given to dogs after they were in spasms from strychnine poisoning and relief was quick and the cure certain. We gave to a large dog one ounce of the tincture. In most of the cases the dogs did not throw up the lobelia nor the strychuine, but got well every time.

FLOYD CLENDENEN, M. D.

La Salle, Ill.

How It Looks.---Some Suggestions.

Editor Medical Summary:

The editorial on "Coughs" came in at a coughy season, and just then with us there was much of it, owing to the season's intense cold, wet and changeable weather. I am not going to say whether we "catch a cold" or "a hot," only to recommend a trial of an old (comparatively) drug in the homœopathic school, but a new one to me-bacillinum. It seems to act more pleasantly and quickly in severe coughs than any other drug. My experience with it is very limited, but my friend, Dr. Leachman, has used it with satisfaction, having cured several cases of tuberculosis that were pretty far gone. It is also Dr. Burnett's (of England) cure. He "speaks from the book," and seems to believe that it will do the work.

"Reflex Coughs." There comes to mind the history of a cough that looked very much like tuberculosis that was promptly cured by cauterizing an abscess in the rectum. One would hardly believe that such a far off cause would produce such an effect.

Dr. Purviance's case brings to mind a case of nosebleeding that came under my care very early in my practice. The woman, who was 23 years of age, had bled so long that there was not red blood enough left to stain a handkerchief. I plugged the nose with cotton saturated in a 50 per cent. solution of Squibbs' subsulphate of iron, and put her on acid iron tonic. She was one of the cases that have "veins to break under the skin," with some smarting and a large purple spot to show for it. She showed me an irregular yellowish splotch on her side eight inches in diameter that a short time before, she said, was purple. In our north Louisiana malarial swamps these

cases are not uncommon. For a good article on tetanus by the Doctor, see the Cleveland Medical Gazette for December, 1898, page 5. The Doctor is to be congratulated on the common sense treatment of a bad case. No truer rule can be laid down than that, that opiates will not do in hot countries in the treatment. I dropped them years ago, as I saw there

was

no compatibility with them and diseases of hot climates. I have adopted bryonia, hyoscyamus and like drugs in their place.

"Maternal Stomatitis," page 10. This is about as mean a disease to treat in such a case as can well be found. The treatment was good. How is it as regards scorbutus in such cases? Is not scrofula a prime factor in these aggravated cases?

Capillary bronchitis, page 11. I well remember the first epidemic of that disease I met. I lost my first four cases. (I used quinine then.) I got disgusted, and traveled 25 miles up into Arkansas to see an old friend, Dr. J. D. Hammond, concerning the matter. He said: "It is not pneumonia at all. Drop your quinine and use whisky toddy and small doses of tartar emetic." I did so and saved my next 21 cases, while 50 to 60 per cent. where the losses of my conferees who stuck to the quinine.

After reading Dr. Bentley's fine article one admires more the biochemic idea of the treatment of blood diseases. The disturbance of the equilibrium of nourishment of the body is sure to show up in the urine and is reflected on the skin, just the same as urticaria by some disordered condition of the stomach. The W.-A. intestinal tablets are not too highly praised; they are "true blue" in every respect.

"Leucorrhea," page 17. Without doubt this is one of the most common, most annoying and debilitating diseases with which women suffer. Use warm water injections and a solution of 27 to 30 grains of potassium permanganate on cotton during the day and night; change twice daily. These are the cases where the uterine tablets of Micajah and Maltbie Chemical Co. come in as splendid aids; simple, easy of use and prompt in action.

"The Obstetric Binder," page 19. By

the way, never let any one persuade you that the binder on a woman after delivery is not exactly the right thing in the right place. See that it always fits nicely.

"Apomorphine in Hysteria" is like tartar emetic in an obstetric case that "hangs;" it gives the woman something else to think about.

Bro. Richmond's case, page 21, had a narrow escape. It is strange what serious lesions of important organs are experienced and apparently no symptoms of it for some time. A friend of mine in boyhood days got a fall somewhat similar, and after several years he showed signs of epileptic seizures. He died at the age of 45 years, and the autopsy been showed that there had serious damage which had healed, but the brain substance for about one-quarter part of the right front lobe was solid. It is the after effects, years to come sometimes, we have to dread.

Will not Bro. Price give us some more of his "Gathered Fragments?" By the way, how many physicians are there who have a large book in which stray leaves and valuable formulas are set down under appropriate headings?

Between times, boric acid; 25 Sanmetto will

"Bladder Trouble," page 22. Don't forget nitrate of silver, three grains to ounce of water, as a splendid treatment; once every two or three days. twice daily, wash out with grains to pint of water. come in nicely to cool the urine, also, do not forget that carbolic acid, three to five drops diluted, is splendid in irritable bladder.

"Urticaria Tuberosa," page 27. I have never seen a case. How does a scrofulous diathesis work in with these cases? It seems to me that I sometimes come across some of the poorest material in people, and it will barely hold together. When these people get sick they are sick all over and very hard to cure.

"Query," page 28. Doctor, I think you have one of those curious cases of "sleeping sickness" that occur only amongst the African race. I have seen two cases in 30 years' practice among the negroes, and both died. One slept most of the time for about six months. I think it is from some abscess or softening of the brain. The

next case I come across I am going to open the head.

Is not all sweat due to nervous relaxation? (Page 29.) In the summer, when your are cool and comfortable, if you lie down after dinner and take a nap you are sure to sweat pretty freely during sleep.

On page 30, bottom right hand column: "Wash hands and feet in a solution of potassium permanganate." This brings to mind Bro. Burgess' idea of relieving weak eyes by bathing the soles of the feet in a strong warm solution of the same drug. Have any of the SUMMARY readers tried it.

"Sectarianism," editorial, page 33. The times seem to point to a union of all medical sects under the name of "Doctor,' and this is the more reasonable when you will remember that there are hardly two of the "regulars" who practice in the same way or can give a reason why they differ. It makes me feel little of a doctor who will fling a slur at an educated physician of another sect. After he has studied that doctor's system of practice, and understands it, he will take back all he has said. I learned very early in my medical life that other sects knew a heap that I never dreamed of.

"That is a fine article by Dr. Skillern, page 35, April SUMMARY, and shows some points that I think by me not knowing was the cause of my failure to cure a case, viz: massage of the scalp.

On page 37 Bro. Smith asks for the exact treatment of peritonitis. In Achives of Genecology, February, 1888, page 96: "Half ounce of Glauber's stalt in water, repeated until watery stools. This should be aided by enemas of turpentine in molasses and water. This is kept up until the symptoms disappear." A similar treatment is found in the Medical and Surgical Reporter for May 17, 1890, on page 591. I note recently the use of a tablespoonful of a saturated solution of potassium chlorate every six hours until disease disappears. Dr. Powell, in Medical Era for January, 1899.

The rules laid down in "Pneumonia in Children" are strictly good. We need not be told that in children this disease is to be dreaded. A treatment by an old practitioner should be studied well and acted on.

Brodnax, La.

BEN H. BRODNAX, M. D.

FOR DIPHTHERIA AND MEMBRANOUs croup.

The following formula I know from practical experience to be almost a specific in diphtheria and membranous croup, and wish some of the SUMMARY readers would give it a trial and report results obtained: B. Spec. tr. jaborandi... . . . . . 3 iv Spec. tr. echafolta... 3 iiss Spec. tr. phytolacca..... 3 iss Elix. simp.........q. s. ad. 3 iv M. Sig.-Teaspoonful every one, two or three hours.

Floyd CLENDENEN, M. D.

B. Resorcin

Elix. pepsin sacch.

3 ij

3 iv

La Salle, Ill.

M, Sig. One teaspoonful every two

Edited by G. E. DESchweinitz, M. D., Professor Ophthalmology, etc., Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. W. B. Saunders, Publisher, Philadelphia. 1899. Price $3.00.

This volume is another of the deservedly popular Saunders' series of atlases, and does not detract one iota from the high standard or superior excellence of previous issues of the series; if anything, the volume before us will have a tendency to elevate the work upon a still higher plane. For scientific accuracy, practical beauty, compactness and cheapness this series surpasses any similar volumes ever published.

The book before us contains 76 colored plates and six engravings. Owing to the wonderful accuracy the high mechanical skill displayed in the execution of these plates, presenting the case almost as clearly as though seen on the living subject, largely depends the great popularity of this series of books. Each plate is accompanied by a full and appropriate description, and each book contains a condensed but adequate outline of the subject to which it is devoted.

The usually elaborate treatises on special subjects are not the kind to be purchased by the busy general practitioner; that is, not for practical purposes. Of course, if his purse will allow it there will be no serious loss, but to the practitioner who desires to procure works best suited to his daily requirements, and, being compelled to procure all these with the least possible outlay of cash, he must exercise his better judgment in the purchase of books. He wants the most practical and most handy for ready reference he can possibly secure, and such a one will make no mistake in placing the Saunders' hand-atlases in his library, as they cover a large field that could not heretofore be well covered without a considerable outlay.

THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL ANNUAL AND PRACTITIONERS' INDEX. A Work of Reference for Medical Practitioners. E. B. Treat & Co., Publishers, 241-43 W. 23d St., New York. 1899. Price $3.00.

An investment in elaborate and extensive medical annuals by the practitioner who reads the journals is simply a waste of money, but not so with an investment like the one now before us, as this one presents the cream of the most practical work accomplished by the profession throughout the world during the past year, and also includes a series of articles intended to bring the readers' knowledge up-to-date on subjects of modern investigation. As a work for handy reference it is very useful; size, arrangement and price all combine to make it so deservedly popular.

The present volume is in many respects superior in excellence to any of its predecessors. It is larger, more pages, better illustrated, containing 15 full-page colored plates and 15 full-page half-tone plates, besides numerous illustrations through the text.

PRACTICAL MATERIA MEDICA FOR NURSES; with an Appendix Containing Poisons and their Antidotes, with Poison Emergencies; Mineral Waters, Weights and Measures, Dose List, and a Glossary of the Terms Used in Materia Medica and Therapeutics. By Emily A. M. Stoney, Graduate of the Training School for Nurses, Lawrence, Mass.; Authoress of "Practical Points in Nursing," etc. W. B. Saunders, Publisher, Philadelphia. 1899. Price $1.50.

This very neat volume of about 300 pages is an admirable production on the the subject treated, presenting the source of the drugs, their action and uses; dosage and the symptoms and treatment of poisoning; just what the practical nurse should know and no more.

The first part of this volume is devoted to the general consideration and classification of drugs; the second part is devoted to the subject matter; the third part, or appendix, contains poison emergencies, poisons and their antidotes, emetics, mineral waters, weights and measures, dose list, glossary, etc. dose of drugs is given in both the apothecaries' and metric weights.

The

Summary Gleanings.

Benzoic acid used as a gargle is valuable in sore throat.

Canabis sativa is a remedy for gonorrhea and impotence.

Frequent, ineffectual belching may be due to heart disease.

Alcohol is claimed to be a specific in local carbolic acid poisoning.

Do not overlook the value of nux vomica in the treatment of atonic dyspepsia.

Calomel, 80 grains to one ounce of vaseline, is said to promptly relieve pruritus vulvæ.

Jaborandi, internally and locally, is said to give good results in the treatment of erysipelas.

Salicylic acid, one drachm; boric acid, one ounce; hot water, two quarts, is Thiersch's solution.

Macrotin is useful at the climacteric : headache, mental derangement, flushes, heats and insomnia.

It is claimed that in the enuresis of children lycopodium is sometimes more efficient than belladonna.

Dr. H. T. Patrick says that persistent yawning may be one of the earliest symptoms of general paralysis.

Aconite is especially effective in inflammatory diseases resulting from exposure to dry, cold winds.

Dr. M. G. Price says that nitroglycerin is a giant in dysmenorrhea-1-250 grain every 15 to 30 minutes until physiological effect.

Bryonin is the remedy in acute nasal catarrh burning in the eyes and nose, acrid discharge, headache, worse on motion.

Dr. Jacobi says: "I am so convinced of the good effect of a spare diet in old people that I have often insisted that the change be made."

A cold in the chest, with tightness and dry, hacking cough, may be greatly remedied by giving apomorphine and potassium bichromate.

Headaches of nasal origin generally occur on first awakening. Headaches from eye strain come on after using the eyes later in the day.

Painting the nipples several time a day with the white of an egg is stated to be a most successful treatment for the sore nipples of nursing women.

Not a single death occurred from chloroform in the American army during the recent Spanish-American war, although it was used almost exclusively.

General nervousness, insomnia, tinnitus aurium, vertigo, spinal irritation and even melancholia with suicidal impulses may be due to the uric acid diathesis.

Massage of the region of the stomach and duodenum will, it is said, often cure, in from three to six seances, obstinate cases of the vomiting of pregnancy.

Dr. C. S. Middleton says that eryngium aquaticum in five to 20-drop doses of the tincture every four to eight hours, has cured many cases of gonorrhea for him.

Pagenstecher says that iodide of potassium ointment used about the eye will frequently arrest the formation of cataract and sometimes increase the acuity of vision.

Salivation, dyspepsia, constipation, headache, disordered vision. irritability. deficient excretion of urine, anemia, in the pregnant woman should make you suspect toxemia.

Do not jump at the conclusion that a patient suffering from malaria has nephritis because of albumen in the urine, since some albuminuria exists in about half the cases of malarial fever.

Dr. W. F. Ball, of Mantua Station, Ohio, writes: "To cure zymotic poison, snake bite or any poison in system, give an adult drachm doses of Lloyd's specific tincture of scinatia angusta; it acts like a charm.

Dr. Leuf, of Philadelphia, says that a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis and a pulse that remains at or above 100 is doomed. He has watched this for a long time and in many cases, and has yet to see it fail.