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in our present number removes this idea. What, then, is an "eclectic?" A certain few, forming a clique in Cincinnati, have for a number of years been endeavoring to commit the National Eclectic Medical Association to the vagary of "specific medication," but they have not yet succeeded in doing so. And the fact that they thus seek to make the Association a tool whereby to further their own selfish and mercenary ends, is capable of conclusive proof, which we are prepared to give. Specific medication" is not a plank in the eclectic platform. We should be pleased to know, therefore, wherein eclecticism per se differs from the regular school of medicine? We know, of course, a number of reasons why it would be unethical for us, as an adherent of the code of ethics to which we have subscribed, to consult with a so-called eclec-. tic, but these reasons are strictly ethical, and are not based on what we understand to be the practice of the eclectic practitioner.

As an outsider, we could volunteer a few suggestions to our eclectic brethren which, properly heeded, would remove many of the objections which exist to a perfect harmony and oneness of their school with ours. One of these suggestions would be for the eclectics to cut themselves loose from the influence of the Cincinnati clique referred to. It is discreditable to a body of educated and intelligent men that they should suffer themselves to be dominated by a few self-constituted champions, whose aim is to manipulate the Association to the bringing of grist into the Cincinnati mill. The expose, which this clique. has received by gentlemen whose standing as eclectics is unimpeachable, should be sufficient to cause the National Eclectic Medical Association to inquire into the honesty of its purpose. Such an inquiry would result in a material change in the workings of the Association.

The action of the Association, in expelling the member who flagrantly violated the rules of professional propriety in his manner of advertising, was one which will commend the Association to the respect of the community, But consistency is a jewel which the Association must regard, if it would continue to merit the respect which its recent action has won for it. Dr.

Filkins no more flagrantly violated the principles of professional and gentlemanly propriety than do members who stand high in the councils of the association. We could place our hand on shining stars in the eclectic firmanent who are more, if possible, glaringly culpable of the very thing for which Dr. Filkins was expelled than was Dr. Filkins himself. Now that the Association has commenced using the pruning-knife, let its use be continued even to the cutting-off of large and plausibly appearing branches. With the expulsion of a number of its blatant, though smooth-toned, self-constituted champions, the National Eclectic Medical Association will advance itself in the appreciation of honorable and fair-minded men. Having detected the mote in the eye of one member, let it not pass unobserved the beam which exists in the eyes of a number of others.-New Preparations.

Inunction with Oil in some Diseases of Children.

In

Inunction with oil, the application of olive or salad to the skin, is probably the most beneficial of all measures for the preservation of health and the strengthening of body in delicate children, not only to prevent an attack of croup, but in scrofula and consumption, and other diseases more or less akin, and often complicated with the scrofulous diathesis, such as rickets, tabes, laryngismus, tinea, impetigo, etc., it is invaluable. inanition from whatever cause, especially when produced by mal-assimilation or mal-nutrition, and combined with a dry and disordered state of skin, this practice of oil-inunction is of the utmost advantage. Sir J. Y. Simpson says: "In the marasmus of children, I have more than once seen oil-inunction succeed, and apparently save life, when all other means and remedies had utterly failed. When the body is much reduced by morbid eliminations, or by acute or chronic disease-as after the dysentery and diarrhoea of children-oil-inunction sometimes forms the best restorative. In rheumatism and in the chorea of the young, when accompanied by debility, it is often serviceable." The mode of using oil will vary according to circumstances, but, generally speaking, a wineglassful, slightly

warmed, so that it may be more easily absorbed, should be applied every night at bedtime over the whole cutaneous surface of the trunk and extremities, especially where it will be most readily absorbed, between the thighs, the flexures of the limbs, and the sides of the body. For obvious reasons, the night-dress should be of flannel, extending well up round the neck, and down beyond the feet, although children's nightdresses might always advantageously be of this material. To further promote absorption, warm sponging of the body might at first be employed, but, after the first two or three weeks this is hardly necessary, as less time and friction are required the longer the practice is kept up. The oil should always be rubbed in till the process of absorption is complete, requiring at first from fifteen to twenty minutes; afterward, from ten to fifteen minutes is all that is usually required. (Dr. J. Moir.) -Braithwaite's Retrospect.

A New Test for the Presence of Biliary Coloring Matter in the Urine.

Nitric and hydro-chloric acids, according to M. Masset, are not as delicate tests for the coloring matter of the bile as nitrate of potassium. The urine to be examined should be acidulated by two or three drops of concentrated sulphuric acid, and a small crystal of the nitrate dropped into it. The re-action is immediately established, a beautiful grass-green color being produced, if the quantity of the biliary coloring matter is large. On shaking the liquid the color becomes uniform, and of a deep tint; boiling does not change it, and it may be preserved for several days without alteration. The addition of water simply diminishes the intensity. If the biliary matters are present in but small quantity, the liquid takes in a very short time a pale green color, which also is persistent; it can easily be perceived by placing the tube between the eye and daylight, or in front of a white background. In these circumstances, normal urine should present a light rose color. At the beginning of certain maladies, where the ordinary tests are useless, this re-agent, it is thought, will be of service on account

of the facility of its application, and the distinctness, delicacy and constancy of the re-action; further, it is not subject to the errors of observation, or the uncertain or erroneous interpretations attendant on the usual methods of examination.-Journal de Medecine.

A Simple Method of Preventing Mammary Abscess. Dr. Francis J. Shepherd, in the Canada Medical and Surgical Journal for July, writes thus of this distressing affection :

"There is, I suppose, no accident which brings more discredit or gives more trouble to the surgeon than the occurrence in his practice of a 'broken breast' case. Many remedies, such as belladonna, hot oil, friction, etc., have been advocated to prevent this painful affection; but I have found none more efficacious and speedy than the following simple plan which has been used for years with great success by old women in country parts; in fact it may well be called, what indeed it is, an 'old wife's remedy.' When the gland becomes indurated, painful, and has a glistening red look-symptoms, in fact, of approaching suppuration—take a large piece of ordinary sticking-plaster and cut it in a circular shape (a larger or smaller disk, according to the size of the affected breast); make a hole in the center large enough to allow the nipple and half of the areola to be seen, and apply this piece of plaster (after heating it) so that it will cover the whole breast, and that the nipple will protrude through the aperture in the center. Το make the plaster fit more accurately, its circumference should be deeply nicked at distances of about an inch. The plaster should be left on till the breast softens or the plaster ceases to exercise even pressure. This simple method, in the halfdozen cases I have seen it used, has acted magically, the breast softening and the pain disappearing in the course of twentyfour hours. In one case, a woman, who had suffered on several previous occasions from broken breasts, came to the outdoor department of the General Hospital with all the symptoms of fast approaching suppuration in her right breast; in

fact, I considered that within twenty-four hours I should be obliged to use the knife. However, I said to the students that if there was anything in the plaster remedy, this would be a good case in which to try it. I applied the plaster in the way described above. Two days after the woman returned and said, with a pleased smile, that it was the only remedy she had ever tried that had done her any good; that on previous occasions every remedy had failed to prevent her having a 'broken breast,' On examining the breast, I found it quite soft, painless and with only a small lump of induration on the upper part, which disappeared in the course of a couple of days. In another case, where an abscess, due to depressed. nipple, threatened, I applied the plaster as before, and in twenty-four hours there was hardly any induration and no pain. In multiparæ, where the breast is dependent, in addition to covering the breast with plaster, I should advise supporting the breast by a band of plaster, an inch and a half broad, passing under the breast from shoulder to shoulder. may say that I have only used this remedy in cases of threatened abscess, due to distension of the milk ducts, depressed nipples and obstruction to a free flow of milk, due to exposure to cold. I imagine the plaster acts simply by exercising an even pressure on the breast and giving support to it."

I

Internal Hemorrhages.

Pyrogallic Acid.-Pyrogallic acid is an excellent internal astringent in cases of hemorrhage. It appears to me to have the following advantages: The dose is small; it does not disarrange the stomach in the way that the usual gallic or tannic acid mixtures do; it does not cause vomiting, as iron and ergot mixtures sometimes do; it is easily taken, and has no disagreeable after-taste. It appears to be more rapid and certain than any of the remedies mentioned above, and far surpasses the time-honored acid infusion of roses, or pil. plumbi cum opio. It dissolves readily in water or in spirit. A spirit solution of definite strength affords a convenient and ready method of administration. There is no reason why it should not be also