Urea.-Probably no one to-day doubts that uræmia must be regarded as essentially an intoxication of the body by the retained products of tissue metamorphosis. Numerous experimental investigations have proved that in animals extirpation of the kidneys or ligation of the ureters will produce a symptom complex, characterized by vomiting, convulsions and coma, completely analogous to the uræmia of Bright's disease; but if we inquire what constituents of the urine are the particular occasion of the uræmic phenomena, we can not as yet obtain any definite answer. For a long time it was believed that urea played a chief part in the development of uræmia, but the result of experiments upon animals does not support this view. It is possible to inject enormous amounts of urea into the circulation or into the peritoneal cavity of animals without any symptoms of poisoning.-Strümpell. A Remarkable Prophecy.-The following, which is known as "Mother Shipton's Prophecy," was first published in 1488, and was republished in 1641. It will be noticed that all the events predicted in it, except that mentioned in the last two lines-which is still in the future-have already come to pass: "Carriages without horses shall go, And accidents fill the world with woe. In white, in black, in green. -Exchange. MEDICAL GLEANER. New Series. Vol. VIII. NOVEMBER, 1912. No. 6. Edited by HARVEY WIOKES FELTER, M. D., Chase and Pitts Streets, Cincinnati, Ohio, to whom all communications in reference to articles and matters for publication should be addressed. Published at THE LLOYD LIBRARY, 224 West Court Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, to which all subscriptions, advertisements, and matters of business should be addressed. Subscription price, $1.25 per year. is HARVEY WICKES FELTER, M. D. BY JOHN URI LLOYD, PHAR. M. In planning one's life work, the thoughtful man comprehends that the passing along must bring many changes that can not be foreseen by even the wisest who attempts to peer into the future. To formulate a plan that will be reasonably certain of execution proper, to do the work from day to day that comes to one's hand to accomplish is right, but to be very ready for a change in program is the part of wisdom. Few there are who can not look back upon unforeseen changes that have turned the current of their efforts, resulting sometimes in a complete reversal of plans, both as concerns themselves and others. This article is written unbeknown to the editor of the GLEANER. It is designed not for him, but to introduce to the GLEANER readers a change and an opportunity that comes as a natural sequence of the admirable work that, in the columns of the GLEANER, has been so well accomplished by its editor. Indeed, those who have read after Dr. Felter these many years have appreciated that, perhaps unconsciously, he has been preparing himself for a work of far greater importance than the editing of a semi-monthly Library publication, and that the day must come when such as this must give way to a greater and more cosmopolitan contribution to the world. That time has now arrived, and as a sequence the Lloyd Library is reluctantly compelled to relinquish the co-operation of the talented editor of the GLEANER in order that he may properly do that other work. It has been observed by students, both in medicine and outside, that one of the most delightful fields of Dr. Felter's activities is that of biographical studies relative to the work of physicians and others concerned in the evolution of plant medicines and plant pharmacy. In this direction it may be asserted, without fear of resistance or contradiction, that Dr. Felter has long stood preeminent in American life as the one man most conversant with the record of the American botanical materia medica, and that to-day he stands the man best qualified to present to the world the record of it all, together with the history of the men who established the American materia medica. Furthermore, no one I will doubt that in such a work as this Dr. Felter will be fair to all concerned and exactingly true to fact. There will be no favoritism shown to any one, nor will any one, by reason of his professional relationship or by reason of non-professional affiliation or fairness to men who have accomplished good results in fields outside the dominant school, be either debarred from the credit he deserves or ignored in the position he has earned. And this unbiased history will, through the Lloyd Library exchanges, become a standard work of reference in every academy of science and other reputable scientific society of the world. It will, therefore, surely please the readers of the GLEANER to know that their loss is but part of an upward and onward movement. The year 1913 will see, if all plans are consummated, as a Bulletin of the Lloyd Library, a publication of unusual and even phenomenal interest, edited by Dr. Felter, titled, "The American Herbalists." In his hands will rest the entire responsibility of this publication, and he will present therein a chronological record, not only as regards American medicinal plants, but of the men concerned in the evolution of American medicine. It is planned that this publication shall appear in parts, two probably being issued during the coming year. Announcements, however, will be made later. A mighty responsibility will this new work be, demanding even greater and more patient research than that exhibited in the past, and, as has been intimated, necessitating Dr. Felter's relinquishment of the editorship of the GLEANER, which, under his management, has in its field become a standard the country over, and even abroad. In this direction we need but to call the attention of our readers to the biographical wealth and research connected with each number of the GLEANER during the years it has passed under Dr. Felter's management. |