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yet been reached, it need not surprise us that in our new country there are still many things which require alteration. But of one thing we unhesitatingly express our opinion, and that is, that every one who deals in drugs, whether as physician, surgeon, midwife, chemist or druggist, should be compelled to pass an examination, and obtain his qualification, whereby the public may know they are dealing with a properly qualified person. And those who have done so, are but doing right when they call upon the College to protect them by prosecuting those not so qualified.

NEW MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

It is with pleasure we announce, that a Society has been formed in Montreal, for the reading of papers, and the discussion of Medical and Surgical topics as well as the regulating of all matters of interest to the profession. It is styled "The Medico-Chirurgical Society of Montreal. The following is the list of officers that have been elected : President, George W. Campbell, A.M., M.D.; Vice-Presidents, E. H. Trudel, M.D., W. H. Hingston, M.D.; Treasurer, Hector Pelletier, M.D., Edin.; Secretaries, E. Lemire, M.D., W. Wood Squire, A.M., M.D.; Council, W. E. Scott, M.D., J. L. Leprohon, M.D., Robert Craik, M.D., J. E. Coderre, M.D., R. P. Howard, M.D. The Society meets monthly.

We are also glad to notice a similar movement among the profession at Quebec, a Society having been recently organised at the ancient capital. It is called " The Quebec Medical Society," and the following officers have been elected: President, F. A. H. Larue, M.D.; Vice-President, ; Secretary, L. Catellier, M.D.; Treasurer and Librarian, Jean B. Blanchet, M.D. It is the intention of the Society to establish a reading room, and to hold its meetings quarterly in the Laval University. We sincerely wish both Societies every possible success.

THE TURKISH BATH.

It may not be generally known to the profession in Canada that in Montreal we have in operation a Turkish bath where, under the direction of its proprietor and a proper assistant, a bath can be obtained at any time. We believe that many of our brethren in every section of the province will be glad of this information, and will now order any of their patients, whose cases would be benefitted by such a course of treatment, to the establishment at Montreal, instead of sending them to New-York, as has frequently been done. There is no doubt of the fact that the Turkish bath is a powerful therapeutical agent, and is capable of being

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made very useful in proper hands, and under proper direction. In the mother country it has become thoroughly established, and in certain diseases-especially skin diseases, and those originating from checked perspiration-it has been found a valuable remedy. We are aware that much prejudice exists among some against the bath, but we believe this is due almost entirely to ignorance of its real character, and to the fact that many have put it forward as a universal panacea for all the ills to which flesh is heir. To such we would strongly recommend a little work of about one hundred and fifty pages, published by McLachlan & Stewart of Edinburgh, entitled: "The Roman Turkish Bath," by James Laurie, M.D., L.R.C.S.E. It is an able little review of the entire subject— one on which all medical men should be well informed. Of course the bath, like every thing else, is not suited to all-hence it should never be taken without a physician's orders-or without previously seeking a physician's advice. The bath in this city is owned by Mr. Arthur W. Alloway, of Coté street.

ACCIDENT TO DR. PRESCOTT, R.A.

We have learned with much regret that Dr. Prescott, Royal Artillery, attached to the Battery now stationed at London, C. W., met with a severe accident early this month. He was out shooting, when his gun burst, shattering his left hand so severely, that it had to be amputated above the wrist. He is progressing very favourably. . His many friends sympathise with him in his suffering, and wish a speedy recovery.

HYDROCEPHALUS.

The British Medical Journal says, that M. Bouchut, of the Children's Hospital, Paris, has called in the ophthalmoscope as a diagnostic agent in chronic hydrocephalus and rachitic state of the cranial bones In chronic hydrocephalus, the early signs of the disease, he says, are often obscure; but the vessels of the eye always undergo appreciable modifications. In proportion as the serum accumulates in and compresses the brain, we find-1, an increase, of vascularity of the retina, with dilatation of the veins; 2, an increase of the number of vessels in the retina ; 3, a complete or partial serous infiltration of the retina; 4, atrophy of the retina and its vessels; 5, atrophy, more or less marked, of the optic nerve. These lesions vary with the age of the disease and the amount of serous effusion. They result either from compression of the sinuses preventing the return of blood from the eye or from compression of the optic nerve within the cranium. But none of these lesions exist in rickets. In twenty-two children between five months and three years of

age, exam

ined by M. Bouchut, in whom the body was only slightly deformed, but in whom the head was increased in size and the anterior fontanelle open, and some of whom had, and some of whom had not had convulsions, the eye preserved its natural appearance. There was neither alteration of the pupil, nor any disorder of the venous circulation of the retina. Hence, he says, by means of the ophthalmoscope, we can distinguish between rickets and chronic hydrocephalus.

EXPLANATION.-Answer to the Canada Medical Journal.-Dr. John C. Johnson's operation for exsection of ankle-joint, reported in the April number of this Journal, was made February, 1862. Any one desirous of fixing the date more definitely will, no doubt, be supplied with the facts upon application; we are unable to supply them at present.-Buffalo Medical Journal, June, 1865.

A SURGEON TO HIS SWEETHEART.

Organization's loveliest flower,

My own that system let me call,
The heart of this is in thy power,
Chordæ tendinæ, valves, and all.
The corner of those globes of sight,
Diaphanous as morning dew,
Give passage to the rays of light
Reflected from each iris blue.

Above those orbits, mind is there,
Anterior lobe, os frontis full,
Beneath that scalp of raven hair

Mine eyes discern a perfect skull.
With smiles those muscles wreathe that face,
Matched with the lily, where the rose,

Just planted in its proper place,

Right o'er the buccinator glows.

Within the white and slender hand

Which that fair female subject owns,

How lax each ligamentous band

That binds the metacarpal bones !

Those bones, compressed, that hand, in sport,
Will let her slip that bracelet through:

Just as the humbugs Davenport

(Who've sloped) the rope-trick used to do.

Oh, may that hand's palmaris be

Stretched close as possible to mine!

And may our sentiments agree
Whilst our phalanges interwine.

Let then, to bind me to my bride,
With union ne'er to be undone,

The nuptial ligature be tied,

And Hymen's suture make us one.

ON A VISIT TO EUROPE.

Dr. R. Palmer Howard, Professor of Practice of Medicine in McGill University, left for a brief trip to Europe by the steamship, which sailed from Quebec on the 12th August.

We have received the first (August) number of the Gazette Medicale, published in this city in the French language, and edited by Dr. Dagenais and Dr. Lemire. It is evidently conducted in a very able manner, and we sincerely trust that not only will the mass of the French Canadian practitioners give it their support, but all who understand the French language. It will ever be a welcome visitor to our table. We wish our new contemporary every success.

Mr. Laurence, the senior surgeon of St. Bartholomew's, now in his 84th year, has resigned in his position. The "Lancet" pays tribute to his professional worth, but regrets that his retirement is not under circumstances which might have justified a warmer tribute to his unselfishness.-The entire value of the estate of the late Dr. Valentine Mott

of New-York, is said to be $400,000. He left his anatomical museum to the New-York Medical College.-The Princess of Wales has given £50 to the hospital for sick children in London.

AN ENGLISH CURE FOR DRUNKENNESS.

There is a prescription in use in England for the cure of drunkenness by which thousands are said to have been assisted in recovering themselves. The receipt came into notoriety through the efforts of JOHN VINE HALL, commander of the Great Eastern steamship. He had fallen into such habitual drunkenness that his most earnest efforts to reclaim himself proved unavailing. At length he sought the advice of an eminent physician, who gave him a prescription which he followed faithfully for seven months, and at the end of that time had lost all desire for liquor, although he had been for many years led captive by a most debasing appetite.

The receipt, which he afterwards published, and by which so many other drunkards have been assisted to reform, is as follows:-Sulphate of iron, five grains; magnesia, ten grains; peppermint water, eleven drams: spirit of nutmeg, one dram; twice a day. This preparation acts as a tonic and stimulant, and so partially supplies the place of the accustomed liquor, and prevents that absolute physical and moral prostration that follows a sudden breaking off from the use of stimulating drinks.— Druggists' Circular.

CANADA

MEDICAL JOURNAL.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

Compound Dislocation of the Astragalus. Reduction and recovery with a useful limb. By JAMES A. GRANT, M.D., F.R.C.S., Edinburgh, &c., &c.

J. Moore, aged 35 years, a farmer of robust habit of body, June 24th, 1864, whilst driving a cart to the city his horse took fright, and he was thrown out with violence and dragged for some distance, his foot having caught in the wheel during the fall. He attempted to walk, but was unable, observing that he trod on the outside of the foot, at the same time the suffering was very great. The boot being removed, the following appearances were to be observed. The foot inverted so that the sole looked inwards, tendo-achillis not tense, the astragalus was driven forwards entirely out of its place, where it took a transverse position, and the anterior extremity protruded fully an inch through the integument on the outer side of the foot. On the upper part of the tarsus the skin was stretched tightly over the displaced astragalus. There was no fracture of either the tibia or fibula. There was very little surrounding effusion, so that the outline of the various parts could be well defined. The dislocated bone was thus wrenched from all of its connexions, and thrown transversly across the tarsus. An unsuccessful attempt was made to reduce the dislocation, by extension and pressure. The limb was placed quietly on the bed, and by moderate pressure the bone turned and shot into its place quite unexpectedly. An outside splint was forthwith placed on the leg, and a cold lotion applied over the ankle. An opiate was given at bed time, and the following day he entered the General Protestant Hospital. The cold water cloths were constantly applied until the 8th day after the accident, and then a purulent discharge from the joint having been observed, a linseed poultice was substituted. The discharge continued more or less until the end of August, at which time the wound

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