being kept wet, and changed once in twenty-four hours. Co-incident with the local dressings, from the outset, the patient had been given a wineglassful of bovinine in milk alternating with wine and beer every three hours. On March 24th, she was discharged cured, the entire surface having become covered with new healthy skin.

This experiment has been employed frequently enough by me to demonstrate that where the technique is carefully followed it will in the majority of cases yield the most gratifying results. A point of interest in this case and a usual one, is that from the day of the first dressing of the bovinine up to the time the patient was discharged, she was relieved of all pain.

PTOMAINE POISONING.-During the past summer I had, perchance more cases ptomaine poisoning than in all my previous twenty-nine years of active practice. I presume that the prevalence was greatly due to the extraordinary heat of this summer. Notwithstanding the severity of some of the cases, my patients all recovered.

Before entering into a detailed description of some of the most severe cases, a definition of the word "ptomaine," with some views of competent authors, will be well placed here.

"Ptomaine," says V. C. Vaughan, "may be defined as an organic chemical compound, basic in character and formed by the action of bacteria on nitrogenous matter." He further states that "some fish are always poisonous. Others are poisonous, or at least markedly so, only during the spawning season. Still others are subject to epidemic bacterial diseases, and those affected with certain of these diseases furnish flesh that is toxic to man, or in other words, the bacterial disease is transmitted to man with his food. Lastly, fish, like other kinds of meat, may become infected with saprophytic germs that inay harm man.”

Schmidt says: "The poisonous substance is not distributed throughout the animal, but is confined to certain parts. The poisonous portion cannot be distinguished from the non-poisonous, either macroscopically or miscropically."

I treated altogether twelve cases, of which nine were fish, and three lobster poisoning.

The best illustration of a severe case of fish poisoning, is the case of William R., a grocer, thirty-two years of age, of robust and good health. He made his lunch of fish (none in the family could give me any information about the class of fish.) It was an unusually hot day in the month of July. He felt no discomfort until after midnight that day, when he was awakened by nausea and griping pain in his bowels. Soon vomiting set in of mucus, colored with bile. When I was summoned, I found the man with cold perspiration pouring down his face. Soon after fever set in to a temperature of 102; pulse, 140; respiration about 40, shalow and irregular. Pain in the stomach and intestines, with great sensitiveness on pressure. I proceeded to wash his stomach and large intestines, administering right after a dose of five grains of calomel, following it up, the coming morning, with a bottle of citrate of magnesia, for the cleansing of the small intestines. Morning's temperature, 101; pulse, 130; with excessive tenderness to the digestive tract. Second day, temperature the same, pulse more firm; sensitiveness to stomach and bowels diminished; having had a number of watery stools during previous day and night. I prescribed an antiseptic intestinal wash, Glycozone, two ounces, hot water, twenty-four ounces, for mornings and evenings. At my evening's call the temperature was 100; pulse, 110; respiration, 28. Having had some favorable experience with the internal use of Glycozone in acute gastritis, I then prescribed a teaspoonful to be given, diluted with water, every three hours. This treatment was kept up for a week, until all unfavorable symptoms disappeared.

The other case of serious nature was a lobster poisoning. Mrs. M. S., about twenty-five years of age, was eating a "fresh" lobster in a first-class restaurant, at night, after a theater performance. She felt some discomfort right after eating it, but slept all night without disturbance. However, in the morning, when I was summoned, I found her suffering from nausea, vertigo, ringing in the ears, "like big bells," as she expressed it, pain in all the joints, and griping pain in the bowels; no stool. Temperature, 100.5; pulse, 140; respiration, 36. The same treatment as above was prescribed, and the woman made a quick recovery. All other cases were treated similarly, with gratifying results. However, taking good advice from my first case, I started with the antiseptic treatment at once, as I don't know of any better remedy to stop vomiting than Glycozone.-Alex. Rixa, M. D., New York.

EDITORIAL ITEMS.-Continued.

Quinine as an Antiseptic.—According to the researches of H. Marx (Interstate Medical Journal) quinine is more active as an aniseptic than carbolic acid. Applied to a bleeding wound, either in powder or in solution, it quickly arrests suppuration. A one per cent. solution in 15 per cent. alcohol is an effective hemostatic.

Saccharin in Foods and Drinks.-Dr. de Lavarenne, editor of La Presse Medicale (American Medicine), refers to the extended dietary use of saccharin, dulcin, sucramin and similar coaltar sweetening agents. They are used to sweeten beer, syrups, jams, lemonades, champagne, cider, brandy, pastry and chocolates. Dulcin was given to a dog at the rate of one grain a day. The animal died in three weeks.

Chloroform Jaundice.-Wechsberg (quoted in Philadelphia Medical Journal) reports sixteen operations in which jaundice followed the use of chloroform, out of 100 patients operated upon. In most cases the jaundice developed on the second day after the operation and lasted about three days. All but one recovered. The amount of chloroform used showed no relation to the grade of jaundice. This predisposition depends upon the condition of the liver, for chloroform may cause degenerative changes in the liver as well as in the heart or kidneys.

Rheumatic Nodosities in Infants.-Herbert Josias (quoted in Charlotte Medical Journal) states that endocardial nodosities may exist without any subcutaneous ones appearing, but subcutaneous nodosities are never present without a similar condition coexisting in the endocardium.

FOND DU LAC, Wis., Oct. 11, 1902. Editor Medical Times, Denver, Colo.:

DEAR DOCTOR-Will you grant me space in which to say that your journal must reach the so-called "4X 400," judging from the number of letters which have reached me in reference to the article on the rational treatment of epilepsy, which I had the pleasure of contributing to your pages in the August number. By this I mean that the inquirers are not only numerous, but they are of the most progressive class of medical men, including (I am glad to

say) some of the bright young physicians, who naturally and truly think that if they can only treat epilepsy successfully they have the key of "American nervousness," and to the making of a professional reputation and the proper supply of dollars. I am pleased to have such a recognition of myself as a specialist in this disease, which so many consider the bete noir of the profession, and (if you will permit me to say so) I will be glad to correspond with as many as will address me in the matter. It is my evperience that I can give some excellent points in regard to both pathology and treatment; and the more inquirers the better. Congratulating you on the mediumship of your journal, I am, fraternally W. Towns, M. D.

yours,

Insomnia of Morphinism.-Mattison recommends cannabis indica, two or more grains of the solid extract two hours before bedtime. Or the fluid extract may be used in 30 to 60 minim doses, in capsules, or mixed with glycerin or ginger-syrup. The same drug in smaller doses is useful for the accompanying anrorexia, when given an hour before meals. Trional, 20 to 30 grains at 7 p. m. with an added 10 grains in three hours if need be, is, he thinks, the best hypnotic.

Debility of Post-Morphinism.-The fluid extract of coca, two to four drams, with other tonics, four or more times daily, decreasing and ending its use usually within a fortnight, is said by Mattison to be a valuable remedy.

Pains of Morphinism.-A good topical recommended by Mattison to be used as a spray, is a combination of one part of menthol, ten parts of chloroform and fifteen parts of ether. Of the coal-tar salts, phenacetin or phenalgin, in full doses is best.

Reflex Symptoms Following the Morphine Habit.—Mattison considers the proper use of codeine a great advance in the treatment of the reflex symptoms so prominent just after quitting the morphine habit. The sulphate, muriate or phosphate is given in doses of one or two grains, by mouth or subdermically, for eight to twelve days, gradually lessening the dose or increasing the interval. The phosphate is most soluble, being dissolved by one part of boiling water or four parts of cold water.

Meglin's Pills for Nervous Troubles.-These pills are employed in such nervous troubles as hysteria and insomnia, and have the following formula, according to Professor Gilbert (quoted in New York Medical Journal): Extract of hyoscyamus

seeds, exract of valerian, zinc oxide, of each 71⁄2 grains. M. Divide into ten pills. From one to two to be taken daily.

Suprarenal Extract in Addison's Disease.-Dr. W. E. Deeks, of Montreal, reports in the July Montreal Medical Journal a well marked and advanced case of Addison's disease cured by treatment. with suprarenal extract, three grains three times daily after meals. The patient left the hospital, feeling very well, after 26 days' treatment, the pigmentation having nearly disappeared. Improvement has continued since that time.

Medical Students in Germany.-The number of medical students in Germany was 8,141 in 1897 (St. Louis Medical Review), while at present it is only 6,749.

Medical Legislation.-We are in receipt of a reprint with this title, which was read by Dr. S. D. Van Meter before the Colorado State Medical Society last June, and of which an abstract appears on pages 24 and 25 of the present volume of the Denver Medical Times. Accompanying this reprint is a circular letter, which urges each member of the medical profession to constitute himself or herself a committee of one for the purpose of obtaining, without delay, from the local candidates of the respective parties an expression of their views on this question. Such candidates are to be requested to read the reprint and then make a statement of the position they take. These opinions should be forwarded to the Committee on Legislation, which includes, in addition to Dr. Van Meter, Dr. S. D. Hopkins and Dr. Alfred Seebass. It is hoped in this way to determine in advance which of the would-be legislators are friendly, and which hostile to the proposed changes in the present state medical law, and at the same time to impress prospective lawmakers with the importance of the subject and the potent influence of an organized medical profession.

Much good work has been wasted in the past in attempting to secure the enactment of a more satisfactory medical practice law for the state of Colorado. Once such a law successfully ran the gauntlet of both houses and a vociferous lobby of fakirs, only to be frantically jumped upon and torn and scratched with anthropoid ardor by a "Christian Science" governor.

Now most things come as compromises in politics, and some needful amendments to the present medical law might render it almost as good as if it had a whole new skin. While many peopie