hanging walls of the Yosemite for nearly a mile to its floor, and have also stood at the foot of, and been bathed in, the spray of its grand waterfalls a fall of water, in height sixteen times exceeding that of Niagara. And another ample river with a first jump of six hundred feet, and at its base encircled and festooned by climbing and dancing rainbows. But none of these nature-glories awakens in my mind the reverential thoughts as does the memory of one particular spot on earth-that one spot! Well, what, and why? Kind reader, go with me. From the Little Miami River, at one certain point up to the level of the surrounding country it is about one-third of a mile. The ascending and winding roadway passes up through a deep and narrow ravine. Promontories of tree-clad hills jut out here and there, narrowing the road in places, so that but one vehicle at a time could pass. The roadbed of sand and gravel is as smooth as a floor. On the west side rushes a stream of water, deep down below the surface of the way. Fifty years ago, its banks in places were absolutely perpendicular from the edge of the road. Now, to add to the charms of this spot, on the west side is a large ever-flowing spring of clear, pure water which is well patronized by passers-by. In the hot days of summer one could not wish for a more charming and restful spot-watered, cool, shaded by over arching trees. Such was my fairy dell fifty years ago. How denuded now I know not. But I have one emphatic reason for cherishing a vivid memory of this, to me, enchanted spot. The Story of the Spring At one time, in 1850, during an epidemic of Asiatic cholera, this spring gained great notoriety. It was in this way: My brother lay in the last stage of that dread disease which within three weeks carried off a full tenth of the entire population of the nearby town of Maineville. When given up to die, my brother said that if he only could be supplied with water from this spring he would recover. His dying request was complied with. He kept his word and recovered. This occurrence caused to be established a constant supply, nearly two miles distant, of fresh water from this fountain of life; and always thereafter the first ride of the convalescents was to this magical spring. It was a strange infatuation, as the water was not medicinal, but it shows what a notion may do. I myself was one of the victims of the delusion and imbibed of the water. Well, this is the spot. But why so burned into my memory? Listen to my experience. One dark night in winter, fifty years ago, I was called professionally and had been detained until the gray dawn of the morning. On my way home I had to pass up this wooded ravine, fatigued, sleepy, and cold. I drove a very gentle and trusty pony to a cart. There was no travel at that early hour and I knew that my horse would keep the center of the smooth road and take me safely home, and a few minutes' sleep would do me so much good. So I could not resist the temptation, threw the lines over my head and quickly fell asleep. It was but a few minutes, when I felt the firm pressure of a hand grasping and rocking my right shoulder, while into my ear was distinctly whispered, "Old fellow, you had better wake up." Dazed and half awake, I realized that the danger was on the right hand. So I pulled the left line and then looked down. There, to my amazement, the right wheel of my sulky was tracking within an inch of the edge of the perpendicular bank down to the swollen stream. I then cast a look back for the friend who had so kindly admonished me. If there, he was not visible. I looked again, to discover why my sure-footed, gentle and kind pony had left the center of the narrow road and was about to land me down there in the cold, foaming flood. I then saw the cause of his meandering. He was a dainty fellow, and, to avoid getting his feet soiled, had turned out from a puddle of muddy water in a low spot in the center of the road! He was thinking more of his own clean feet just at that time than of his master. forgave him, but it cured me of the habit of sleeping while riding no more emphatic admonition was ever required. Now, this is no Arabian Nights story, and while I hold up my right hand for the truth of it, I marvel as to its explanation. Some may call it dreaming, some may call it Divine interposition. But, say, reflecting reader, could it have been both? And now, at times, in sleepless hours of night, I fancy that I hear that voice and feel that hand. How strange! I was not an old fellow fifty years ago. Was the admonition so put to make it emphatic? It rather had that effect. Other scenes and experiences may fade, but why should I forget such a deliverance, and why ignore the lure of this spot? It is due the genii to say that I was duly grateful for not getting my clothes wet and my neck broken. And this is my most sacred earthly spot! There are no exaggerations in these statements, and I venture no explanatory assertions, but in reflective moments the query will come up, Can anything happen without cause? Say, then, what altruistic monitor so rocked my shoulder and ad dressed me, "Old fellow you had better wake up," fifty years ago? If we would but recognize them, there are sacred spots as well as turning points in life. For me, my first was the locality where I was introduced to the light of this mysterious world—with forceps on my head on the 21st day of October, at 4 o'clock in the morning, anno Domini 1830. I call to mind that this world seemed, at that period, prosy, and was run by horse and manual power. But the world of today is run by electricity-not always requiring wire nerves! Science says to the prosy individual, "Old fellow, you had better wake up." And it says to the old-style prescriber of drugs, "Old fellow, you had better wake up"-and says it as emphatically as I was admonished to waken up. Then let us rather be alert and optimistic to appreciate the hints of science and of nature and be alive to opportunity. Let us not be unduly bound by adverse environment. I His wife ONCE knew a man who felt it so necessary to make a living that G. Arbour Stephens (abstract in The Prescriber, Jan., 1911) has tried calcium permanganate, with good results, on patients suffering from gastric inflammation (gastric catarrh, gastritis or gastric ulcer). He gives 1-4 grain three times a day. The drug is of service in enteritis and colitis, and also in workers among lead in whom "lead lines" on the gums are well marked. It is suggested that in this latter condition. the cure is brought about by the permanganate of calcium curing or preventing gastritis. Tried empirically, the drug has been employed with benefit in malaria. The best form of administering the drug is by means of capsules, otherwise the unpleasantness of the taste is liable to terminate the treatment in a somewhat abrupt manner. It is also recommended for local applications in such conditions. as rodent ulcer, inoperable cancer, etc. POTASSIUM BICHROMATE IN PHTHISIS James B. Tombleson gives in The Lancet for Nov. 19, 1910 an interesting account of six cases of phthisis which improved markedly under treatment, with potassium bichromate. One-quarter of a grain (2 1-2 minims of a 10-percent solution in water) of potassium bichromate is exhibited, alone or in a tonic mixture, in a wine-glassful of water after food twice a day at first, to be increased upon toleration to three times a day. The drug may cause sickness at first. FOR SURGICAL EMERGENCIES Iodine solution, of the strength of 1 in 500; zinc sulphocarbolate, 1 in 80; saturated solution of boric acid; and zinc chloride, 1 in 15, are good to keep on the dressing table and to carry in the emergency satchel, according to The Medical World, December, 1910. They may be used for cleansing wounds, as also for a variety of purposes that will readily suggest themselves to those doing much emergency surgery. VOMITING OF PREGNANCY Dr. F. A. Remley, Alvin, Texas, suggests the cauterization of the os uteri as a sure cure for the vomiting of pregnancy. The cervix is exposed with the speculum and a saturated solution of nitrate of silver is applied to the congested external os. As the doctor suggests, it will turn the red os white; but the nausea spells are gone, and for good. "It has never failed me." Physicians trying this method are requested to report their experiences. VALUE OF THE CALCIUM SALTS. YOUR OPINION WANTED Some two or three years ago an article appeared in the London Lancet, written by Luff, who asserted that many obscure conditions, such as the tendency to hemorrhage, and the ailments due to the socalled "serous" hemorrhages, such as urticaria, chilblains, morning headache, puffiness of the extremities, pruritus, etc., are traceable to a deficiency of the lime salts in the body. Luff's opinion was supported by the experience of Wright, Ross and others, all of whom advocated the administration of large doses of calcium lactate or chloride in these conditions. We cannot recall that any reader of CLINICAL MEDICINE has reported his experience with these salts in the diseases mentioned above. We shall be exceedingly glad to receive reports from as many of our readers as possible upon this matter. Even a postcard comment will be acceptable. ACTION OF DIGITALIS According to The Medical Standard (April, 1911, p. 148), Von Leyden, in Therapie der Gegenwart, deprecates the tendency to prescribe digitalis as soon as symptoms of cardiac incompetence occur. He says that tolerance soon follows the use of digitalis, and when more serious symptoms of cardiac failure develop, no results are obtained from its administration. Measures tending to secure both physical and mental rest for the patient should be employed before the use of digitalis. Von Leyden is of the opinion that digitalis has a greater action upon the left side of the heart, and so may fail to benefit those patients suffering more from a failure of the right heart. In fact, he believes that digitalis may even be harmful in these cases. He also thinks that, due to the action of digitalis principally upon the cardiac muscle, there will be little or no effect in advanced myocarditis or when valvular disease is associated with myocarditis. Von Leyden has not seen much benefit derived from the use of digitalis in fever; in fact, large doses seem to be actually harmful. He prefers the infusion of digitalis, and gives it in smaller doses than those usually prescribed, and discontinues it when its therapeutic effects have been obtained. He believes that digitalis in pill form is untrustworthy and that the tincture is uncertain. Digitalis leaves vary in strength according to where grown and the time of gathering. Age also diminishes their strength. |