tainly not his superiors, to acknowledge that it is barely possible they may be wrong also?

Dr. Watson had something of an excuse, if not a reason, for his views; he said that the cholera once came by that way, and it impressed all so seriously that their hearts had not recovered from the shock, and when the people became sick, and were visited by their physicians, that these astute gentlemen detected a want of heart-action; that the adynamic-wave was on the premises waiting for them! This explanation or excuse is bad enough, but many of his English and American admirers see this same heart weakness even where the cholera

is known but in storyand in song. Cholera is terrible, indeed, but it taxes the credulity of reasonable men to believe that the tread of this great Iconoclast can be felt, as Dr. Watson claims, years after it has disappeared; how much more impossible that it can be seen hundreds of miles from the lines of its periodical visitations.

Apart, however, from all of the valuable testimony that has been historically given against this bugbear, this adynamic wave, is it reasonable to suppose, that where the average duration of life is being consecutively increased; where the life-expectation is yearly improving; where hygiene, with all of her wonderful and beneficent laws, is being surely installed in the great centres of the world; where variola is becoming yearly a more inefficient disturber of communities; where scrofula is disappearing; where syphilis is better controlled; where tuberculosis is being robbed of a large part of its fatality; where great epidemics are becoming less frequent; where, indeed, all causes which extend life and strengthen vitality are working such wonderful results, can it be believed that man is becoming weakened in vitality, adynamic, and that he succumbs now where formerly he battled bravely and successfully with the destroyer? When man enjoys all that gives increased strength-viz., improved diet, sound hygiene, increasing freedom from cachexias, and debilitating epidemics, where the average duration of generations is becoming greater, etc., is it rational to believe that man

is becoming weaker and devitalized? Is it possible to believe this?

This adynamic-wave theory is a myth, a delusion, and a snare. To believe that a dynamic condition in disease prevailed, when man's surroundings, his uncontrolled cachexias, his desolating epidemics, his ignorance of hygienic laws were conspicuously manifest, and tended to devitalize him, is to repudiate all logical relations of effects to causes; but it is even more illogical to suppose that man could have become adynamic when, as at the present time, he is in the full enjoyment of all those agencies which bring to him increased longevity; the blessings of hygiene, the comparative freedom from epidemics, the diminution of scrofula, the control of syphilis, the mitigation of tubercular trouble, and a safety from variolous desolations.

Summon the great physicians of all nations to the witnessstand, and they will testify that very many diseases give better results when the lancet is avoided; not because man has become adynamic, but because his medical adviser has become dynamic, more skilled in pathology, more skilled in diagnosis, more skilled in treatment. They will also testify, however, that the reaction in regard to venæsection has been extreme; that the lancet is a powerful and safe agent where it is now often avoided and proscribed.

Medical investigation has, however, been again aroused; it will be pursued with all the agencies and implements of the improved and enlightened science of the present day. · A great revolution is even now in progress, and as the result, the lancet will surely be accorded its true power and just position among the best therapeutical agencies in the clinical armory.

Brevities. Delegates who wish information in regard to the best means of reaching San Francisco should examine the advertising pages.- -It is due to the physicians of the Pacific coast that the president of the American Medical Association should be selected from their number.

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.-Just as we go to press we have a circular from the secretary, Dr. Atkinson, in regard to fare, etc.

Union and Central Pacific Railroad.-Omaha to San Francisco and return, $125. Tickets good for sixty days, and sold only to holders of certificate from permanent secretary. This includes wives and families of all who desire to participate in the excursion.

At Cincinnati, Louisville, and Nashville, there are arrangements for the round-trip. Local arrangements have been made with other roads; hence application should be made at starting for excursion tickets.

Time.-Omaha to San Francisco, nearly 4 days; Chicago to Omaha, 22 hours.

Meals.-At convenient points, and good, 75 cents to $1. Sleeping-Cars.-Each double berth, Omaha to San Francisco,

$14.

Those desiring certificates should apply immediately, with stamp, to Dr. W. B. Atkinson, Philadelphia. As many as possible should arrange to reach Omaha by April 26th or 27th at latest. This will bring them to San Francisco the day before the meeting.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

Galvano-Therapeutics; by Wm. B. Neftel, M. D.; D. Appleton & Co., New York, 1871. Practical Anatomy; by Wm. W.Keen, M. D.; Henry C. Lea, Philadelphia, Pa., 1870. Anatomy-Descriptive and Surgical; by H. Gray, F. R. S., M. D.; H. C. Lea, Philadelphia, Pa., 1870. A Descriptive Catalogue of The Warren Anatomical Museum; by I. B. S. Jackson, M. D.; A. Williams, Boston; Mass., 1870. The Change of Life; by E. J. Tilt, M. D; Lindsay & Blakiston, Philadelphia, Pa., 1871. Satan in Society; by a Physician; C. F. Vent, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1871. Boston City Hospital Reports; J. N. Borland, M. D. and D. W. Cheever, M. D.; Little, Brown & Co., Boston, Mass., 1870. Public Ledger Almanac; Geo. W Childs, Philadelphia, Pa., 1870. Addresses and Reports of the Medical Association of Alabama; J. S. Weatherly, M. D., Mobile, Ala., 1870. Relation of Medical Profession to Modern Education; by E. S. Dunster, M.D.; D. Appleton & Co., New York, N. Y: 1870, Transactions of the Medical Association of Little Rock, Ark, 1869. Price List of Microscopes and Microscopic Apparatus; by T. H. McAllister, optician, 1870. Transactions of the Medical Society of California, 1870. Table of Physical Signs of Pul monary Disease; by Thos. Layton, M. D., New Orleans, La, 1871. Medical and Surgical uses of Electricity; by G. M. Beard, A. M., M. D., A. D. Rockwell, A. M., M. D.; Wm. Wood & Co., New York, N. Y., 1871. Report_of the State of New York Hospital and Bloomingdale Asylum, New York, N. Y., 1871. On Dactylitis Syphilitica; by R. W. Taylor, M. D.; F. W. Christern,

New York, N. Y., 1871. Biography and Memorial of the late S. P. Hullihen, M. D. Staten Island Improvement Commission, N. Y., 1871. Annual Report of the Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum, 1870. Valedictory Address of The Rush Medical College; by Moses Gunn, M. D., Chicago, Ill., 1871. On the Uterus; by Wm. H. Byford, A. M., M. D.; Lindsay & Blakiston, Philadelphia, Pa., 1871. Tenth Annual Report of the Alabama Insane Hospital, Montgomery, Ala., 1870. History of The Medical Association of Miss., 1871. Blood-letting; by Fordyce Barker, M.D; D. Appleton & Co., New York, N. Y., 1871. Curt. W. Myers-Descriptive Catalogue, New York, 1870. Chloroform Deaths; by W. W. Dawson, M. D.; Robert Clark & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1871. American Practitioner, 2 vols. D. W. Yandell, M. D. and T. Parvin, M. D. ; J. P. Morton & Co., Louisville, Ky., 1871. Ovariotomy; by A. Dunlap, A. M., M. D., Springfield, O., 1868. Catalogue of Hance Brothers & White; E. J. Dickinson & Co., Philadelphia, Pa., 1871. Report of Insurance Bureau; by G. W. Smith, Insurance Commissioner, Frankfort, Ky., 1871. Report of Insurance Bureau, Fire and Marine Insurance: by G. W. Smith, Insurance Commissioner, Frankfort, Ky., 1871. Circular No. 3, from Surgeon General's Office, Washington, D. C., 1870. Circular No. 4, from Surgeon General's Office, Washington, D. C., 1870. Physcian's Hand Book for 1871. By Wm. Elmer, M. D., and A. T. Elmer, M. D.; Townsend and Adams, New York, 1871. Hæmorrhagic Malarial Fever; by R. F. Michel, Montgomery, Ala., 1871. Report of the Western Lunatic Asylum, Staunton, Va., 1871. Health and Wealth of Wheeling; by Jas. E. Reeves, M. D, Wheeling, W. Va., 1871 Inflammation of Mucous Membranes; by Sam. G. Armor, M. D., Brooklyn, N. Y., 1871. State Inebriate Asylum, Binghamton, N. Y., Annual Report of 1871. Proceedings of the First Meeting of the American Asylum for the Cure of Inebriates. 1871. Report of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of The Society for the Increase of the Ministry, Brooklyn, N. Y., 1870 Epilepsy; by M. G. Echeveria, M. D.; Wm. Wood & Co., N. Y., 1870. Prescription and Clinic Record; Wm. Wood & Co., N. Y., Publishers. Prescription Blank and Record; J. H. Speers, Druggist, Louisville, Ky., 1871. The Opinion of the Hon. H. W. Bruce in the Case of Wash. Ferguson, 1871. The Black Arts in Medicine; by Dr. John D. Jackson, Danville, Ky., 1870. Report of Surgeon General of U. S. A, 1870. Organization and Proceedings of First Medical Society of Virginia. Transac tions of Medical Society of North Carolina. The Practice of Medicine; by T. Hawkes Tanner, M. D., F. L. S. Fifth Am. Ed. Sixth Lond. Ed. Philadelphia; Lindsay & Blakiston, 1870. Principles and Practice of Medicine; by Henry Hartshorne, M. D.; Henry C. Lea, Philadelphia, 1870. Physiology and Pathology of the Nervous System; by Meredith Clymer, M. D., New York; D. Appleton & Co., 1870. Report of Childrens' Hospital, Boston; John Wil son & Son, 1870. Imperforate Auns; by Dr. T. H. Pooley, Yonkers, N. Y.; Townsend and Adams, 1870. Woman's Medical College of New York Infirmary; S. Angell, 1870. Woman's Hospital Medical College, Chicago, 1870. Reports of the Retreat for the Insane, Hartford, Conn., 1870. Transactions of the Medical Society of W. Va, Wheeling. The Remedies we use Nashville, 1870. Report of the Faculty of the Medical Department of the University of La, on the Medical Teachers' Convention; by S. M. Bemiss, M D., 1870. Histology of Minute Blood-vessels; by I. I. Woodman, M. D.; Asst. Surg. U. S. A, Washington, D. C., 1870. Physics and Physiology of Spiritualism; by W. A. Hammond, M. D.; D. Appleton & Co., New York, 1871. Diseases of the Rectum; W. H. Van Buren, M. D.; D. Appleton & Co., N. Y., 1871. American Journal of Obstetrics, 1. and II. vol; bound by E. Noeggerath, M. D., B. F. Dawson, M. D. and A. Jacoby, M, D.; Townsend & Adams, New York, 1871.

ART. I.-ON SOME OF THE THERAPEUTICAL EFFECTS OF THERMAL BATHS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE.

University of Virginia.

By J. L. CABELL, M. D.,

In an interesting and instructive paper, "On the Internal and External use of Mineral Waters," by Dr. A. Kessler, published in the "New York Medical Journal" (July and August, 1870), the singular statement is made that baths of temperature above 100° Fahr. "often injure the treatment of rheumatic and arthritic affections by checking the discharges from the kidneys and alimentary canal." Suchbaths, in the opinion of Dr. Kessler, should but rarely, and with great precautions, be administered for medicinal purposes, and should last only a few minutes.

It is freely conceded that so potent an agent should be used with great precautions, and for a limited number of minutes at ■ time, and further, that it should be absolutely prohibited to certain classes of invalids to be presently specified; but I have experienced no little surprise that the writer of the excellent paper in question should have selected" rheumatic and arthritic affections," as exemplifying the contra-indications of the hot