The Editor cannot hold him Correspondence. self responsible for any views expressed in this Department. A VALUABLE DISCOVERY—A NEW HYPNOTIC. EDITOR OF CANADIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY Sir, Please allow me to call attention to the discovery that apomorphine hydrochloride, when administered hypodermically in doses just short of the emetic dose, is an ideal hypnotic. In doses of the 1-30th of a grain, it may be used with safety in all cases in which a hypnotic or antispasmodic is indicated, but is of special value in the treatment of acute alcoholism and delirium tremens. This valuable discovery was made by Dr. C. J. Douglas, of Boston, in 1899, but, strangely enough, the discovery remains almost unknown, and the boon, of course, not taken advantage of, as it doubtless will be when this important property of apomorphine becomes fully realized. We know how promptly this drug acts when administered as an emetic in emetic doses of the 1-10th or the 1-8th of a grain. With almost equal promptness is its action when administered as an hypnotic. The alcoholic, however wild or noisy, will, as a rule, be peacefully sleeping in ten or twelve minutes after the 1-20th or the 1-30th of a grain is administered subcutaneously. This sleep may last several hours, when the patient awakens refreshed and sober. Douglas employed the remedy, with these doses, in over 200 cases, mostly alcoholics, including cases of delirium tremens, and with gratifying results. Drs. Coleman and Polk, of Bellevue Hospital, New York, used it in over 300 cases of alcoholism, also with gratifying results. Dr. Rosenwaser, inebriatist to Newark Dispensary, Newark, N.J., has also used apomorphine in the same manner, and for the same purpose, and with equally satisfactory results. The dose administered was from 1-30th to 1-20th of a grain. With these doses, the hypnotic effect is secured in 67 per cent. of the cases. Even the 1-40th of a grain, in my experience, is effective with some patients. There are vagaries in the conduct of apomorphine that should be noted, viz., it is inert when administered in a solution of boracic acid; it is almost inert as a hypnotic or centric emetic when administered by the mouth. It should also be noted that the crystalline form only should be used, and also that, in cases in which the pulse is feeble, strychnine should be given in association with the apomorphine. This important discovery will surely mark the commencement of a new era in the management of cases of acute alcoholism and delirium tremens. In many hospitals, at present, these troublesome cases are far from being welcome guests; but when it becomes generally known that we have at command an hypnotic, safe and prompt in its action, and peculiarly adapted to the management of these perplexing cases, this reluctance to their reception should be entirely removed. It is doubtless pretty generally known to the members of the medical profession of this Province that a bill was prepared several years ago for the Ontario Government for the economic treatment of indigent inebriates. This bill was drafted by a joint committee, representing the Ontario Medical Association and the Prisoners' Aid Association, respectively. From various causes this bill has never been presented to the Ontario Legislature, but a special effort will be made to have it introduced at the next session. In this bill, as will be remembered, it is proposed, with a view to economy, to utilize the wards of the general hospitals of the Province for the reception and treatment of indigent inebriates of the more hopeful class. This discovery of the hypnotic property of apomorphine, and the facility with which it brings alcoholic patients under control, will, doubtless, help very materially in clearing the way for the introduction of the bill; and when the bill is adopted, and its provisions faithfully carried out, it should go a long way in cutting off the supply of recruits for the jails of the Province, as well as for the combined reformatory and farm colony about to be established by the Ontario Government. In this connection, I would add that, in the proposed bill, provision is also made for combining the Massachusetts probation system of prolonged supervision, with medical treatment, and this medical treatment may be carried out, according to the nature of the case, either in a hospital or in the form of dispensary or home treatment. This system of combining the probation system with medical treatment has been in operation in Toronto by the Ontario Society for the Reformation of Inebriates for over two years, on a small scale, with encouraging results. Yours, truly, A. M. ROSEBRUGH, Secretary Ontario Society for the Reformation of Inebriates. Toronto, August 22, 1908. Obituary DEATH OF DR. HODGE, OF LONDON. Dr. Geo. Hodge, of London, Ont., Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Western Medical School, and one of the best-known physicians in Ontario, died at St. Joseph's Hospital, in London, on August 26th, from pneumonia. Dr. Hodge was 68 years old, and graduated from Queen's University in 1870. DR. WILLIAM NATTRESS SUCCUMBS TO PLEURISY. THE illness of Lieut.-Col. Dr. William Nattress had a fatal termination on September 14th, shortly before 5 o'clock, at the residence, 42 Carlton Street. The deceased was a native of Woodbridge, Ont., and was in his 56th year. He was in rather poor health when as Chief Medical Officer of the Western Ontario Command of the Permanent Army Medical Corps he left for the tercentenary celebration at Quebec. During the wet spell there Dr. Nattress was seized with pleurisy and had to undergo an operation for empyaema. He rallied sufficiently to be brought home, but continued seriously ill. The deceased was married in 1890 to Miss Denison, daughter of Col. G. T. Denison. The bereaved widow is the recipient of sympathy from a wide circle of friends. Dr. Nattress was a member of Holy Trinity Church, of which his brother, Rev. George Nattress, of Boston, Mass., was at one time one of the clergy. Dr. Nattress was widely known in military and medical circles, and attained recognition in the literary sphere by his authorship of the school text-book, "Temperance and Hygiene." The funeral took place on Wednesday, September 16th, at 1.30 p.m., from the family residence to Weston, where the interment was made in St. John's Cemetery. The service at the house was conducted by Rev. Dr. Pearson, of Holy Trinity Church, and at the grave by Rev. T. C. Street Macklem, of Trinity College. Lieut.-Col. Septimus Denison, C.M.G., S.O.; Col. F. L. Lessard, C.B., A.G.; John Galloway, D.A.A.G., and Major J. T. Clarke, A.M.C., were pall-bearers. The chief mourners included his brothers, Isaac Nattress, Leonard Nattress, Rev. George Nattress, Joseph Nattress and Thomas Nattress; his nephews, Rev. Thomas Nattress, Dr. John Lawson, Dr. Joseph Lawson; Col. G. T. Denison, father-in-law; Major G. T. Denison, brother-in-law; A. M. M. Kirkpatrick, brother-in-law, and Douglas Kirkpatrick, nephew. There was a large attendance of citizens, which included military men and members of the medical profession. DEATH OF DR. GEORGE HUNT, OF NEW LOWELL. SELDOM has death removed a member of the community and left such widespread sorrow as is felt by the passing away at New Lowell, Ont., of Dr. George Hunt on September 5th. Although only forty-three years of age, he had endeared himself to hundreds of families, and among the poor especially, where he ministered cheerfully and often without hope of reward. On all sides expressions of sympathy are heard for those he leaves behind, a wife and son, a mother and a sister. The late Dr. Hunt was born at Thornton on November 29, 1865. He graduated from Victoria University and Toronto Medical School in 1886, and after practising for two years with Dr. R. L. Island at Rosemount removed to New Lowell, where he has lived ever since. He was the first Medical Health Officer of the Township of Sunnidale, and held the position to the end. In 1899-1900 he was elected to the County Council, where he was the chief mover in organizing a House of Refuge for Simcoe County. As a politician Dr. Hunt was becoming widely known, and did effective service. He had been chosen as President of the Conservative Association for Centre Simcoe, and held that office at the time of his death. News of the Month. FURTHER APPOINTMENTS TO THE MEDICAL FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. THE Board of Governors of 'Varsity have made two additions to the medical faculty. Dr. Graham Chambers, B.A., M.D., becomes Associate Professor in Clinical Medicine, and Dr. Walter McKeown, B.A., M.R.C.S. (Eng.), Associate Professor in Clinical Surgery. Both are Arts graduates of Toronto University, as well as men who received their first medical training in the city of Toronto. Dr. Chambers is one of the chiefs of the medical staff of the Toronto General Hospital, and Dr. McKeown is one of the surgeons of St. Michael's Hospital staff. TORONTO'S NEW MORGUE. city As soon as $1,500 worth of furniture is installed, the new morgue in Lombard Street will be ready for use. It is just as handsome and complete as $40,000 can make it. A long apartment on the ground floor, to the west, is finished in oak, with a high wainscoting. It is divided in the middle by the receptacles for bodies. There are two tiers of seven receptacles each, and the bodies are placed on carriers, which pull outward on rollers. The tiers are iced from above, and the entire outfit resembles a huge refrigerator. The icing is done through an opening on the west side of the building, eliminating the necessity of entering the building to place the ice in the receptacle. The morgue accommodates fourteen bodies, and is a replica of the morgue attached to the Bellevue Hospital in New York City. On the right of the entrance is the office, where a girl is in attendance from 8 a.m. until 5 in the afternoon. After that hour the caretaker takes over the management of the place until 2 a.m. On the second storey, to the front, and running the entire width of the building, is the apartment set aside for the hearing quests. coroners. of in A retiring room has been placed at the disposal of the It includes a very complete lavatory. In the rear is a room for lawyers. To the west are apartments for male and female witnesses, each equipped with lavatories. In fact, official or person whose business takes them to an inquest has every been |