In a great variety of dermatitis, in lymphangitis, in burns, the solution exercises a soothing and antiphlogistic effect not abtainable by other lotions, and quite unattained by the stronger and more irritating antiseptic solutions.

In Burow's aluminum acetate, Thiersch's borosalicylic, and other bland, mildly antiseptic solutions, the surgeon has sufficient variety for routine wet dressings without using-as are so often used-such toxic and irritating solutions as those of phenol and bichloride of mercury, both of which are more germicidal in the test tube than, for biochemical reasons, they are in wounds. Carbolic acid should never be used, of course, on fingers or toes, and elsewhere on the body phenol and sublimate solutions are rarely indicated. For emergency wet dressings, if one has not with him Burow's or Thiersch's solution (or the mixture of boric and salicylic acids to make the latter), he will do far better to employ temporarily a simple saline or boracic acid solution than to resort to the ubiquitous bichloride tablet. The maceration and whitening of the skin by liquor alumini acetatis in an impervious dressing, to which Stansbury refers, is most marked on the fingers and toes. It is apt to alarm the patient, who therefore should be prepared for it by the surgeon. Although this whitening, wrinkled appearance of the skin quickly subsides when the dressing is discontinued, it may be largely obviated by adding to the solution one-fourth its bulk of alcohol or glycerine.

We can not dismiss the subject of wet dressings without two very elementary comments. The first concerns the great value, for purposes of drainage and absorption, of wet dressings not only in frankly infected wounds, but also in all accidental and therefore possibly infected wounds. The experienced surgeon knows this, of course, but it is surprising how often other practitioners apply directly to accidental incised, contused, and lacerated wounds dry gauze, the first, painful, removal of which is followed by the escape of pus or reveals a seriously inflamed member.

The second comment concerns the obvious importance of placing over the dressing a waterproof tissue, not as large as, but considerably larger than the dressing itself. How often one sees the oiled silk or gutta percha covering applied just to the edges of the gauze, all the moisture from which promptly escapes, to the discomfort of the patient and the discomfiture of the surgeon.-American Journal of Surgery.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Chemistry. The first chair in chemistry was established in 1527, and it was occupied by the famous Paracelsus, or as he called himself, Philippus Theophrastus Bombastus Paracelsus de Hohenheim.-Critic and Guide.

Bread Which Helps in Constipation.-Dr. E. C. Cary, Welcome, Wis., finds that patients afflicted with chronic constipation respond satisfactorily when placed upon a bread composed of one quart of bran, one pint of flour, one cup sour milk, one cup of molasses, and one pinch of salt. If members of the "family" try this bread we trust they will report results.-American Journal of Clinical Medicine.

Remedy for Poison-Oak or Poison-Ivy.-A hot solution of potassium permanganate made strong enough to be quite dark, rubbed in so as to reach the poison in the vesicles, is effectual. If the skin is broken, the solution should be quite dilute, and may be applied by means of a compress. The stain may be removed by applying a solution containing a mixture of oxalic acid and sodium hyposulphite, freshly made, say a tablespoonful each of oxalic and hyposulphite to a pint of water.-Life and Health.

CONCERNING BOOKS.

H. W. FELTER, M. D.

The Blood of the Fathers. A Play in Four Acts. By G. Frank Lydston. The Riverton Press. 626 South Clark Street, Chicago.

1912.

This is a sociologic study dramatized. It is a sharp rap at our present social system. The author writes: "We go on marrying and giving in marriage criminals, lunatics, epileptics, inebriates, and syphlitics, and breeding more of their kind! We go on hanging and jailing criminals and ignoring the children from whom these criminals are made! We go on paying out for the cure of crime and its evil congeners more money than we spend for our children's education! We go on with maudlin sentiment and savagely oppose practicability and common sense in matrimony-society's very corner-stone! And we pretend to be an intelligent social system!" This book is a plea for matrimonial discrimination, for the regulation and control of marriage, for the protection of the unborn, for the sterilization of the criminal, and other sociologic features as viewed by the acute mental eye of the author. It should be read to be appreciated.