This ink, known as Leonhard's (Dresden) violet ink, is a compound of aniline blue and aniline red, carefully prepared, and mixed with such substances as make this compound good for a writing fluid. Mixed with a little glycerine it stains amyloid substance a beautiful red color, while all other tissues exhibit a blue tint. And this reaction is so sensitive that it will show by a red color, the slightest degree of amyloid degeneration, even where the test with iodine and sulphuric acid fails. The slices prepared for the microscope are covered with a drop of the fluid; the glass is superimposed and by means of distilled water, the superfluous coloring matter is washed out from under the glass. If by too long an exposure to the ink, the normal tissues have become too opaque, the color can be extracted by water. Such preparations may be preserved in every liquid used for this purpose. Another advantage of this new test, is that it can be employed also without failure in substances preserved in alcohol, or Müller's solution. 4. A New Process for Staining Tissues. F. E. HOGGAN, M.D. (Medical News; Brit. Med. Jour., August 28, 1875.) Mrs. Frances Elizabeth Hoggan, M.D., London, discussed her process for staining tissues at the late meeting of the British Medical Association. The process recommended itself principally on account of the property it possessed of staining the substance of the cell, as well as the nucleus and nucleolus, and because it gave the best results where carminate of ammonia failed. It consisted in first pouring over the specimen (after treating it with water and with methylated spirit) a one per cent. solution of perchloride of iron; and, in a few minutes afterwards, a few drops of a two per cent. solution of pyrogallic acid, both solutions being made in distilled water. A practical demonstration of the process was given by Mrs. Hoggan. 5. Changes Produced by the Circulation in the Volume of Members. At the late "French Association for the Advancement of Science," M. Franck made a very interesting communication upon the above subject. It is thus epitomized by the Progrès Médical, Sept. 4, 1875: "If the hand be plunged into a vessel of water, and care be taken to exclude the air, the level of the liquid will be seen to rise with each augmentation of volume of the immersed member. If a vertical tube be adapted to this vessel the changes in the level will be more appreciable and can be recorded in the form of a tracing. It is possible, at the same time that the changes of volume of one arm for example are being studied, to take, upon the same person, a tracing of the pulse of the other arm, a tracing of the respiration and one of the beatings of the heart. "Now, it can be seen that the tracing of the augmentation of volume and that of the pulse give a parallel curve; but the trace of augmentation of volume is modified by the respiration. The curve of the respiration does not exactly correspond with the deviations that the respiration causes the curve of the changes in the volume to undergo. There is not perfect synchronism, since the two lines cross each other. Under the influence of effort, the outline of the tracing of the augmentation of volume rises rapidly, then it remains stationary whilst the amplitude of the pulsations diminishes. If, by a ligature moderately tightened, the return of venous blood is prevented, the tracing takes exactly the form of a pair.of stairs, the steps of which progressively diminish in height. It becomes a horizontal line when the pressure in the veins becomes equal to the cardiac impulse. "If the two femoral arteries be compressed, the tracing rises during two beats. During the first beat, there is a movement of quick ascension, corresponding to a brusque suppression of a large vascular area. During the second beat, there is a progressively ascending movement, cor responding to the return of venous blood from the lower limbs, a period during which the inferior members become empty of venous blood and do not receive any (blood). If the arm, opposite to the one experimented with, be elevated, the tracing rises, the blood contained in the uplifted arm falling back of its own weight and augmenting the pressure in the rest of the circulatory system. "When the brachial artery of the arm experimented with is compressed, the tracing descends, and returns again when compression ceases, and exceeds the former level. The volume of the hand is perhaps influenced by vaso motor action; if the hand be cooled, a diminution of the volume ensues. It is precisely the sameremarkable fact!-if the opposite hand be cooled. The explanation of this fact is by no means clear. It is supposed that it occurs from reflex action." Book Reviews. [NOTE. All works reviewed in the pages of the CHICAGO MEDICAL JOURNAL AND EXAMINER may be found in the extensive stock of W. B. KEEN, COOKE & Co., whose catalogue of Medical Books will be sent to any address upon request.] THE HEART AND ITS DISEASES WITH THEIR TREATMENT. By H. K. This is a volume of 382 pages, neatly printed on tinted paper, and free from those offensive advertisements which occupy such a considerable space in many books. Following Bernard, Cyon, Rutherford, Pettigrew, Brunton, Richardson, Quain, Geo. Johnson, Traub, and others, the author has attempted to place the "Heart and its Diseases" before the profession under the full light of recent investigations. Though we cannot accept some of the theories ad vanced, we must respect the manner in which they are given, and the names of the investigators who support them. Some things which seem probable to the author seem very improbable to us; for instance, he thinks that hysteria, one of the causes of palpitation, is always the result of ovarian congestion or chronic ovaritis. We think this an error, though, of course, we agree that palpitation may be produced by irritation of the sexual organs. The description of the structure of the heart and its nerve supply is doubtless more nearly correct than that found in older works. With regard to the disputed, question, as to the causes of the first sound of the heart, the author believes that there are two principal factors viz., contraction of muscular fibre of the ventricular walls, and closure of the auriculo-ventricular valves. Two lesser factors are given, viz., the apex beat against the chest wall, and the rushing of blood through the aortic and pulmonic orifices. In some recent publications, muscular contraction per se is said to have no part in the production of the heart sounds, and the majority of the profession seem of this opinion; yet we think any auscultator may satisfy himself of the correctness of the author by a simple experiment. As we listen over the ball of the thumb, where the skin will not move beneath the stethoscope, we hear with each contraction of the subjacent muscles a sound similar to the first sound of the heart. A like sound, though more intense, may be obtained over the fore-arm while the fingers are being flexed. It is important to appreciate this fact, for the muscular element of the first sound varies in intensity directly with the varying strength of the ventricular walls. The author's remarks upon the character of the pulse, as a means of diagnosis, are worthy of attention; and his descriptions of some of the signs and symptoms of cardiac diseases are uncommonly clear. In place of the common belief that little can be done for patients suffering with disease of the heart, the author holds that many cases may be greatly benefited, and some cured, by appropriate remedies. Briefly, his treatment is as follows: First, whenever possible, remove the cause. If this is found in the patient's business or habits, these must be changed; if in the rheumatic or gouty diathesis, this must be combated; if in the kidneys, as in Bright's disease, the blood must be purified through the other emunctories. Hypertrophy is always conservative, and, therefore, of itself requires no treatment. When the heart begins to fail, remedies are needed which strengthen its pulsations, and thus tend to induce hypertrophy. For this purpose digitalis is specially recommended, and after it belladonna, caffeine and squill; at the same time iron, quinine and good diet may be required. In the latter stages of heart failure, much may be done by way of palliation, though we cannot hope for permanent relief. The subject of prognosis is treated of, in this, more satisfactorily than in most kindred works. · Several rare or obscure diseases of the heart are described; such as ulcerative endocarditis, fatty infiltration, connective tissue hypertrophy, irritable heart, syphilitic gummata, etc. The atheromatous process, its causes and effects, are well described, and a short but interesting chapter has been introduced on malformations of the heart. The thirteenth is a chapter of special interest, treating of combined heart and kidney disease. Having called our attention to the fact that imperfect action of the kidneys allows an accumulation of urinary salts in the blood, the author goes on to show that these salts, acting as a poison, affect, first, the vaso-motor nerves, and through them cause spasm of the arterioles. Repeated spasm of these vessels causes thickening of their walls, and a corresponding diminution of their calibre, which, by impeding the flow of blood, necessitates an increased action of the heart, and this sooner or later induces hypertrophy. |