It was still well supported by adhesive straps, as there was evidently something in the cavity left by the tumor-an accumulation probably of saliva which could not escape into the mouth, as the opening made by the bistoury had contracted. I passed in the probe daily through the mouth, and endeavored to dilate it; also passed in the bistoury and enlarged it, but it was only temporary, and the accumulation became daily greater, stretching the new cicatrix somewhat, especially at its anterior extremity. I kept it well supported, but it at last opened externally in the night by a small opening, and discharged a large quantity of fluid. I afterwards pressed it all out and strapped it well, excepting at the opening, and applied a firm compress. I kept the opening free, and syringed the cavity once or twice with a solution of sesqui carb. of potassa, but there was no more accumulation. I pressed out a few drops daily, and then the discharge ceased' altogether, and it closed up so well that the cicatrix was hardly noticed. The parotid gland evidently ceased to secrete, either from the distension by the accumulation forcing the fluid back through the trunk of the tube and branches, and destroying the integrity of the lobules and cells, or from the severing of the duct, which destroyed the sympathetic sensation normally communicated from the orifice of the tube to the gland structure, causing secretion. It was a complete cure, and there was no salivary fistula. I presume that the swelling of the face which seemed to be that of the tumor, previous to the operation, was from the obstruction caused by the tumor to the passage of the saliva through the duct. The tumor was also firmly attached to the fibrous external surface of the masseter muscle, and to the periosteum of the malar bone. There was some deformity of the mouth, at first, after the operation, from loss of muscular power from severing of branches of the facial nerve, but that was in time all completely corrected. I think it safest to remove tumors of that kind (fibrous, fibrinous, or other non-malignant tumors), as well as the malignant, in the early stage of growth, the latter always, if possible, for it is then possible to prevent contamination of the system; the former because it is not al

ways possible to diagnose that they are not malignant, and when they grow rapidly they soon produce deformity. Indeed the Paris Academy of Medicine, at its sitting on January 16th, 1844, listened to the reading of a paper by M. Cruveilhier, on the possibility of fibrous tumors, especially of the breast, degenerating into malignant tumors. A long discussion ensued, participated in by M. Cruveilhier, M. Velpeau, M. Blandin, M. Moreau, M. Reaux, M. Lisfranc, M. Castel, M. Andral, and other distinguished lights of medical science. There was a wide difference of opinion, some contending that one could not run into the other, and others stoutly opposing that view. It transpired that it was the practice of the most of them to remove them, and not run the risk of leaving them.

New York, No. 29 Amity Street.

Baptisia and its Preparations.

BY N. F. TABER, M. D.

THE wild Indigo, or Baptisia Tinctora, has assumed an importance both with Eclectic and Homœopathic physicians which justifies inquiry whether this confidence is well placed. Its remedial properties, however, we apprehend, have not been defined with sufficient accuracy.

A well-informed homoeopathic physician-professor of Materia Medica in one of the Colleges in this city-accords great merit to the preparations of Baptisia, administered both internally and externally, for almost any kind of sores and ulcers-especially those of a putrescent tendency, or where there were discharges from any of the mucous surfaces of a fetid or acrid and excoriating character; for gastric and other intestinal diseases, fevers, particularly those of a typhoid character; in hepatic derangement, leucorrhea, amenorrhea, and in almost any disease of the glandular system. Many others of the same school are as decided in their testimony on the subject.

In Professor Newton's notes on Syme's Surgery, the properties of the Baptisia are set forth as alterative, emetic, laxative,

stimulant, emmenagogue, tonic and antiseptic. We are informed also that Baptisia has beeen used with very satisfactory results in some forms of rheumatism and preumonia, but that it is unsafe to use during the period of utero-gestation, as it is capable of producing abortion.

If this statement was strictly accurate there would be reason for apprehension that the use of this extract would become speedily more common; but our brief observation has led us to the opinion that its emmenagogue properties have been overrated. Its influence upon the glandular system, however, appears to be most happy and successful. As an antiseptic it deserves all the credit which it has received. Ulcers generally yield to it with great readiness; and its employment in combination with other remedies appears to be attended with most beneficial results. Baptisin, when combined with Macrotin, Quinia, or Podophyllin, is a sovereign remedy in fevers and all diseases of typhoid character. It is an excellent application for gangrenous and erysipelatous ulcers, for ulcerations of the cervix-uteri, for malignant sore throat, aphthous sore mouth, mercurial sores and other virulent forms of ulceration.

A decoction or tincture of Baptisia answers much the same end in most instances.

Poultices and fomentations of Baptisia are valuable in ulcers and tumors, and also in inflammations tending to gangrene; and swellings and tumors supposed to be cancerous have been treated with it successfully. Yet, whether it can often be profitably employed as the sole remedy, we very much doubt. We have tested it several times, obtaining little satisfaction when constitutional treatment was not superadded. In that conjunction, however, its utility in those respects which we have indicated is beyond question.

Doctor Perry, the Dermatologist of Bond Street, makes use of Baptisia in several of his recipes for washes to restore the health of the scalp and arrest the falling off of the hair. Its coloring matter, to a certain extent, may not be an undesirable quality where the hair is turning gray. We do not assume to speak. The experience of Tittlebat Titmouse in

respect to hair-dye may be in point. Baptisia has been used in domestic practice or empirically for many years.

A woman past middle life now living in a western county of New York, but a native of New Jersey, informed a friend of the writer that she had a cancer cured by it during her girlhood.

She used a decoction, and applied poultices externally. How long a time was required and the peculiar malignity of the affection we, were unable to ascertain; but the impression that Wild Indigo would cure cancer has been very common in that part of the State.

The modern Eclectic practice has adopted the Baptisin in preference to the decoction, tincture, and other preparations of the Wild Indigo. How far this substitution is warranted we cannot undertake to say, but its convenience and efficacy in many respects are established.

During the last year a young lady came under our care suffering from an abscess then in process of formation. It had given her excessive pain for many weeks. It appeared to have its origin in the hip, and when we first saw the case a protuberance was visible on the inside of the thigh close to the body. The abscess was evidently near the stage when an incision for the escape of the pus was justifiable. After a little more softening of the parts the operation was performed, and more than a pint of greenish pus was discharged. The discharge was encouraged for a number of days; meantime especial attention was given to constitu tional treatment of the patient, taking care that the diet was proper, the skin kept open and free, and the various secretions of the body maintained active and as normal as possible. Her appetite for food now became almost voracious. At this time a probe could be passed up in the direction of the hip from seven to eight inches. And as from day to day we saw this aperture was not in the least diminishing, we finally concluded that the time had come to "assist nature," and accordingly employed daily for the space of a week a solution of the Chlorate of Potassa, always following it with the tincture of Baptisia, and taking care that this latter prepara

tion should remain as long as possible within the opening. Both remedies were introduced by means of a syringe. After the week we discontinued the Chlorate of Potassa, finding its further use too irritating, and employed only the tincture of Baptisia. We now had the satisfaction of seeing the opening grow continually smaller-more circumscribed, until, at the end of five or six weeks, the, abscess was cured and the patient discharged.

Another patient had been suffering for many years from ulceration of one of the labia majora. She traced the origin of the affection to an attack of diphtheria. She had exhausted medical advice upon the subject without beneficial results. One physician assured her that she was liable to have her complaint run into a "menstruating abscess." We found the parts hardened, enlarged, sensitive and extensively ulcerated, the pus escaping through numerous perforations evidently of a fistulous character.

The use of Baptisia alone appeared to be of little service. We then employed in conjunction with it a solution of Chlorate of Potassa, with no better success. Then we substituted tincture of Iodine, which seemed to alleviate the symptoms. This was mixed with the tincture of Baptisia in equal proportions and injected into the openings of the abscess. The enlargement gave way, the discharge lessened, and the soreness almost entirely disappeared. Constitutional treatment accompanied this administration. She passed from under our care much improved, but before a cure was effected.

We have frequently applied the tincture of Baptisia to ulcerated cervix-uteri with satisfactory results. We apprehend that Baptisin would have been the better preparation. Our observation of Baptisin as an internal remedy has not been considerable, or assuring, but our opinion is immature.

For chronic ulcers of the legs and erysipelatous sores it certainly may be used with advantage. It would seem as though it ought to have invaluable specific virtue for cancer. This, we apprehend, must be determined by future observation. We hope practitioners will prosecute their inquiries