THE UTERUS.

The opposing positions in regard to hysterectomy, taken by Dr. A. Reeves Jackson of Chicago, and Dr. Martin of Berlin, led to the unequivocal affirmation on the part of Dr. Jackson, that some other method than total extirpation could be made use of which would show equally good results.

He concluded his paper on the subject by giving these conclusions:

1. Cancer of the uterus is orginally a local disease, and is curable by complete removal. 2. Any operation for cancer which does not completely remove the disease will be followed by recurrence.

into gynecological surgery, few have attracted DR. JACKSON ON CAncer of more attention or occasioned a more widelyspread interest than that of removal of the entire uterus through the vagina. The steps of the operation are long and tedious, the danger from hemorrhage quite considerable, and its results, as regards success or failure, very various in different hands. The subject of hysterectomy occupied a large share of the time and attention of the gynecological section of the International Congress, the discussion upon it being carried on by many eminent gynecologists, among them ReevesJackson and Martin, Berlin's famous surgeon and author. While in Boston, Dr. Martin performed the operation in the presence of a number of gentlemen, and the difficulties of the operation, even in his experienced hands, were clearly to be seen. Dr. Jackson disap-known prior to or during the operation; hence proves of the operation to such an extent that he rejects it even in cases in which the cancerous affection has involved the fundus uteri, on the ground that the diagnosis can not but be doubtful. The general impression among the prominent gynecologists, however, was that the operation did not deserve the severe censure bestowed upon it by Dr. Jackson. Dr. Martin, in an illustrated article in the "Annals of Gynecology" gives the operation, as performed by himself, in full, making an interesting account of it.

NOT YET Ended.

It appears that the analysis of the chemists who pronounced "Gleditschine" a fraud is not to go unquestioned. Dr. J. Herbert Claiborne of New York, who first experimented with the solution of the drug, offers to put the matter to a thorough test, the results of which are to be passed upon by a committee, selected for the purpose. He imposes as one condition that the chemist who makes the test, shall not, on his word as his bond, divulge the method of obtaining this substance. He is convinced that the drug has merits as claimed for it, and is anxious to have the disputed question permanently settled.

3. The extent of cancerous disease originating in any part of the uterus, can not be

no operative procedure can afford a guarantee of complete removal, or of immunity from

recurrence.

4. In the radical treatment of uterine cancer the most favorable results, both immediate and remote, have been obtained by the amputation of the diseased portion by means of the galvano-cautery, the hot iron and the knife.

5. Kolpo-hysterectomy is more dangerous, and has given worse results than any other method of treatment. It has destroyed, and not saved, life. It is an injurious and not a useful operation. It is more rapidly destructive of life than the disease against which it has been used. Hence it should be condemned as unjustifiable.

ELECTROLYSIS FOR KELOID.

Electrolysis, as a therapeutic measure in the treatment of this usually intractable affection, has been recently introduced by Dr. L. Brocq, one of the most progressive French dermatologists, the plan being also pursued with success by Dr. W. A. Hardaway of this city. Dr. Brocq employed a bichloride of mercury battery of 23 elements. The positive electrode being a metallic cylinder covered with chamois skin, which is moist

The negative is a fine irido-platinum needle which is introduced to a proper depth in the tissues. After the insertion of the needle, a current of five milliamperes is passed through the parts. In from fifteen to thirty seconds a whitish zone about a quarter of an inch in width is produced. A second puncture is made a half inch from the first, and so on until the entire keloidal surface is punctured at intervals of a short distance. The curative action is not limited to the site of puncture, but extends some distance around it. Excellent results have been reported from the application of this method.

ened with a salt solution and held in the pa- whooping-cough, which tended to prove the tient's hand. bacterial origin of that disease. He himself, a believer in its bacterial origin, carried on an extended series of observations with the microscope, examining the sputa, both in its spasmodic and catarrhal stages, and of pa tients under treatment and not under treatment. He states that he was fully convinced of the opinion that pertussis is due to the presence of specific micrococci. They were found in abundance during the spasmodic stage of the disease, and disappeared under the use of local disinfectants. He found that guinea pigs, when their throats were swabbed with a solution containing these micrococci, suffered from a spasmodic cough. In his search for a suitable local application he gave the preference to resorcine, among the antiseptics, on account of its solubility and lack of acidity; he first used it in a two per cent. solution. Later on he increased its strength to eight per cent. Toward the end of his experience with this disease, he applied a solution of cocaine to the throat, which lessened the intensity of the cough be fore the resorcine had time to kill the specine germs. He is strongly of the opinion that this combined use of cocaine and resorcine forms our very best treatment of the disease to-day, and says that if it is resorted to at the beginning, will sometimes reduce the length of the attack to four or five days. Many medical men from various parts of the world had certified to its efficacy.

ETHER FOR TRISMUS NEONATORUM.

The excellent result reported by a Belgian physician from the administration of ether by inhalation for trismus neonatorum, should lead us to try the method for this affection which so rarely responds favorably to medi

cation.

Having a case of trismus neonatorum and having repeatedly given chloral and ether per rectum without producing any effect, the child rapidly becoming worse and seeming in imminent danger of death by asphyxia, he determined to adminster ether by inhalation. In addition to this, artificial respiration was employed from time to time by means of a tube.inserted into the nostrils. Some pieces of Rigollot's mustard leaves were also applied to the chest. The child was laid on its side according to a suggestion made by Marion Sims. The result of this treatment was that in a few hours the little patient's condition had improved to a very marked degree. The next day profuse perspiration occurred and the spasms entirely ceased. Shortly after this the child was convalescent.

PERTUSSIS-ITS CAUSE AND TREATMENT.

Prof. Moncorvo, of Brazil, is the author of a paper on pertussis, in which he recounts the microscopic examination of the sputa of

NOT DEAD YET.

Iodoform, which from all accounts a few weeks ago received its death blow as a germicide, still shows vigorous signs of life, and is not at all inclined to yield the field which it so long and ably filled.

It is well enough for one or two experi menters to go to work at a certain drug, and by an adverse report completely destroy all hope of its ever again being used to any extent; with a new drug this is a comparatively easy task; but the matter assumes a totally different aspect when that report is unfavora

ble to a preparation which has clinically demonstrated its merits and high worth to men who are in the highest degree fitted to judge correctly. Those men do not seek reports which are cut and dried, and launched forth probably to advance some rival drug, but take their own judgment in the matter. Hence it is found that although the exceedingly unfa vorable report of Heyn and Rovsing upon iodoform was such as to destroy its chances forever, it is still very extensively used by the best men in some of the largest continental hospitals and who gain results with iodoform which they can not secure by any other germicide.

pens in spite of the application, as six to eight months is the typical duration of the nodules. One of the best means of destroying the lupus nodules is by boring into them. with a stick of nitrate of silver. In slight cases the nodules may be destroyed by painting them first with caustic potash to remove the epidermis, and then applying a solution of nitrate of silver, equal parts with water. Caustic potash, Vienna paste, chloride of zinc, chloride of antimony and arsenical paste may be used at times for a change but they all require care. Pyrogallic acid in ten-per cent. strength is an excellent remedy. Volkmann's spoon is a valuable instrument for treatment by scraping off all forms but the fine nodular one. The galvano-cautery is also valuable. No one remedy will suffice for all cases, but we must employ different ones to meet different indications.

It is the work done, which speaks for the efficacy of a drug, and iodoform has done, and is doing, most excellent work, and we are strongly of the opinion, as stated at the time of the first report upon it, that it will take something more destructive than Heyn and Rovsing's criticism to lead to its abandonment SALINES IN PERITONITIS FOLLOWING Abdomby the profession.

IGNI-PUNCTURE OF THE TONSILS.

St. Germain of Paris thinks very highly of the procedure for the relief of enlarged tonsils which consists of the introduction into the tonsil of a thermo-cautery to the depth of one centimeter. It is a perfectly safe procedure, and in this respect is a great advantage over tonsillotomy, which is by no means always harmless. The puncture is repeated every eight days, two to four sittings being required, when at the end of that time the tonsil is found to be completely shriveled up. In his hands it has proved very successful, and although he has resorted to it in a large number of cases, he has yet seen no bad results.

TREATMENT of Lupus Vulgaris.

INAL SECTION.

Dr. J. M. Baldy of Philadelphia, emphasizes the teachings of Tait in regard to the treatment of incipient peritonitis following section of the abdomen. Providing there has been no spontaneous motion from the bowels at the end of the second day, he ad ministers saline cathartics in small and repeated doses, with most satisfactory results. The patient has invariably been more comfortable after a passage has been secured, and in cases in which a drainage-tube has been left, the discharge has been found to be markedly lessened from the time when the purge began to act. Most gratifying results are obtained in cases where there is persistent bilious vomiting.

NON-INFECTIOUSNESS OF TUBERCULOSIS.

Mm. Cadeac and Mullet have lately per

According to Kaposi, lupus and tuberculo- formed experiments having for their object sis are not at all related.

Non-excoriated lupus nodules may be made to disappear in about eight months by the application of corrosive sublimate, but this hap

the determination of the disputed question as to whether or not tuberculosis is infectious.

The experiments were made upon rabbits and guinea-pigs, and the results obtained all

tended to prove that tuberculosis was not an infectious disease.

Instances of positive results were obtained, however, in two cases, and emphasize the necessity for disinfecting the sputa of phthis ical patients.

TREATMENT OF FACIAL NEURALGIA.-For facial neuralgias and other subcutaneous neuralgias wonderful results have been obtained from the combined action of the constant current and chloroform. Prof. A. Samkiewizy has constructed an electrode of very porous carbon, into which one can pour chloroform.

Under the influence of the current, the chloroform of the electrode connected with the positive pole of the battery penetrates the tissues. One can convince oneself of this fact, by coloring the chloroform with gentian violet and applying it in a similar manner to the ear of a rabbit. It produces a threefold action, the constant current and chloroform; at first sopor, then a burning sensation and at last anesthesia. The Professor cites numerous cases, where this means has produced wonderful results. deep-seated nerves, in sciatica, etc., anesthesia was not produced.

TREATMENT OF Goitre by MEANS OF SUBCUTANEOUS ERGOTIN INJECTIONS.-Subcutaneous injections of ergotin for goitre were made some years ago by Coghill. Prof. Banvens, of Paris, without any knowledge of the former attempts of Coghill, had been very successful of late in the treatment of goitre. He first injected one gram of a solution of one part of ergotin to 7 of glycerine and 7 parts of distilled water without attaining any result. Again he tried three parts ergotin to 7 each of glycerin and water and still very little result. He then injected a gram of 5 parts ergotin to 7 each of glycerin and water. He gave 4 of these injections in the course of 2 weeks. The injections were painful and caused some swelling and induration but after the lapse of 3 weeks both the swelling and induration and the goitre had disappeared. The injections are not simply made subcutaneously but deep into the parenchy-effect

atous tissue.

BORATE OF AMMONIA IN PHTHISIS.-Prof. Lashkevich attaches a great deal of importance to the borate of ammonia as a remedy in the treatment of phthisis. It diminishes the expectoration, and very frequently cut short the fever in the first stages of the disease. The dose is about 25 centigrams given 3 times a day with the addition of codeine or some other sedative.

TREATMENT OF ELEPHANTIASIS.-Dr. Neff describes a case of elephantiasis in which the dimensions of the limbs were reduced at least one half by the continued use of an ointment consisting of 4 grams of nitrate of hydrargyrum to 35 grams vaseline. After these inunctions the feet were covered with rubber bandages.

For

ACETOPHENON.-This compound has been highly recommended by Dujardin-Beaumetz, as a soporific, but from the observation of others upon 30 cases of different forms of insanity combined with sleeplessness and irritability of the motor centers, its soporific

Similar

was almost entirely missing. negative results were obtained by Rottenbiller. Day doses however of from .15 to .45 grams diminish the excitability of the motor centers. This action is explained by the toxic effect of the drug upon the motor centers, producing a kind of paresis or severe muscular weakness. In only two cases was sleep produced; these were both insane patients, one a dyspeptic, the other a phthisi cal patient, where the pain was most likely an imaginary one or an hallucination.

ACETANILIDE. At the clinic of psychiatry at Strasburg, Prof. Salm treated 11 cases of epilepsy with "acetanilide," but the results obtained have been by no means satisfactory. Cyanosis was produced rapidly after the administration of the drug, although not a trace of methemoglobin was found in their blood, contrary to the results obtained by Prof. Lepine.