brought prominently into notice by Bouchardat, is now mode of application, and gives a case where no good employed extensively, not only for glandular enlarge- result followed the internal administration of medicines, ments, but also, owing to its anæsthetic properties, in and having advised the application of one ounce of the skin diseases accompanied with intense pruritus. Its tincture of digitalis sprinkled over a piece of spongioodor is much more agreeable than that of chloroform, piline wrung out of boiling water, vomiting and occaresembling that of saffron. Moretin and Humbert sional syncope followed, but after the administration of recommend it for internal use as possessing all the ad- brandy the patient rallied. He considers the symptoms vantages of iodine, of which it contains 90 per cent. arose from the digitalis. Cases are reported by Drs. without any of its inconveniences. It exercises upon Reynolds and Jenkins, where poultices of digitalis the sphincters a local anesthetic effect so powerful, that leaves applied over the abdomen in suppression of urine defecation is sometimes performed unconsciously after gave satisfactory results. In severe abdominal pain, its use; it therefore forms an admirable suppository in Dr. Fussell is using, with benefit to his patient, a cases of hemorrhoids, etc. Môutre's formula is, Iodo- spongio-piline bandage sprinkled with tincture of acoform, powdered, 20 grains; cocoa butter, one ounce; nite and solution of opium.-The Doctor. melt, mix, and divide into six suppositories. For frictions, the ointment is used in the strength of one drachm to the ounce of simple ointment.-Med. Times & Gazette. BALSAM OF PERU IN SCABIES.-This remedy has lately been spoken of as a substitute for storax in itch, and it is claimed that it is equally efficacious and more easily applied. Though more expensive than storax, it is actually cheaper in practice, as much less is used. Among the advantages claimed for it is, that there is no necessity for detention in hospital. The patient is stripped and rubbed firmly from head to foot, but not so roughly as to chafe him. It is absorbed into the burrows and destroys the eggs, and the whole parasiticide process may be accomplished in an hour. A second rubbing may be instituted in about ten days, as some stray acari may infest the body from the clothes, but there is no necessity for baking or disinfecting the latter.--Edinburgh Med. Jour., and Amer. Jour. of Derm. and Syph. SIGMUND ON SYPHILIS.-In the Centralblatt f. d. Med. Wissen. Dr. Sigmund says that the first stage of syphilis embraces the time of the eruption on the skin and mucous membranes. The bearing of this time he explains as follows: 1. It is not correct to say that in some cases the skin affection is wanting, and that further on forms of more developed syphilis appear without secondaries. expe 2. In about half of the cases of syphilis the disease is completely at an end after the first stage is past. There is no such thing as latent syphilis: the dyscrasia is recognizable, or does not exist. Clinical rience now shows us that the dyscrasia sometimes gets cured without any therapeutic remedy; and also that there is no existing treatment which can hinder the appearance of the first stage of the disease. He thinks, however, that internal remedies may prevent the appearance of the tertiary symptoms, or at any rate make them appear more rarely. He admits that this is denied by many persons, but his experience of many years makes him believe that he is correct in saying so. He uses mercurial ointment for some time in the eruptive period. The value of iodide of potassium, says Sigmund, consists in its antiphlogistic action on the lymphatic glands, in the ease it thus gives to all pains, whether in the head, limbs, or in whatever part of the body they occur. During the use of this remedy for several months the appearances of the first stage of syphilis fade away, as indeed takes place when no internal remedy is made use of. Chlorate of potash is of no use in syphilis, says Sigmund, and chromate of potash also is worse than useless. The "decoctions are useless also. And as syphilis is a chronic disease let us not omit hygienic remedies. DIGITALIS, ACONITE, AND OPIUM, AS EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS. Dr. Fussell writes to the British Medical Journal that he has no doubt but that the efficacy of employing certain drugs externally depends on the NEURALGIA OF JAW.-W. J. Sneed, Nashville, Tenn. (Nashville Journ. Medicine and Surgery), describes, occurring in a farmer æt. 63, a case of neuralgia of the jawbone, first specifically noticed by Prof. Gross of Philadelphia; a disease due to compression of the branches of nerves distributed through the wasted alveolar process depending on the encroachment of osseous matter upon the walls of the canals in which they are inclosed, in elderly, edentulous persons. Although a year ago he performed Carnochan's operation of exsecting the second branch of the fifth nerve of the left side, with great relief, the neuralgia recently returned, and located itself in the left alveolar process of the upper jaw. The affected, hard, and eburnated alveolar process was removed by an incision along its ridge, from the incisor to the second molar tooth, turning aside the soft parts and cutting off the affected bone with bone forceps and gouge. There was but little hemorrhage, and very little suffering afterwards. On the third day the patient left the hospital and has not been heard from since. RESECTION OF THE HUMERUS.-Five cases of resection of humerus are reported by Dr. J. W. Thompson, Paducah, Ky. (Nashville Journ. Medicine and Surgery). In the first, 4 inches of the middle of the shaft of the bone were removed. There was a shortening of 3 inches and no bony union. It was not regarded as a very successful result. Three inches of the upper portion of the bone, including the head, were resected in the second case. There was shortening of 24 inches, with a rather good use of the forearm. In the third case, 5 inches were removed, including the head. A shortening of 34 inches was exhibited; no bony union. The limb is quite useful. The operation in this case was performed by Dr. J. S. Gilmore, Mobile, Ala. The fourth operation was performed by Dr. Schmidt, of New Orleans, La., and 5 inches of the upper third were removed. There exists 3 inches shortening; no bony union. The patient can write with it, and use a knife. Two inches of shaft were removed from the fifth patient; the exact shortening was one inch. The patient can attend to all kinds of work on a farm, though the wounded arm is not quite so strong as the other. The two first patients were Federal soldiers, wounded in 1862-4. The three last were Confederate soldiers, wounded at the battles of the Wilderness, Chancellorsville, and New Hope Church, respectively. SIMILARITY BETWEEN NOCTURNAL ENURESIS AND EPILEPSY.--Dr. J. B. Bradbury, Physician to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge (British Med. Journ.), says there is one point in connection with nocturnal enuresis which has interested him very much, and that is the close similarity between this affection and epilepsy; indeed, nocturnal enuresis might, without any great error, be called epilepsy of the bladder. The points in which the analogy holds are: 1st. Enuresis and epilepsy are both markedly hereditary, and one neurosis may be transformed into the other; patients who have had incontinence of urine in youth sometimes becoming epileptic after puberty. 2d. Both affections are influenced by the same system of nerves-the sympathetic, which may, under certain circumstances, induce spasm in the muscular fibres of the small arteries of the brain, as it does in the unstriped muscular fibres of the detrusor vesica muscle. 3d. Belladonna is of service in the treatment of both these affections, and probably acts by its influence on the sympathetic. 4th. Epilepsy may be either essential or due to reflex irritation, and so may nocturnal enuresis. He is of opinion that hydrate of chloral will be found useful in the treatment of some forms of this affection. pointed out how many cases he had seen among the poorer classes recently, of loss of vision from chronic use of alcohol. The form of loss of sight is that of amblyopia. He also mentions that intemperate persons do not do well when operated on for diseases of the eye. VACCINATING WITH SECONDARY LYMPH.-Our Manchester correspondent writes:-There is no doubt that much lymph from revaccinated persons is being used in Manchester, and at least one public vaccinator is in the habit of indiscriminately employing virgin lymph and the lymph of revaccination. The à priori argument which this gentleman adduces for the practice is that the production of a typical vesicle ("a drop of dew upon a rose-leaf") points to the fact that the original vaccine virus is quite worn out, and the individual is therefore as though he had never been vaccinated. The d posteriori argument which he urges is, that he obtains typical vesicles from this lymph, and that in all cases when it has taken effect the vaccinated persons resist the influence of fresh vaccine matter as decidedly as they do when virgin lymph has been employed; and, by parity of reasoning, he maintains that if they resist vaccinia, they will equally resist variola.—Brit TREATMENT OF ENLARGED TONSILS.-Dr. Rumbold, St. Louis, Mo. (Med. Archives), has treated successfully a number of cases of enlarged tonsils by injecting the glands, by means of a hypodermic syringe, with a solution of iodine--iodine gr. ij., potass. iod. ij., aquæ 3 j. Generally a slight inflammation followed the injection, but soon subsided. From 12 to 17 injections-ordina-ish Med. Journal. rily two a week-were sufficient to reduce the gland to its normal condition. The advantage claimed for this mode of treatment was, saving the substance and function of the gland. LIFE-LIKE IN DEATH.-Rossbach, in a late number of Virchow's Archiv (Band 51), has given an interesting account of numerous cases of sudden death on the fields of Beaumont and Sedan, in which the bodies of DRESSING FOR STUMPS.--Dr. George Buchanan, of those killed retained the position and the expression of the Glasgow Infirmary, advocates the following dress-face present just before death. In one case, a group of ing for stumps. A few strips of lint dipped in carbo- six French soldiers were killed by the explosion of a sinlized oil-with a free opening for discharge to drain gle shell as they were breakfasting in a slight hollow. away--changed once or twice in twenty-four hours, The shell had struck one of them sitting in the middle according to the amount and nature of the discharge. full in the back, where it was partly lodged; the fragBELLADONNA IN TYPHOID FEVER.-Dr. Lewis S. Pil- ments had torn away his thighs and buttocks, and cher, Passed Asst. Surgeon U. S. N. (Mich. Univ. Med. killed his comrades. From one of them the skull was Journ.), having been attracted by the positive and carried off, while the face still retained the expression warm terms in which the effects of belladonna, given in of laughter at the joke of a companion. The next one typhoid fever, are stated by Dr. B. Kelly, of Dublin, to him still held delicately raised to his lips, between finds that under its influence, within from 24-48 hours the forefinger and thumb, a tin cup from which he after the first administration of the drug, delirium, was about to drink when the explosion had taken off coma, and subsultus quickly vanish, and are succeeded the whole of the upper part of the face and head. The by calmness and clearness of the intellect, by natural close manner in which they were seated together had sleep, and complete control of all the voluntary muscles. prevented the bodies from falling after the lapse of Diarrhoea is checked, and healthy, consistent evacua- twenty-four hours. In another case a soldier shot through the breast lay half reclining on one side, with the photograph of his wife or lover held up straight before him. Rossbach cannot admit that in such cases the nervous centres must necessarily be injured, nor that death must have been instantaneous. mortis must have set in between the last moment of life and the first of death.—Lancet. tions are established. CHLORAL IN DELIRIUM TREMENS.-In the Centralblatt für die Med. Wissen. Dr. Curschmann relates some experiments in the treatment of delirium tremens by chloral hydrate. There were twenty-four males thus treated from the age of twenty-four to fifty. Two cases were complicated by pneumonia, four with surgical diseases, and the rest without complication. All were treated by chloral hydrate in wine, and in two instances by subcutaneous injection, which is not to be recommended. Clysters cannot be used in D. T. The dose given was 3 to 4 grammes-one drachm at first, afterwards more. The smallest quantity which caused sleep was five grammes, but one patient had as much as 25 grammes in 22 hours. The remedy was more successful in beer drinkers than in spirit drinkers. The pulse and respirations frequently sank soon after the administration of the drug. The duration of the sleep was 8 to 21 hours, and the patients awoke cured. He considers that the cure by chloral is much more rapid in D. T. than when any other remedy is made use of. INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL ON THE SIGHT.-M. Galezowski recently, at a sitting of the Paris Academy of Medicine, Rigor TREATMENT OF ANEURISM BY MANIPULATION.-There are at present in the General Hospital at Birmingham two most interesting cases under the care of Mr. Oliver Pemberton, which illustrate the marked success which sometimes follows the adoption of Sir W. Fergusson's treatment of aneurismal sacs. The first is the case of a comparatively young man with a popliteal aneurism, which was accidentally cured by the manipulation which Mr. Pemberton employed in the examination of the case. The second is one of subclavian aneurism, where, encouraged by his accidental success, Mr. Pemberton kneaded the tumor, and with the most brilliant results. The sac was consolidated, the artery has become blocked up, and the collateral circulation has become completely established. Shortly after the symptoms of obliteration were evident, the suprascapular artery could be felt crossing the sac, and day by day its increase has been marked. The sac probably originated from behind the performed this operation in thirty-nine hopeless cases; scalenus anticus.-Lancet. of these thirteen recovered, or one out of every three operated on. A NEW TEST FOR THE PHOSPHATES.-Dr. Heisch found that sugar was a very delicate test for water contaminated with sewage, its addition showing in a short time, with the aid of the microscope, some very characteristic fungoid growth. Dr. Frankland corroborates Dr. Heisch's results. But he has found that the presence of sewage matter alone in water is not sufficient to produce this singular result. It must be accompanied by the presence of some of the phosphates. He also finds that germs from the atmosphere in company with phosphates yield similarly formed cells. The conclusion therefore is, that though sugar is not a liable test for sewage matter, it is likely to prove a wonderfully delicate indication of the existence of phosphates.-Medical Press and Circular. are IS IT RIGHT TO VACCINATE OR REVACCINATE PREGNANT WOMEN?-Dr. Robert Barnes, of London (British Medical Journal), in answer to this question, states that so far is vaccination from causing abortion, cases known in which the foetus has gone safely through the vaccine disease in utero, so that it has subsequently been proof against vaccination. He believes we may conclude, in the absence of decisive evidence of special danger, that pregnant women are entitled to equal protection against smallpox with the rest of the comre-munity; and that vaccination or revaccination should be practised on pregnant women, in their own interest as well as in that of the community of which they form a part. In THE PRESERVATION OF PEPSINE.-Dr. Lionel Beale CLITORIDECTOMY.-Dr. J. P. White, of Buffalo, N. Y. writes to Nature to the effect that the means hitherto (Am. Jour. of Insanity), extirpated the clitoris in an adopted for preparing pepsine for medical purposes are epileptic girl, aged 20 years, who was addicted to onanclumsy and inefficient. Dr. Beale, however, claims ism. The habit was broken up entirely. It is now one exception, a process described by himself in 1858. about three years since the operation; the habit has It simply consists in quickly drying the mucus exnot returned, nor have the epileptic paroxysms reappressed from the pig's stomach glands upon glass plates. peared. He has operated in two other instances. The dried mucus is then powdered, and kept in stop-one case the paroxysms were postponed a month or pered bottles. It retains its properties for years. Eighttenths of a grain will dissolve one hundred grains of coagulated white of egg. From this powder is easily prepared, by solution in distilled water, a perfectly clear and colorless digestive fluid of great activity, which can be readily filtered.-Med. Press and Circular. PUNCTURE OF THE ABDOMEN FOR THE RELIEF OF TYMPANITIS.-The Dublin Quar. Jour. of Med. Science mentions three cases in which marked relief was afforded by this operation. In one the distension was caused by the pressure of an ovarian tumor on the intestine. The puncture was made in the cœcal region, and was repeated daily, more than fifty times, at the request of the patient. At the autopsy no traces of the punctures could be observed. The second case was that of a man 61 years old. Eight punctures were made in 14 days, with great relief and no unpleasant results. In another case, reported in the Practitioner, the operation was performed upon a patient with double pneumonia. The punctures, two in number, were made over the transverse and descending colon, and gave great relief. The patient, however, died of pneumonia, but no traces of the puncture could be found after death, except on the surface of the body. The instrument used was an exploring trochar (m. 1 Weiss). THE TOLERANCE OF CHLOROFORM.-Dr. Edward R. Squibb, of Brooklyn, N. Y. (New York Med. Journal), remarks that the greatest consumption of chloroform he ever met with was in a patient of Dr. Gustave Morelli, of New York City. This patient was the widow of an Italian physician; her age 48, and her appearance healthy. She was subject to hereditary migratory gout, the sudden pain of which was so severe that she finally gave up all slower means of temporary alleviation for the prompt action of chloroform. Between the 31st of March and the 16th of December, 1865, a record was kept, and during this time, by Dr. Morelli's direction, she was supplied by Dr. Squibb with fifty-three pounds of purified chloroform. During her acute attacks she not unfrequently used two pounds each day. TRACHEOTOMY.-Dr. George Buchanan, Lecturer on Clinical Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, in a recent clinical lecture on "Tracheotomy," states that he has two, but the epilepsy was not interrupted. Two of the cases were young girls, where the habit of masturbation was established at boarding school. Dr. White would suggest the substitution of the division of the pubic nerves subcutaneously for the more offensive mutilation of clitoridectomy. This operation would be far less disgusting, and may afford equal relief. some instances, which have come under his observation, the patients were wonderfully susceptible to the influence of this peculiar excitement; and upon applying the finger to the clitoris, it acted almost like a galvanic shock. In NOSTALGIA A CAUSE OF INSANITY.-Dr. Ralph L. Parsons, N. Y. City Lunatic Asylum (Am. Jour. Insanity), holds that nostalgia is an important cause of insanity in our foreign population, and in his opinion tends to render the prognosis of those insane from this cause unfavorable. Again, the majority of our Irish patients are of a low order of intelligence, and very many of them have imperfectly developed brains. When such persons become insane, he is inclined to think that the prognosis is peculiarly unfavorable. It is not improbable that an undue proportion of this class of the Irish emigrate to this country. THE LOCAL AND SUPERFICIAL ANESTHETIC EFFECTS OF THE PHENOLS.-According to Dr. Edward R. Squibb, of Brooklyn, N. Y. (New York Med. Journal), the best of these is cresol or cresylic acid, and next phenol or the crystallized carbolic acid. But practically the cheap mixture of the two, called coal-tar creasote or impure carbolic acid, is as good as either. The prompt and complete effect of very dilute aqueous solutions of this creasote upon the pain of burns, erysipelas, etc., led him to infer peculiar anesthetic properties many years ago, and the numbness or insensibility produced upon the hands by handling it confirmed the idea. Times and Gazette), the successor of M. Ricord in the SYPHILITIC CONTAGION.-Dr. Alfred Fournier (Med. Hôpital du Midi-the venereal hospital for males in Paris-in a thesis on syphilitic contagion, has, in conjunction with M. Puche, carefully traced the disease to its source in 873 cases. Out of the 873 cases coming promiscuously under their care, 625 contracted syphilis from women registered by the police and carefully and frequently examined by the police surgeon. THE MEDICAL RECORD. had charges to the jury which, in moral tone, equal in highmindedness what the verdict does in justice. The profession cannot fail to congratulate itself on such a state of things, neither can they fail to recognize I Semi-Monthly Journal of Medicine and Surgery. the claims which every one of the philanthropists has CONCERNING THE CRIME OF ABORTION. FROM the time the Hippocratic oath was first administered, from the time that the first follower of the great father of medicine was made to swear that he would "give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner would not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion," the profession of medicine has striven, by precept and by example, to be true to its trusts. From time immemorial the crime of abortion has been held in special abhorrence. No matter what class of individuals, whether statesmen, political economists, philosophers, or divines have been engaged in the discussion of the enormity of the crime, the physician as a radical has always led the van. With him there has been no excuse, no extenuation for the dreadful abuse of nature's most sacred law. He has always been proud to think that the profession of his choice was above the suspicion of even an accessory to the production of an abortion. All over the civilized world wherever a medical man is to be found, and wherever legitimate medicine is respected, the same noble and honorable sentiment is entertained. No language has been deemed too pointed or too severe to express the just abhorrence of one of the most dreadful of crimes, one for the performance of which there is the least excuse, one for which the punishment should be proportionably severe. The discussions which have filled the pages of the medical and other scientific journals of the past century have breathed but one sentiment, and have refused to compromise the question in any shape or degree. Within the past few years the views of the profession have, if possible, been more positive than heretofore, and their opinions have been entertained by every class of thinkers. The secular press has taken up the subject, and with its scathing pen has anathematized the evil-doers; the pulpit has thundered its maledictions against the criminals-has thrown aside prudery and presented the naked facts to a sinning community; and lastly, the bar has striven to do its part in punishment, and from the judge's bench of this city we have upon the esteem, the respect, and the good will of the profession. All have aided in the good work; but no one can fail to see that the crime can be best stayed by severe and just punishment. For this latter, the courses of Judge Gunning S. Bedford and District-Attorney Garvin of this city, merit especially the hearty approval of every medical man. Every member of our profession acquainted with the manner in which the DistrictAttorney has prosecuted the cases and the Judge has measured out justice to the convicted criminals, will be ready with a hearty endorsement of the recent action of the New York Academy of Medicine. In order that such an action may stand upon record to the credit of Judge Bedford and Mr. Garvin on the one hand, and the profession on the other, we present the following preamble and resolutions adopted at the meeting held May 18, 1871:— "Whereas, The pervading crime of abortion as a regularly advertised business has, in this city and county, been hitherto opposed by the medical profession without the uniform and efficient cooperation of the State officers and the courts which has been desired and reasonably expected: "Resolved, That the profession hail the advent of any administration which will secure it such long-desired support as shall enable it to successfully contend against this wide-spread crime, practised, in too many instances, by malefactors possessing or pretending to possess medical diplomas. "Resolved, That Judge Gunning S. Bedford, by his manner of conducting the trials of those notorious abortionists and enemies of mankind, Wolff and Thomas Lookup, by the high moral tone of his addresses to, and by his clear and specific instructions given to the juries, and finally, by his prompt and just sentences, eminently honored the name he bears, has done infinite service to society, has merited the commendation and shall have the most cordial approval of the New every member of the profession who properly estimates York Academy of Medicine, as he doubtless will of his duty and morality. "Resolved, That an official copy of this expression of the Academy, and the minutes pertaining to it, be sent to Judge Bedford, to our efficient District-Attorney Garvin, to the President of the New York Bar Association, and to the daily papers of this city." W. T. WHITE, M.D., Secretary. This, certainly, is one of the fruits of labor in the right direction, and as such is a cause for encouragement. But at the very time we are congratulating ourselves, a circumstance makes it necessary to mingle our joy with sorrow. From what has been said, considering the views of our profession upon abortion, it might be thought impossible for any member in good standing to have been found guilty of the crime. But the fact is that such a crime has been committed, and that Dr. James B. Cutter, of Newark, N. J., is the criminal. We rejoice that a prominent member of the amaurosis, where the changes in the optic nerve are not too pronounced, are fit cases for treatment; so are a limited number of the cases of symptomatic cerebral and spinal amaurosis, and especially cases of amblyopia and amaurosis dependent upon toxical and traumatic causes. Where there is pronounced degeneration of the optic nerve, with formation of connective tissue, it is useless to make experiments which would only compromise the remedy. Cases of intra-ocular neuritis cptici and its consequences are not fit for this treatment. Symptoms of cerebral irritation and tabes are to be regarded as contra-indications to the use of strychnine. It is hardly necessary for me to add that, while I advise the use of strychnine, I would by no means neglect the usual rational treatment, especially that directed against the cause of the affection. Hydrate of chloral I have found of service in counteracting the sleeplessness that is so injurious in amaurosis, and as an antidote to the slight secondary action of the strychnine, without in the least impairing its action upon the impaired vision. Finally, encouraged by an observation of my own and one printed case, I would recommend to aural surgeons the consideration of strychnine as a remedy in cases of nervous deafness. I hope soon to publish more complete communications upon this subject. AIDS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CERTAIN DISEASES.* BY S. FLEET SPEIR, M.D., SURGEON TO THE BROOKLYN CITY HOSPITAL, TO THE BROOKLYN EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY, ETC. ETC. THE armamentarium of the profession is already so burdened with variety of form and similarity of use, that the introduction of any new instrument can be excused only on the ground that it enables us to accomplish the object in view more rapidly or more perfectly than heretofore. The instruments which I here present have seemed to me to fulfil certain indications, and to aid in diagnosis to such an extent as to make them not unworthy the attention of this Society. SELF-RETAINING AND SELF-ILLUMINATING EAR-SPECULum. The first instrument to which I invite your attention is a self-retaining ear-speculum. CEO TIEMANN FIG. 1. It is simple in its construction, and leaves the opera tor free to use both hands. The instrument is a funnel A paper read before the Kings County Medical Society. shaped bivalve, fastened by a pivot in the centre, and separated at the top by a sliding screw, which opens or shuts the valves at will, by moving in one direction or the other the little nut attached to the screw. By its use many of the operations upon the ear can be performed without the aid of an assistant, for the operator can use the reflector in one hand, while the other employs an instrument; or if sunlight be used for illumination, both hands are left free to the operator. If it is found necessary to change hands, or lay aside one instrument and take up another, or change the position, it can be done without trouble. The speculum is easily adjusted, and can be modified so as to fit any sized canal, avoiding thus the need of a series of sizes. Another advantage of this form of speculum is, that it admits of a more perfect illumination of the ear, and brings into view a much wider field; at the same time it allows of the use of instruments for removing wax or for operations on the ear through the speculum. It also has the advantage of being capable of illumination by indirect rays of light. All that is necessary to secure a full illumination is, that the rays of light shall strike upon the interior of the funnel a short distance inwards, when it will follow on until it reaches the tympanum. This allows of the head of the observer being placed in front of the speculum, and the light upon the side-no special form of light being necessary, and in this sense it may be said to be self-illuminating. When sun-light is used, the strong rays are diffused before they reach the interiorthus affording a better light than can be obtained from its direct rays. GEO. TIEMANN&CO N.Y. The claims to originality in this instrument are based upon the adaptation of the principle of the bivalve speculum to a convenient form of self-retaining earspeculum. Fig. 2 is a convenient form of earscoop, intended for use in extracting wax or foreign bodies from the ear. It is made of rather soft metal, which allows of its being bent to any desired curve or angle. It has the advantage of removing wax, etc., without pressure upon the tympanum. By the curve given to the spoon and the shape of the handle, a rotatory movement can be given to it by rolling the handle between the thumb and forefinger, so that the instrument passes between the foreign substance and the wall of the canal without pressure from without, and wax will be removed in the form of a cone. The handle being long and thin, this curette may be used through the self-retaining ear-speculum with the great advantage of perfect illumination while the operation is being FIG. 2. performed. The operation of removing wax from the ear is rendered less painful by the instrument detaching the wax from a few only of the hairs in the ear at a time. FIG. 3.-A Lachrymal Catheter. The treatment of fistula lachrymalis, dacryocystitis, mucocele, strictures, inflammation, and abscess of the lachrymal passages, has always been a source of annoyance to the surgeon. I have shared in this annoyance to such an extent as to lead me to add a new instrube called a lachrymal catheter. (Fig. 3.) ment for the treatment of lachrymal diseases. It may It is made of silver tubing-having the general form and outline of the lachrymal probe, the difference being |