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ity, but I do claim it in the use of gelsemium as the local application for inflammations of the eye. I have used it successfully for about fifteen years. However, others may have used it, but I have never seen it recommended; and in fact cannot call it to mind if I have at any time seen it mentioned in this connection.-W. H. Carter, M.D., De Soto, Iowa, in American Medical Journal.

External Application of Alcoholic Preparations of Cimicifuga to Relieve the Pain in Inflammations of the Eye and Ear.

The method of applying it is by means of a camel's hair brush, painting it on around the eye as rapidly as it will dry, using from a half to a drachm of the tincture for each eye treated.

Weaker per cent. of the alcohol will not be satisfactory on account of running down the surface instead of quickly drying. The relief is experienced in from fifteen to twenty minutes, and will continue from half an hour to half a day. In some cases the pain does not return so severely as before the application. In cases of children I have had it give relief in fifteen minutes, the pain not returning. In cases of suppurative inflammation of the middle ear I have not tried it, because it did not seem to me to be indicated, unless it might be to relieve only temporarily.

Two Cases.-July 5, 1858, I was called to see Alice Strickler, aged six years, of rather delicate constitution, who had had inflammation of the right eye for the past three weeks. Various remedies had been applied to the eye with little or no relief except to reduce the swelling slightly. She had been in bed a week; no appetite; fretful; light very painful to the eye, and she kept it covered with a cloth wet with cold water. It could not be opened without assistance. On examination I found a deep and quite extensive ulcer on the inferior part of the cornea. Not having the tincture cimicifuga with me, I gave her such remedies as the case seemed to require. Next morning she was brought to my office; but the photophobia was so great that she could not open the eye. The tincture cimicifuga was applied as before described, and in less than half an hour she opened the eye without assistance; and the dread of the light had disappeared. I prescribed a bark tonic to be taken twice a day. She came in the evening, the eye being much less sensitive to the light. Continued the treatment a

week, adding occasionally an aperient. In less than two weeks the eye was well; of course an opacity was left at the site of the ulcer. After the first application, the relief was so marked she asked her mother why she had not had that on before.

A boy (Haddock), four years old, had a severe attack of earache; was crying and screaming at a terrible rate, and could not sleep nor let anyone else sleep. I was called and made an application by painting the saturated tincture around the ear in the same manner as around the eye. In fifteen minutes the pain was relieved; the child went to sleep and the pain did not return to any troublesome extent.

These two cases are given to illustrate the method of applying and the prompt effect of the remedy in many cases, in hundreds of which I have applied it, not always, however, with the same signal success. But in many cases of the classes designated the general practitioner will be able to effect prompt and most gratifying results.

Messrs. Park, Davis & Co., of Detroit, have prepared for me two samples of fluid extract, one of 94 per cent. and the other of 75 per cent. alcohol. They seem to give satisfaction, especially the former.-Dr. Gill, Pittsburg, Kan., in Kansas City Medical Record.

Class Room Notes.

(From College and Clinical Record.)

The pain in rheumatism, Professor Longstreth says, is apt to cease or lessen in intensity when an effusion occurs, and does not appear again when the effusion is absorbed.

-In cases of acute encephalitis, Prof. Keen says, alcohol is to be avoided in the early stages, as it acts as an additional excitant, but when a typhoid state sets in it is indicated.

-Prof. Wilson says the weather exerts a powerful influence regarding the predisposing cause to an epidemic of cerebrospinal fever, the winter and the cold months favoring its development.

-The only cases in which the inhalations of styptics are of any service in hemoptysis, Prof. Hare says, are those in which the hemorrhage is just beginning, or so slight as only to streak the sputum.

-If in trephining the dura mater be opened, but after operation closed by suture, and none of the brain substance re

moved, Prof. Keen says there is scarcely any risk of a fungus cerebri forming.

-In gunshot wounds of the brain, Prof. Keen recommends that if the bullet cannot be found without interfering with the brain to too great an extent, the wound be disinfected and thoroughly drained.

-Painful or difficult urination in the new-born male child, Prof. Parvin says, can generally be relieved by gradually stretching the orifice of the prepuce, and if this does not cure, then the child should be circumcised.

-In the subacute or chronic hepatitis of hot climates, Prof. Hare says, freshly prepared strong nitro-muriatic acid, both internally and externally, is the best drug that can be used. It should not be mixed with water until just before using.

-Prof. Keen says, unless the serious distention of the joint in a case of synovitis is extreme, or unless there is a large extravasation of blood into the joint, it will not be necessary to draw off the fluid, but it may be gotten rid of by the use of absorbents.

-Prof. Hare thinks the best way to administer aconite, in order to get the best results of the drug, and especially to children, is to administer it in small, divided doses, about one-quarter of a minim, every ten or fifteen minutes until a full dose has been taken.

-After injury to the head, Prof. Keen says, it is of importance to diagnose between a meningitis setting in or an abscess forming. Meningitis will generally develop within the first three or four days, while an abscess seldom develops before the end of the first week.

-Incontinence of urine, Prof. Hare says, is often due to a weakness of the spinal centres governing the bladder. In such cases he recommends the following pill:

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pneumonia being set up, on account of the presence of extravasated blood in the lung. It is to be combated by a regulated diet and the administering of small doses of aconite to reduce the arterial excitement, but aconite should not be used if the patient is in a weakened condition, due to loss of blood or advanced disease.

-In case of ardor urinae, where the inflammation is very great, and accompanied by fever and malaise, Prof. Hare advises the administering of two drops of aconite every hour or two until relief is obtained.

-Prof. Wilson says when sparsely settled villages become more settled, when the places are drained and the ground cultivated, malarial fever, which has predominated, disappears, enteric fever appears and becomes an endemic disease where before it has been unknown. He believes this change to be due to a neglect of sanitary measures or faulty construction of the drainage.

-Prof. Wilson recommends the use of chloral hydrate or one of the bromides to overcome the sleeplessness in the early stages of enteric fever; but he does not think that they should be employed in the latter stages of this disease for this condition, on account of the depressing effect on the heart. Instead of either the bromide or chloral in this stage, he favors the use of opium or one of its preparations after the tenth day.

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HAVE heard of that remarkable book "Merrie England," which was published only about a year ago, and of which nearly a million copies have been sold? This phenominal circulation has been mostly in England, but it now has a large sale in this country. Its application is mostly to the industrial conditions as they exist in England; but the principles developed, as to what is justice to the producers of wealth, are equally applicable in this country. Social science is always interesting; the correct interpretation of human nature throws a light upon every study; the author of this book is a master of both, and makes the highest use of them-the securing of justice to the producers of wealth. The book has made a great impression in England, and is destined to do the same in this country. It is not only a marvel of clearly expressed views, but also a marvel of cheapness-a book of 172 pages for 10 cents! Address The Coming Nation, Tennessee City, Tenn.

How to Feed the Baby for Ten Cents a Day, on Domestic Foods. Sent for 2 two-cent stamps by the Daily News, Chicago, Ill.

FOOD AS MEDICINE. A little book on a big subject comes to us. "The Food-Cure for Constipation and Resultant Diseases" is its title and it is published by C. F. Hart, box 631, Philadelphia, price, 25 cents. The author holds that we swallow too many drugs and that the rational cure for many diseases is food used medicinally. He writes interestingly of the curative virtues of various articles of food in ordinary use. Speaking from long experience and observation he contends that in stomach troubles-notably constipation and diseases resulting from it-drugs should never be used; that Nature furnishes a remedy in the shape of food; that certain foods have medicinal effects, and when used in accordance with the simple system which he explains not only prevention but cure may be depended upon. The author gives lists of food articles, with their effects upon the bodily functions, showing what one should eat and drink to secure health, and what should be avoided.

A BETTER FINANCIAL SYSTEM; OR GOVERNMENT BANKS. By Geo. C. Ward, Pub. by Arena Co., Boston, Mass. Price 25 cents.

This is a substantial volume of 505 pages, and well worth its price. It is deep and argumentative. It gives facts, figures, and makes sound deductions.

The management of the Cotton States and International Exposition is jubilant over the brilliant results achieved by Mr. Luther Stieringer, Consulting Electrical Engineer, in the design for an Electric Fountain. The design is that of a twin-fountain, rising from an island in the centre of the grand basin, immediately in front of the Machinery Hall. The island which forms the groundwork for base of the fountain and covers the operating chamber is one hundred feet long and fifty feet wide. There are nineteen orifices, each with seven to ten jets. The electric lights used under each orifices to project the beam of light through the water, are of two hundred and fifty thousand candle power each in the beam.

The four forms of water used are the solid stream, the geyser, the spray and the fog bank. The highest jets will rise something over one hundred feet from the basin of the lake. The fog bank is to be produced by steam, condensed by means of spray. The four forms will be used alternately in various ways with fine effect. The streams and geysers will be interspersed with circular pipes throwing jets in the form of wheat-sheaves.

Mr. Stieringer designed the electric fountain at Chicago, but thinks this will surpass that in brilliancy of effect. Walter G. Cooper, Chief Department Publicity and Promotion, Atlanta, Ga. [Opens September 18; Closes December 31, 1895.]

A CHART OF THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. By Dr. Byron Robinson, price, 75 cents. E. H. Colgrove & Co., Chicago.

This is a complete and instructive drawing, with explanatory references, of this most complicated and too little understood portion of anatomy. The great sympathetic nervous system possesses an importance in physiological processes and pathological conditions not generally recognized. Our esteemed correspondent, Dr. Robinson, has made a thorough and exhaustive study of it, the results of which he has embodied in this chart.

REPORT of Board of Managers of Pennsylvania Hospital, including the Department for the Insane. Henry Haines, 514 Walnut St., Phila., Treasurer.

THE opening paper in The Monthly Illustrator for July is a consideration by George Parsons Lathrop of Japan's influence in American art, taking a series of drawings by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Herter as the text for his remarks, which lead to the conclusion that this influence is perceptible and beneficial, especially in the direction of greater simplicity of treatment.

The National Gallery of Norway is rich in paintings by Norwegian masters, who have mainly dealt with the life and scenery of their own land. In The Monthly Illustrator for July a score of these pictures are reproduced, all out-door subjects, leaving the indoor or genre pictures of Norwegian life and character for future representation. Prof. Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen accompanies these interesting pictures with reminiscences of his own youthful experiences on the farms and among the fiords and forests of his picturesque land.

Very different in material and treatment, yet sub

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