Consumption-Its Cnre.

Certainly the ravages of consumption are sufficient to stimulate the inventive genius of man to its utmost, in devising means for the relief and cure of the malady. Probably none of the other diseases to which humanity is subject has had expended on it the same amount of scientific thought, or has been subjected to the same research. This thought and research have, however, been largely in a circle, and it is doubtful whether the therapeutics of consumption is further advanced to-day than it was half a century ago. We have not the statistics of the two periods at hand, but we may, we think, safely venture the assertion that the annual mortality from this disease is as great as at any time since it commenced to afflict humanity.

The only positive promises of cure have heretofore appeared in yellow covered literature, in the proprietary medicine almanac, and in the displayed advertisements in newspapers and on bill boards. The September number of the Virginia Medical Monthly however, contains an article by Dr. James H. Salisbury, of Cleveland, Ohio, in which the writer makes the somewhat astounding statement: "I have simply to say that the disease is so thoroughly worked up in all its details that I am able to produce it at will and as surely cure it." We are not acquainted with Dr. Salisbury, and do not know, therefore, what reliance to place on his assertion, positive though it be. We must say, however, that his article has that high coloring which breeds suspicion, and we can only hope that our excellent contemporary has not been imposed upon by adinitting to its pages what may turn out to have been, neither more nor less than the advertisement of an empyric who has, as he says, a book on Consumption ready for the press, from which the article in the Virginia Medical Monthly is a reprint.

But, giving Dr. Salisbury the benefit of the doubt as to his professional rectitude, we shall reproduce the main points in his treatHe has his patient "drink half a pint

ment. of hot water one hour before each meal and

on retiring, for the purpose of washing out the slimy, yeasty and bilious stomach before eating and sleeping." In the matter of food he introduces a dietary quite at variance with that usually recommended, in that he entirely discards the fats, and the only part of the cod he permits is its muscular fibre. He advises that eight grains of pepsin or lactopeptine be taken after each meal. The usual hygienic advice with regard to baths, clothing and exercise are given. The exercise he especially recommends is riding, and when this cannot be indulged in the patient should be rubbed and pounded all over-for ten minutes, morning, noon and night. By way of medicine, his prescriptions savor rather too much of the old blunderbuss variety. We give them, however, for what they are worth under the head of Formula in our present number. All anodynes that get the stomach out of order are to be rigidly avoided.

The author sagely remarks that "the cure is accomplished by getting the system in splendid condition, when the urine

becomes clear and flows at the rate of three

pints daily-standing at 1.020." No one will deny that "a splendid condition of the system" is a very desirable consummation of

treatment.

He regards consumption as "a disease arising from continued unhealthy alimentation, and it must be cured by removing

mooted question of priority in the introduction of this great boon to humanity had years ago been as fully answered as it probably ever would be, and that the honors were divided among Jackson, Wells and Morton. A couple of years ago, however, Dr. J. Marion Sims brought forward the claims of Dr. Crawford W. Long, and as he fixes the date of his claimant's first use of ether for surgical purposes at the year 1842, Dr. Long's claims would seem to be based on pretty valid grounds. In a recent speech at the Georgia University, the Hon. A. H. Stephens asserted that Dr. Long's claim to the proud title conferred on him by Dr. Sims are acknowledged by France, Germany, England and Russia. This, however, was a very erroneous assertion, and a letter before us from Dr. Edward H. Bowne, of Rocky Hill, N. J., the length of which, we regret, makes it impossible for us to publish it, very ably disproves Mr. Stephens' statement. The fact is that Dr. Long's claims, however well based they are, are not by any means generally acknowledged, and though his name may, in consequence of the claims recently made, be placed in the list with those of Wells, Jackson and Morton, he will never be universally, or even generally, accorded the place of "the only original." There is certainly no evidence to show, or even claim made, that either of the illustri

ous New England triad, owed his discovery to any hint received from the distinguished Georgian. But rather than open up once more the interminable discussion which the more recent claim is apt to arouse, we should be in favor of calling each of the claimants the original, as doubtless each, in a measure,

was.

Section of Nerves for the Radical Cure of Neuralgia.

Dr. Frederick S. Dennis, Demonstrator of Anatomy at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, N Y., publishes a most valuable article in the New York Medical for June, 1879, with special reference to section of the superior maxillary branch of the trifacial nerve, including resection of the spheno-palatine (Meckel's) ganglion for the

relief of tic-douloureux. Quoting first the conflicting opinions of surgical authorities as to the propriety of this operation, he shows by a review of the recent investigations into the physiology and pathology of the nervous system that these opinions are due to erroneous theories of the disease and its treatment, and points out the very important fact that the theory of recurrent centripetal sensibility, now well established, will not only reconcile the conflict of opinion, but justify a more frequent resort to the operation. Only by this theory can we explain the recurrence of sensibility in the parts supplied by a nerve immediately after its section. Richet adopted this view in 1867 to explain a case which he studied, and the later experiments of Arloing and Tripier in 1875, with Claude Bernard's contemporaneous researches, have proved the theory altogether correct. Their brilliant experiments interpret clinical facts which previously were perplexing contradictions, and were simply unintelligible, for they show at once that the operations will be successful according as they are performed sufficiently near the nerve centres, to include all the direct fibres of the diseased nerve, and to exclude the indirect (recurrent) fibres of adjacent nerves.

He then collates all the known cases of

operation upon the superior maxillary nerve, and divides them into five classes, according to the length of time during which relief from pain was secured by the operation. The first class includes all cases where relief was secured for more than twelve months; the second from six to twelve months; the third from one to six months; the fourth when the pain returned during the first month, and the fifth, cases where no pain was felt so long as the patients remained under observation. But this time was so short as to make the cases of no value either for or against the operation. Analyzing these cases, the author deduces as practical conclusions that the high operation is better than the low operation in cases where the maximum intensity of pain is at the infra orbital foramen and along the course of the malar branch; that in no case has death oc

curred as a result of the operation, nor have the symptoms been aggravated in any instance; that the operation is justifiable even if temporary relief alone be obtained; that failure is usually due to incorrect diagnosis both as to cause and seat of the pain; that failure will be the rule unless we distinguish the cases where the pain is due to central lesions from those where the cause is peripheral; that where the lesion is in the terminal nerve plexuses the resection of several nerves (polyneurotomy) will be more serviceable than resection of a single nerve (mononeurotomy); that mononeurotomy should be reserved for cases where the lesion involves the trunk of a nerve near its origin; that the prognosis will be most favorable when we can exclude lesions involving either plexuses or nerve centres; and that the principal indication for the operation is persistent and severe pain, which will not yield to the milder and less radical measures.

Altogether the paper is a most valuable contribution to this subject, and we cannot but believe that it will give a new impulse to this greatly neglected plan of treatment in rebellious neuralgias. It is interesting to note that of all the reported cases of this operation, more than half have been performed by American surgeons, the largest number done by any one operator being by Prof. Jas. R. Wood, M. D., of New York city.

E. S D.

The MICHIGAN MEDICAL NEWS will add four pages to the size of each number with the opening of volume III. Already a marvel of cheapness, this addition to its size will make it, beyond all odds, the cheapest medical journal published. Nothing but the large patronage with which it has been favored could enable us to make this addition to its size. May we not ask our friends

to interest themselves to the extent of merely representing to those of their acquaintances who do not take the NEWS its claims to professional support? There is hardly a subscriber who cannot influence an acquaintance

to have his name added to our list.

Miscellany.

A SUBSTITUTE FOR MILK.-Dr. M. Czar

toryski, of Stockton, California, sends us the following:

"I have read in your valuable journal the discussion on infants' food-milk and its substitutes—but I have yet seen no mention of one of the most natural, one that everywhere can be obtained from good hen's eggs. I have used it in my practice as a substitute for over twenty years, always with the most gratifying results. The egg is broken in tepid or slightly warm water or milk, slightly beaten, with one to three grains of tablesalt, or same amount of bicarbonate of soda, and then strained, which must never be neglected. If need be, a little white sugar and a half teaspoonful or more of best brandy or whisky may be added. It is best to be given with milk from nursing bottle. From one to two or more eggs may be fed during the day, according to need of child. The egg con. tains everything the body needs. Will not others give it a trial? I am certain they will try it again."

THE NEWS, THE PRACTICAL PHYSICIAN'S ALLY.-Dr. D. M. Johnston, of Rockwell City, Iowa, writes: "Desiring to hear from ing, I was led to select the Michigan Medical the profession on the subject of rhus poisonNews as my medium of communication. The wisdom of my selection was speedily verified by the numerous replies from practical men from all parts of the Union. This experience in calling for advice through your jour. nal speaks volumes in favor of the liberality and common sense of the profession, and for its willingness to lend a helping hand to a brother practitioner who may at any time find himself in an emergency. I desire to return my thanks to the gentlemen who so promptly replied to my request for information. I am a young physician, but two years out of college, having attended no less than three of the leading medical schools of this country. I find, however, that not infrequently questions arise in actual practice for which the teachings of the schools furnish no precedent, as, for instance, in the case of rhus poisoning. In such cases the experience of the working doctor, as concisely expressed through the medical journal, is incomparably of greater service than the finespun theories and dogmatic teachings of the text-books and of the schools.

Allow me again to express my high appreciation of the NEWS as an aid to the busy practitioner. Its style, and everything about it, is precisely adapted to this end."

NEWSPAPER DOSES.-A short time ago attention was called to a newspaper prescription, in which citrate of iron two grains, and strychniæ two grains, were ordered at a single dose. Of course the salt, citrate of iron and strychnine, two grains, was what was intended, but only the vigilance of the druggist into whose hands the prescription might fall could prevent an undertaker's bill for services rendered the remains of the thrifty individual who would seek, by its use, to save a doctor's fee. The newspaper is a powerful civilizing and enlightening agent, and the newspaper editor is a wonderfully erudite individual, as a rule, but he should stick to his last, and let doctors do the prescribing direct.

The Hospital Gazette refers to this subject thus:

"We are always favorably impressed with the receipt for the cure of various diseases seen from time to time in the newspapers. They are always so reliable, so authoritative 2nd so very scientific. Even country papers have their scientific or medical column.

How much medicine owes to journalistic lay

men and retired ministers who have cured themselves with a remedy accidentally discovered while in India or Zululand! This time it is the Evening Telegram who quotes the Les Mondes as its authority. It states that Dr. Durodie cured a child, seven years old, of croup, by rasping out the larynx with a whalebone probang, sponge tipped. The finger being passed to the "upper laryngeal opening," a probang is passed, supposably into the larynx, and worked up and down several times, thus irritating the vocal cords to reflex action and breaking up and removing much false membrane. There are enough asinine laymen left, since the last advent of the fool catcher, to try this, and probably with marked success. Indeed, after several trials, we predict that they will become sufficiently proficent to remove one or more vocal cords, or create a short cut into the trachea. This, however, is a small matter. We are inclined to think that the average editor of the scientific column of a newspaper has considerable false membrane in covering the cerebral hemispheres-exerting marked pressure on the convolution controlling common sense, discretion, medical knowledge and modesty."

gust number, he has the following to say on the status of American medical institutions in England:

"In Oxford I called on Dr. Acland, Regius professor of medicine in the university and president of the general medical council of Great Britain, a body consisting of twenty-four leading representative men of the profession in England, Ireland and Scotland, a part of whom are elected by the universities and licensing bodies, and a part appointed by the Crown. This council has the general management of medical education and the registration of the qualified physicians, surgeons and dentists-which registration is necessary to practice.

Dr. Acland was much interested in our university and asked many questions about it, and about other medical affairs in our country, in the different interviews we had, and since I came to London I have received a letter from him making further inquiries, which I have answered in full. He gave me a card to the registrar (or secretary) here in London, upon whom I called to-day, and from whom I have learned some things that will interest particularly our friends of the dental college of the university.

An act of Parliament establishing the medical council, which went into effect five or six years ago, provided for the registration of medical practitioners who had passed the various examining bodies in the kingdom, complying with the rules of the council, but no provision for registering any holding foreign diplomas was made. Consequently no diploma from any foreign university, or licensing body, German, French, or American, is recognized, and no one can practice the profession here without qualifying in a British institution.

An act of Parliament has just now gone into effect respecting the registration of dentists; and in this latter act the medical council are permitted to register dentists. holding foreign diplomas, provided in the judgment of the council these diplomas represent a sufficiently high grade of qualifications. The registrar has obtained evidence of the requirements for diplomas of all the dental colleges in different countries, and laid that evidence before the council. Of all the dental colleges in America, two only have been judged by the council worthy to have their diplomas recognized as entitling their holders to registration and the privilege of practicing here. The two admitted colleges are those of Harvard University and the University of Michigan.

A bill is now before Parliament which is

expected to pass the next session, making similar provision respecting the registration of foreign medical diplomas as now exist with dental. That is, the medical council will have it in their power to admit to registration, and the consequent right to practice, those who hold diplomas from foreign countries, which the council may judge to represent a sufficient amount of learning and skill. The council, particularly its president and registrar, are already, in anticipation of the passage of the act referred to, gathering all the information possible of the characters of the foreign diploma granting bodies, and hence the careful inquiries of President Acland respecting our university-the course of instruction in the department of medicine and surgery, and the character of the requirements for graduation.

I gave to Dr. Acland a copy of our calendar, and he writes me: 'I have read your calendar with the utmost interest. Your plan does truly seem to be both large and comprehensive.' As our course of instruction compares so favorably with that of any other medical school in our country, I cannot doubt if any American medical diplomas are recognized, ours will be among them."

LABOR AS A FORM OF EXERCISE.-Dr. Oswald, in Popular Science Monthly, writes: "Open-air labor is the most effective cosmetic, an almost infallible panacea against all kinds of bodily deformity. But the remedial virtue, of labor, i. e., sound bodily exercise, is greater than that of open-air life per se; for among the rustic population of Scandinavia, Scotland, and Northern Germany, who perform a large portion of their hard work indoors, we frequently find models of health and vigor; far more frequently than among the inhabitants of Italy, Spain, etc., who pass the greater part of their indolent lives in the open air.

66

But, besides all this, athletic exercises have a moral value, which our social reform

ers have strangely failed to recognize; they

afford a diversion and a vent to those animal energies which otherwise are sure to explode in debauch and all kinds of vicious excesses.

The sympathetic thrill by which the mind accompanies a daring gymnastic feat and the

enthusiasm of athletic contests form the most salutary and, perhaps, the only normal gratification of that love of excitement which is either the legitimate manifestation of a healthy instinct, or else a wholly irremediable disease of our nature. The soul needs emotions as the body needs exercise, and the exciting sports of the palæstra met both wants at once. We try to suppress

these instincts, but their motives remain, and if thwarted in their normal manifestations they assert themselves in some abnormal way, chemically instead of mechanically, as Dr. Boerhaave would say, by convulsing the organs of digestion, since the organs of motion are kept in unbearable activity. In times of scarcity the paupers of China and Siam silence the clamors of their hungry children by dosing them with opium; and for analogous reasons millions of our fellowcitizens seek relief in alcohol; they want to benumb a feeling which they cannot satisfy in a healthier way.

"After finishing his day's work the Grecian mechanic went to the gynasium, the Roman to the amphitheatre, and the modern European and American goes to the next 'saloon,' to satisfy by different methods the same instinct a longing for a diversion from the dull sameness of business routine. There is no question which method was the bestthe only question is which of the two bad substitutes may be the worse: the brutalizing, i. e., soul-hardening spectacles of bloodshed of the Roman arena, or the soul and body destroying poisons of the liquor shop?"

REMEDIES FOR RHUS POISONING.-Dr, D. C. M. Summerlin, of Sunhill, Georgia. writes: Noticing several prescriptions in the NEWS of August 11 for poisoning by "rhus toxicodendron," I will give you another, more simple and from my own experience, a specific-lime water. Wash the affected part in clear lime water once or twice, and if of recent origin it will off as if by magic. If in the eyes, bathe and drink of the same. will cure the poison of any of the species rhus. My experience with sulphide calcium in inflammation of the ear is such as to add my testimonial as to its efficacy.

It

Dr. S. B. Foster writes: In the August 11 number of the NEWS I saw some suggestions in regard to the best treatment for rhus poisoning. I find all forms of treatment

which are laid down in books to fail. I have used them all, but each one has failed to produce the effect desired. For the last two years I have been using the fluid extract gelsemium with perfect success. I apply the

extract with a small brush three or four times in a day. At the same time I give a saline cathartic. In less than twelve hours my patient is free from all irritation, and in twenty-four hours is well on the road to recovery. I have never had it yet to fail.

KILLING FLIES WITH GUNPOWDER.—A Pittsburgh restaurant keeper has devised a