books on this subject, but we trust that they Abstracts from Exchanges. may find the volume before us so attractive Anatomy. ANATOMY OF VOCAL CORDS.-Dr. C. Seiler that they may be induced to master it. Cer- Prepared by Judson Bradley, M. D., Albert B. Lyons, M. D., and E. A. Chapoton, M. D. tainly it will furnish the skeleton for scholarly attainments in this branch, than which none is more neglected by students or practitioners. Practitioners with no time or in- (St. Louis Med. Jour., April 5, 1880,) gives clination to master larger works, will doubtless find their pleasure and profit enhanced by a review of their knowledge through a study of this little volume. Fox's Photographic Illustrations of Skin Part seven Diseases.* the results of the latest researches in this matter thus: (1) The human vocal cord consists chiefly of a white fibrous band, containing a few elastic tissue fibres, which is stretched across the cavity of the larynx, being attached anteriorly to the angles formed by the junction of the two plates of illustrates lupus vulgaris, the thyroid cartilage, and posteriorly to the lupus erythematosus, epithelioma super- vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage. (2) ficiela, epithelioma rodens and epithelioma. This vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage Part eight illustrates trichophytosis capitis, consists of two portions, a hyaline and a trichophytosis corporis, lichen planus and reticulated cartilage. (3) It carries on its lichen ruber. Part nine illustrates kerion, extremity an elongated nodule of fibro carlepra maculosa, molluscum and erythema tilage, better developed in the female than multiforme. Part ten illustrates phtheiriasis in the male. (4) A small nodule of fibro capitis, phtheiriasis corporis, scabies, porrigo cartilage, better developed in the male than and pediculosus. The execution of these in the female, serves to strengthen the vocal illustrations fully equals that of the preced- cord at its anterior insertion. (5) The periing numbers. The accompanying descrip- chondrium of the thyroid cartilage, and of tions are admirable, and the publisher's work the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage, deserves all praise. Prosser James on Sore Throat. are continuous into the lateral boundaries of the fibrous band of the vocal cords. (6) The thyro-arytenoid muscle is intimately Dr. James is one of the pioneers in the connected with the fibres of this band. (7) practical study of throat diseases by modern The mucous membrane overlying this band appliances. The rapidity with which previ- is covered with pavement epithelium, and ous editions of this work have been sold, contains vascular papillæ, but is destitute of indicates that it supplies one of the wants glands, while the rest of the mucous memof students. The present edition comes to brane of the cord is covered with ciliated us improved by new plates, new chapters, epithelium, and contains racemous glands. with the elimination of that which was ob- (8) The mucous membrane is but loosely solete or relatively unimportant, and the Connected with the subjacent structures. (9) addition of much that is new and of prac- There is a groove on the inferior surface of tical value. No space is devoted to the the vocal cord, running parallel with and discussion of disputed questions or doubtful close to its free edge. As to the physiological facts. It is just the book for a third course bearing on phonation of these researches, he medical student in connection with clinical concludes thus: The fact that the fibrous work on these subjects. With its present band presents at cross section the peculiar improvements it must prove still more popu- irregular outline of a triangle when relaxed, lar than it has in the past. *PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS of Skin Diseases. By George Henry Fox, M. D. Parts 7, 8, 9, 10. SORE THROAT, its Nature, Varieties and Treatment, including the connection between affections of the throat and other diseases. By Prosser James, M. D. Fourth edition; illustrated. Cloth; pages 318. 1880. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. Price, $2. indicates that as soon as the cord is made tense this band flattens out, and becomes both broader and thinner, thereby obliterating the groove at its lower surface by folding up the band; as soon as the vocal processes of the arytenoid cartilages are approximated to each other, the bands are flattened out still more, because the thyro-arytenoid muscle, being intimately connected with the external por tion of the band, when contracting, to aid in ing remained for two hours in pure gastric juice, does not affect starch even after saturation of the vehicle, whilst it changes into sugar seven times its weight in mixed gastric juice after neutralization. (3) This the rotation of the arytenoid cartilages, holds it in position, while the reticulated portion of the vocal process bends backwards under the combined influence of tension of the cords and rotation of the arytenoid certilage, difference in the acidities of pure and mixed and thereby increases the distance between gastric juice is rendered more manifest still the inner edge and the outer boundaries of the fibrous band, thus distending it transversely. On in the artificial digestion of nitrogenized food; if the albumen has been previously washed in solution of hydrochloric acid, the pancreatine, after neutralization of the vehicle, can only peptonize five grammes of albumen; but if the albumen is put directly into water an artificial chyme is produced, and the pancreatine, after neutralization, peptonizes thirty-eight grammes of albumen. Pancreatine, therefore, undergoes no alteration in the chyme, finds its activity in the duodenum and digests simultaneously for one gramme, 38 grammes albumen, 7.5 grammes starch, 11 grammes fat. WICHERSHEIMER'S PRESERVATIVE FLUID. -The Clinic (March 30th) gives the composition of the above noted compound as follows: Alum, 1,500 grains; common salt, 25 grains; saltpetre, 12 grains; potash, 60 grains; and arsenious acid 10 grains, are to be dissolved in 3,000 grains of boiling water. cooling the liquid is to be filtered. To every five pints, two pints of glycerine, and half a pint of methylic alcohol, are to be added. For bodies that are to be dissected, it suffices to inject them, adults with ten pints EFFECTS AND MODE OF ACTION OF THE and smaller bodies in proportion. Small SUBSTANCES EMPLOYED IN ANTISEPTIC DRESSvertebrates and invertebrates can be simply INGS.-(L' Union Medicale, Oct. 18, 1879).— kept and immersed in the fluid. Hollow organs, as the lungs and intestines are best injected with it before immersion. It is said that bodies thus prepared preserve for years their color, pliability and form completely. The process is simple and cheap as well. Action of Medicine. MM. Gosslin and Bergaron lately sent an interesting memoir upon this subject to the Academy of Sciences, Paris. Every one knows that opinions differ as to the means to be employed to diminish the chances of primitive septicemia, caused by a putrid alteration of the blood, and those of consecutive septicemia, brought on by a putrid alterACTION OF PANCREATIC JUICE.-(L' Union ation of the pus. Some prefer Guerin's ocMed., Nov. 6, 1879). M. Defresne's paper clusive method with cotton; others adopt before the French Academy of Medicine, the antiseptic method, in which, with more upon the phenomena of digestion in general or less occlusion, agents are employed to preand the action of the pancreatic juice in par- vent putrefaction of the liquids at the surface ticular, is very interesting to physiologists. and in the depth of wounds; others adopt a His conclusions are based upon numerous ex-mixed method, composed of antiseptics, ocperiments: (1) Hydrochloric acid, in the clusion and drainage tubes, favoring the gastric juice, is combined with an organic base which moderates its action and changes its properties; hence, to study pep-ic and pancreatic digestion it is necessary to make use of a solution of chlorhydrate of leucin prepared with the gastric mucous membrane. Under such influence pepsic digestion is comparable to that which takes place in the stomach; it is not then without limits, it can be filtered and its residues valued. (2) The camphorated eau-de-vie, which is alcohol at acidity of mixed gastric juice, half an hour 52° or 53°. In what proportions are these after eating, is no longer due to the chlor- agents efficacious? What is their mode of hydrate of leucin, but to lactic, sarcolactic, action? Do they prevent or at least retard malic, etc., acids; the best test for this trans- putrid alteration? Are all forms of contact formation is pancreatine, which, after hav-equally good? These are questions worthy escape of a part of the liquids to the exterior. Not only the effect of carbolic acid is considered, but also that of all agents capable of arresting, retarding or diminishing putrid decomposition, as five per cent., two per cent, and one per cent. solutions of carbolic acid; the carbolated preparation known as Lister's dry gauze; hospital alcohol at 86°; camphorated alcohol, likewise at 86°, and 2. of correct answers. They acknowledge that lively filamentous vibrious on the seventh a daily minute study of the state of the day. liquids furnished by wounds would have been the best way of investigating the subject, but this they could not do upon their patients, on account of the sufferings and physiological troubles to which the necessary manœuvres would give rise. Hence, their results are deduced from laboratory work. In the serum, with one per cent. carbolic solution, the bacteria appeared on the eighth day. They continued few in number, not very lively and without filamentous vibrions, up to the thirtieth day. 3. In the serum, with two per cent. carbolic solution, bacteria appeared on the tenth day, and continued few in number and with Effect of antiseptics upon the blood.-I. First series of experiments. A little more out filamentous vibrions to the thirtieth than a gramme of fresh blood, taken from day. guinea-pigs, dogs or man, was placed in each 4. In the serum, with camphorated branof seven test tubes. To one of the tubes dy, bacteria appeared on the fourteenth day nothing was added; to each of the remain- and continued to the thirtieth day. der six drops of one of the above-mentioned 5. antiseptics was added with a dropper. All cohol; the tubes were left open and the condition of the blood was daily examined: 1. All the signs of putrefaction, bad odor, lively granules, bacteria and filamentous vibrions appeared in the pure blood from the third to the fourth day. 2. In the blood with the one per cent. solution of carbolic acid, from the fourth to the fifth day. 3. In the blood with the two per cent. solution of carbolic acid, from the fifth to the sixth day. 4. In the blood with camphorated brandy, from the fifth to the sixth day. 5. In the blood with alcohol at 86°, from the seventh to the eighth day. 6. In the blood with the camphorated alcohol, from the seventh to the ninth day. 7. In the blood with the five per cent. solution of carbolic acid, no alteration appeared up to the twenty-fourth day, when the blood was so dried up that further exploration was impossible. Results almost identically the same were obtained by placing the blood in watch crystals and thoroughly mixing the antiseptic solution by agitating the mixtures with a glass rod. II. In a second series of experiments, the serum of human blood, obtained by a venesection, was employed. One and a half to two grammes were poured into each of seven tubes, and six drops of one of the antiseptic solutions were added to each; every morning a fresh drop was added. The latter was to imitate, after a fashion, the daily dressing of a wound. 1. The pure serum was fetid and full of¦ 6. 7. In the tube, with camphorated al In the tube, with alcohol at 86°; In the tube, with five per cent carbolic solution, no appearance of putrefaction and immobile granulations up to the thirtieth day. (The experiment is continued.) III. The third series of experiments was instituted to discover the effects of these same agents when placed at a distance or by evaporation. There was poured into eight , cups, each 0.04 high and 0.10-0.12 broad, a sufficient quantity of fresh canine blood to make a layer 0.01 high, having above it a free space filled with air 0.03 high. The opening of each was covered by a coarse piece of tarlatan, folded into four thicknesses. The air passed freely through the web; moreover, the cups were daily uncovered for a time, either for the examination of the blood or for the renewal of the antiseptic covering. One was covered with dry tarlatan; another with Lister's dry tartarated gauze; the five others with a gauze wetted with the above antiseptic solution. (Camphorated brandy was not employed in this series.) The covers were renewed every two days, particular care being taken to avoid dropping any fluid in the cups. The result was a surprise. 1. Complete putrefaction, with filamentous and lively vibrions, was present on the fourth day in the pure blood. 2. In the blood covered with Lister's gauze it occurred from the eighth to the tenth day. 3. In the blood covered with gauze, wetted with one per cent. carbolic solution, it took place on the eighth day. 4. In the cup, covered with gauze wetted 5. In the cups covered with gauze soaked in alcohol at 86°, camphorated alcohol and five per cent. carbolic acid solution, no alteration, bad odor, bacteria, nor vibrions appeared up to the thirty-sixth day. with two per cent. carbolic solution, some they continued their studies, became able to bacteria appeared on the seventeenth day, judge by the seventh day of the experibut no further change occurred to the thir-ments whether or not decomposition would ty-sixth day. take place. All the results mentioned in the paper could not be obtained upon human beings, on account of the local and general effects which would be produced by using these agents of too great strength. But the delay of putrefaction which even moderate doses bring about is of great importance. When the latter are employed, we have the right from these experiments to expect, that putrid decomposition and its effects will not be produced, not because the blood has become perfectly incorruptible, but because it will be reabsorbed, or will have left the wound before it will have altered to a sufficient degree to cause septicemia; or because, if decomposition has not had time to commence, it is not so pronounced that the ab IV. The object of the fourth series was to study the effects of the same agents when employed in the form of spray. Two cups containing about twenty grammes each of human blood, obtained by wet cups, were daily exposed for a quarter of an hour to a spray produced by an atomizer of alcohol at 86°. Putrefaction was retarded to the ninth day, but from that date it was so well marked that on the thirteenth day the experiment was discontinued. Three other cups containing the same quantity of the sorption of its material will prove dansame human blood were likewise exposed to a spray of five per cent. carbolic acid soluUp to the thirtieth day no putrid alteration whatever was to be discovered. Hence there is no doubt that alcohol and carbolic acid are antiseptics in regard to the blood, and that they are so in various degrees, according to the strength of their so lution. gerous. which follow. In any case, if, on the one hand, we consider the more or less complete destruction of the atmospheric germs of putrid fermentation by antiseptics; if, on the other we take account of the change produced in the blood by the direct contact of these agents by means of atomization, daily lotions and evaporation; if, finally, we remember the drainage, which permits of the outflow of How do they act?-The authors accept, first, the opinion, resulting from the studies a part of the blood and the injection of some antiseptic solution to the depth of the of M. Pasteur, and which Lister teaches ex. wound, we can understand the utility of clusively, that antiseptics destroy atmospheric germs, whose further development using alcohol and carbolic acid upon wounds produce putrid decomposition and vibrions, during the period in which there is a san They offer a second explanation, derived guinous oozing at the moment that they are from their experiments, that the contact of produced and during the five or six days the antiseptic agent brings about a favorable modification of the blood, which change appears to be the coagulation of the albumen. Such a change was long since known to take place on the addition of alcohol; but it also occurs on the addition of carbolic acid, and effects of electricity-stimulant, sedative in much weaker strength than alcohol. They and tonic-can be obtained by either pole believe that the blood, when subjected to and by any direction of the current, ascendtheir action, does not decompose, or does so ing, descending, diagonal or reversed, the only very slowly; because all the globules practical difference being of degree rather having disappeared by the coagulation, the than of kind. This is true even in electrogranular matter, which remains in their lysis. On the whole the positive is more stead, is unattacked by the atmospheric calming, the negative the more irritating. germs. When the strength of the solution (2) Individual exceptions, as seen in the was so weak that the blood corpuscles were pathological reactions of some forms of parnot entirely destroyed, but simply dead, alysis, and in certain temperaments and phases contracted and crenated, the observers, as of disease, do not disprove but prove this THE DOSAGE OF ELECTRICITY.-Dr. Geo. M. Beard (Jour. Nervous Diseases, January, 1880), in a suggestive paper, takes the following positions: (1) The therapeutical rule. These exceptions are, however, to be In the lower animals large doses of the drug respected in practice. (3) The dosage of stimulate the peristaltic action of the bowels. electricity is a complex resultant of (a) the The bladder also is frequently emptied. strength of the current; (b) the length of Profuse salivation also occurs. Dr. Crichton the application; (c) the quality of the appli- Browne has shown that in the lower animals. cation (size of electrodes, etc.); (d) the picrotoxine first quickens and finally retards method of application (general, central or the movements of respiration and the cardiac local); (e) the position of the poles; and (ƒ) contractions. Immediately after its adminthe temperament of the patient. (4) At- istration there is a slight rise of temperature, tempts to prescribe electricity mathematically and subsequently there is a steady fall, by the deflection of the needle of the galvan- amounting sometimes to seven or eight deometer, or by the resistance of the rheostat, grees. Lately Dr. Murrell has found this are unscientific and illusory. Water rheostats drug of value in treating the night sweats are, however, a practical convenience, be- of phthisis. He uses it in 240 solution in cause they enable us to avoid sudden inter- water, and of this he gives from one to four ruptions, and to gradually increase or dimin- | minims three times a day, the last dose to ish the current. (5) The therapeutical effects be taken at bedtime, or immediately before of electricity are very considerable, though the time at which the perspiration usually not entirely of a reflex character. This is commences. In twenty cases he had but one true not only of general and central but of failure. The sweating is usually arrested in many local applications. Hence, in part, the two or three days, and there is no return for mistake of carrying the laws of electrotonus a fortnight or more. The great advantage into electro-therapeutics. (6) The range of dosage of electricity is very wide, both in regard to strength and length of application Although the sensitiveness of the patient is the best guide, yet in some cases currents that can scarcely be felt, and applications of but a moment's duration are required, while in other cases quite painful currents or applications, prolonged for hours, may be useful. Therapeutics. of the treatment is that it does not make the skin too dry, but leaves it comfortably. moist, while not unfrequently atropia seems to parch it up. Practical Medicine. THE CINCHONA CURE FOR INTEMPERANCE. -Dr. Chas. W. Earle (Chicago Med. Jour., Feb., 1880), from an elaborate paper on the above subject, concludes: (1) A chemical examination of the D. Unger preparation of so-called concentrated cinchona-rubra shows it to be a diluted mixture of fluid extract of cinchona with water. (2) The amount of absolute alcohol is from two to twenty-four per cent. (3) The amount of bitter principle is as small in some specimens as one grain to the drachm. (4) Engaged in a hos PICROTOXINE-ITS ACTION AND VALUE IN NIGHT SWEATING.-The Brit. Med. Jour., Jan. 17, 1880, in an interesting paper on this drug, presents the following facts of general interest: It is the active principle of the Coculus Indicus, a plant known in medicine since the days of Arabian physicians. It pital practice where I have prescribed for was isolated by Bonillay in 1812. Its comnearly four hundred cases of alcoholism durposition is C12H1405. It is colorless, odor- ing the year, in addition to a private practice less, has an intensely bitter taste, and is neu- in which I see perhaps as many of these tral to test paper. It is soluble in water, cases as the average physician, I have yet to alcohol, ether and fixed oils, and it crystal- see the first reformation from its use, (5) lizes out from aqueous solutions in the form In not a single case has the use of this preof beautiful stellate groups of colorless paration disgusted the patient with the taste needles. Large doses induce tonic and of alcohol. (6) The taste for stimulants in clonic spasms of great severity, and violence many cases remains long after a reformation culminating speedily in death. It induces is complete. Indeed, it is never lost in some, spasmodic contractions, involving first a and a constant fight goes on between a desire single group of muscles, and finally almost for some form of stimulants and duty made eyery muscle in the body. These contrac- plain by the education of the moral sense to tions differ from those induced by strychnia, abstain from them. Numbers of these men, in that the latter affects chiefly the ectensory. encouraged by the repeated assertion that |