Summary Gleanings.

To cure warts give eight drops of iodine twice daily.

Never give a child a bath immediately after a meal.

One of our very best drugs for the treatment of eysipelas is ichthyol.

Heroin is said to promptly relieve cough of all kinds, especially the cough of tuberculosis.

Painful menstration is not a disease, but merely a symptom found in various pelvic diseases.

Dr. Osler says that the combined infection with the typhoid and malarial germs is excessively rare.

Headaches at the menopause, with the flushes followed by perspiration, are relieved with gelsemium.

In giving cimicifuga in the treatment of chorea, remember that a decoction of the root is the most active form.

Nitroglycerin is the one agent which acts more promptly by the mouth than when given hypodermically.

Inoperable uterine cancers have been reported as arrested in their growth by full doses of thyroid extract.

Capsicin administered in small doses at frequent intervals is stated to give good results in many cases of hay fever.

Painful menstruation in a sterile patient is strong evidence that there is tubal inflammation with occlusion of tubes.

Sycose, having a sweetening power 550 times greater than that of sugar, is the newest, substitute offered in diabetic conditions.

Thyroid extract in mammary cancer lessens the pain and the discharge, and seemingly has an inhibitory action on the malignant growth.

Five drops of the tincture of lobelia in two ounces of water, half teaspoonful every 10 minutes, given warm, will cure many cases of infantile colic from whatever cause; will soothe nervous irritation and induce sleep.

Chronic buzzing in the ears, whether due to dry sclerous otitis or to Meniere's disease, is benefited, according to Bouchard, by giving quinine.

To urine suspected of containing pus add enough tincture of guaiac to produce a milky appearance, then boil. The pus will produce a blue tint.

Passiflora incarnata in five-drop doses, before meals, is said to have cured cases of acidity of the stomach after other drugs had failed to relieve.

Never allow a room to be swept or dusted just before an operation. Cover everything with wet sheets, if necessary. so as to prevent the raising of dust.

In eczema of the scalp in young children, give berberis aquifolium. It is nearly a specific. The application of bismuth and lanolin externally will assist materially.

In pregnancy the occurrence of salivation, dyspepsia, constipation, headache, disordered vision, irritability, deficient excretion of urine, anemia, should make you suspect toxemia.

Take five parts of camphorated chloral, 30 parts of glycerin, and 10 parts of the oil of almonds, saturate a piece of cotton with this and apply into a painful ear and it will cure as if by magic.

Dr. Fisher, of New York, found the duration of 51 cases of whooping.cough treated with Bromoform to be from 10 to 30 days, and believes that it will cure 75% of all uncomplicated cases.

Sulphur, even in the dose of a fraction of a grain, will increase the efficacy of a purgative pill or powder, by increasing the flatus in the intestine, thus facilitating the expulsion of its contents.

In difficult diagnosis between measles and scarlet fever, Dr. Donkin points to the fact that the region of the nose is always occupied by eruption in measles and the lips peel in scarlet fever.

For hemorrhage from lungs or uterus, atropine hypodermically, ergotin and strychnine by the mouth; if there is retained placenta, curette and wash out the uterus with a 25% hydrogen peroxide.

VOL. XXI.

TERMS:

Subscription $1.00 per year, in advance, including postage to any part of the United States, Mexico and Canada. Postage to any foreign country in the Universal Postal Union, including Newfoundland, 25 cents a year additional.

Subscribers failing to receive the SUMMARY should notify us within the month and the omission will be supplied. When a change of address is ordered, both the new and the old address must be given. Subscriptions may begin with any number. How to Remit.-Payment can be made by Postal Money-Order, Bank Check or Draft, or Express Money-Order. When none of these can be procured, send the money in a Registered Letter. All postmasters are required to register letters whenever requested to do so.

Receipts.-The receipt of all money is immediately acknowledged by a postal card. Important Notice.-The printed address label which appears on the wrapper of your SUMMARY indicates the date to which your subscription has been paid. Subscribers wishing the SUMMARY stopped at the expiration of their paidin-advance subscription must notify us to that effect, otherwise we assume it their wish to have it continued, expecting to receive a remittance at their earliest convenience.

Address THE MEDICAL SUMMARY,

No. 12

no state or section can afford to ignore the warning.

That the public has become fully aroused to the need of energetic action in this matter is attested by the large number of meetings held at which consumption and the best means of its prevention, spread, etc., are carefully and learnedly discussed. The Berlin Tuberculosis Congress, held in May last, is an example. There were delegates present from this country and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Persia and Japan, as well as from all the countries of Europe. The subjects treated were arranged under the four general heads of dissemination, cause, prevention, treatment and sanatoria. And while few new facts were brought out, a beginning in international co-operation was made. Another tuberculosis congress will meet in Chicago this month, and with the impulse gained at Berlin last year it is hoped that some decided advances will be made.

Local action, however, at least in some sections, is not waiting on the results of this congress. In New York a movement has been under way for several years to secure assistance from the State for the establishment of a sanatorium in the Adirondacks, the climate there having been proved to be especially beneficial to phthisical patients. However, the attempt having proved unsuccessful so far,

it is confidently expected that an appropriation will be granted for this purpose during the present session of the State Legislature.

In Rochester and other cities in New York State an effort is being made to establish, with municipal aid, local hospitals, which will compliment the work done at the Adirondack sanatorium, when that project is carried out.

A somewhat similar project as that of New York is advocated in Pennsylvania. The mutual and energetic spirit shown at a meeting in Philadelphia last month, with this project in view, made it evident that the medical profession of this city and the public in general will be well in the van in the fight for checking this dread disease.

Massachusetts established the first consumptive sanatorium with State aid, and its third annual report gives proof of the efficiency of such agencies in checking the disease.

The percentage of arrested cases is placed at 30.97; the improved cases at 46.10, and the not improved at 21.33.

The State Board of Health of Colorado, in its annual report, recently issued, shows a steady increase in the mortality from consumption in that State. This increase of mortality might have been attributed to the fact that the State has a large influx of persons already afflicted with the disease. But the report plainly indicates that during the past six years the number of deaths from consumption contracted in Colorado itself has a little more than doubled. The population, during the same time, having increased less than 25%, indicates that even the climate of Colorado is not proof against the ravages of this disease without other preventive measures being observed.

The Board recommends that precautions be taken against three sources of infec

tion. They are expectoration, the milk of tuberculous cows and the flesh of tuberculous animals. And as one of the best preventives of all, the education of the public is urged in these and other subjects which will aid in checking consumption.

The amount of public attention awakened in this matter is highly encouraging. It proves that the fact that consumption is a preventable disease has penetrated the public mind, and that this knowledge is to be acted upon with no more delay than necessary.

Anders, in his "Practice of Medicine,” says: "Flick's elaborate topographic study of phthisis in the Fifth Ward of the City of Philadelphia, extending over a period of 25 years, shows conclusively that consumption obeys the laws of infectious and contagious diseases. His researches furnish incontestable proof that the tuberculous virus is limited to centers, and that the latter owe their existence to previous cases in the same house or locality; that a house which has had a case of consumption will probably have others within a few years, and may have a very large number of cases in rapid succession, and that approximate houses are considerably exposed to the contagion.

NOTE.

This issue of the SUMMARY closes its 21st year, and it is with no small degree of satisfaction and pardonable pride that we are enabled to say that every year since we laid its foundation the SUMMARY has been gradually building upwards, and now counts its friends by the thousands, all staunch and true. The expressions of appreciation and great benefits derived from the columns of the SUMMARY, received from its subscribers, would fill pages, and to these appreciative friends we return our most sincere thanks.

Original Communications.

Brief and practical articles, SHORT and PITHY reports of interesting cases in practice, new methods and new remedies as applicable in the treatment of diseases, are solicited from the profession for this department.

Articles intended for the SUMMARY must be contributed to it exclusively. The editor is not responsible for the views of contributors.

Write only on ONE SIDE of the paper.

OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.-ITS PRO

PHYLAXIS.

BY FRANK W. HILSCHER, M. D.

HAT inflammatory diseases frequently attack the eyes of newborn infants is well known by the general practitioner. But what they are or their gravity appears to be little understood, if we are to judge by the way the average accoucher conducts himself toward such cases as occur in his practice. There seems to be a false fear or timidity with which the average practitioner approaches the eyes of the newborn which prevents him from giving the child the advantage of proper prophylaxis (and in case of infection, of early treatment), and thus surround its early life with the safeguards it should receive from his hands.

I think there are two causes operating here which are at the base of this early neglect. One is the fear of starting an inflammatory reaction by irritating the tender and delicate little optics, either by the instillation of possibly irritating substances or the manipulation attending its introduction. The other is from the fear of being misunderstood and accused of carelessness in protecting the child's eyes from the irritating discharges of the mother. This latter factor as a cause of infection is well known frequently by the parents or friends as well as the physician himself, and he is therefore prone to prevent the least suggestion of eye troubles to arise, fearing it might be interpreted as an admission on his part of failure in some particular in carrying out the necessary precautions to prevent such an occur

rence.

I am not willing to believe, however, that the latter reason is often the cause for the non-performance of these duties, for I believe the great majority of the

members of our noble profession would rather be centured, knowing he did right, than escape knowing he was derelict in his duty toward the helpless child and its confiding parents.

That ophthalmia neonatorum is a very prominent danger affecting the newborn infant goes without saying, when it is stated that, and from reliable statistics, it has been ascertained that one-third of all the blind in Europe become so from this cause alone. Its prophylaxis, therefore, and early recognition with unremitting treatment are of the utmost importance. In every obstetric case the physician himself should superintend the child's toilet and wash its eyes, if possible, himself, with clean water or, preferably, a boric acid solution, followed by the instillation, as a prophylactic measure, of some good non-irritating germicide, such as a 10 to 20 % solution of Protargol. I know of nothing better, and it is not irritating as most other medicines are which might be used here. Particularly do I think this preferable to the silver nitrate solution, as recommended by Crede and so universally indorsed by both obstetricians and ophthalmologists alike for years past. There is no gain saying the fact that solutions of nitrate of silver are irritating, particularly those as strong as 2%, such as are recommended, and I will go so far as to say that, in my opinion, they should never be instilled into the eyes at any time, but that when used it should be applied directly to and only to the conjunctiva and immediately washed off before allowing the lid to resume its position in contact with the cornea, so that at no time will the solution come in contact with the cornea, otherwise an erosion of its epithelium might ensue, thereby creating an avenue for infection of the most dangerous character.

Now, in protargol we have a remedy which, from the experience of many prominent ophthalmic surgeons, appears to be quite equal to the silver nitrate solution and tar less irritating; in fact, one can use it almost with impunity. I, myself, have used it extensively in ophthalmic practice for some years, and find it excellent in many conjunctival and corneal affections, and for this reason

make the suggestion that it be used as a prophalactic agent in every case of obstetrics instead of the method heretofore recommended.

The eyes should be daily inspected by the physician for the first few days. Usually the affection will show itself between the third and fifth day, first by reddening of the conjunctiva, followed by swelling of the lids and a flow of secretion, first serous, of a meat juice appearance with a flake of pus here and there floating in it. This changes gradually until a great volume of pus constantly flows out of the eyes. Cases making their appearance later usually arise from soiled hands, towels, sponges, etc., and one eye only may be primarily affected. This conjunctivitis is never due to strong light or cold, as popularly supposed, but has a definite origin. I might add here, however, in parenthesis, that it is sometimes convenient to allow them to think so, and even advisable, as it will save a great deal of trouble and explanation, and especially is this so in this case.

In case the disease is present, energetic presistent treatment should be at once instituted. It is here, perhaps, more than in any other disease, where the employment of faithful and attentive nurses are required to carry out the directions given. There usually should be two, one for day and one for night. But I cannot here enter into the subject of treatment, as this article is intended to deal with its prophylaxis only.

19, 20, 21 Holland Bl'k., Spokane, Wash.

FACTS IN REGARD TO ALCOHOL.

BY W. P. HOWLE, M. D.

HAT the immoderate use of alcohol will cause disease no one doubts; that it is the most universally used poison (with the possible exception of tobacco) is another undisputed fact; that its use brings more disaster and crime to humanity than any other drug is another fact; that the evils incident to its use are on the increase is another undisputed fact, but that the immoderate use of it is a disease is not a fact, but a fad. Stopping a man from the excessive use

of liquor is not curing disease, but only interrupting a habit. The man who is in the habit of getting drunk and finally winds up in the "pen," and is kept there for years, loses his habit of drinking not by medical aid, but simply by incarceration in a place where he is not allowed to drink. His habit is interrupted and he is as well as any other prisoner unless his habit has brought about disease that rest and good surroundings will not eradicate.

There is a marked distinction between habit and disease. One is voluntary, the other is not. Many men have habits, and all of these habits are primarily voluntary, but disease never comes under this category. No one in his right mind becomes diseased purposely; no one volunteers to take pneumonia or typhoid fever

they are accidental as far as the patient is concerned; he had no desire for either one or the other, but not so with habit. Men enjoy practicing their habits; they love to indulge in the use of their tobacco, whisky, opium, cocaine, chloral, etc., and they tell you they enjoy the same and that they do not intend to quit, but let one of these take disease of any kind and you do not have to ask him to make use of remedies, he is anxious for relief.

So long as habit is enjoyable you need not meddle with the man who has it. It is only when habit has brought about disaster and disease that the man wants relief. He is willing to sacrifice his habit in order to regain health.

The great trouble with the man of evil habits is that he is incapable of judging where the line of safety is. So long as he takes moderate quantities of alcohol, tobacco, opium or other poison his system is able to react from the use of it, but as habit grows stronger the desire for more poison increases and he finally passes the boundary line, and his system makes ineffectual efforts to rid itself of the poison. He then comes under the head of a diseased individual and has to be treated not for habit but for disease. You can break his habit by force, but his disease is not subject to such a plan of cure. Shutting a man up in prison will not cure cirrhosis, but it is a sure cure for the drink habit. It very rarely fails to put a stop to habit, but has no effect on disease.