IN Paris, a woman, Mme. Donmerque, has passed the examination which entitles her to be an apothecary. She is the first woman who has done so. AGED TREE. The cypress of Somma, in Lombardy, Italy, is the oldest tree on record. It was known to be in existence at the time of Julius Cæsar, forty-two years before Christ, and is, therefore, 1,901 years old. It is 106 feet in height, and 20 feet in circumference one foot from the ground. Napoleon, when laying down his plan for the great road over the Simplon, diverged from a straight line to avoid injuring this tree. Superior antiquity is claimed for the immense tree in Calaveras county, California. This is supposed, from the number of concentric circles in the trunk, to be 2,565 years old. CHANGES ON THE EARTH'S SURFACE.-The changes on the earth's surface during the glacial period are strikingly illustrated by a boulder of a peculiar variety of granite, fifteen feet high, and seventy feet in circumference, perched upon the top of the Hoosic Mountain, one of the highest peaks in Massachusetts. This boulder, it is conclusively proved, was clipped off the apex of another mountain in Stamford, Vt., and transported by the ice to its present position. The Stamford mountain is now a truncated cone, and the boulder is composed of the same kind of granite, which differs in every respect from the Hoosic rocks. CRIES OF A FETUS IN UTERO.-The Scalpel states that Dr. Dubreuil, of Bordeaux, had under his care a girl of sixteen, who, towards the end of gestation, was seized with eclampsia. Chloroform was used, and a very small male child extracted. The breech of a second child now presented, and, just as the waters broke, the persons present heard the cries of the child, as if they issued out of a box, and they continued until the delivery was effected by the feet. The cries were heard at the moment when the accoucheur pushed up the breech to seize the feet. Air had probably then penetrated into the uterus, which was not quite filled by the second foetus, and the latter, having inspired it, began to cry. TREATMENT OF PROLAPSUS ANI.-Dr. Schartz (Nashville Journal of Medicine and Surgery) advocates for this affection a solution of the ext. of nux vomica, of the strength of one or two grains to the ounce of distilled water. Of this solution he gives six to ten drops every four hours. This is the dose for very small children; to larger children fifteen drops at the same intervals. Two or three drops should be administered to children at the breast. LOCATION WANTED.-A graduate of the Eclectic Med. Coll. of the City of New York desires a partnership or employment with some Physician in extensive practice for six months, or longer if mutually agreeable. Address Graduate, care Prof. J. M. Comins, 100 E. 26th. St., New York. PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF SURGERY, BY JAMES SYME, Professor of Clinical Surgery in the University of Edinburgh, and Surgeon to the Queen. From the last London edition, enlarged and illustrated with Sixtyfour Woodcuts and Fourteen Plates. A new American edition, with notes and additions, and numerous new Illustrations. By ROBT. S. NEWTON, M. D. Professor of Surgery in the Eclectic Medical College of New York, late Professor of Surgery in the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati. New York edition. Price $6.00. NOTICES OF THE PRESS. This is one of the most valuable medical works that the American press has yet given. The cditor has, with much toil and labor, compiled and arranged with great care, the complete works of Syme into one volume, and presents to the public in this book all that that celebrated surgeon has issued through the press. This of itself is invaluable to the medical profession. But the peculiarity of the work which certainly adds to its interest, is the fact that the author and the editor, though both surgeons of wide-spread reputation as successful operators, belong to different schools of medicine. Syme undoubtedly stands at the head of his profession in Scotland, and probably has no superior as a surgeon in the world, and is a medical writer of unusual ability. His works always command an extensive sale among the profession in Europe. Newton is at the very head of the Eclectic school of medicine in the United States, a lecturer of high standing, and is universally accorded a position among the most successful and reliable surgeons of the country. In pathology, therefore, they differ materially, and in this work, more than any other, are the excellencies of the two systems compared. The editor exhibits perfect justice toward the author. He gives his writings complete, unmarred by the obliteration of a single word, and follows with his own notes and illustrations, evidently desirous of a fair comparison of the practice and remedies of the two schools of medicine. There is a difference, a wide difference, and both sides are ably set forth by worthy pens, amid a mass of information, in the work before us. The book has been gotten up in the best sty e. It is printed in a superior manner, and is bound in the most substantial and elegant form. It contains one hundred and fifty-three illustrations, whereas the original work of Syme had but twenty-five.—Cincinnati Daily Times. This is a new American edition, with notes and illustrations by Prof. Robert S. Newton, M. D., Professor of Surgery in the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and, for several reasons, must be an attractive as well as a useful work to the medical profession. Syme's Principles and Practice of Surgery is too well known to need particular reference in this connection, and the author has held too high a position in Europe to admit of his skill, as an operator, to be questioned for a moment, nor could the task of laying it before the surgeons of the United States have been intrusted to a more competent pen than that of Dr. S. Newton. In pathology, Mr. Syme and his editor differ materially; and on this fact, and the difference of the therapeutic agents employed, depends the real merit of the work. The editor is evidently not afraid of a comparison of the merits and claims of the Allopathic and the Eclectic systems, for in this work they are compared throughout, permitting every surgeon to judge for himself. The remedies of both systems are presented, together with very appropriate comments on the value of each, rendering it one of the most desirable works now before the profession, which must attain a large circulation among surgeons of all schools.-Cincinnati Daily Enquirer. Having been permitted to examine Syme's Principles and Practice of Surgery, edited by Prof. Robert S. Newton, I beg to express my opinion of the work, as far as read by me. To call in question the ability of Mr. Syme as an operator, in this enlightened age, would be equal to avowing one's ignorance of the science. This remark is, of course, to have a general application, for no man lives who may be said to have attained excellence in every particular. In pathology, Mr. Syme and his editor differ very materially; and on this fact, and the difference of the therapeutic agents employed, depends the real superiority of the work. The editor is evidently not afraid of a comparison of the merits and claims of the Allopatic and Eclectic systems, for in this work the two systems are compared throughout. Mr. Syme stands at the head of his profession in Scotland, and Prof. Newton at that of his in the United States; so that every surgeon need no longer be undecided as to the merits of the two systems, from inability to compare them. The remedies of both systems are presented, together with very appropriate comments on the value of each. My own impressions are, that this is the best work now before the profession, and will no doubt attain a very large circulation among surgeons of all schools. It will do more to elevate the Eclectic branch of the profession, in my estimation, than any work yet issued by that school. I speak of the work thus plainly, because I wish to see both the editor and author receive that credit which this great work shows them to each deserve.-Press. This is a large and comprehensive work, embracing all that is important pertaining to Surgery-the modern improvements included. It is likewise valuable because of the fact of its being the production of two leading Surgeons-the one a prominent Allopathist, the other a conspicuous Eclectic. Syme stands at the head of his profession in Scotland, and throughout all Christendom is favorably known as a skillful and successful operator. In his part of the work all the popular means and appliances of Allopathy are detailed, while the part contributed by Prof. Newton, one of the most experienced and successful Surgeons, embraces the improvement in remedies and treatment of the Eclectic school. The volume is gotten up in the best style.-Middle States Medical Reformer. ROBT. S. NEWTON, Esq., Prof. of Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio, U. S. A. 2 RUTLAND STREET, EDINBURGH, 30th Sept., 1856, My Dear Sir: I feel much obliged by your kind intention, and may refer you to the last edition of my "Principles of Surgery (1856), for an expression of my matured views. In the Clinical Lectures published in the Lancet you will find more detailed explanations in regard to some particular subjects. I am, my dear sir, yours, very truly, JAMES SYME. ECLECTIC TREATISE ON DISEASES OF CHILDREN. NOTICES OF THE PRESS. By Prof. ROBERT S. "We are not sufficiently acquainted with the Practice of Medicine to express any opinion upon that part of the book which is the work of Dr. Newton. This gentleman is widely known in our city, and an extensive practice has fully prepared him to do justice to this branch of the subject. "To the adherents of the Eclectic School, we can cheerfully and warmly recommend the work of Professors Powell and Newton; and to those who heretofore had no respect for this school, we may hint that a perusal of this work might change their opinions and suggest some new views."—Cincinnati Daily Gazette. "The treatment or practical part is the work of Prof. Newton, who, to our community, and to this portion of our country, is much better known than Prof. Powell, and is, perhaps, twenty years his junior; and yet it will scarcely be contended that we have a medical practitioner or a surgeon who has more thoroughly made his social, business and professional impression upon this city and this region of our country. No one has a character in either department of the profession that inspires more confidence. Hence the work under consideration may be regarded as presenting the Eclectic practice in its best and most enlightened shape, with much that is new in physiology and pathology from the pen of his co-laborer, who has measurably devoted his life to the investigation of these subjects. "The application of all the new Eclectic remedies, which have been found to possess much utility by Prof. R. S. Newton, have been made to various diseases treated of in the work. This we understand is the first instance in which these have been adopted in works on practice; this will prove to be of great importance to the cause of Eclectic practice, and to the profession at large."-Cincinnati Daily Enquirer. ECLECTIC DOCTRINE.-" Disease we understand to be that condition of a part which disqualifics it for the performance of its function." "Fever is a manifestation of an effort of the system to remove disease-a physiological action under the circumstances-a general or constitutional indication of disease." "Inflammation is an evidence of local disease-an action produced for the restoration of a diseased part-an effort of the vital force to remove disease." Physiology is the science of life in all its modes of bearing, but is now usually restricted to life in a state of health." "Pathology is the science of life in a state of disease-it is physiology under abnormal circumstances."-Newton & Powell, on Diseases of Children. THE ECLECTIC PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. BY ROBERT S. NEWTON, M.D. Professor of Surgery in the Eclectic Medical College of New York. Late Prof. of Theory and Practice of Medicine and Surgery in the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati.-Pages 600, New York, 1868. Price $5.00 by Mail or Express. NOTICES. The Eclectic Practice of Medicine, by Robert S. Newton, M.D. This is a fine volume containing nearly 600 pages. It has been prepared with the utmost care, fine large type, clear white paper, and the most substantial binding. The subject matter of this volume embodies many new and important facts, not to be found elsewhere; together with results from new remedies, and new results from old remedies, which will be found of rare interest to every practitioner in the country, of whatever school, and valuable in their practice at the bedside of the sick. No conscientious or observant physician can well dispense with this important book from his professional library.-Eclectic Medical Review. This treatise shows its author to be master of his profession. Such a work would be found useful, not only in the hands of the professed disciple of Esculapius, but also in the hands of every intelligent reader. It would teach him both how to guard against suffering, and how to mitigate it while enduring it. The practice of the system which the Doctor advocates, must commend itself to the good sense of every reflecting mind.-P. Witness.• |