ple matter, although in some instances the particles are so small, that they resemble a few fine fibres disposed in a circular or semi-circular manner; but in others, small pulmonary vesicles can be recognized, and a number of such cells may be seen united as an irregular fragment. Layers of mucous membrane from the larger bronchial tubes, and branching arrangements of considerable length from the smaller tubes, have often been noticed. In the majority of cases of consumption, we meet with all these different forms of lung structure, in a single specimen of expectoration, and we may estimate the rate at which the disease is progressing by counting the particles, which are thus made visible in the sputa. They do not occur in simple bronchitis, pneumonia or pleurisy.-Lancet.

Dr. Keith gives the results of his experience in the use of Car bolic Acid in these Diseases as follows:

During the last six months I have used the carbolic acid in fever, scarlatina, measles, and small-pox, with, I think, some success. I have during that period given it in 600 cases internally. Of these only five have died, and those from. complication after, produced by bad nursing. I may state that, during the said time, I have had no less than 1500 cases in all. The deaths including the five above mentioned, are twelve. The other cases were treated in the usual way, with salines, chlorate of potash, &c.

Without going further into detail, allow me to give you the "physiological effects" in few words. 1st, it produces profuse perspiration; 2d, it rapidly lowers the pulse, so much so that in twenty-four hours the pulse will fall from 120 to 60-skin cool and moist, with subsidence of fever; 3d, the tongue, after the same time, will be clean, moist, and, in scarlatina, the soreness of throat much diminished; 4th, after its use for the same time, the appetite continues to improve; 5th, I have found it more useful at an early stage of the disease, although, given afterwards, it very much modifies the symptoms, and carries the patient through the dif ferent stages of the disease much more quickly than any other treatment that I have seen; 6th, in some cases the urine appears smoky, as if fine charcoal had been used with it. These are the principal points I have observed from its use. I could give you numbers of cases, but I will at present content myself with the foregoing statement, and simply

add the formula in which I give it-carbolic acid and acetic acid, of each one drachm to one drachm and a half; tincture of opium, one drachm; water, eight ounces. I give a tablespoonful of this mixture every four hours, until the fever, &c., has subsided. Then the after-treatment is simple. I find that, after the first dose, the patients rather like it than otherwise.--London Lancet.

On a New and Simple Method of Inducing Artificial_Respiration in Cases of Asphyxia from Drowning, Strangulation, Chloroform, Poisonous Gases, etc.

The author then introduces a plan hitherto not known in this country, the invention of the celebrated Pacini, of Florence, which consists in placing the patient on his back on a table or bed, the operator having his abdomen against the head of the patient, placing his hands in the axillæ on the dorsal aspect, and then pulling the shoulders towards him with an upward movement at the same time. The shoulders are then relaxed, then the former movement, and so on alternately. In many cases operated on by this method the air makes a loud noise when it passes the lyrnx, as in snoring.

The author was so impressed with the excellence of this plan that he determined on his return from Italy to make experiments on it, as suggested to him by its illustrious inventor. He had not long, however, proceeded with these before he discovered two modes considerably superior, and throwing also somewhat in the shade the labors of Marshall Hall and Silvester. In experimenting on the dead subject he employed an india-rubber tube, one end of which was tied in the trachea, and the other communicated with a small spirometer, upon the principle of Hutchinson's, so that the passage of air to and from the lungs could be easily observed by means of a scale showing cubic inches. He found that the simple process of raising the upper part of the thorax from the table by taking hold of the arms caused a considerable influx of air, varying with the angle that the arms made with the body. For instance, if the body were raised by the arms at an angle of 45° (towards the face), the inspiration would amount to, say 20 cubic inches. If the body were lifted by the arms in a vertical direction the amount would be 15 cubic inches, and if pulled up by the arms at an angle of 45° (towards the feet), the amount would be about 10 cubic inches. But by the first of these modes a quantity

of air considerably greater than by Hall's or Silvester's plan was generally obtained.

The best and most simple method, however, which the author has discovered is founded upon those of Silvester and Pacini. He simply places his fingers in the axillæ in their front aspect with his thumbs over the outer ends of the clavicles, and draws, with a certain amount of power, the shoulders towards him. Or relaxing his hold, the shoulders and chest return to their former position, and so on with alternate motion. In this case, therefore, there is only one movement to be effected instead of three, and he avoids the fatigue of having to bear the weight of the patient's arms as well, as is required by Dr. Silvester's method. It has the advantage also of being accomplished in a more rapid manner than any other plan. As far as the author's experiments have gone, the quantity of air inspired at each movement by this plan is about 30 to Dr. Silvester's 20, and as the operation can be conducted with much greater rapidity, the author considers that at least twice the quantity of air can be inspired by this mode than by any other yet known; and he expresses a wish that a subject which is of such practical importance should be further investigated.-Lancet.

Sacrifices to Bacchus.

From St. Bartholomew's Mr. W. D. Butcher, house-surgeon, gives us a list of 46 casualties, 17 of which were severe enough to require admission into the hospital. Out of these in 5 cases the sufferers were not themselves intoxicated, but their injuries were caused by drunken persons. One person under these circumstances got a fracture of the jaw, with cut head and face; another had a wound of the brachial artery; whilst "fracture of forearm," "scald on arms," and "scalp wound " represent the other three cases.

At Guy's 13 cases are reported by Mr. C. Sells, one only requiring admission.

The London Hospital admitted 5 cases, and treated as out-patients 21, due to drink. Mr. Butler Ruttledge, the house-surgeon, tells us that the whole number of accidents treated was 100. One female had both bones of leg broken by a drunken husband; another had her lip bitten by a drunken man.

From St. Thomas' comes a list of 13 casualties, including "a severe bite of tongue.' Mr. Albert Bell reports two cases illustrating the proverbial luck of drunken men.

A

man was brought in, and found to be uninjured, who had fallen from a hearse; another was struck on the leg by a machine weighing some hundredweights, and escaped with a slight abrasion. These two men were too drunk to stand when brought to the hospital."

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At University College Hospital Dr. Squarey, resident medical officer, tells us only 5 cases of the kind were treated. At King's College, on the other hand, no less than 23 casualties are reported by Mr. A. Napper, house-surgeon, as "due to drink."

From the Middlesex Mr. G. E. Norton sends us a list of 9 casualties.

Mr. J. K. Kidd tells us that at Charing-cross 5 such cases were treated.

At St. Mary's 9 casualties from drink were treated by Mr. J. R. Walker.

At the Westminster 15 such cases were attended by Mr. J. R. Haynes.

From the Great Northern we learn that 4 cases were attended by Mr. P. D. Hopgood, including a serious one of concussion of the brain, produced by a fall from a horse, and a punctured wound from a fall upon a butcher's knife. The latter would probably have been fatal but that the blade, happily, struck against the first false rib.

At the Royal Free 13 casualties are ascribed to drink by Mr. T. C. Murphy, the resident medical officer, who tells us that 3 of these were serious enough to require admission.

The total 181 will probably appear small to those who remarked the number of passengers with unsteady gait who filled our pavements. It includes, however, 38 fractures of various bones, fractures of both bones of the leg very largely preponderating, and broken ribs coming next. There were nine dislocations. In 7 instances application was made on account of "retention," and strangely enough 3 of these cases were relieved at one hospital. The radial artery in one case, and the brachial in another, were wounded by glass. Cuts, sprains, bruises, and lacerations complete the catalogue of ills resulting from the mirth of Boxing-day.-Lan

cet.

On Carbolic Acid in the Treatment of Boils, Whitlows, and Abscesses.

As carbolic acid is exciting so much attention at the present time, Dr. Cleborne gives his experience with that article

in the treatment of whitlows, boils, and abscesses. During the past year he has had an unusually large number of these cases on board ship, and being dissatisfied with the usual mode of treatment, he determined to try the effect of carbolic acid. This he did by making a free opening so soon as fluctuation could be detected, and when all of the pus had been discharged by gentle pressure, he either injected or swabbed out the cavity with the ordinary liquid carbolic acid of the shops, after which he applied a cold-water dressing. By this treatment further suppuration was prevented, and the wound healed so rapidly that the patient returned to duty in two or three days. In some cases, after evacuating the pus, and using the acid, he drew the edges of the wound together with isinglass plaster, and in twenty-four hours it entirely healed.

In the treatment of gonorrhoea, Dr. Cleborne has not been satisfied with the liquid carbolic acid. As an injection, he says it caused too much pain, and seemed to aggravate the symptoms when used even in the proportion of two to five drops to the ounce of water. These objections, it is said, do not apply to the crystallized acid of Merck, or the chemically pure article of Calvert, which may be used for this purpose in the proportion of two to five grains to the ounce of oil of almonds, or diluted glycerin.

Syphilis.

Of this terrible malady the Lancet pertinently observes: "When we consider syphilis as a whole, what a marvelous disease it is. It depends upon a virus which readily generates its like; it is specific in its outward manifestations, and definite in its course. Contrasted with the effects of other animal poisons, how tardily the manifestations are evolved. There is the incubationary stage before the appearance of the local lesion; another interval, and the various secondary phenomena, separated from one another by broken periods of rest; and lastly, in some cases, we have a third series, more or less remote, and sometimes separated from the former by many years of average health. During the time that these morbid processes are being manifested in the individual, he is endowed with the power of transmitting a syphilitic taint to his offspring, which shall leave its mark on their tissues years afterward, modifying the products of their nutritive and developmental functions in a way which transcends