The appointments under this act are as follows:

Preston H. Bailhache, M.D., U.S. M. H. S., Balti-' more, Md. Samuel M. Bemiss, M.D., New Orleans, La.; John S. Billings, M. D., U. S. A., Georgetown, D. C.; Henry I. Bowditch, M. D., Boston, Mass.; James L. Cabell, M. D., University of Virginia, Va.; Hosmer A. Johnson, M.D., Chicago, Ill.; Robert W. Mitchell, M. D., Memphis, Tenn.; Samuel F. Phil lips, Esq., Solicitor General, Washington, D. C.; Stephen Smith, M.D., New York; Thomas J. Turner, M. D., U. S. N., Washington, D. C.; Tullio S. Verdi, M. D., Washington, D. C.

Officers-James L. Cabell, M. D., LL. D., President; John S. Billings, Surgeon United States Army, Vice-President; Thos. J. Turner, Medical Director United States Navy, Secretary.

The majority of these names are familiar to the profession as those of men possessing eminent fitness for the positions to which they have been appointed. The remainder have yet to prove themselves. One on the list, Dr. T. S. Verdi, is a homeopath, and we await with no little curiosity the manner of his reception by his colleagues. Though it is difficult to see how, if he is an educated man, there need be any discordance on questions in which therapeutics is not involved, yet the fact of his association in any professional capacity with regular physicians will subject the latter to much unfavorable criticism. The class in the profession, and it is a large class, who would ostracise the teacher of regular medicine for allowing an "irregular" student to even listen to his lecture, will scarcely suffer the associates of Dr. Verdi on the National Board of Health to pass without rebuke.

On

THE DOSE OF SALICYLIC ACID. page 62, MICHIGAN MEDICAL NEWS, I see a formula for making a salicylic acid mixture. If you will examine it, you will find the patient will get only 14 grains of the salicylic acid at a dose. I want to know if we can expect any good effects from such small doses? I never give less than 15 grains every

four hours, and from quite an extensive experience in its use, I have never seen any bad effects from its use. It is the best antipyretic known to the profession. I call your attention to this formula because I find Naphey's Therapeutics (6th ed.) contains the

On

These two children were fed raw ham by the mother for several days, about January 25th, and in the course of five or six days, the children sickened, when Dr. Barnes, their family physician, was called in. the first visit he diagnosed the complaint bilious fever; then, on subsequent visits, ing mentioned. The parents, not being satrheumatism and neuralgia, trichinosis not beisfied, called in Dr. S. M. Bayard, who was attending a lady in the next house. The mother stated that the two boys had been suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, and a great deal of soreness and rheumatic pains. The children were still suffering as above stated. This visit was made Feb. 8th. Dr. S. M. Bayard looked the cases over, and asked if the children had eaten any raw pork, and was answered in the affirmative. He suspected trichinosis, and so stated to the parents, consulted Ziemssen, and on his second visit-Feb. 11-he positively declared the disease to be trichinosis. By invitation, I saw the children on the 12th, and came to the same conclusion. Dr. Barnes heard of this, and visited the patients unsolicited, on the 13th, and 16th or 17th, and both times denied the correctness of Dr. S. M. B.'s opinion, and on the latter date obtained charge of the patients again, the parents becoming convinced that Dr. S. M. B. was mistaken.

The younger boy suffered but slightly in the first few weeks; after some gastric derangement, which lasted scarcely a week, he

s up in the house, ate well, and was ght and cheerful. He complained only of scular pains in the lower part of the ghs and the legs. These parts were ollen, hard and moderately sore to the ch. From the first visit of Dr. Bayard, legs were covered with dark, small (from size of the head of a pin to a half a pea) He hymosed spots, slightly elevated. gressed very satisfactorily until within a days of his death, when he took to his , and complained of difficulty of breaththis increased rapidly, and the patient 1 of asphyxia. Dr. Bayard all the time 1 the parents that this patient, although arently well, was in the most danger. attributed the eruption to irritation from trichina, while Dr. Barnes to the boy's ing in contact with ivy on the wood pile. 'he older boy was much the sicker in the weeks, suffering from much vomiting diarrhoea, which was very troublesome the first two weeks, with soreness in the nt arm and forearm, and the upper part right thigh; his pulse ranged between and 130, and the temperature increased rom four to five degrees above normal. s one recovered.

'hese two cases demonstrate the difficulty always making a correct diagnosis, and interesting fact that, although the subof trichinosis may be very little effected the first few weeks, may suddenly die, er from a rapid hatching or migration hese pestiferous parasites.

nia, Mich.

Yours truly, F. GUNDRUM.

Book Notices.

OME OF SKIN DISEASES, WITH FORMULE. BY TILBURY =, M. D., F. R. C. P., and T. C. Fox, M. B., B. A., (Cantab.) ond American edition, enlarged and revised by the hors. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea. For sale by E. B ith & Co., Detroit.

An ex

Paragraphs.

A Nevada tramp applied to a doctor for work, and on being asked what he could do, replied, "Well, I could dig graves!"

Chloramyl, the new anesthetic recently recommended, consists of chloroform (c. p.) bj, and nitrite of amyl 3 ij.

The St. Petersburgh Gazette mentions a case of one Romanowski who reached one hundred and five years, though a confirmed epileptic. A clear case of the survival of the fit-ist.

To purify rancid butter, work it up with a solution of bi-carbonate of soda, common salt, sugar and tartaric acid. A patent has been taken out for the. process, which, it is claimed, will restore the most rancid butter.

According to Lyon Medicale the number of journals pertaining to the medical sciences, published in Paris alone, amounts to 80. And yet there are those who bewail the fact that America publishes 53 med ical journals.

66

Doctor (looking learned and speaking slowly)— 'Well, mariner, what tooth do you want extracted? Is it a molar or an incisor?" Jack (short and sharp, replies)" It is in the upper tier, on the larboard side. Bear a hand, you swab, for it's nipping my jaw like a lobster."

"Aloepathy."-The following was received by a medical director of a life insurance company from an eclectic in Missouri:

DEAR SIR-In reply to within I will state that I am the only physician in this town. I presume I am not what you term "regular school," as I am a graduate of the eclectic school and not an aloepath

There are only two other graduates in the county, and they are eclectics. The "regulars," or aloepaths, have played out in this country.-Medical Record.

The late Dr. Geo. B. Wood, of Philadelphia, made the following bequests: His large library and $15,000 to the Philadelphia College of Physicians; $50,000 to the University of Pennsylvania; $75,000 to the same, for the special object of enlarging its hospital and clinical facilities for instruction; $20,000 to the American Philosophical Society, and $50,000 to a number of other charitable institutions.

Original Articles.

New Method of Removing Hairs.

BY DR. L. AUSTIN PORTER.

Seeing a description of Dr. L. Duncan Bulkley's method of removing hairs, permanently, in the October (last) number of the NEWS, selected from the Archives of Dermatology, calls to my mind a similar though more sure and philosophical method, in my opinion, which Charles E. Mitchel, M. D., and professor of Histology and Diseases of the Eye in the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, has been performing for years, in removing the eyelashes, hairs from chin, lips, or those long, troublesome and disgusting hairs which are so frequently found on nævis, etc., which we so frequently see on the fairer sex.

The professor's method is simple, and the operator need not go to any expense for instruments, as each house can furnish all that are necessary. His method is thus (simplified): Pair of good ordinary forceps to seize the hair with, then a sharp needle, fastened to a small handle (small, sharp pegging awl will do), which is to be passed down parallel to hair, within its sheath, till you reach bottom of the follicle, then withdraw; melt some nitrate silver in an ordinary spoon, and into this fluid hold the point of small needle, (similarly fixed as puncturing needle), till the silver crystallizes around the point like a minute ball, then insinuate this miniature caustic point into the pervious puncture, cauterize the follicle of hair bulb or root, remove all instruments, and in a few hours the hair will ulcerate out by the roots, causing no pain or lesion, with an entire removal of hairs, avoiding all possibilities of scrubby, dwarfish returning hairs.

GOSSETT ILL

Enlargement of the Heart from Valvular Degeneration.

BY G. W. CHROUCH, A. M., M. D.

On the evening of April 24th, 1879, I was called to see Mr. Daniel Peacock, of Bath, Clinton county, whom many supposed to be consumptive. On arrival at the house I found him suffering from great

dyspnoea, with severe pain near the upper borders of the scapulæ, in the region of the heart, and in the left arm, with some numbness of the latter. The external jugulars were distended and tortuous, there was a cyanotic hue of the face, deep upon the lips. There was great anxiety indicated by his speech and expression of countenance.

I naturally suspected angina pectoris, as indeed there was, and of a grave nature. The pulse at the wrist was quick, but small The heart was examined, and found to be alarmingly diseased. It was a very easy matter to diagnose hypertrophy. There were regurgitant murmurs of a perplexing nature. Mitral regurgitation was evident. And at each diastole there was heard a prolonged gurgitant sound, which led me to suspect aortic regurgitation. At each systole there was heard a sort of thud, and a seemingly prolonged systolic effort. The aortic murmur was fairly whistling. That there was tricuspid regurgitation was quite evident, both to the ear and eye, the condition of the external jugulars indicated regurgitation into the venæ cavæ. I could not tell, ante-mortem, whether there was any obstruction of the semilunars of the pulmonary artery or not, on account of the confusion of sounds.

The heart was working very hard, and I tried veratrum viride on that account and because of the conjested condition of left lung. It did no seeming good. I then put him on carbonate of ammonia, with an opiate. In a short time he grew easier and fell into a slumber, from which he awoke refreshed, as much as could be, and thanked me for it. I left in a short time thereafter, directing the carbonate and Dover's powder to be given pro re nata. He again grew worse, and died in about forty hours after I first saw him.

The

Post mortem, eight hours after death, re vealed healthy lungs (the left congested, but crepitant) and liver. The spleen was gorged with blood and considerably enlarged. The heart was cut loose from its vessels, emptied and weighed. Its weight was twenty-three and one-half ounces (234 ozs.)! It was carefully opened. The walls of left side were thick and of firm texture. walls of right side were more than correspondingly thinner. The mitral valves were torn and shreddy. The semilunars of the aorta had undergone calcareous degeneration, producing a permanent halfopen condition. It was from these valves that I could hear the thud-like sound (of resistance) and the prolonged gurgitant sound at each diastole (aortic regurgitation).

The tricuspid was ruptured, allowing, no doubt, regurgitation through the right auricle into the vena cova, which produced the distension of the external jugulars and (no doubt) pain over the scapulæ, also the cyanotic hue of countenance from imperfect oxygenization of the blood. The pulmonary artery was somewhat enlarged. The right side was the

most enlarged, though the walls were not much thickened. This was contrary to what I would naturally have expected-though it may be the rule in such cases. The coronary artery was not diseased. The wonder is that the man could have lived an hour with his heart in such a condition.

Shaftsburg, Mich.

Therapeutical Value of Veratrum Viride.

BY THOMAS A. KAY, M. D.

Veratrum viride acts as a direct sedative upon the circulatory system, by virtue of its action upon the pneumo-gastric nerve. This is capable of demonstration, for if it did not affect the pneumo-gastric, there would be no feeling of constriction in the throat, no cessation of the number of respirations, and no repression of the heart's action.

Alcohol is recognized as occupying a wide range in therapeutics, and veratrum viride, the effects of which are directly opposed to those of alcohol, is capable of a more extended use than has been cred ited to it. An accurate and positive knowledge of its action on the system will enable any sensible and reflecting practitioner to obtain complete mastery and control over very many symptoms, and even over organic disease. Its value in fevers is well known, but even here it has been slighted, and the ull amount of benefit to be derived from it curtailed, either by ignorance of its full physiological action, or from a lack of confidence. There is no need of the temperature of scarlatina and typhoid fevers (in the majority of cases) persisting any higher than from 102 to 104 degrees, at the most.

By its sedative action on the heart it reduces temperature powerfully, and in these fevers (scarlatina and typhoid) it would fully reduce the temperature were it not for the rapid metamorphosis of tissue, and consequent nervous irritability, so constantly going on, and over which it has no direct control.

It reduces the temperature of local congestions more satisfactorily than astringents, for the slow action of the heart allows the blood time to get away from the part, and, if its action is kept up, it is more apt to stay away, and it is by this very same action that it indirectly favors absorption, for absorption cannot go on when the part is engorged with blood and effete matter; and, to reason still further, we can expect that hypertrophied organs- as of the heart, liver, spleen, etc.-can be materially reduced by this admirable remedy, as its action causes a diminution of the supply of blood to the parts, thereby diminishing the nutrition of the part. It is far superior to anodyne sedatives in relieving headache, and it is no wonder that the headache will persist, in spite of anodyne and hypnotic treatment, so long as the heart is allowed to keep on pumping the cranium full of blood.

In this case one dose of the veratrum will often stop the headache, as if by magic. In fact, the

more we know of its effects, the wider appears its range of application. Even now its therapeutical effects, both directly and indirectly, are recognized as promoting sedation of the heart and blood vessels, slowness of respiration, diminution of temperature, equalizing nervous and circulatory systems, resolving hypertrophied organs and tissue, relieving pain by diminishing the pressure of blood. It often acts directly as an emetic, promoting diaphoresis and ex pectoration, and as a general alterative. SHAFTSBURG, MICH.

Selections.

POST-PARTUM HÆMORRHAGE-THE ACTUAL CAUTERY, AND INVERSION AS REMEDIES -The following extract from an article by Dr. E. A. Cobleigh, of Athens, Tenn., in the Atlanta Journal of Medicine, besides suggesting a new method in the treatment of post-partum flooding, shows also considerable courage and presence of mind under trying circumstances. The patient was safely delivered of her second child, but after the removal of the placenta it was found that the uterus only partially contracted and that the flooding was as if from an open flood-gate. Combined internal and external manipulation only succeeded in producing a sort of vibration of the uterine walls, but no stoppage of the stream. Frictions, titillations, aortic compression, cold water externally and internally were also 'freely used, but to no pur. pose.

"There was nothing which would answer as a hemostatic agent-not even alum-in the house; no ice to be had, though the weather was cold; no syringe obtainable; no time to send for remedies or counsel. It was one of those cases where the physician cannot consult text books-cannot even get the desired remedies to use-but must rely on his own unaided judgment, do his best with the limited means at his command, keep cool, and assume of necessity the weighty responsibility involving life or death to one who has confided her safety to his keeping. I felt the immense interest at stake, and saw my patient evidently nearing eternity, despite every effort I was able to put forth in her behalf. Never had I witnessed or heard of a case exactly parallel to the one in hand.

The

"Mrs. B. fainted, but speedily revived. womb had now ceased its wavy action and assumed a tonic state of semi-contraction, yet hemorrhage continued, though not so profuse. Her face was blanched; she complained of blindness (partial, not complete), tinnitus aurium, and other symptoms of profound systemic exsanguination. There were no spirits or other stimulants to be had, but a messenger had already been dispatched to a neighbor's house for brandy. The pillows were taken from beneath her head, the foot of the bed was raised and hot flannels applied to the body.

"Just at this crisis I espied an iron poker standing near the fire-place. I had it heated in the blazing fire, which required but a few moments' time, and then, as a dernier resort, turned my patient on her side and cauterized the spinal region over a surface one-third the size of my hand. The eschar was per. haps four and a half inches long by one and a half or two inches wide, and I was not particular to make it regular in outline or calculate its size at the time. The effect was more than I had dared count on. Mrs. B. cried out in pain on applying the iron to her integument, but the uterus almost immediately contracted down and expelled my hand, the hemorrhage ceasing of course; nor was the effect merely momentary, for the contraction continued firm until I left the house two hours later. * * *

"It is unnecessary to particularize regarding the after-treatment in this case. Stimulants, nourish. ment and tonics accomplished the work of recovery, and Mrs. B. lives to-day to attest the wonderful powers of the actual cautery in arresting post-partum hemorrhage. My experience with it is limited to this one case, and I hope that if it must be further tested the necessity may fall on other shoulders than mine."

*

*

*

The following is another rather novel method. It appears in a translation by the St. Louis Clinical Record from Lyon Medical: Dr. Pugliese (de Tarare) strongly recommends inversion of the body as the best means of arresting post-partum hemorrhage. The patient is taken by the shoulders and swung around so that the buttocks rest upon the edge of the bed, while the head is lowered to the floor Α hypodermic injection of ergotine is then made in the hypogastric region, and the uterus is stimulated to contract by frictions over its surface and irritation applied to its interior. His patient remained thus inverted for about one and one-half hours. When the manoeuvre was practised she was pulseless and remained so for several minutes; before the pulse could be detected she regained her senses so as to speak. 'The tongue gave signs of life before the radial artery! Inversion alone could work such a prodigy."

It

THE PROPER TIME TO LIGATE THE CORD.-The St. Louis Courier of Medicine gives a translation, by Dr. Derivaux, of an abstract from a paper by Dr. Ribémont, in Annales de Gynécologie, in which the proper time for ligating the cord is discussed. was found by Dr. Budin that if after birth, the child is left, breathing and crying freely, between its mother's legs, unsevered from her, one sees the funis, first deep blue and turgid, soon flatten, and become pulseless after an average of two and one-half minutes. If, after waiting two more minutes the section of the cord is made, no blood trickles from its fœtal end, while the placental one will yield about 11 C. C. If, on the contrary, the separation is quickly made,

as soon as the foetus, disengaged from the maternal parts, has breathed once, the blood will be seen spurting out of the three placental vessels and an average of 98.4 C.C. of it can be collected. This goes to show that to bind and make section of the cord right after birth amounts to depriving the child of 87.2 C. C. of blood, or in weight of 92.6 grammes, or in Troy weight 3 ounces; hence the conclusion: the section of the funis must be made only some minutes after complete cessation of the pulsation of its vessels. About the physiological interpretation of these facts Dr. Budin was of the opinion that the progression of this blood was due to the thoracic aspiration of the fœtus drawing in more blood by the veins than the funicular artery could send out; besides, this aspiration, produced by the gradual dilations of the lungs, being brought to bear longer than the artery of the cord was permeable, thus nearly exhausted the residue of the blood in the placenta. As a sequel to his conclusions, Dr Budin further added: 1st. That this plan of treatment ought to be carried out even when the child was born in an asphyxic state, far from letting blood escape, as is usually done in such cases, from the foetal end of the cord. 2d. That the practice he recommended made easier the delivery of the pla centa, it being then almost empty.

Here again the

'It remains now to show that the gain the fœtus derives from a late ligation of the cord is not at tended later on by any drawback. balance was brought to play, and placed beyond doubt the fact that, far from experiencing any dam age from the practice recommended by Dr. Budin, the child loses less and regains in weight sooner than it would otherwise. Schücking found that in most cases where the cord had been immediately ligated, the children reached their primitive weight from the 10th to the 16th day, while the others did so from the 4th to the 6th. Zweifel's conclusions are that in 11 children of late ligation, the average physiological loss has been 156 grammes; in 25 of immediate ligation it was 211, difference 55. The habitual loss agreed upon by the authors is 220 grammes.

'Hoffmeier, operating on 90 cases, made out that children of late ligation lose 1 per cent. less of their weight than the others, and regain it sooner. Lastly, Dr. Alban Ribémont, of whos memoir this paper is a short abstract, weighed in Prof. Tarnier's clinic 104 children every day of their two first weeks, admitting only the cases where the mother was healthy and nursed herself. He found, as an average, that when immediate ligation had been made, the child weighed on its 10th day 50 grammes less than on the first, while where the cord had been ligated only after extinction of its pulsations, there was on the 10th day a gain of 101 gram mes.

To bring this subject to a close, we have yet to take note of Schücking's remark, that a late liga tion facilitates the placental delivery after Crédé's method, an empty after-birth being more easily