The eschars are dry, and their immediate dressing consists in the application of inert powders, of a simple bandage, in case of an accidental flow of blood, or of tarletan, saturated with a solution of boracic acid, if the lupous ulceration is discharging. A few days afterwards, the avulsion or the spontaneous fall of the mortified parts exposes to view some depressions with a dry base, rarely granulating, and then amenable to lunar caustic.

With time alone the cicatrices become smooth, for the disappearance of the galvano-caustic impressions requires a few weeks or months. Then one may judge of their pliability, of the conditions of their surface, and of the results of the operation.

This therapeuti measure has the advantage of simplicity, and the merit of fulfilling the pathogenic indications to which its distinguished inventor attaches such great importance. Besides, if the future should confirm definitively the hypothesis of auto-inoculation, it would most likely become a common procedure in the treatment of local tuberculosis.

In concluding the analytical exposition of the clinical investigations of M. Ernest Besnier, it is our duty to remark with impartiality that, in the point in question, these opinions have adversaries in some observers of merit. Besides, notwithstanding the probabilities in their favor, these conclusions have not yet received the final sanction of statistics. It is necessary then to await results before pronouncing the closing of the discussion and the final verdict.

COURTESY TOWARDS SENIORS.-Old Blymer for many years had been subject to frequent domestic broils with his spouse. Ultimately they became so distressing and so oppressive that, to get rid of them, he determined to "shuffle off this mortal coil." So he filled himself up with laudanum and went to bed. Mrs. B. discovered what he had done, and began to scream. Soon the neighbors came running in, and as fast as they came were sent off for a doctor. Soon old Dr. Perry came in. He looked at old Blymer, felt of him-" dead, came too late," and left. Then came old Dr. Newton. He looked at him,

rolled him over-" dead as Hector," and he left. About that time young Dr. Smith came rushing in with a great apparatus under his arm, and several feet of hose, which he instantly crammed down old Blymer's neck, and pumped up the drug store; then reversed his pump and flooded him with a few gallons of water, and rolled him about as if he were washing out a whiskey barrel. Old Blymer, not being used to taking so much water in him, began to squirm and draw up and clutch at the bed-post. The water was then pumped out, and, by morning, he was up and all right, and young Smith left believing he was the only first-class doctor in all that city. In a day or two he carried over his bill. Old B. said: "What do I owe you for, young man? "Why, for saving your life the other night." "Well, I didn't ask you to do it," said B.; "I never sent for you; old Dr. Perry is my physician, and I shall only pay him." So young Smith went over to see old Dr. Perry to prevail on him to make old B. pay his bill. The old doctor, adjusting his spectacles, said: "Smith, I have always regarded you as a clever young man, but you did a very foolish thing the other night." "What was that?" "Why, sir, didn't I pronounce old Blymer dead?" "Yes." "Didn't old Dr. Newton pronounce him dead?" "Yes." "Well, that settled it. If you want to succeed in your profession, young man, remember always to observe the strictest professional courtesy, especially towards your seniors."-Miss. Trans.

ORIGINAL ABSTRACTS.

SUBSTITUTE FOR BLUE OINTMENT.-Vomacka (Zeitschrift für Russ. Pharm.) gives the following substitute for blue ointment, which also keeps better: One part of soft and perfectly neutral potash soap is mixed with a little glycerine in a glass mortar, and one part of mercury is added, with constant trituration. When the globules of mercury are no longer visible, add two parts more of potash soap to make four parts. Lavender or other essential oil may be used to perfume it.

VAGINAL SUPPOSITORIES.-VOmacka (American Druggist) gives the following directions for making vaginal gelatin suppositories: Take transparent gelatin, soak it over night in water, and then add to it six times its weight of glycerine. If the mass is to preserve its transparency for some time, it is necessary to remove all the water which the gelatin has absorbed, by evaporation. According to the density of the glycerin, more or less of gelatin must be used. Nearly all the usual remedies may be mixed with this mass, f. i., iodide of potassium, sulphate of zine or copper, etc., excepting tannic acid, which forms an insoluble compound with gelatin. If tannic acid is to be applied, it is necessary to replace the gelatin by agar-agar, a Japanese vegetable gelatin, derived from an ala. Japanese singlass is prepared chiefly from Gelidium spinosum; agaragar (which is not identical with the former) is prepared from another alga Euchenna spinosa); in the case of agar-agar, however, the relation of glycerin to water is different. Agar-agar does not furnish a jelly with glycerin alone, but forms a transparent mass, which is tough when heated. Hence, an addition of water is here absolutely necessary. One part of agar-agar is soaked over night in water, of which it takes up nearly fifty parts, ten parts of glycerin and twenty more parts of water are then added, and the whole evaporated to the required consistence. During the fusion of the mass, stirring is to be avoided as much as possible. Ascending air-bubbles are to be removed from the surface with a stiff cardboard, so as to keep the mass clear and transparent. The prescribed remedies having been added, either in form of solution or in very fine powder, the mass is then poured out into suitable forms and allowed to congeal.

MATSCHALKA is a substitute for sponge, its synonym being given in the announcements as "Caucasian washing sponge" (American Druggist). It is a Russian word, denoting a bunch of linden bast used for scouring bath-tubs, sinks, etc., or for whitewashing walls. It is commonly used as a packing material. This name appears to have been applied to the new substance (Caucasian washing sponge ") probably because it has some similarity with it. According to Professor Wittmack, it " is derive from bananas," and is perhaps plain banana fibre (see St. Petersb. Meil. Wochensch., 1884, No. 4). Professor Wittmack stated that it was probably obtained from the refuse of manila hemp Masa tertilis Bot. Centralbl., 1884, No. 10. It is reputed to have antiseptic properties, and "to be unable to take up septic matter.' This claim, of course, Is more than doubtful.

VERATRINE IN PRURITUS-Dr. J. Cheron (Jour. des Maladies des Femmes) treats the pruritus, which appears at the menopause, with or without prurigo, urticaria, eczema and herpes, by a pomade of-Veratrine, 15 centigrams; lard, 30 grams; of which he applies a piece the size of a small pea morning and evening. When the pruritus is general, the internal use of veratrine is preferable

in the following doses: Veratrine, 2 centigrams; pulv. glycyrriz., q. 8. Divide into forty pills. Two to six pills a day, half an hour before eating, or three hours afterwards, taking but one pill at a time, and increasing by one each day, until the maximum dose (3 milligrams) is reached.

SURGERY AMONG THE INSANE.-Dr. Hjerstrom (Hygiea, Bond XLV.) reports the case of a forty-nine-year-old periodically insane single woman, who was subject to eroticism, and had had three children. During one of these erotic attacks she introduced a candlestick socket into the uterus, where it caused some inflammatory trouble and secondary leuchorrhoea. Investigation made as to the causes of the latter revealed the presence of the foreign body mentioned, which was removed. The case (Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease) suggests the propriety of examining as to the cause of foetid leucorrhoea in female lunatics.

TURPENTINE VAPOR IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE.-Dr. H. Vilandt states that when (Ugeskrift for Laeger, Vol. III., 1883) turpentine was used in the treatment and prophylaxis of diphtheria and the exanthematous diseases, he has never seen any of these diseases spread from a sick child to the other members of the family. In many of his cases isolation was not practicable. He pours from twenty to forty drops of a mixture of equal parts of turpentine and carbolic acid into a kettle of water kept simmering over a slow fire, so that the air of the sick-room was constantly impregnated with the odor of this mixture. He says that by this means a favorable influence is exerted upon the exudation in diphtheria, although it is by no means curative of the disease, and should never be relied upon to the exclusion of other remedies. This last is not new.

OOPHORECTOMY AND INSANITY.-Dr. Lee (New York Medical Journal) recently cited a case in which an operation for removal of the ovaries was done in the case of a patient suffering from pelvic pains and hysterical symptoms, and after the operation, although the pelvic pains ceased entirely, the mental symptoms at once became worse, and finally the patient had to be sent to a hospital for the insane. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease says: While it is possible the operation aggravated the case, it is much more probable that the aggravation of the symptoms, like these so frequently reported, improvement after oophorectomy was merely a coincidence. Dr. Thallon (Archives of Medicine, April, 1884) states that oophorectomy is worse than useless in insanity unless it can be shown that the organically affected ovaries exert a bad influence on the mental condition.

COLD DOUCHE IN COLIC.-Dr. Tepliashin (Vratch) speaks very strongly as to the beneficial effect of cold irrigations applied to the abdomen in colic, by directing to the painful region a thin stream of cold water from a teapot lifted a foot or a foot and a half from the abdomen. He has seen rapid relief of even the most excruciating pains follow from this when the internal administration. of opium and subcutaneous injection of morphia had failed.

PRIMARY UNION AFTER THERMO-CAUTERIZATION.-Dr. Reclus (Revista Clinica e Terapeutica, November, 1884) concludes: 1. That primary union may occur after thermo-cauterization. 2. In order that this may occur, the eschar formed by the cautery should not be very thick. 3. All septic infection should be guarded against. Primary union occurs since the charged tissue is very light and easily penetrated by new vessels. The embryonic cells at either border insinuate themselves between the carbonized particles, anastomose, and union occurs. Antiseptic precautions are, however, absolutely essential.

ALUMINIUM OLEATE.-Dr. Stelwagon (Medical and Surgical Reporter, March 15, 1884) says that oleate of aluminium is light yellow in color, of plastic consistence, and somewhat adhesive. For application it should be melted with an equal part of a fatty base, such as lard or cosmoline. It possesses an astringent action, as well as being somewhat stimulating. It may be prescribed in all skin diseases in which there is much discharge, such as dermatitis, pustular eczema, etc. In the treatment of simple ulcers an ointment of this oleate is frequently productive of improvement. In pustular eczema of children it is useful, checking the discharge and exerting an alterative action on the diseased skin.

VACCINE.-Dr. Worlomont (Medical Press) concludes: 1. That neither the horse nor the ox, nor, indeed, any other animals can be considered as strictly vaccinogens, for they do not create in themselves the one horse-pox or the cowpox, which furnishes vaccinal matter, unless they are first impregnated with the germ of the same. 2. The original seed of the vaccine, in its relations to the horse and the cow, is nothing more or less than small-pox, which, when admitted into the organism of those animals, undergoes an attenuation which produces the vaccine disease. 3. This attenuation is less in the horse than the cow, therefore the horse-pox is more nearly related to small-pox than the cow-rox. 4. The horse is a bad subject for the cultivation of vaccine matter, for animal vaccination requires that the virus should be more attenuated than it is when passed through the organism of the horse. 5. The small-pox impregnation, or artificial vaccine, can be produced in the horse, as in the cow, by means of inoculation or intra-cutaneous injection, without any other inconvenience, and immunity from the variola may be secured thereby.

CHANCRE EXCISION.-P. Spellman (Annal. de Dermat. et Syphil.) concludes: 1. In cases where excision apparently succeeded it cannot positively be said that the operation had an abortive influence, as in many cases a chancre of apparently specific nature is not followed by secondary phenomena. 2. Excision is not dangerous when antiseptic methods are used. The wound heals very rapidly by first intention. 3. Great difficulty may arise from the situation of the chancre, as its destruction might cause mutilation of some organ. 4. Chancre excision may have no influence on the further development of syphilis. 5. Some authors hold that chancre excision makes the syphilis less severe; the chancre being a sort of depot of syphilitic virus, its destruction ought to diminish the intensity of the affection. Although it be established that excision can prevent or modify the evolution of the disease, yet it is necessary that the operation be performed before the glands are affected; if there be induration of the cicatrix accompanied by affection of the glands, it is certain that the result will be unsatisfactory. Excision does not, in the majority of cases, prevent the further development of syphilis, although performed under the most favorable conditions.

IDIOPATHIC TONGUE AND CREMASTER CRAMP.-Berger says (Neurologisches Centralblatt) localized tongue spasms are so rarely met with that their existence has been doubted. In two cases, where this condition was well marked, there was bilateral clonic spasm of the protrusors of the tongue. Reflex cremasterit spasms are not rare, and in two cases the spasm was clearly idiopathic. It occurred both by day and by night, each attack lasting two or three minutes; the pain was very great. In one case atropia injections were successful; but failed in the other, where galvanization (from the spine to the scrotum) afforded complete relief.

TARTARIZED ANTIMONY IN CROUP.-Dr. A. C. Post (New York Medical Journal) had been called in the evening to see a child, about two years and a half of age,

whom he had been treating for an injury of the hand, and who then had symptoms of croup. The breathing was a good deal impe le l from what appeared to be laryngeal causes; no membrane, however, was visible. Dr. Post therefore believed the case to be one of catarrhal laryngitis, with spasm of the glottis. Chloroform was administered, first to relieve spasm, and, second, to enable him to incise the gums, which had been giving a little pain. Afterward a solution of tartarized antimony-one grain to eight ounces-was ordered to be administered in teaspoonful doses every half-hour until vomiting or relief followed. The child was doing well the next morning, and no further treatment had been required.

REDUCTION OF SUBCORACOID DISLOCATIONS.-Reduction of subcoracoid dislocations, as directed by Kocher, is accomplished as follows: Patient, sitting up; the forearm is flexed to a right angle with the arm, the elbow pressed firmly to the side of the chest; the arm rotated outward until firm resistance is met with; then the arm, still rotated, the elbow is carried forward and inward over the chest to near the median line; then the arm rotated inward. The last movement is one of restitution, and carries the hand to the shoulder opposite the one dislocated. These maniplations resolve themselves practically into two movements outward rotation and flexion. Dr. C. A. Jersey (New York Medical Journal, Dec. 8, 1883) says the advantages of this method are: 1. The control obtained over the humerus by the position of the forearm. 2. The advantage obtained by the relaxation of the edges of the rent in the capsular ligament. 3 The absence of the necessity for the employment of an anesthetic. 4. The absence of pain to the patient, and of discomfort to both surgeon and patient, as compared to other methods.

UNTOWARD EFFECT OF BORACIC ACID.-Lewin (Melical Age) states that, according to Binswanger's investigations, boracic acid in medicinal doses is without effect on the human system; should, however, the quantity given be increased to two or four grams (30 or 60 grains) it may cause a frequent desire to micturate, and an increased flow of urine. After eight grams (ij) of boracic acid, taken by Binswanger in two doses within an hour, there occurred nausea and vomiting, and feeling of pressure and fullness of the stomach, which continued for several hours. Following the external employment of boracic acid as an antiseptic, Molodenkow has recently reported deleterious, untoward and even fatal results. A young woman who suffered from pleurisy and hydrothorax was subjected to thoracentesis without previous chloroformization. The pleural cavity was afterwards washed out with a five-per-cent. solution of boracic acid, following which distressing vomiting, and weakness of the pulse set in. On the following day an erythema appeared on the face and soon exten led over the trunk. On the third day the erythema having also spread over the lower extremities, the vomiting having ceased, and the mind remaining clear, the patient suddenly died. In the second case, after washing out a deep abscess in the nates of a young man of sixteen years of age, there occurred in half an hour vomiting, debility, and a small, scarcely perceptible pulse, and in two days an erythema, first appearing on the face, hiccough and death. The autopsy revealed no cause of the death, which seems to have been due to paralysis of the heart. The decided poisonous action of boracic acid in these cases is explained by the experiments of Binswanger, who showed that in the internal exhibition of this drug it is rapidly eliminated by the kidneys, while after its injection into cavities it is less readily absorbed, remains longer in the system, and thus exerts its fullest action.