the little book is not intended as an encyclopedia, but to be carried in the pocket or kept on the table for easy reference, and it will prove very useful in this way.

Correspondence.

THE ANTIVIVISECTION BILL.

Editor North Carolina Medical Journal:

DEAR SIR:-Enclosed you will find a copy of resolutions recently passed by the Buncombe County Medical Society pertaining to the antivivisection bill pending before the Senate.

We have mailed a copy of these resolutions to each congressional member from this district and have also notified several of the County Societies of our action, thinking they may see fit to do likewise.

It seems to me that it would be well to try and incuce all N. C. Societies to take some action so that as many of our State Members as possible may have at least some idea of the wish and the feeling of the profession of their respective districts. Fraternally yours

C. P. AMBLER.

ASHVILLE, N. C., July 19 1867.

Hon. Richmond Pearson, M. C. Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR:-The Bumcombe County Medical Society in regular neeting assembled, July 5th, 1897, appointed a committee to draft resolutions pertaining to the Antivivisection bill (1063) now pending before the Senate and House.

WHEREAS, Senate bill 1093 (formerly Senate bill 1552) has been reported favorably to the United States Senate and,

WHEREAS, we believe that its passage would seriously interfere with the progress of practical medicine, and therefore be a public calamity; Therefore be it

Resolved, That the Buncombe County Medical Society, with a full knowledge of the contents of Senate bill 1063, most earnestly protests against its enactment; and

In as much, as animal experimentation has had a very large share in the development of modern surgery;

In as much as the question of the introduction of animal ligatures upon the human being was first shown to be practical by animal experiments;

In as much as abdominal and cerebral surgery have only been brought to their present exactness and success, by first experimenting upon lower animals;

In as much as cerebral localization, antisepsis and bacteriology would not exist as sciences, nor would accurate modern surgery, and a large part of modern medicine be possible without first demonstrating the same upon the lower animal;

In as much as advancement in science for the relief of human suffering requires experimentation, and as it obviously would be impossible or unjust on the part of the surgeon to first apply his theory upon mankind, and finally,

In as much as we are now led to believe from the results already accomplished that great discoveries will be made, within the next few years, in the treatment and prophylaxis of such diseases as tuberculosis, typhoid fever, cholera and the like; and while the passage of such a bill as contemplated would greatly restrict such scientific investigation and almost prohibit it in the District of Columbia, we would earnestly commend these resolutions to your favorable consideration.

The foregoing resolutions were in regular meeting July 19th, 1897, adopted by unanimous vote of the society.

Enclosing a reprint of the bill in question, we remain,

Very respectfully,

Committee.

(JOHN H. WILLIAMS,

FRANK P. MERIWETHER,
C. P. AMBLER, Chairman.

IS IT A DISTINCT FEVER?

Editor North Carolina Medical Journal

This in.mediate section has for four or five years past been the seat of acute disease, which attacks so many persons that I have been speculating as to whether there is a local cause for it; and therefore address this description to your paper, hoping that some of your many readers may feel enough interest to notice it.

While the cases are of all degrees of severity, the symptoms are so well marked and regular that there is no excuse for a mistaken diagnosis. The disease begins exactly like an acute

gastric catarrh. Slight chilliness is accompanied by a high fever intense aching in the limbs, back, head, and eyes, usually nausea and sometimes vomiting, and frequently during the first and second day there is some diarrhea. The tongue is very broad and thick and is completly covered with a pasty white or yellowish white fur. There is very great restlessness, sometimes severe thirst and for a few days loss of appetite. The taste is described as being "horrible"-a brassy, metallic taste. There is a very pronounced odor which resembles that which surrounds diabetic patients.

This condition lasts from two to six days, then the symptoms undergo a very pronounced change. The temperature which is at fiirst very high drops to 99.5°-101°F. All the aching, restlessness, etc., subside. The tongue is dry, the edges and tips. very red, the middle slightly coated. The soft palate and fauces have a yellowish appearance and are described as feeling as if they had been scalded. There is soreness under the sternum and tenderness over the stomach, liver and small intestines.

At the time digestion is wholly suspended. Even in mild cases the smallest quantity of food occasions distress, and aggravates all the symptoms for several hours after it is taken, although, frequently, there is a strong desire to take food. action is entirely suspended as is all secretion. you the impression of having a stomach and bowels whose mucus coat is swollen, dry and perfectly lifeless.

The peristaltic The cases give

During this stage it is sometimes very difficult to procure a movement from the bowels. I have seen a patient after taking ten doses of saline carthartics and oil, finally, after using an en. ema, have a small stool composed of dry scybalous masses, without a particle of moisture except the fluids of the enema.

During the first stage of this disease, the heart is very irritable. Turning in bed or attempting to sit up causes a very disagreeable palpitation. Later this palpitation is frequently induced by the ingestion of the smallest quantity of food. Throughout the course of the sickness an effort to sit up is accompanied by vertigo or other disagreeable sensations in the head.

The duration of this second stage, while hardly influenced by treatment and nursing, may be stated to be from seven to fourteen days. This with from two to six days for the violent stage

make the duration of the fever from nine to twenty days from the commencement until convalescence is established. Yet no acute disease that I have ever seen is so much affected for good or ill by the treatment. I have seen the attack prolonged ten days by the ingestion of half an egg.

The convalescence in slow. The patient regains his strength slowly, and his digestion is very much impaired for months. In fact only by the greatest care can it be restored.

The treatment which has been found most successful is, in all stages, complete rest. For severe vomiting and thirst, crushed ice is the best remedy, and I allow my patients to take it freely. Acetanilide combined with bromide of soda, and small doses of pulverized ipecac. compound usually relieves pain and quiets the patient. So that he can sleep well enough. Also small doses of calomel and podophyllum seem to exert a good influence. This is the treatment of the first stage.

After this stage is passed and is succeeded by the stage of low fever, no secretion and no action, medicines are of slight, if of any, value. During this stage if the patient is kept perfectly quiet in bed, allowed to take only the blandest liquids and those in small quantities, he will do far better and recover much more quickly than if he is constantly dosed. I attempt to procure a stool once in 48 hours, and while I sometimes give phosphate of soda, or rochelle salts for the purpose, I rely mainly on enemas.

Fearing lest I make this article too long, I have merely outlined the symptoms, though I hope sufficiently for any physi cian to obtain an idea of the disease. Three years ago the doctors of this section almost unanimously called it typhoid fever. To-day, they are as unanimous in saying that it is not typhoid fever, but go no further.

The disease is rarely fatal. The only fatal cases which I have seen have been among those, who, after the first stage ended felt so much better that they determined to resume work. Any exertion at this time is almost sure to lead to a ten-fold increase in the severity of the symptoms. In fact long after convalescence has been established, over-exertion will cause a return of all symptoms.

I forgot to say at the proper place, that there are no daily

exacerbations, or if any very slight.

The temperature remains very nearly the same day and night. Nocturnal delirium, picking at the bed clothes and subsultus are frequently present in cases not otherwise grave.

Occasionally, during the last four years, I have seen articles in diffierent journals describing this fever, all of them from the Piedmont section of Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Is the disease peculiar to this section? If so, what is the cause? I would be glad to have some of your readers tell me whether this is a common affection which I have mistaken for an unusual disease. J. R. C., M.D.

M. S. A teaspoonful thrice daily.-Med. Record.

ERYSIPELAS OF THE FACE.-The Presse Medicale recommends the following formula:

M. The lesions are to be painted with this liniment every two hours, and covered with aseptic tarlatan.--Med. Herald.

SOLUTION FOR REMOVING NITRATE-OF-SILVER SPOTS.

B-Bichloride of mercury, 5.0 grammes
Muriate of ammonium, 5.0 grammes

Distilled water, . . . . 40.0 grammes

Apply the mixture to the spots with a cloth, then rub.