ointments containing echafolta cream, menthol, or camphor may be very grateful. Carbolic acid or carbolated salves and lotions. should be avoided on account of the tendency to ischemia produced in the already enfeebled tissues, with the prospects of gangrenous destruction.

ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA. The prevalence of "earache," or more exactly acute inflammation of the middle ear, is common during the changes of winter weather and particularly if the little patient is suffering from an acute cold or coryza. If taken at the onset the pain and inflammation may often be checked by the alternate adminstration of specific aconite and specific pulsatilla, in fractional doses, every fifteen minutes or half hour. During the acute paroxysms the vapor of choloroform blown from saturated cotton, held in a tube, into the external canal, or the continuous and careful instillation of warm water into the auditory aperture will be harmless and pain-relieving. Should pus form the logical treatment is paracentesis.

THE INDICATED REMEDY-DROSERA.-Drosera is an important but oft neglected winter remedy. While it has minor uses, its employment is chiefly confined to disorders of the respiratory tract with dryness of membranes and explosive and harassing cough. There are always indications of marked irritation underlying the cough of drosera. There may be inflammation also, but it has little or no control over that feature of the case. It is of special value in the lingering vestiges of disease manifested by dry cough, and while of distinct advantage during the activity of such disorders as measles and whooping cough, it is of equal or greater value in the cough following in the wake of the first named disorder and in the bronchial irritation, with cough, during the subsidence of the latter. It comes as near to being a specific for the cough of measles as any known medicine, while in those cases of pertussis in which it is at all effective it is very completely effective. There are few cases of measles cough that are not benefited by it, though there are many cases of pertussis in which it is wholly inoperative. The cough relieved by drosera is distinctive and is especially marked by nervous irritability, secretion is scanty-in fact, the membranes are so unresponsive in normal functioning that the cough is generally spoken of as a dry cough. There is also an explosive quality which is characteristic of the

two disorders above named. Thus it becomes useful in the cough of phthisis and chronic bronchitis, as well as in chronic coughs depending upon other causes. The indications are brief and welldefined: Explosive cough, with sibilant quality and dryness of the air passages; the dry cough of nervous irritation.

LA GRIPPE.-La grippe, like the poor, seems ever with us this season. There was a time when physicians made sport of this foreign invader, and some even denied its existence. Being "no respecter of persons," nearly every one has now had its reality impressed upon him so that now it is well-established, and not only established, but its seriousness well recognized. The acute attack is beset with sufficient danger and discomfort, but the after effects of the disease are often far-reaching and malicious. The more rational and prompt the treatment, the better the immediate results and the lesser likelihood of a long train of unpleasant sequelæ. First of all, the grip patient should be made, by his physician, to surrender. He has no business trying to be about to attend to business or any other matters, and the sooner he is impressed with that fact, the better will be the outcome of the disease. No physician is justified in being an alarmist, but he fails in duty if he neglects to warn his patient of the importance of strictly following his advice, particularly in la grippe.

Put the grip patient to bed and keep him there until all active symptoms have subsided. Do not over-medicate him, and, on the other hand, do not trust wholly to expectant methods. If he needs drug treatment, be specific; have well-defined indications for the medicines employed. If there be, as there usually is, muscular aching all over the body, give specific macrotys. If there is fever, discriminate sharply as to the antipyretic drug. Specific aconite for the small rapid pulse; specific veratrum for the full bounding pulse; specific gelsemium for the great nervous excitement attending some cases, together with high temperature, throbbing carotids, flushed face, and contracted pupils. Some cases do well under jaborandi, especially if the case resembles one for veratrum and there is great aching and excessive dryness of the skin and mucous membranes. If the heart is not sound, avoid jaborandi. For lancinating pain in the head or chest, with sharp, vibratile pulse, specific bryonia can not be excelled. If there be hacking, short, annoying cough, with dryness of air passages, it is also the remedy

to select. These medicines mentioned may be judiciously alternated or, in some instances, combined, as indicated. For the clearing up of a heavy coryza two remedies which have acted best for us are specifics gelsemium and pulsatilla. In fact, for the lingering vestiges of respiratory infection we know of no better remedies to select from than specific gelsemium, pulsatilla, bryonia, asclepias, lobelia, or eupatorium. For true rheumatic complications sodium salicylate is indicated, and if pain is excessive the diaphoretic powder will give relief. During convalescence the debilitated may need acid solution or iron or the compound tonic mixture.

THE ECLECTIC MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CINCINNATI.—Arrangements are now being made looking toward a further enlargement and grading of the college curriculum for 1912-1913.

The following six instructors will devote their entire time to teaching and college work:

J. K. Scudder, A. M., M. D., secretary and director of laboratories and clinics.

F. B. Grosvenor, B. A., M. D., histology, pathology, and bacteriology.

Carl S. Mundy, B. S., assistant in histology, pathology, and bacteriology.

A. J. Nunnamaker, B. A., demonstrator of anatomy.
Charles Apmeyer, Ph. G., laboratory chemistry.

J. A. True, B. S., M. D., physiology.

The juniors will devote three hours each day to clinical lectures and bedside instruction in the Cincinnati (public) Hospital of 500 beds. The seniors will secure additional work in practical obstetrics in the Home of the Friendless and the Union Bethel.

An Ohio medical student's certificate, based on graduation from a first-grade high school, or its equivalent of fifteen units, required of all matriculates. Certificate should be procured prior to registration days, September 12th, 13th, and 14th. College opens in all departments September 16th. The Ohio State Board forbids matriculation after September 30th. Perfect your entrance qualifications early. "Bulletins" on request.-SCUDDER.

PIONEER MEDICAL HISTORY.-The pioneer medical history of our country is of rare and absorbing interest. Though this fact is just beginning to be appreciated, the field for such research is

broad and full, but the harvesters are few. A rich harvest awaits the reaper, and he who garners in the sheaves in this field will yet be blessed with the gratitude of coming generations. In this connection we call attention to the work of Dr. Otto Juettner, author of "Daniel Drake and His Followers," in this field of pioneer medical history, and to the valuable paper from his pen presented in this. issue a contribution embodying the result of a long and laborious search for facts concerning the life and work of that surgical pioneer and hero, Dr. John L. Richmond-the first to perform the Cæsarean section in this country.

A JUST TRIBUTE.-The true medical historian knows no school bounds and recognizes worth wherever found. It will be gratifying, we believe, to every Eclectic to read the following just tribute paid to Eclecticism in a recent issue of the Lancet-Clinic by a member of the dominant school, Dr. Thomas C. Minor, whose historical and literary work is well known to the profession at large:

"We must return to Cincinnati, Ohio, if we wish to discuss the origin of Eclecticism, a purely American school as regards the application of indigenous medicinal remedies to treatment of disease. When we first started in the study of medicine, this school was held in high contempt by the so-called regular school. All men who have practiced medicine for the last fifty years know the hot and bitter controversies between Eclectics and regulars. The first Eclectic school was one of immensely strong medical men, veritable giants who broke away from the traditions of ancient medicine and founded a system of therapeutics that has survived and gained public confidence as time creeps on apace. As much as we must differ from the views held by this school, we are forced to admit that it has served as a check to wild therapeutic theories and prevented the triumph of medical nihilism. It has preserved the unities and kept rational empiricism at the fore. Had it not been for Eclecticism there would have been nothing left of anything rational in the healing art. It was a revolt of the best and bravest in medical science."

BELLADONNA AND GELSEMIUM.-Two papers in this issue -one by Dr. M. F. Bettencourt, and the other by Dr. E. R. Waterhouse-present a good comparative study of these drugs from the

Eclectic specific medication standpoint: hence the occurrence of both in this number. So true are the facts of specific medication as developed in our school that we find a remarkable unanimity of statements concerning drugs and observe the absence of therapeutic uncertainty, which is the bugbear of so many physicians. Nor does "therapeutic nihilism" figure much in our drug literature, but rather is there optimism born of practical experience with reliable drugs prescribed according to well-substantiated indications.

DEATH OF DR. LYMAN WATKINS.-Professor Lyman Watkins, M. D., died at the Seton Hospital, Sunday, January 21, 1912, of diabetes mellitus. Dr. Watkins was born May 1, 1854, at Blanchester, Ohio, and graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati in 1877. For nearly twenty-two years he was a valued teacher in his alma mater, acceptably filling the positions of professor of microscopy, physiology, and pathology. Dr. Watkins was well known throughout Eclecticism, was an able teacher, an assistant editor of the Eclectic Medical Journal, and a frequent contributor to other journals. In society work he was prominent, and his papers were of a high order. A more complete biographic sketch of Dr. Watkins, with portrait, appeared in the GLEANER, November, 1911.

FOR GASTRIC FLATULENCY.-There are many old remedial combinations that have not been excelled by recent introductions into gastric therapeutics. We have had the most gratifying results in stomachic fermentation with flatulent distension, associated with more or less constipation, from the administration of magnesia and ginger. R Magnesia (calcined), 5ss; pulverized ginger (Jamaica), grs. x. Mix. Sig. Administer, mixed with water, one hour after meals.

SPECIFIC DIOSCOREA.-A case of hepatic tenderness and pain closely suggesting gallstone impaction, persisting for weeks and resisting medication, has been made very comfortable upon twenty (20) drop doses of Specific Dioscorea, administered in hot water three times a day. A persistently white tongue accompanies, and the appetite has been capricious. For this bicarbonate of potassium in weak solution, with essence of cloves, has been effectual. The latter failed, however, to relieve the pain until the dioscorea was exhibited. Dioscorea we recall as one of Dr. King's old favorites in so-called bilious colic.