in what one of the papers characterized as unmanly conduct-" behaving in a boisterous and unfeeling manner"-"saluting them with taunts and jeers, mock applause and real hisses." Each day some of the public journals contained articles inveighing against the male students as a class for the bad behavior of a few. Feeling themselves harshly treated, and recognizing the fact that if mixed classes were permitted at the clinics, they would not derive the full benefit of the instruction for which they had paid, the students of the University and Jefferson College held meetings, and determined that they would remain away. Subsequently the matter was transferred to the Faculties of the respective colleges, who had a joint conference, the result of which was the preparation of a strong protest, to be signed by the Faculties of the University and Jefferson College, the members of the Hospital staffs, and by the profession at large, against the introduction of mixed classes at the clinics. This document, duly signed, will be presented to the boards of managers of the various hospitals on the the 22d inst., and no doubt will be effective in deciding the question.

Prof. Boëck, the distinguished Syphelographer of Norway, spent a few days in our city last month. He had the opportunity of making the acquaintance of our prominent medical men at a handsome reception tendered him by Prof. Gross. J. E. M.

MADISON, NOVEMBER 4, 1869.

EDITOR WESTERN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE-Dear Sir: At the present time, when so much energy is being displayed in developing the natural resources of our hoosier State, for the benefit of the mechanic arts, I feel disposed to communicate the results of an investigation of one of nature's gifts to our own divine art-the mineral waters of French Lick.

Since the earliest settlement of Indiana, in the seventeenth century, these waters have been known to possess rather remarkable chemical and medicinal qualities; but until lately their constitution has been only cursorily examined, and consequently their use in the treatment of disease has necessarily been of an empirical sort. The large number of invalids annually resorting thither apply them as a panacea This, in some cases, has resulted in no good, and in some

for all ills.
even detriment.

In August I visited French Lick, and subsequently made a careful quantitative analysis of the principal waters.

It is situated in a beautiful valley, tributary to that of Lost River, about the centre of Orange county, ten miles from Paoli and eighteen from Orleans, on the New Albany & Chicago Railroad.

The low hills bordering the western side of this valley are composed of ferruginous sandstone, and the upper limestones of the subcarboniferous strata of this district. From their base flow a large number of springs, more or less impregnated with mineral matter. Half a mile from the French Lick Hotel, on the farm of Mr. McCracken, is a delightful, pure chalybeate spring. Most of the other sources in the valley afford sulphur waters. Near the hotel are the remarkable sulphur springs which have made the valley so noted. There are more than a dozen of thesc, but all seem to be derived from three parent springs, which are situated within an area of half an acre, but which exhibit a considerable difference in constitution.

The most important of these-Pluto's Well-as I have taken the liberty to name it, is remarkable for the production of a large volume of the strongest sulphur water in the world. Its constitution is as follows:

No springs on this continent, as yet analyzed, afford more than a fourth part of the quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen found in this source, and very few in any part of the world approach it in this particular. The famous Sulphur Springs of the "Old Dominion" contain only from two to six cubic inches in the gallon.

THE WHITE ARBOR SPRING

Presents the following constitution. In a wine-gallon

This spring contains more saline matter than the first, and a large amount of sulphuretted hydrogen.

The last of the three sources at the base of the hill is very strongly saline, but contains much less sulphuretted hydrogen-its solid ingredients consisting of chlorides, sulphates and carbonates of lime, magnesia, soda, &c., with a considerable quantity of iron, amount to four hundred and twenty grains to the gallon.

The smaller springs, derived from these, have about the same constitution.

All these waters have about the same medicinal effect. They are alterative and tonic when moderately used. In large quantities, they are powerful hydragogue eliminators, acting upon the bowels, kidneys and skin, without, however, producing the irritating effect which this class of agents usually induces when prepared in a pharmacy less perfect than that of Nature. They are especially adapted to the treatment of the diseases of the skin, dyspepsia, constipation, chronic inflammation of the various mucous surfaces, scrofula, rheumatism, all specific diseases, and, in fine, may be beneficially used in all chronic affections where an alterative and tonic effect is desired. Moreover, the relaxation and recreations afforded here are important adjuncts which the broken down denizens of the busy city will highly appreciate. Yours, &c., JOSEPH G. ROGERS.

MISCELLANY.

PARIS: SENATOR NELATON AND THE MICROSCOPISTS.

A few days ago Figaro, one of the well known literary journals of this city, issued a sort of album-number (numéro-album), containing short notes from several scientific and literary celebrities, which had been specially contributed to the number. Amongst these are a few lines from M. Nélaton; and as they have been much commented upon, and have already drawn forth a protest from a distinguished Parisian surgeon, I am sure you will take some interest in perusing them. M. Nélaton was desirous, it would seem, to manifest his opinion in favor of the high value of clinical surgery in face of the growing pretensions of microscopical and chemical researches, and thus expressed his thought in the pages of Le Figaro:

"I am happy to see the rising generation refuse to follow those false appearances of exact and profound science borrowed almost exclusively from microscopical research, and attach itself to the study of surgery, based upon the great indications furnished by clinical observation. It is because they drew their inspirations from these principles that the great masters of the beginning of this century, and especially Dupuytren, the most glorious amongst them, have given to the French school that legitimate renown which it still enjoys throughout the whole world."

As might have been expected, these two short passages have created quite a sensation among that portion of surgical workers which they seemingly attacked, and have already met with a sharp retort of protestation from the pen of professor Verneuil, of the Paris Faculty. The blame thus laid upon microscopical investigators by so high an authority as Nélaton, and published in so widely circulated a journal, has stung M. Verneuil to the quick; in the name of the injured parties he vindicates the value and importance of the microscope. The article appeared last week in the columns of the Gazette Hebdomadaire. After having stated what great results the microscope has afforded in the hands of such men as Robin, Broca, Lebert, Davaine, Virchow, Kölliker, and others, and after having mentioned that it had now become the indispensable complement of anatomical research in the deadroom, throwing a brillant light on the origin, the evolution, and the transformation of those innumerable lesions which destroy man, M. Verneuil asks M. Nélaton whether he believes that all surgical science may be acqired in the wards of an hospital. If not, and if, on the coutrary, he (M. Nélaton) admits the assistance of the accessory sciences, if he make use of chemical agents and of physiacl instruments, if he practises vivisections, if he utilizes statistics, if he consults J. L. Petit, Scarpa, Langenbech, and Syme, why should he disdain the microscope? "For if it is good to prognosticate stone by the aid of a

sound, polypi with the laryngoscope, and amaurosis with the ophthalmoscope, paralysis by means of an electric machine, diabetes with potash, why reject the lens for recognizing leucocythæmia or spermatorrhoea?"

Further on M. Verneuil says that, far from agreeing with M. Nélaton on the present tendencies of the French surgical school, he takes quite a different view of the matter. "In approaching the difficulties of clinical study, the living generation arms itself at the outset with all the resources which are generally lent by the sister sciences; it holds out its hand to the ancients and the moderns, to the English, the Germans, and the Italians, in order to borrow facts and ideas; it divides its time between the laboratory and the dissecting room, the library and the hospital; in a word, it renounces no source of instruction, being neither so senseless nor so vain as to repudiate whatever may render science more complete, and practice more efficacious."

M. Verneuil has a curious remark with regard to the mention of Dupuytren's name in Nélaton's article:-"If the article is written but with the object of celebrating Dupuytren, it was really not worth the while. Enough has been said, I think, of that ambitious despot, who obtained fame, wealth, and honors, but has not deserved that true glory reserved, thanks be to God, to true savants." This opinion, coming from a French surgeon, will surprise not a few of my 'readers.

Such is a rapid sketch of M. Verneuil's article, which has been the medical morceau of the week. I need not say that it is interspersed with home thrusts at the Senator's address. A somewhat invidious view of Nélaton's contribution to the Figaro has been taken by some; and amongst other things it has been said that the mention of Dupuytren's name is a covert comparison conceived in view of the public. But surely the celebrated surgeon-I mean Nélaton-was fully justified in upholding an opinion which is rapidly gaining ground-to-wit, that the engrossing study of infinitely small details, though having, of course, its importance, has thrown clinical observation rather into the shade, and that "the great lines of clinical surgery" are not cultivated with that peculiar care which they deserve. For my own part, I believe the above remark is especially applicable to this place. The practical study of surgery is much neglected here. The want of this necessary culture is observed even among the rising surgeons in the Paris hospitals; and I could, if I wished, back up this assertion by the relation of certain facts which have occurred only during the past fortnight. Paris Correspondence of London Lancet, Oct. 2, 1869.

The ladies may now be at rest. One British University will take them in and make female physicians of them. The Council of the University of Edinburg has refused to be less gallant than the University Court, even with the lead of the irrepressible Dr. Phin and Dr. Andrew Wood. Prof. Masson and Dr. Bennett led the pro-lady party of the Council; the former maintaining that "the sphere of women" had not yet been fully developed or defined; the latter arguing that if Edin