similar to those of the dead boy, the owner destroyed her. During the early part of its illness this cat had been let out in the back yard as usual. A few days later, the cat of a neighbor who lived a few doors further off was noticed to be ill. It had also been let out in the back yard at night. This second animal, which, however, recovered, was the pet and playfellow of four little girls, who, grieved at the illness of their favorite, nursed it with great care. All four girls developed diphtheria, their mother being convinced that they got it from the cat; and, indeed, no other known source of contact with infection could be discovered. It is easy to imagine cats catching an infectious illness like diphtheria, when we remember how often milk and other unused food from the sick-room is given to the cat, or by some people thrown out in the back yard for the benefit of the neighbors' cats, if they have none of their It is a frequent occurrence to see children carrying cats in their arms and even kissing them. It is obvious that if the cats were ill with diphtheria the children under such circumstances would almost inevitably contract the disease."

own.

SALICYLATE OF SODIUM IN POLYURIA.-Dr. Randall reports (Med. News) an interesting case of recovery from this disease under the administration of the above drug. The patient was a girl of eleven years, "big for her age, but pale, flabby, and complaining much of cold hands and feet, who had been obliged for weeks to rise repeatedly during the night to void her urine, which was found to measure nine and a half pints in twenty-four hours, and to contain no sugar. Valerian, ergot, and tannic acid were given in succession, or combination, but they did no good. The thirst was difficult to appease, the quantity of urine was as great as before, and the child was weaker and further reduced in weight to seventy-nine pounds. The patient was now given eight grains of salicylate of sodium in aqueous solution after each meal. In ten days there was an appreciable amendment: she had more appetite, she felt stronger. The treatment from this time forward consisted of nothing else than the salicylate of sodium; no restriction being imposed upon the diet. The amount of urine diminished slowly and steadily, until, in November, the daily discharge was two and a half pints. Her color returned; there was no longer complaint of lassitude and of inability to breathe easily. The weight increased to eighty-seven pounds, and recovery became complete."

ALIMENTARY FOR GOUTY PATIENTS.-Just what to order and what to interdict in the way of food to gouty patients is often a matter of worry to the physician in charge. The following is by Dujardin Beaumetz in Rev. Internationale des Sci. Med: Gouty patients may eat all kinds of meat, especially white meats. Use in moderation, eggs, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and fatty foods. Vegetables should constitute a large part of their diet, excepting gooseberries and spinach, which contain large proportions of oxalic acid. Use with care, nourishing nitrogenous vegetables, such as cabbage and cauliflower; starchy grains, such as peas, and beans. For bread, potatoes should be substituted. Fruits are all admissible, and raisins may mitigate the condition of the feet. As a beverage, water, and particularly water which is slightly alkaline, to dilute light Bordeaux wines and slightly alcoholic white wines. No champagne, gaseous water, strong beer, or alcoholic beverages are allowed. Coffee should should be drunk very weak. No tea is allowed, as it contains a large proportion of oxalic acid. The bowels should be kept in proper condition by the use of mineral purgatives. Lotions of the body, massage, and exercise in all forms are advised.

IODOFORM AND TUBERCLES. The idea that phthisis is curable by iodoform has never taken a great hold upon the profession, but the question of its specific utility in that disease may now be considered set at rest. The Lancet says that "iodoform, though an excellent antiseptic and bactericide for some purposes, is, according to Rovsing, of Copenhagen, useless as a destructive agent of tubercle bacilli. He has found that the growth of tubercle is in no way retarded by the presence of a very considerable quantity of iodoform. He has more than once inoculated the two eyes of a rabbit with pure and iodoformed tubercle respectively, and has invariably found that the morbid process was communicated to the eye containing the iodoformed tubercle some time before the other was affected, the irritation produced by the iodoform in the tissues appearing to cause them to form a more suitable soil for the development of tubercle than those of the other eye, which were not similarly exposed to irritation."

NEW WAY OF PRESERVING THE DEAD.-The Philadelphia Ledger, says: "A Pittsburg physi

cian, named Cooper, has just applied for a patent on a process to preserve human bodies by compression. By a curious combination of steel presses and hot rollers, he excludes all the moisture and reduces a full grown body to a very small size, 12 by 15 inches, rendering it as hard and imperishable as marble. He has made severa! experiments with perfect success. The doctor and others who have investigated the process think it will supersede cremation, as bodies thus preserved are not only not offensive, but can be made to assume various ornamental shapes and be kept in the parlor or elsewhere as constant reminders of the departed. The doctor has on his centre-table the remains of a child pressed into the form of a cross. It resembles the purest marble, is highly ornamental, and is perfectly odorless. The inventor proposes to place a large number of specimens on exhibition in a few days. A company will be formed to push

the invention."

RELATION BETWEEN Erysipelas AND PUERPERAL FEVER.-M. Doyen (Rev. Med.) said he had investigated the report showing a connection between erysipelas and puerperal fever. From this investigation of clinical and experimental facts he draws the following conclusions:

1. The puerperal streptococcus, which is the microbe characteristic of puerperal fever, nearly always gives rabbits erysipelas and a small abscess; in a woman it sometimes produces erysipelas, cellulitis, or purulent pleurisy. 2. The streptocous of erysipelas nearly always gives rabbits erysipelas, and at times even cellulitis, or peritonitis to man. 3. The streptococcus of pus at times gives erysipelas to rabbits. The three streptococci, which are identical in cultures appear to be one, of which the manifestations may vary. Doyen has never seen the streptococcus in his studies of the microbes of the vagina, and he believes that this microbe, when it is met with in the cavity of the uterus, has been imported there directly by the hands or the instruments of the operator.

TO REMOVE WARTS, CORNS, ETC.-The Albany Medical Annals says: The thickened epidermis is slightly moistened with an antiseptic solution (boracic or salicylic acid) and then covered with a fairly thick layer of pure crystallized salicylic acid. Over this is placed moist borated lint in four layers, a piece of gutta-percha fabric, and a bandage. In the case of small warts and callosities the dressing is allowed to remain for five days. On

removal it will be found that the thickened tissue is somewhat shrunken and has separated from the subjacent parts, which are covered with perfectly normal skin, presenting no traces of injury or bleeding. The author has never seen any caustic effects from this application on the surrounding and subjacent tissues. If the callosity is of any considerable thickness, as is often seen on the sole of the foot, the dressing should be left in place for ten days or renewed after five days. The great advantage of this application is that the effects of the salicylic acid are localized to the thickened area.

66

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF CANCER.-Dr. Haviland, writing in the Lancet on the above subject, says :—“ There is abundant evidence to show that cancer does not thrive in high, dry localities, where the soil is kept sweet by the absence of floods and the nature of the rocks; but that it does prevail and become very fatal where vegetation is killed and decomposed, and where afterward a rank herbage springs up, composed of sour grass and bitter plants, which scour and otherwise disease cattle and sheep that feed upon them.

UNG. HYD. NIT. IN BOILS AND FELONS-Boils

It

and felons may be often aborted (Wiener Therap. Gaz.) by the free use of nitrate of mercury ointment, if suppuration have not commenced. does not cause pain, but after about twelve hours, a drawing sensation is felt, after which all sensation ceases. The writer covers the entire finger with a coating of the ointment about inch thick and covers with strong sticking plaster. The dressing is allowed to remain on for six hours, after which no further treatment is necessary.

SUBSTITUTE FOR COD LIVER OIL DURING THE SUMMER. Every one knows how difficult it is to keep patients up to the mark with their Cod Liver Oil in summer. The Med. Press and Circular recommends the following as a substitute-Chloride of sodium, Zij; bromide of sodium, 3j.; iodide of potassium, 3ss.; water, ziv. A teaspoonful morning and evening in milk.

DISINFECTION OF APARTMENTS.-It has been shown that the ordinary disinfection of rooms, Deutsche Med Woch, by chlorine gas is inefficient, certain infectious organisms being uninjured by it.

5. Erosions of the lips are never the direct result of cervical laceration.

6. Disease of the tissues of the cervix are not more frequent in lacerated than in uninjured cervices.

7. Cervical tears have no influence on the devel

1. In scrofulous disease of the cervical glands, we have a tubercular process of a mild type, seldom leading to generalized infection, but perhaps occasionally doing so; frequently concerned in predisposing to, or even directly occasioning phthisis pulmonalis; and in the majority of cases, deteriorating the general health.

2. Tubercular disease of the cervical glands is too often allowed to go on to a disastrous extent without any active steps being taken to arrest its course, largely from a prevalent, indifferent and helpless feeling on the part of the medical profes

sion.

3. Slight cases, being, of course, offered every possible advantage in the matter of constitutional treatment, should be carefully watched, and if, after the lapse of months, or it may be a year or two, we find the disease spreading, it is wise to extirpate the affected glands while they are yet movable. In such cases the operation will be easy, and little or no deformity need result.

4. Surgical interference is demanded whenever a sinus, resulting from a degenerated gland, exists, whenever pus can be detected in connection with a gland, and whenever there are enlarged glands a gland, and whenever there are enlarged glands

accessible to surgery in a patient in whom a case

ous or suppurating gland has already been discov

frequency.

In his concluding remarks he recommends that lacerations and tears be left alone.

CHRONIC DIARRHOEA.-M. C. L. writes as follows to the Medical News :

Many years ago I suffered severely from that trouble; I considered it incurable. Being in Paris, one of the best physicians there assured me it could be cured by a diet of racahout, and it was. Afterward here I found one could not get the acorn meal that forms the active part, but knowing that its usefulness must depend on the tannin it contains, I tried substituting it as follows: Powdered chocolate, pure, Rice flour,

Powdered sugar,

Tannin,

lb.

2

The tannin, or the rest, separately, have little effect. Together they restore the tone of the alimentary canal and nourish as well as cure.

One thing is essential, that is long cooking, not less than half an hour. If simply boiled a few minutes, the harsh taste of tannin is very strong; with a good half hour's cooking, it disappears wholly-it is impossible to distinguish the medicine from ordinary broma. I think this has something to do with its curative powers and with the ease of digestion by the most irritable stomach. The remedy is too valuable not to be more widely known.

The amount to be taken is a teacupful morning and evening at meals.

NEW YORK TRAINING SCHOOL FOR MALE NURSES. Mr. D. O. Mills transferred, June 28th, a building erected at his expense, to the proper authorities. It will accommodate fifty pupils in

A TRIBUTE TO SIR MORRELL MACKENZIE. At a meeting of workingmen of Potsdam and Charlottenburg, says the Med. Reg., held on Ascension Day, while they were enjoying an excursion, a resolution was adopted and forwarded to Dr. Mackenzie, thanking him for his loving devotion at the sick-bed of the Emperor, and assuring him that the value of his services could not be "diminished by any shameless persecution." Dr. Mackenzie was delighted with this tribute.

WASP'S NESTS.—The nests of these pests are said to take fire spontaneously. This may be due to the chemical action of the wax upon the material of which the nests are composed. This may account for the origin of fires in buildings and stacks

which would be otherwise unaccountable.

FOR HEADACHE.-Stephen Mackenzie says that half grain doses of cannabis indica, morning and evening is the most efficient remedy he knows for persistent headache. Santonin in doses of ten grains two or three nights in succession is said to correct amenorrhoea.

MR. SAVORY has been elected for the fourth time as President of the College of Surgeons of England, with Messrs. Hulke and Heath, Vice-Presidents.

DR. G. STERLING RYERSON, of this city, has resumed his practice, after a three months' sojourn at some of the most noted hospitals of Europe.

Books and Lamphlets.

PTOMAINES AND LEUCOMAINES; or the Putrefactive and Physiological Alkaloids. By C. Vaughan, Ph.D., M.D., Professor of Hygiene, etc., in the University of Michigan; and Frederick G. Nevy, M.S., Instructor in Physiological Chemistry in the University of Michigan. Philadelphia Lea Brothers & Co. Toronto: W. J. Gage & Co. 1888. pp. 316.

them to keep continually on the alert for new things in science. The number of investigators who have given their whole time and attention to this department of chemistry is large, and great progress has been made in it, and much light thrown upon physio-chemical processes occurring within and without the body, which have heretofore been considered problems in medical science. The writers of this book have carefully collected and arranged all the facts known concerning ptomaines and leucomaines up to the present year (1888). The book is very readable, and we bespeak for it a ready sale. To the physician, especially, it will carry light regarding the physiological alkaloids, while the surgeon will find concisely, yet comprehensively treated, in its pages all that is known concerning the putrefactive alkaloids. We heartily recommend the work to every practitioner, knowing that his money and time will be spent in acquiring a knowledge of what is contained in its

pages.

A CLINICAL ATLAS OF VENEREAL AND SKIN DISEASES; including Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment. By Robert W. Taylor, A. M., M. D., Surgeon to the Charity Hospital, New York, etc., etc. Illustrated with one hundred and ninety-two figures, and fifty-eight colored plates; as also by numerous engravings through the text. Philadelphia: Lea Bros. & Co. Toronto: Carveth & Co. 1888.

We have received the first two parts of this work and have been highly pleased with both the plates and engravings, and the letter press. The work so far as published should prove invaluable as a guide to the practitioner. The diagnosis of the various diseases of the skin, which are the bête noir of nearly ever medical man, except the specialist, has been amplified and perfected. Eetiology has been thoroughly investigated, and treatment simplified. The work of the artist is deserving of all commendation, presenting the various forms and stages of the diseases under consider

scattered through the text will be of great value. to the general practitioner.

The work is to be completed in eight folio parts, containing 192 figures, 65 engravings and about 400 pages of text. It is sold by subscription only. Two parts to be issued every two months. Price, per part, $2,50.