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REMARKABLE CASE OF NARCOTIZATION.

From the Medical and Surgical Reporter, May 9, 1874.

On the evening of Friday, March 20, at eleven o'clock, I was called hastily from my office to the house of my friend, Dr. Harvey. On arriving, I found his infant son, aged nineteen days, to be thoroughly narcotized, occasioned by the careless administration of morphine by the nurse in using the same teaspoon for the administration of catnip tea which she had previously used in taking a solution of morphine herself. We can approach the character and strength of the solution only from the fact that one-fourth of a grain of morphine was used in two teaspoonfuls of water, and it was found, by dipping the spoon in it and taking it out, that three drops remained in the spoon; and, therefore, we calculated that the child got three drops of the solution of morphine, equivalent to one-fourth of a grain in two drachms of water. Condition: pupils contracted and no response to light or irritation of the conjunctiva; pulse fifty per minute and feeble; stertorus breathing was also present. I stripped the child and sprinkled the face with cold water, and applied the same to the entire length of the spine, with the result of causing a deeper inspiration; gave one-half of an ounce of strong infusion of coffee per rectum, and used Kidder's magneto-electric machine. Applied one pole over the phrenic nerve, and the other to the sterno-cleidomastoid muscle, and over the entire length of the spine.

Great alarm was manifested by the parents at the condition of their child. I learned that my friend, Dr. E. H. M. 'Sell, was the accoucheur of the mother, and she suggested that in the multitude of counsel there was safety. I therefore sent at once for Dr. Sell, who arrived at 12:30 A. M. with Kidder's double cell faradic battery, which was applied with a mild induced current. The temperature at this time was 96° per rec

tum; respiration stertorus and from 13 to 18 per minute; pulse 116 and irregular. At one o'clock gave more coffee per rectum, a portion of the first having been passed in the napkin. At three o'clock, had made three applications of electricity, one of which was continued during the next half-hour. Temperature 95°; warm bottles of water were applied; respiration still stertorus, 17 per minute, but more regular. Gave one drop of solution of atropia, one grain to the ounce of water. At 4:30 free and natural movements of the bowels; eyes open and a response of the conjunctiva for the first time, and quite a natural cry. At 4:45 gave two teaspoonfuls of breast milk. At 5:05 the condition more marked for improvement; eyes opened and breathing approaching a normal movement; respiration 30 per minute; temperature 98°. Gave one-half ounce of strong coffee per rectum; pulse 150. The condition so good that we went home. At 10 A. M. an injection of soap and castor oil was administered with the effect of producing a thorough evacuation of the bowels; an application of cold water was made to the head. At 5 o'clock P. M. the child presented a normal appearance, and the treatment was discontinued, with the exception of a small quantity of lime water, which we advised to be given. It was thought to be indicated on account of the acrid condition of the bowels, manifested by green discharges and some undigested milk.

This constitutes briefly the history and recovery of the case, which is in accordance with the principles of treatment that I always resort to in cases of narcotization from opium, with the exception, I must say, that I do not think the mother's milk ought to have been given under these circumstances, for it is a well known fact that while a young mother is depressed with fear and anxiety, the rich nourishing quality of the milk is changed to that of almost a watery secretion, as it was in this instance, and pure cow's milk was substituted for it during the next twelve hours.

DEDICATION OF MASONIC TEMPLE,

NEW YORK.

Address delivered at the Dedication Banquet, Masonic Temple,
New York, June 2, 1875.

Report by Daily Paper.

Sir Knights of Ivanhoe and Portsmouth Commanderies:

This is a proud epoch for our Order; and I rejoice with you all that we have lived to see the sun dawn on so beautiful a day, rise and reflect its glittering rays from the steel of the largest body of Christian Sir Knights that ever assembled upon our Continent.

I have with you enjoyed the grand parade, the banquet, and now comes the feast of reason and the flow of soul.

Our Caterer, Eminent Sir Knight Gugel, has seen fit to order me to be served up at this stage of the proceedings. If it were not for the Eminent Sir Knights of Old Virginia who are present, I should question his taste and judgment in presenting you with so unsavory a dish, after having tasted such dainties from Eminent Sir Knight Grand Capt., Gen James G. Bain, of Portsmouth, No. 5, Va., Dougan of Ivanhoe, No. 36, and others who have preceded me; but in compliance with the principles of our institution, I submit cheerfully to the will and pleasure of my superior's order, that there may not appear to be any want of discipline on my part.

Now you all see I am much embarrassed; therefore I claim your brotherly sympathy. My tongue falters, knees totter, senses are touched up and mind alienated; I feel an unconquerable weakness, but I will say in my own behalf, that this is not consequent upon having drank "firewater" to aid digestion, and got too large a dose, for you all know I am a teetotaler. It is said I am related to the Grants: at all events there was never much eloquence in my family, and all there was has been distributed to my grandfather and father. The first was a farmer in

the old Bay State on the Berkshire Hills. Like the great Vanderbilt of to-day, he always drove a splendid double team, with the exception that his horses did not require bridles nor russet reins, but they had horns. (Applause). The latter attained to the distinction of a civil justice in Old Vermont, in the town where "Molly Stark" did not sleep a widow after the General and the "Green Mountain boys" had given the red coats a good trouncing on the battle field of Bennington. But I am in the presence of Sir Knights of Virginia, who sprang from the same soil that George Washington did, and this thought brings up a subject that I feel unworthy to treat on this occasion, therefore my feelings. Again, I have recently come from a tour in the South, and have been among the homes of our visiting Sir Knights, partook of their generous hospitalities, and my tongue fails to tell the heartfelt emotion of pleasure and gratification that I experienced then and now. The Greeks and Romans who were desirous of perpetuating their attachment by rendering its union more extensive and sacred, used to take a small piece of stone or ivory, divide it in equal parts, one wrote his name on one of these and his friend on the other; then making a mutual exchange, promising to retain the tally as a pledge of inviolable friendship. Let the badges we have in exchange from the Knights of Virginia serve to cement us, and emulate the ancient custom, and when outsiders charge us with demoralizing principles, we will tell them that some of the most orthodox and respectable clergymen are of our order; and when they impute to us disorganizing attempts, we will remind them that Washington was our patron brother and friend.

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS,

At Brussels, Belgium, 19th to 25th day of September, 1875.*

Hon Dr. J. A. Adrian, of Logansport. Indiana, and Dr. Ed. C.
Harwood, of New York, constituting the United States
Delegation from the "American Medical
Association."

Translated from the French by Julius Cretin, of New York.

Sept. 22d-ADDRESS OF HON. PRESIDENT DR. J. A. ADRIAN. Mr. President:

For three years the American Medical Association has sent its delegates to the British Medical Association and other kindred European societies, with the special object of asking their concurrence and co-operation in maturing a plan of uniformity of instruments, scales, tables, and records of clinical observation.

The American Medical Association hailed, with fraternal feelings, the call for this International Medical Congress, and with hopes (your first programme containing a motion to create a uniform method of measuring the defects of audition, this being part of the programme) of unity of all the means of observation advocated by the American Medical Association; we cannot help feeling that if you find that part of the plan right you will have stronger reason to support the whole.

The medical profession would find many advantages accruing from the adoption of this uniformity; common measures would insure the communication of thoughts between us better than a common language.

Mothers and nurses could be made useful recording assistants by giving us the true signs and symptoms previously to and between our visits, and they would soon comprehend the true nature of disease and cure, instead of falling into the supernatural notions which are now forced upon them.

For these and other reasons, the American Medical Association *See Report of Delegation, page 52.

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