease, and that and even bronchial mucous membrane and they were the involuntary authors of a verhæmoptysis in phthisical patients, (tuberculo. itable slaughter of innocents. In fact, the sis is therefore a contra indication to the inoculations were soon followed by an erytreatment); 2. Emaciation, which in fat sipelatous erythema around the wound, sucpeople is a circumstance favorable for a cure; ceeded by a high fever and abscesses. 3. Loss of strength, which indicates an abso- Phagedenic ulcers appeared under the lute necessity for ceasing treatment; 4. tongue, cyanosis of the extremities, rapid Finally, loss of appetite. To obviate the emaciation, etc. inconveniences of iodism, the remedy may be associated with opium. Thus: R Potass. iod. 10 gr., syr. auran. cort. 200 gr.. ext. opii 0.10 to 0.15, m. s. a. Sig. Two to four teaspoonfuls, daily. The iodide is thus better supported, and the cough, which of itself increases the oppression, is lessened. Another combination which renders good will rest upon the Roman committee, for no service is digitalis and the iodide. One of the first victims to succumb was the niece of the chief officer of the district, and therefore a serious investigation of all the circumstances was immediately instituted. One of the physicians believed it to be an epidemic of glanders. Should this prove to be the case, all the responsibility excuse could be found for men who would use an animal afflicted with such a disease as a proper subject for cow-pox. Should there be question of another disease whose diagnosis was not possible, still vaccination with bovine virus would be seriously compromised. The results of the investigation will be published. The one calms the dyspnoea by affecting the lung, the other by strengthening the contractile force of the heart, and modifying the vascular tension. Thus: R Syr. acac. 100 gr., potass. iod. 2 gr., tinct. digitalis gtt x l. m. s. a; or: R Ext. gentian. 0.10 c., pulv. fol. digitalis, 0.15 c. One pill three times daily, whilst at the same time, the THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF CROTON-CHLORAL, solution of the iodide above mentioned is (Brit. Med. Journal-Canada Lancet, July, made use of. 1879). Dr. Riddell reports his experience of cases are: TREATMENT OF SCARLET FEVER.-L. C. Johnson, M. D. (Cincinnati Lancet and Clinic, September 6, 1879), thus summarizes the principles that should govern the treatment of scarlet fever: 1st. Carefully watch the symptoms in order to be prepared to meet the appearance of new or irregular symptoms with appropri ate treatment. the great therapeutical value of croton complicated with hemorrhoids give glycer(butyl) chloral. He mentions first a case of ine. If anæmia exist, combine it with iron, severe paroxysmal headache ineffectually or, what he believes better, arsenic; then treated for many years, but cured by five gradually lessen the chloral. In all cases he grains of butyl-chloral twice daily, and ten has found it better to give it in solution than grains taken at night, dissolved in spirits of in powder or pill. He also mentions severe wine and glycerine, with a little acid and su- | pain, with photophobia and blepharo-spasm gar of orange to cover taste. The patient after injury, in which atropia failed, but ten continues the five-grain doses at night and grains of butyl-chloral, repeated in an hour, now enjoys better health than she has done gave complete relief; and a case of acute for years. Since that case, Dr. Riddell says facial carbuncle, in which the effect of tenhe has used it largely-sometimes failing, grain doses every three hours was simply sometimes relieving-till, by keeping an ac- marvelous, the disease going through the count of all his cases, it began to be clear subsequent stages almost without the patient which were most benefited by the drug. knowing anything of the matter from the Since then the number of cases relieved sense of feeling. This remedy is probably (some permanently) has increased. These less used in practice than its remarkable Headaches in females arising anodyne powers deserve. from mental distress; those cases of headache frequent at the menopanse-in fact, all those called neuralgic, except a few arising from internal mischief, are benefited, and in many instances cured. In tic-douloureux, he has found it in many cases acting like a charm. Of course, he does not include any arising from cranial or intercranial causes. In neuralgia of the ovaries it is of no avail. In insomnia it is not so reliable as the hydrate; but in some cases, where the inability to sleep is accompanied by a weak or fatty heart, it is to be preferred, as it has no weakening effect on the central or gan of the circulation. In one case of delirium tremens, where the circulation was very feeble, the combination of croton-chloral with digitalis had a wonderful effect, and it seemed as if the drugs could be given together in much smaller doses to produce the same results than singly. In this he pushed it from ten to thirty grains, every three hours, with drachm and two-drachms of infusion of digitalis. In pains arising from dental caries he has found it useless in most cases, and in all inferior to Richardson's "tinctura gelsemini; " but in one case of a nervous young lady, by giving her two ten grain doses he was able to extract a tooth next to painlessly. In these cases it is in affections of those parts supplied by the fifth pair of nerves that it is of most use; but, to be of service, the drug must be given in five-grain doses three or four times daily, gradually increasing, if required; if stimulants be needed, dissolve it in rectified spirit; if not, dissolve it in glycerine. In all cases 2d. Sustain the patient's forces by nutritious diet. Milk should rank first as an article of food. 3d. Use cold baths, quinine and digitalis, in order named, to keep down temperature 4th. Anti-spasmodic and anti-parasitic remedies, as carbolic acid, sulpho-carbolate of soda, the hypo-sulphites, inhalation of ozone, quinine and permanganate of potash should be exhibited as indicated. 5th. For the angina, frequent cold dressings to the throat and neck, and pieces of ice held in the mouth. For gangrenous affections of the throat, permanganate of potash, grs. xv to the ounce of water, or carbolic acid, one part in two hundred, used as a gargle. For local affections incident to scarlet fever, careful attention is demanded. Diseases of the ear require prompt attention. The secretions of the mucous surfaces of the nose and throat are to be removed by gargles and douches, and if the membrana tympani has been perforated, the auditory canal should be kept clean by frequent syringing. For severe conjunctivitis, apply cold. If the cornea is threatened from severe keratitis, |