an objection to this remedy than would exist in the universal application or administration of any other potent and deserving remedy in disease. If I had reason to suspect such trouble in the circulatory system as I have mentioned, or should the heart's action be very feeble, I would commence with a small dose, and perhaps combine a diffusible stimulant, such as ether or ammonia, and watch its effects, increasing the dose or witholding it altogether, if need be. If in the treatment of delirium tremens I had reason to believe the debauche to be recent, and the stomach filled with food and alcohol, I would give a brisk purgative, combining calomel and colocynth, and, perhaps, a drop of croton oil. I am not among those who regard delirium tremens as due to the sudden withdrawal of stimuli, but rather look upon it as a fresh excitement upon a brain already before weakened by alcohol. Entertaining this view, I do not give my patients stimulus or whisky, but allow in its place abundance of nourishment, always being careful to impress upon the minds of friends and attendants the importance and necessity of feeding. Dr. Brandeis alluded to a recent theory of the action of digitalis by dilating capillary veins, and relieving the heart of the impediment which it has to overcome. He also mentioned a case of delirium tremens he had lately treated by one-eighthgrain doses of sulphate of morphia, combined with fifteen grains of hydrate of chloral, repeated every two hours, with complete success. Dr. Gaillard thought the good effects of digitalis were due to its imparting to the arteries and arterioles the same tonic effect which it imparted to the heart; removing thus passive congestions of the capillaries. Dr. Satterwhite related a case of delirium tremens which he had recently treated successfully by large draughts of the infusion of wormwood, in which morphia had been previously given without relief. Dr. Forrester alluded to the great difference in strength he had found in the different preparations of chloral he had used. Other members had noticed the same fact. Gynaecology. Dr. Brandeis reported the progress recently made in Europe with the hypodermic injection of ergotine. The conditions in which the treatment promised to be of most. service were dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, and long-standing cases of retained placenta after abortion, dead fœti, etc. He also mentioned two cases of version completely relieved by its use. The report is based upon the treatment of twenty cases of the above-mentioned diseases, all with the most perfect success. The injection of the remedy was followed in about a half hour by strong uterine contractions. Dr. Wilson thought that the time required in these experiments to produce the effect did not correspond with the general experience in the hypodermic use of other remedies. He considered swiftness and certainty of action one of the chief advantages of that mode of administration. J. A. LARRABEE, M. D., Committee on Publication. T. P. SATTERWHITE, M. D., President. ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. "Sit mihi Fas scribere audita." E. S. Gaillard, M. D. VICKSBURG, MISS., January 26, 1871. Now that medical journals throughout the country contain accounts of the evil, and sometimes fatal effects which result from the use of chloroform as an anæsthetic, I think it behooves every physician to take notice of such statements, and also to promptly report any case coming under his own observation; more especially as I believe some of our medical brethren are collecting statistics relative to the effects following the inhalation of chloroform. A case in hand has recently come under my notice in the practice of my friend, Dr. C. J. Mitchell, of this place. The patient, a female, aged thirty, presented, on examination, no derangement of the internal organs, her general health being good, with the exception of a pain occasionally experienced from an ulcer situated on the unguinal extremity of the great toe, the nail being buried to some extent in the flesh of the part, and the extirpation of which it was proposed to accomplish while she was under the influence of chloroform. The Doctor having requested me to administer the anæsthetic, I proceeded to do so in the usual way.. The patient's pulse, before commencing, was accelerated, owing to her timidity, but under the anaesthetic's influence was reduced to its normal action, becoming a few beats lower during continuance. We found it difficult to bring the patient fully under its influence, so much so, that after she had inhaled nearly an ounce, was still able to respond to questions put in a loud tone of voice. Not deeming it necessary to wait longer, the Doctor proceeded with the operation, occupying about three minutes; patient manifesting consciousness by two or three moans. I withdrew the chloroform as soon as the operation was concluded, patient apparently only stupefied. A few moments later, the side of the patient, corresponding to the one operated on, became suddenly convulsed, fore-arm flexed on the arm, fingers closely contracted on the palm, muscles of the lower extremity, of the same side, rigid, but the limb not flexed; on the opposite side a rigid state of muscles existed, but no convulsive movements. Shivering set in, her teeth chattered, in fact, going through all the phenomena of a chill, and yet the patient, during all this time, was able to respond to any question asked. These convulsive movements continued, at intervals, for about one hour; respiration reduced to fourteen, pulse sixty, extremities cool. Stimulants were given, warmth applied to the extremities, cold water sprinkled on the face, the shock of which appeared to arouse her, but she would soon relapse into her former state. This condition continued for two hours, at the expiration of which time she came to, being only able, though, to respond to questions in a whisper; that too passed off, and the next day the patient was fully restored. My friend, Dr. Mitchell, having given chloroform in several hundred cases, and having given it myself on many occasions, with no effects like the above witnessed, I thought, perhaps, it might prove of interest to your readers, and also prompt the publication of such facts on the effect of chloroform inhalation as may yet remain unpublished; thus giving opportunity to those who are collecting information on that subject an ample field for investigation. Yours, truly, Dr. E. S. Gaillard: R. ARNOT QUIN, M. D. FAYETTEVILLE, N. C., 1871. Dear Sir,-Allow me to suggest that the specimen or sample of Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup, as analyzed by your associate and reported as containing no opiate, must be of a different kind from that sold in this region, as I have myself seen two cases of severe narcotism in children within the past two years after its Respectfully, use. Prof. E. S. Gaillard: T. D. H. AUGUSTA, March 13, 1871. Dear Sir,-In my operations for ovariotomy I have for the present left my well-to-do standpoint of caring for the ligature outside the wound, and gone over to the Tyler-Smith method of ligating the stump, cutting both pedicle and ligatures short, and returning them into the abdomen. In the last two operations, of thirty-one completed operations, and three deaths, (all by the ligature), I cut short the ligature of the pedicle and adhesions in both cases, and returned them into the abdomen; one is completely well, and the other walks about the house; one of the patients required eleven ligatures to the adhesions, the other six. One, the patient of Drs. Dobyns and Downing, of Sardis, Mason county; the other of Bracken county; assisted by Drs. Sharpe and T. T. Bradford. J. TAYLOR BRADFORD, M. D. NOTE. Several long and valuable letters are omitted for want of space. They will soon appear.-ED. REVIEWS AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. "Judex damnatur cum nocens absolvitur." ART. I.-NATIONAL MEDICAL JOURNAL. Edited by CHRIS. C. Cox, M. D., LL. D., Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Hygiene in Georgetown College. Washington, D. C.: Judd & Detweiler. Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Octavo, pp. 520. This magazine is handsomely printed on fine paper, and is published in Washington. The contents of this new medical Quarterly are classed under these headings: “Original Papers," "Collectanea," "Clinical," "Necrological," and "Editorial." So much of our medical periodical literature being of provincial origin (and may be characterized, without discourtesy, as truly rural) it is a source of congratulation that we have at last a really metropolitan medical serial to direct the medical mind of this country. |