From these facts, and many others that might be adduced in proof of the active properties of almost every member of this family, we think we do not attach too much importance in the call of experimenters to the trial of the physiological and therapeutical effects of the Holacantha.

Selections.

SYPHILIS IN THE LOWER ANIMALS.

M. AUZIAS TURENNE has presented to the Académie de Médecine a final report on this subject. It is well known that he has for a long time been investigating the question of the susceptibility of the lower animals to inoculation with the syphilitic poison, and has very positively asserted that such inoculation can be produced. The last number of the Archives Générales de Médecine contains the conclusions arrived at in TURENNE's memoir. It should be stated, however, that these views are not yet accepted by the best syphilographers, and that whenever the subject has been brought up in the Academy, TURENNE'S "unfortunate cat" has afforded occasion for no little merriment. At the conclusion of the reading of the report in question, RICORD objected strenuously to its conclusions, and maintained that thus far there had been no demonstrative evidence of constitutional syphilis in the lower animals, but in the cases reported as such there was such a complication of morbid phenomena that it was impossible to come to any positive solution of the question; and besides, the differential diagnosis in these cases was by no means well established. TURENNE's report was referred to a committee consisting of MM. RICORD, BOULEY, and GUERIN. We present the conclusions of TURENNE's paper, that our readers may see what is being done abroad by way of investigation of this interesting subject:

1. Certain of the lower animals-the monkey and the cat especially-can contract syphilis of different forms, either primary or consecutive.

2. The mucous membranes of these animals do not appear to be very favorable for the development of the syphilitic symptoms.

3. Nevertheless, the chancre and false chancre do develop on these mucous membranes.

4. I have seen on the lower lip of a cat a large, slow growing tubercle, which was three times reproduced in precisely the same spot, and which each time was ulcerated. At the time of each reappearance of this tubercle the cat was pregnant, and afterward gave birth to young which lived but a few days.

5. The primary symptoms in the monkey and the cat are the chancre and false chancre.

6. I am in doubt whether these animals are susceptible of contracting syphilitic blenorrhgia.

7. Twice I have found roseola-once in the monkey and once in the cat.

8. Scattered eruptions of acne constitute a common and persistent symptom in the animals.

9. These eruptions present in the monkey, cat, and rabbit, the same characteristics as in man, with only this difference, that while in man they are confined to the scalp and certain hairy portions of the body, in animals they are generally distributed over the whole body. 10. Alopecia is an undoubted symptom of syphilis in the monkey and the cat.

11. Mucous patches and onyxis are unquestionable manifestations of syphilis in animals.

12. It is true that animals are subject to rheumatoid pains, for under the influence of syphilis they become very sensitive to cold, and sometimes the movements of their limbs are interfered with.

13. The hair-bulbs and the scalp become the seat of pain in animals in certain cases of syphilis.

14. Circumscribed acne, syphilitic vegetations, gummy tumors and tubercles of the skin, have frequently been observed in the cat. 15. This animal is subject to osteocopic pains and adenitis. 16. The cat, which is the subject of this paper, has a muscular tumor of a syphilitic nature.

17. Periostoses and also exotosis have been ascertained and proven in the cat.

18. A syphilitic cat, after giving birth to young infected with hereditary syphilis, becomes sterile.

19. From all these primitive and consecutive symptoms, we are able to say there is probably not a single one that will not spontaneously disappear. Each one has a beginning, a continuation, and a termination. This is not accidental, but a natural evolution which is accomplished. They are not arrested by treatment, but they yield spontaneously. The disease itself, in its various manifestations, has a beginning, a culmination, and an end.-New York Med. Jour.

PROLAPSUS OF THE URETHRA IN LITTLE GIRLS.

THIS disease is not so unfrequent as might be supposed, and in an article published on the subject in the Revue de Thérapeutique, M. GUERSANT states that he has observed fifteen cases of the affection in little girls between two and twelve years of age.

Eversion of the urethra, like prolapsus of the rectum, occurs only under the influence of an enfeebled state of the constitution. When this predisposition is present, bearing-down efforts or paroxysms of cough are sufficient to occasion the displacement of the mucous lining of the urethra. A small roseate tumor then forms at the meatus, with a central orifice, through which a bougie can be passed down into the bladder. This condition may last some time without attracting notice; but it often produces pain and difficulty in voiding urine, irritation of the vulva, a puriform discharge; and it has even been known to induce superficial mortification.

Urethral polypus is the only disease which might be mistaken for procidentia urethræ, but the polypus will be discriminated by the existence of a pedicle.

For many reasons it is desirable to remove the affection, and excision is the most appropriate measure for the purpose.

Chloroform having been exhibited, the part is exposed, and the mucous membrane being secured and gently drawn outward with a loop of thread or a tenaculum, the exuberant fold can be easily cut off with curved scissors. A very small quantity of blood escapes, and the hemorrhage promptly yields to cold water compresses, or to

the local application of diluted sesquichloride of iron. In a case in which the hemorrhage proved more obstinate, M. GUERSANT resorted with success to the application over the hypogastric region of a bladder filled with ice.

In most cases the operation presents no difficulty, and produces merely a little pain for a day or two in passing water; cold lotions, and if necessary superficial cauterization with nitrate of silver, may be required to promote cicatrization.--Jour. of Pract. Med. and Surg.

CHANCRE SUPERVENING

UPON SECONDARY SYMPTOMS.

WE translate from the Union Médicale the following account of a case of chancre occurring during the period of secondary symptoms. The case was reported by M. MICHAUD, interne of the Lourcine Hospital:

K., aged 32 years, married ten years, had four years ago a vaginal discharge, symptomatic of ulceration of the uterine neck. This year, towards the end of April, she discovered on the left labium quite a hard papule, which was probably an infecting chancre. On questioning her subsequently, the patient said she had had several papules consecutively, the number of which had progressively augmented until the end of the month of June, during which period, according to her statement, she had scabs upon the scalp, and lost flesh.

The 29th of June, K. came to the Lourcine, and was seen by M. DESPRES, who found numerous mucous tubercles scattered over the whole mucous surface of the labia majora, and others at the margin of the anus; also clusters of enlarged indolent glands in both groins. Cauterizations with chloride of zinc-no mercury; tonic regimen. The 20th of July, the patient came again for advice to M. DESPRES. The mucous tubercles were nearly cured; but on the lower lip there was an indurated chancre of the size of a small hazel-nut. The latter was developed in the following manner: Eight or ten days after the patient first consulted M. DESPRES, she discovered at the upper extreminty of a crack in the upper lip, from which she had

removed a scab the night before, a small swelling, which gradually increased in size, and which scabbed anew. The 27th of July, the patient presented herself for the third time to M. DESPRES. At the vulva, the only traces of the mucous tubercles consisted in white spots on the mucous membrane of the labia majora. At the upper lip, the chancre had attained the size of a franc piece. The circular induration was well marked underneath a thin scab which covered the tumefaction. Sub-maxillary adenitis existed. are still swollen, and one in a state of indolent inflammation. A subhyoid ganglion was also enlarged, and is so still. There was a mucous tubercle upon the right tonsil.

Two ganglions

The 22d of August, this patient entered the Lourcine Hospital during the service of M. LIEGEOIS, when she was subjected to mercurial treatment. The 5th of September, however, a few mucous tubercles had returned upon the labia majora.

M. LIEGEOIS, on the ground of the slightly marked glandular enlargement, and taking into consideration the usual course of syphilis, was inclined to think that the case was one of simple mucous tubercle, taking on a peculiar character from its seat, and from contact with the air. M. DESPRES, on the contrary, saw in this lesion all the indications of indurated chancre of the upper lip. In order to decide the question, this patient was to have been presented to the Academy of Medicine the 4th of September; but the programme for the day, having been very crowded, did not allow of it. Nevertheless, several Academicians, MM. RICORD, GUENEAU DE MUSSY, and DEPAUL, have seen her, and have not hesitated to diagnosticate an indurated chancre of the lip. M. RICORD's only doubt was in regard to the anterior existence of mucous tubercles.

[The reporter of the case subjoins the following remarks.-EDs.] It cannot be supposed that there were in one patient two indurated chancres resulting from two infections incurred at the same epoch, since at the appearance of the second chancre, there remained no appearance of the first. We have here a syphilitic re-infection which may be likened to the artificial re-inoculations of WALLACE, H. Lee, DIDAY, SPERINO, etc., and to the natural re-infections observed by MM. FOLLIN, RODET, and DIDAY. In a great number of these cases, and notably in the artificial re-inoculations, the indurated chancre