THE CANADA LANCET. A Monthly Journal of Medical and Surgical Science Communications solicited on all Medical and Scientific subjects, and also Reports of Cases occurring in practice. Advertisements inserted on the most liberal terms. All Letters and Communications to be addressed to the "Editor Canada Lancet," Toronto. AGENTS.-DAWSON BROS., Montreal; J. & A. MCMILLAN, St. John, crean and milk in variable proportions. The milk has undergone fermentation and is acid, or sour, as it is commonly called. The relative proportions of cream and milk, contained in the cream-crock, depend on the fancy of the person who skims the milk-pans, in allowing much or little milk to pass over with the cream. There may therefore be much cream and little milk, or the reverse, a circumstance which has an important bearing on the N.B.; GEO. STREET & Co., 30 Cornhill, London, Eng.; M. H. MAH Contents of the churn, after the removal of the LER, 16 Rue de la Grange Bateliere, Paris. TORONTO, AUGUST, 1883. The LANCET has the largest circulation of any Medical Journal in Canada. butter. Let it be borne in mind that under no condition is the whole of the fat removed. There is always a residuum of fat left in the churn. Should the cream be greatly in excess of the milk, this residuum of fat will be greater and vice versa. The casein contained in a given quantity of buttermilk, also varies in quantity. The thinner the layer of THERAPEUTICS OF BUTTERMILK. milk allowed to pass off with the cream, the poorer Koumiss excepted, which is itself a kind of but- will be the resulting buttermilk in casein. The termilk, no beverage is so grateful and refreshing casein is still further reduced in the process of to thirsty patients as buttermilk. It is a fortunate churning, a certain percentage being removed along circumstance too, that while the patient is assuag-with the butter. From this it is plain that buttering his thirst with the most agreeable drink, he is unconsciously taking in the very best of food. Patients who loathe every other kind of food will greedily partake of buttermilk. It also possesses medicinal properties of considerable value. It is therefore not surprising that it is daily growing in favor with the profession. One thing, however, is surprising, and that is, the absence of any extended reference to it in medical literature. milk not only contains casein in variable quantity, but the casein is always slightly below the standard of average milk. Temperature is another disturbing factor in the proportionate relations of fat and casein contained in buttermilk, as compared with standard milk. If churning be performed at a temperature much too high the fat globules refuse to aggregate or coalesce so as to form butter. They behave in the same manner at a temperature much From time immemorial buttermilk has been a too low. As the real intermediate line is seldom staple article of diet. In Scotland and the North | exactly struck, it is easy to see that this furnishes of Ireland it is delivered by dealers as regularly as an additional cause for a frequent excess of fat in new milk. As everybody knows, these people are buttermilk. If in connection with the foregoing the great porridge eaters of the world. By them, facts we take the results of fermentation, or coagubuttermilk is preferred with their cherished dish, lation of milk, in which the sugar is converted into and judged by results porridge and buttermilk are lactic acid, we shall have a tolerably clear idea of wholesome articles of diet, for where can be found the ultimate constituents of buttermilk. sounder bodies or clearer heads, than are to be Coagulated skim milk differs but little from but found amongst these celebrated porridge and buttermilk in its chemical condition. It probably termilk eaters. Buttermilk may be roughly de- contains about the same quantity of fat. It is, of scribed as milk which has lost most of its fat, and course, richer in casein, and herein lies the prina small percentage of its casein and which has be- cipal difference. In fact it is almost a perfect subcome sour by fermentation. To suppose that the stitute for buttermilk, after being treated in the principal elements of buttermilk are constant in same manner as the contents of the cream-crock, quantity, and in their relation to each other, is a that is, agitated, so as to break up, and thoroughly great mistake. To assist us in ascertaining more reduce the curds, and make the whole light and accurately the composition of buttermilk, we shall frothy by admixture with the atmosphere. Not first of all examine the cream-crock. It contains long since a lady of our acquaintance hit upon the above plan to satisfy the longings of an invalid acidity, combined with its laxative properties, it is believed to exercise a gentle impression on the liver. It is well adapted to many of the cases where it is customary to recommend lime-water and milk. It is invaluable in the treatment of di abetes, either exclusively or alternating with skim milk. In some cases of gastric ulcer and cancer of the stomach it is the only food that can be retained. for buttermilk, and it is to that circumstance that this article owes its origin. The season being winter buttermilk was unobtainable. The milk was coagulated by being put in a warm place. It was agitated by a revolving egg-beater until it was light and frothy. Sour milk thus treated tastes exactly like fresh buttermilk. In view of the fact that buttermilk is hard to get at certain seasons, the value of the proposed substitute becomes apparent. The first process milk undergoes in the stomach is the coagulation of the casein. In sour milk this is already accomplished, and that too in a more satisfactory manner. Sweet cow's milk coagulates in the stomach in the form of semi-solid cakes, which many stomachs are unable to reduce to a proper state of subdivision. In sour milk on the contrary, the curds are loose and flakey, much | resembling the curdling of human milk, which may be seen in the vomit of the over-fed infant at its mother's breast. The digestion of sour milk is made still more easy by the process of churning, by which the flakey curds are reduced to a state of fine subdivision. Long experience has demonstrated the superior digestibility of buttermilk, and this inquiry simply furnishes the reasons. Buttermilk is a true milk peptonoid, that is the fashionable word of the day, -milk already partly digested. The range of its application is therefore wide and but little restriction need be observed in its use. It is good food and drink for young and old, sick and well. Being food it ought not, as many do, be taken between meals. This practice accounts largely for the common belief that buttermilk disagrees with many persons. Being an agreeable drink, it is often too freely used. Sick persons who partake of little or nothing else, may partake much oftener, and more freely. Although containing about the same quantity of nutrition as sweet milk, yet patients appear to be able to consume with ease at least double the quantity of buttermilk. Buttermilk has at least three therapeutic properties more or less marked. It is a decided laxative to the bowels, and this fact should be borne in mind in the treatment of typhoid. This affords a hint for its use in habitual constipation. Buttermilk is a diuretic and may be prescribed with advantage in some kidney troubles. Owing to its QUEBEC MEDICAL ELECTION. The triennial meeting of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Que., was held in Quebec on the 11th ult., under the Presidency of Dr. R. P. Howard of Montreal; Drs. A. G. Belleau and F. W. Campbell, acting as secretaries. Among those present were Drs. R. P. Howard, L. Larue, A. G. Belleau, C. Verge, Z. Gravel, A. Larochelle, J. Théberge, G. B. Lafleur, W. Lamontagne, F. W. Campbell, J. L. Leprohon, H. Sauvé, W. Osler, G. Ross, T. A. Rodger, J. A. Ross, E. P. Lachapelle, D. B. Desaulniers, T. Fortier, G. Lachance, R. Latraverse, C. E. Lemieux, sr., J. A. Sewell, G. O. Beaudry, J. Lanctot, N. H. Ladouceur, A. Robitaille, A. Marois, J. Langlois, V. P. Lavallée, E. P. Chevrefils, M. Guay, G. H. Dufresne, W. Marsden, J. P. Lavoie, A. Gavreau, L. Catellier, G. Bolduc, E. Gervais, C. Gingras, A. Dion, N. Lacerte, J. E. Ladriere, J. B. Bolduc, E. A. De St. George, C. S. Parke, S. Gauthier, J. B. Gibson, J. A. S. Brunelle, D. A. Hart, F. E. Roy, J. Marmette, A. Morisette, M. A. Falardeau, S. Bolduc, E. Duquet, E. Belleau, E. Badeau, J. B. Lamarche, J. M. Turcot, G. Turcot, E. Turcot, R. F. Rinfret, A. Jackson, F. R. Rinfret, F. D. Gilbert, P. Wells, A. Watters, W. Verge, G. Mazurette, J. Marceau, P. A. Shea, M. J. Ahern, F. J. Austin, H. Russell, V. St. Germain, L. Beauchesne, M. Fiset, A. Hamel, E. Morin, A. Vallée, C. Coté, A. Poliquin, F. Gendron, N. Lavoie. The minutes of the last triennial meeting were read and approved. The treasurer, Dr. Lachabelle, presented his report which was adopted. M. Lamirande, the public prosecutor, also presented his report from which it appears that 44 actions were entered against persons practising medicine without license. Thirty-five of these were decided in favor of the College, nine were unfavorable, and five are sub judice. An animated discussion followed upon some much-needed amendments to the act regarding the manner of electing governors. It was finally decided to submit the various propositions to the new board of Governors for their consideration, to report at the next triennial meeting. The election of Governors by ballot was then proceeded with, resulting as follows: City and District of Quebec-L. Larue, A. G. Belleau, W. Marsden, C. S. Parke, E. A. De St. George, and H. Russell ;-Lieut. Governor Robitaille, C. Rinfret, C. Gingras, M. Guay, P. E Grandbois, J. Marmette, and L. T. Rousseau. City and District of Montreal,-T. A. Rodger and J. B. Leprohon ;-J. Prevost, P. E. Migneault, D. A. Hart, N. H. Ladouceur, J. A. Duchesneau, J. Lanctot, L. D. Lafontaine, H. A. Migneault, and D. Marcil. District of St. François,-T. Larue, F. X. Paré and A. J. Austin. District of Three Rivers, D. B. Desaulniers, Hon. J. J. Ross, and F. A. Dame. University Representatives,—Laval, C. E. Lemieux, and J. A. Sewell, (Quebec), E. P. Lachapelle and A. Lamarche (Montreal); McGill, R. P. Howard, and Geo. Ross; Victoria, E. H. Trudel, and W. H. Hingston; Bishop's, F. W. Campbell and R. A. Kennedy. issues of Uniao Medica, advocates the topical employment of Resorcine in the strength of one per cent., applied by a fine pencil brush to the larynx. He gives fourteen instructive cases, of various degrees of severity and duration, in which this remedy was found by him highly serviceable. He gives the following as his general conclusions: 1st. That whooping cough, whose nature, up to a very recent period, has been subjected to the most diverse interpretations, in relation to its genesis, may, to-day, according to the latest microscopic researches, be included in the class of parasitic diseases. 2nd. That the disease appears attributable to the presence of micrococci which multiply prodigiously in the hyperglottic vicinity of the larynx, infiltrating its epithelial cells, which appear to be the predilective seat of their development. 3rd. That resorcine, applied to the laryngeal mucous membrane, caused in all the cases in which it was employed, rapid decrease of the number of the paroxysms, moderation of their intensity, and finally recovery in a short period of time, without the aid of any other medication. Dr. Moncorvo says that resorcine, owing to its much less caustic action, and the absence of disa At a subsequent meeting of the new board of greeable taste and odour, is far preferable to cargovernors the following officers were elected:-bolic acid. He has administered it internally to C. E. Lemieux, President; Hon. J. J. Ross, and children, even the newly born, suffering under W. H. Hingston, Vice-Presidents; A. G. Belleau, diarrhoea and dysentery. He advises that strict and F. W. Campbell, Secretaries; L. Larue, Reg-attention be given to the quality, so as to secure istrar, E. P. Lachapelle, Treasurer; Profs. Miller, the article in purity, and he recommends that pre-, Howe, Verreault and Laflamme, Matriculation pared by Monnet, of Geneva, which is of notable Examiners; Drs. Church and P. E. Mignault, As- whiteness, and in the form of silvery bright cryssessors for McGill College; A. C. McDonell and talline needles. It is extremely soluble in water. Ladouceur for Victoria, Marsden and F. E. Roy Dr. M. recommends the topical application with for Laval (Quebec), J. Reddy and O. Raymond the fine pencil brush, to be repeated every two for Laval (Montreal), and T. A. Rodger and J. B. hours. The first applications, he says, sometimes Leprohon for Bishops. Examiners for Midwives, exacerbate the coughing fits, but this irritation Drs. Marsden, Sewell, and Gingras for Quebec; ceases in two or three days. In twenty cases and E. P. Lachapelle, E. H. Trudel and R. A. treated by him, he was not disappointed in his Kennedy for Montreal. expectation in a single instance, and some of them had been very obstinate, or even dangerously complicated, as with hereditary syphilis, threatened hydrocephalus, pulmonary tuberculosis, intermittent fever, etc. RESORCINE IN THE TREATMENT OF Dr. Moncorvo, Professor of the Diseases of Children in the Polyclinique of Rio de Janeiro, in an article published in the March, April and May Resorcine, in its source being a congener of carbolic acid, no doubt acts in a similar manner as a parasiticide. Dr. Moncorvo states that he has, by numerous microscopic examinations of the THE editor of the Sanitary Journal has been examining the evidence for and against vaccination. He desires not to be regarded as opposed to vaccination, but he is somewhat sceptical and states that "after carefully examining and sifting all the obtainable evidence, pro and con, in regard to the measure, he fears that it has been and is too much extolled, and too much relied upon, to the comparative neglect of other, and more strictly scientific preventive measures." He refers to the unsatisfactory results of the practice in Switzerland, and points out that the two principal legislative measures relating to compulsory vaccination in Great Britain were enacted and came into force "on the decline of two great epidemic periods, such periods being invariably followed by a decline in the mortality;" and, that, notwithstanding the reduced mortality since enforced vaccination, as compared with that previous to it, "there has been a great increase in the proportion of deaths in London (E.) since the commencement of compulsory vaccination." He thinks that the great difference between the mortality from small-pox amongst vaccinated and that amongst unvaccinated persons may be largely accounted for by the character of most of the unvaccinated, who are he believes of the poorest classes, "the improvident, the unsettled-who would be most exposed to, and from their habits, prone to take the disease, and the very ones amongst whom by far the greatest mortality would most certainly take place in hospital, or anywhere." These are a few of the most important points. The writer gives instances where outbreaks of small-pox have been repeatedly stamped out without vaccination, by isolation, quarantine, &c. It has been stated that possibly the profession may have been looking too much to the statistics of one side of the question of the value of vaccination. No doubt vaccination affords some protection, and the difficulty is in getting other preventive measures thoroughly carried out. I FORDYCE BARKER'S TRIBUTE TO YOUNG Men. My own experience has been that from this class learn the most; it is from them that I get the most useful knowledge and the most valuable suggestions. I hold it to be one of the great missions of this Academy to bring out and develop, by its library and its scientific work, the young men who are to take care of its interests and give the stamp fession of this city in the future. I do not hesitate of character to the Academy and the medical proto express the belief, based on a rather extensive acquaintance with the profession in other cities and other countries, that the number of young men of bright intellects, of noble zeal, who have had the largest opportunities at home and abroad for a thorough and complete education, which have been most conscientiously improved, is greater than has ever before been aggregated in any city in any age of will have a galaxy of distinguished men who will the world, and that twenty years hence New York give the medical profession such prominence with the public and with the profession elsewhere as has never before been attained.-N. Y. Medical Fournal. [These noble sentiments, by a noble man, are in striking contrast with those members of the profession who occasionally object to a Medical Journal on the ground that it contains articles written by young men, whom these worthies seem to consider as desiring to air their newly acquired knowledge. -ED.] PLANS OF A MODERN COTTAGE.-Messrs. Palliser & Co. of Bridgeport, have lately issued a sheet containing plans and specifications for building a handsome six or eight room cottage with or without tower. The cost will vary from $1,700 to $3,000, according to size and style of finish. The publishers have found it the most popular plan they have ever issued, and state that it has been adopted in over five hundred houses. We have seen the plans and specifications referred to, and would recommend a perusal of them by those who contemplate building. This firm issues specifications in blank form for all kinds of buildings; also, forms of building contracts, and books on modern architecture. HYPOSULPHITE of Soda as a Disinfectant.The difficulty of finding a satisfactory disinfectant with which to destroy fœtor in cases of cancerous ulcers, is well known. Dr. W. E. Buck, in the Brit. Med. Journal, says he has tried a saturated solution of hyposulphite of soda added to an equal quantity of water, and found it exceedingly efficacious. The ulcerating surface was well syringed and washed; PERSONAL.-Dr. W. J. Robinson, of Fergus, has with the solution, and was then covered with rags, recently married the daughter of the late Dr. Orton, steeped in the solution. The granulations were and commenced practice in Ancaster, Ont. kept clean, and the fœtor was well kept under. It W. H. Aikins, son of Governor Aikins, has returnis cleanly, has no smell, does not stain, and is very ed from Vienna, and is now in Winnipeg, Man. cheap. F. R. C. P., LOND.-Dr. Wm. Osler, of McGill College, Montreal, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London. We congratulate our young and talented confrère upon this justly merited mark of distinction. There is only one other Fellow of the College resident in Canada, viz. : Dr. J. A. Grant, Sr., of Ottawa. We are pleased to note this recognition of industry and talent among our Canadian confrères by old-world institutions. BACILLUS TUBERCULOSIS IN AN ABSCESS.-Dr. R. C. Smith (Brit. Med. Journal), gives the details of a case of phthisis in a clerk aged 21 years. An abscess formed in the ischio-rectal fossa which was opened. A microscopic examination of this fluid. by a half-inch object-glass, after the usual process of staining, revealed the presence of great quantities of well-marked typical tubercle-bacillus. APPOINTMENTS.-Dr. W. F. McLean has been appointed Demonstrator of Anatomy in the London Medical College, and Dr. J. M. Jackson Assistant Demonstrator. John Thomas Duncan, M.D., of this city, has been appointed Associate Coroner in and for the city of Toronto. Dr. Riddel's resignation has been accepted. ERRATUM.-On page 344 of the July issue, for Dr. Drink read Dr. Druitt. Books and Lamphlets. A TREATISE ON FRACTURES, by Lewis A Stimson, B.A., M.D., Professor of Surgical Pathology in the Medical Faculty of the University of the City of New York. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea's Son & Co. Toronto: N. Ure & Co. There are three things which especially recomOL. SANTALI FLAV. IN GONORRHEA.-Most suc-mend this little work to our favourable consideracessful results have been obtained in the treat- tion; its extremely practical character, its avoidment of gonorrhoea by olium santali flav. The ance of unnecessary detail, and the unpretentiousdose is 15 to 20 drops in gelatine capsules, mucil-ness and absence of anything approaching egotism age, or dropped on sugar, three times a day. It usually arrests the discharge in two or three days, but should be continued for about two weeks to prevent a relapse. which the author displays. It does not purport to be so much the result of his own observations as a collection of those of others. To the student who needs a somewhat fuller account of fractures and their treatment than is to be found in the usual sur ST. JOHN MEDICAL SOCIETY.-At the annual meeting of the St. John Medical Society, the fol-gical text-books, it will be invaluable, as, except on lowing officers were elected for the ensuing year: Dr. P. R. Inches, President; Dr. James Christie, and Dr. G. L. Taylor, (of Hampton,) Vice-Presidents; Dr. Wm. Christie, Treasurer; and Dr. Geo. A. Hetherington, Secretary. the subject of compound fractures, on which the author has very little to say, it is full without being burdened with the cumbersome minutiae in which so many book-makers delight. The author has, wisely we think, followed no cast iron rules, and has left much to the good sense and discrimination of THE thirty-seventh annual meeting of the Asso- his readers. The first third of the book is devoted ciation of Medical Superintendents of American to the varieties, etiology, pathology, complications Institutions for the Insane, opened at Newport, and treatment of fractures in general, which are R. I., on the 26th July. Delegates were present then individually discussed at length. The chapfrom thirty States, and from the provinces of Que-ter on fractures of the thigh is particularly exhausbec and New Brunswick. Dr. John P. Gray, of tive, and considerable space is given to Colles Utica, N. Y., was elected President for the ensuing fracture. The varieties of splints and other me year. |