formed; the integuments gradually reddened and thinned, and the tumor opened spontaneously, and gave issue, first, to a small quantity of pus, then to liquid fæcal matters. About a week later, at the morning visit, the physician was surprised at perceiving the four teeth of a fork behind the abdominal wall, close by the fistulous opening. By prudent manipulation, it became evident that the foreign body was only retained in place by the integuments, and in effect, after a couple of lateral incisions, the fork was easily extracted in the perpendicular direction that it occupied to the abdominal wall. The handle was entirely surrounded by extremely fetid fæcal matters; a great number of crystals of phosphate of lime covered the teeth of the fork, which had turned black from a coating of sulphate of silver.

The patient, who during the last days had suffered a good deal of pain, was immediately relieved after extraction. of the fork. The fistula was simply dressed, and healed without difficulty, a firm cicatrix being established by the end of a month. For some time longer, the neighboring parts remained infiltrated, but even this infiltration gradually disappeared, and the patient was completely restored to health.

As the tumor had always remained on the left side of the abdomen, it seemed evident that the fork had not traversed the length of the intestinal tube, but passed directly from the stomach into the transverse colon, after an adhesive inflammation had established solid connection between the two organs. It was inferred that the crystals of lime salt had been deposited on the teeth which had arrived in the colon, while the handle still remained in the stomach.

It is extremely remarkable that the general health was so slightly deranged by the ten months' sojourn and peregrinations of a foreign body in the stomach and intestines. Perhaps the mental alienation of the patient may be presumed to have blunted the general physical sensibilities, a circumstance frequently observed in the pathology of the insane.-Corresp. Med. Record.

Treatment of Diphtheritic Exudations.

BY SOLVENTS.-In the Reveu de Therapeutique MedicoChirurgicale for January are detailed the results of certain experiments instituted by Dr. Ch. Ozeneam, with a view of determining the best solvents for diphtheritic exudations.

He found the ammoniuret of copper (liquor of Schwitzer) the most immediate and ready solvent. The dose is from 2 to 20 drops of the liquor during the day, in one or two glasses of water. It cannot be given to children on account of its bad taste. He prefers to use an aqueous solution of bromine in the proportion of about one drop in 25 to 30 grammes (about an ounce) of pure water. It must be kept in a well-ground glass-stoppered bottle, and in the dark, and when it loses its amber color it should be renewed. This solution is to be given in drops every hour, in as many teaspoonfuls of sweetened water, so as to give one or two grammes (36 grains) of the solution in 24 hours. When well sweetened, children take this without difficulty. He gives the bromine in fumigation in the following manner: He takes a bowl of boiling water and places over it a funnel of glass or of paper. He puts into the water a large pinch of bromide of potassium, or of common salt, and afterwards adds gradually two or three times, within the space of from five to ten minutes, a teaspoonful of the bromine water. The patient must inhale slowly and deeply the vapor, which, mixed with the steam of the water, does not produce any irritation. The success of Dr. Onachan was most gratifying, as one hundred and fifty cases of membranous croup were cured by this simple method. He had only failed in four or five cases. While recommending this as the principal remedy, he advises that other means which seem to be called for should not be neglected.

BY IODINE INHALATIONS.-Dr. Curran, in the Lancet, speaks highly of the inhalation of iodine combined with sage and hot vinegar, in the treatment of diphtheria. The following is the formula he employs for inhalation purposes: iodine, iodide of potassium, of each four grains; alcohol, four drams; water, four ounces. For each inhalation he takes of this solution one dram; adds it to a pint of vinegar infused with a handful of dried garden sage, placed in a common inhaling jar, steadily increasing the quantity of iodine solution until he arrives at half an ounce each inhalation. The average number of inhalations he uses is twelve per diem. This, of course, varies with the age and strength of the patient, severity of the attack, and other attendant circumstances. In addition to this he prescribes large quantities of wine and ammonia, strong beef tea and ice, and counter-irritants over the chest. This treatment was attended with wonderful success.

EDITORIAL.

Brooklyn Eclectic Medical Dispensary.

Ar a recent meeting of the Brooklyn Academy of Eclectic Medicine, the following preamble and resolution were passed unanimously.

Whereas, There are thousands of poor people in the city of Brooklyn who are suffering for want of proper medical aid, and who are utterly unable to pay for the same; and in view of the fact that our school is not represented by any charitable institution of the kind in this city, therefore, be it

Resolved, That this Society take immediate steps to inaugurate an Eclectic Medical Dispensary, in the city of Brooklyn, that shall be FREE TO THE POOR, and that we proceed to memorialize our City Council and also the State Legislature, for suitable appropriations to establish the same on a permanent basis.

We are gratified at being able to announce the establishment of this institution, which will place the beneficent advantages of Eclectic Medicine within the reach of the poor of Brooklyn. It is an evidence of enterprise and effort on the part of the physicians of our school, and we would be glad to see the formation of these much-needed charities elsewhere. In no way can our system sooner gain recognition and favor than by introducing it among all classes and demonstrating its superiority by results in practice. From the character and standing of the Board of Directors who have inaugurated this enterprise, we have no doubt but that it will prove an entire success; while the well known professional abilities of the gentlemen who have been appointed on the medical and surgical staff, are a sufficient guarantee that its duties will be discharged in a manner conducive to the best interests of the sick and creditable to the school of medicine which they repre

sent.

Already efficient means have been taken to secure a suitable building in a central part of the city, and to provide it with all the essentials to place it in active working order.

Mrs. Moody's Self-Adjusting Abdominal Corset.

WE would call the attention of our readers to the above useful and practical invention, forming as it does a valuable adjunct to the

treatment of many diseases of the abdominal and pelvic viscera. Mechanical support, when properly and judiciously applied, has now come to be recognized as constituting a most efficient aid in the treatment of many affections of the uterine system. Almost every physician in his practice meets with cases of uterine prolapse or weakness where the best directed constitutional means are only attended with partial success. The explanation of this partial failure will be found in the fact that the mechanical element in the pathology of these diseases has been entirely left out of consideration; and so soon as judiciously directed mechanical support is brought to bear, the improvement is immediate and decided.

The philosophy of this is simple, and readily apparent from a consideration of the physiological relation of the muscles involved. It is a well known fact that when, from tight lacing or other causes, the abdominal muscles become flaccid and relaxed, the weight of the contained viscera pressing upon the uterus causes prolapse and other forms of displacement of that organ. This corset is so constructed and adjusted to the body that it gives support to the anterior and latteral walls of the abdomen, and thus diminishes the superincumbent weight. When this strain is taken off the pelvic organs have a natural tendency to resume their normal position and relations. The senior editor of this REVIEW has recommended these corsets since their introduction. A great number of his patients are now wearing them, and could not be induced to dispense with them.

NEWS AND MISCELLANY.

NEW YORK CITY ECLECTIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

THE regular monthly meeting of the New York City Eclectic Medical Society was held at the College Building, 223 E. 26th St., at 8 o'clock, P. M., Sept. 16. The president, Dr. E. Whitney, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.

Dr. A. W. Russell, of Albany, being present, was called upon to report on the state of Eclectic medicine in his vicinity. Dr. R. responded in a very satisfactory manner, informing the society of a new district organization already in working order, and everything indicating increased prosperity and usefulness.

The society next entered upon the discussion of the therapeutic value of Asclepin.

Dr. P. W. Allen spoke of the well-known powers of Asclepias Tuberosa, of its having been long depended on in the treatment of febrile diseases, until more lately Gelseminum, Veratrum and other agents have come into more common use. He alluded to an article in the Medical and Surgical Reporter, stating an instance of its successful use as a uterine tonic.

Dr. Robert S. Newton had used Asclepias and the concentrated powder Asclepin; thought the latter fully answered the purpose in all eases equally well with the crude article. He accounted for the frequent failure of the action of remedies in many cases by an improper state of the digestive system. This difficulty he often obviated by such stimulants as Capsicum and Xanthoxylum, sometimes given in conjunction with Podophyllin. The same principle obtained in intermittent and other forms of fever, in all cases in which it was necessary to use preparatory medication before administering the tonic febrifuges. Dr. N. spoke of having used it in puerperal cases with chloroform, and considered it a tonic.

Dr. O. S. Gregory mentioned the fact that he had found in cases .of gastro-intestinal irritation a tendency of the drug to excite inereased action of the bowels. He found it best administered combined with small quantities of Lobelia.

Dr. Jas. Day inquired, what are the conditions in the case above noted, in which Asclepias had been used as a uterine tonie, and how it had been used, &c. It was very important that remedies should be so used as to test their individual merits, and everything bearing on the pathology and general character of the ease carefully noted. We ought, as far as possible, to use remedies alone, to prevent ascribing fancied virtues to any one remedy, and still to give due weight to all the curative effects produced.

The record of the case being read, it was not considered as proved that the action of Asclepias was in any special manner tonic to the uterus. Dr. Russell had used Asclepin to some extent; did not think it as efficient as crude Asclepias. Referred to the action of different remedial agents in the different tissues, and considered Asclepias a stimulant to the capillary system of the skin. Alluded to a recent case in his practice in support of this opinion; also for barrenness. Dr. Allen had used Asclepias as an anti-nauseant, also for vomiting of pregnancy.

Dr. Newton, in speaking of the action of remedies, alluded to the effect of Dioscorein in controlling pain in bilious colic, which mor. phia aggravates, also of its successful use in cholera infantum. Mentioned a case of aneurism, treated by some of our "Allopathic brethren" for pneumonia, with blisters and the like. The excessive vomiting which had continued for weeks, was arrested by the first dose of Gelseminum and Dioscorea, and the pain was alleviated from time to time until his death, which took place in a few days.

Dr. Day mentioned a case in which hæmatemesis was a prominent symptom. The Dioscorea combined with Gelseminum was here equally effective. Next day menstrual flow appeared.

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