Sequela of exposure to the sun.-G. B. -, aged thirty-eight, a patient in one of Dr. Andrew's wards, lay from about 11.30 to 12.30 of Sunday morning last on the grass of an open field without his cap. When he rose to his feet he felt giddy, and had sensations of swimming and throbbing in the head. He travelled home by rail, a distance of a few miles, and lay on the sofa for the remainder of the day, without tasting food. On the following morning he went early to his work, taking with him his breakfast, which, however, he was unable to touch. In the course of two or three hours the giddiness and throbbing in the head, to which had been superadded a severe pain extending down the spine from the root of the neck to the loins, became so severe that he could scarcely keep his feet; and he applied for admission into the hospital. His temperature was found to be 100°.6 Fahr. He was ordered to bed; ice was applied to the head, and a mustard plaster to the loins. This latter application was followed in about twenty minutes by a cessation of the dorsal pain; and on the following morning the patient expressed himself free from giddiness and throbbing. When last seen, four days after the appearance of the symptoms, he said he felt well, but his manner was somewhat tremulous.-Lancet, Aug. 6, 1870.

Supposed Case of Acute Tuberculosis in Guy's Hospital, with Clinical Remarks, by Dr. WILKS.-On the occasion of a recent visit to this hospital, we saw a young woman about twenty years of age, who had been admitted three weeks previously. Her sobs and her manner generally indicated that she was in a highly hysterical condition. Dr. Wilks said that ever since her admission her temperature had indicated a state of pyrexia, but that she had exhibited no symptoms either of local inflammation or specific fever; and that whenever a high temperature was thus maintained for a considerable time, without the development of any other symptoms, it indicated the existence of acute tuberculosis. He had not been able to

cal examination of the patient, because she complained of such acute hyperæsthesia of the chest that percussion was impracticable, and directly he applied the stethoscope the breathing always became so rapid and shallow that no reliable observation could be made. But there were other signs which, in his opinion, lent confirmation to his diagnosis. These were, the patient's regular features, white regular teeth, and well-formed frame-all of them features of tuberculous temperament; and falling off of the hair; and her hysteric condition. Ever since a striking incident had called his attention to the subject at the time he was clinical clerk, he had noticed the frequent existence of hysteria and phthisis. For three months the late Dr. Addison had, out of sheer disgust, passed by the bed of a girl who was in so highly hysterical a condition that he had found it impossible to make a careful examination of her state. One day a student, who had remained behind to listen to her chest, re- • marked to Dr. Addison that he supposed the case, was one of phthisis, as he had heard sounds indicative of a large pulmonary cavity. Dr. Addison replied that there was nothing the matter with the patient but hysteria; but, on the student insisting that there was a cavity at the left apex, he listened for himself, and found that such, in fact, was the case.

Speaking of the relation of pyrexia to local disease, Dr. Wilks added that he did not believe that when a local disease followed in the wake of fever it held to it the relation of a consequence; for example, when people spoke of fever terminating in phthisis or some brain affection, it might always be taken for granted that the antecedent fever had been the pyrexia proper to tuberculosis in the one case, or meningitis in the other.-Lancet, Dec. 10, 1870.

MEDICAL NEWS. DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. To Subscribers.-In making up the Library Department of the NEws for Dec. 1870, an index for the Diseases of the

Spine and Nerves was prepared and set in type, as well as a table of contents. As one was little more than a duplicate of the other, however, it was thought that subscribers would prefer to have the space occupied by the Index filled with other matter. The Index was therefore cancelled, but reference to it in the Table of Contents was, by an oversight, allowed to remain. Subscribers in binding the Library for 1870 will therefore understand that the work is complete in the form in which they have received it.

Antiphlogistic Value of Ergot.-Dr. JACOBI holds (Medical Record, Oct. 1, 1870) that ergot acts through the nervous system, and especially through the sympathetic, upon the unstriped muscular tissue under its control. Thus it is that ergot produces its peculiar effect upon the muscular tissue of the uterus, the unstriped fibres of the bladder, the muscular layers of the intestines, and especially upon the muscular coat of the bloodvessels. Its power in diminishing the size of the blood vessels is manifest from its value as a hæmostatic; and it is of this power we have to speak in considering its antiphlogistic effect.

This effect is noticeable in fevers generally, and particularly in fevers of the intermittent type. It is an established fact, in my opinion, that many cases of obstinate intermittent fever will, when no longer benefited by quinia or arsenic, still be benefited by the action of ergot.

Dr. Jacobi states that he has given a mild preparation of ergot with a uniformly beneficial effect in many cases, not uncommon in women and children, of spinal meningitis resulting in pain, slight fever, occasional convulsions, partial or total paralysis. He has given it advantageously in the first stage of the so-called infantile or dental paralysis dependent upon congestion of the spinal cord. The persistence of the disease he attributes to dilatation of the blood vessels, and he gives the ergot to effect their contraction. In cases of chorea minor, not connected with rheumatism, but with pain in some portion of the spinal column, ergot is often serviceable in removing the symptoms.

Dr. Jacobi uses large doses, as two drachms (to a child) of Squibb's fluid extract in the day, or from four to seven grains of Bonjean's ergotine. When its use is to be long continued, for chronic hemorrhages, etc., he gives commonly about a scruple of the ergotine, daily to an adult, and to a child in proportion to age. He has never seen any of the symptoms of so-called ergotism, whether of the spasmodic or gangrenous form, nor has he any fear of it resulting from the use of ergot in this dose.

Large Doses of Chloral.-Dr. JAMES RODMAN states (The American Practitioner, Oct. 1870) that a nurse gave one of his patients, who was under treatment for insanity, in order to induce sleep, 270 grains of hydrate of chloral, which produced sleep for eighteen hours, without any alarming attendant symptoms.

A case is reported (Medical Times, Oct. 15, 1870) of a female nurse in the Philadelphia Hospital, who took 460 grains of chloral. It produced deep sleep, her respi rations were 35-heavy and stertorous; pulse 140; face flushed: extremities cold and livid. The symptoms resembling those produced by an over-dose of opium. She was supposed to have taken that drug, and was treated in accordance with that supposition. She entirely recovered, when she stated she had taken some medicine from a vial for the relief of headache, and it was ascertained that the medicine was a solution of chloral.

It is stated in the Lancet (Nov. 26, 1870), that as much as 160 grains of the hydrate of chloral was lately given by mistake in one dose to a middle-aged man in one of the London hospitals. Some alarm was felt, but no disagreeable symptoms occurred; the man slept well, and no unpleasant effects resulted.

Enlarged Spleen-Mr J. G. JAY records (Baltimore Med. Journ., Oct. 1870) a case of this in a negro man, æt. 28. The weight of the spleen was 92 pounds; its length 16 inches; greatest breadth, 11 inches. It was lobulated upon the right margin; the fissures, 4 in number, were from one to two inches in depth.

Death from the Inhalation of Ether.In the number of the Boston Medical and Surgical Journ. for Dec. 8, 1870, there is reported by Dr. WALTER BURNHAM, of Lowell, a case of death from the effects of sulphuric ether," in the opinion of the editor the result of an overdose." The operation was an amputation of the thigh for a gunshot wound; an ounce of ether was administered on a small napkin in a bowl, which was placed over the face, and one or two drachms were added every two or three minutes. In about ten minutes anesthesia was induced, and the ether suspended; slight sensibility returning the ether was renewed with the desired effect, and again suspended. The operating surgeon then ordered the napkin to be reapplied with a drachm of ether freshly poured upon it. After one or two inspirations the patient ceased to breathe.

Surgeon-General's Report. From the annual report of the Surgeon-General for the year 1870, we learn that "while the rate of mortality from wounds and injuries among the coloured troops agrees with that among the white troops, their rate of mortality from disease alone is nearly double.

The printing of the medical volume of the first part of the medical and surgical history of the war is near completion. The peculiar value which the surgical data of the late war have acquired in consequence of the measures taken to trace the ulterior results of the more important cases cannot be overestimated.

"There has been a very steady and uniform increase in the various collections of the Army Medical Museum."

College of Physicians of PhiladelphiaMUTTER Lectureship.-This position is now vacant. Applications for it are hereby invited, and may be made to Dr. S. D.

Secretary of the College, 1928 Spruce St.

College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York.-Prof. WILLARD PARKER has resigned the chair of Surgery in this institution, and is succeeded by Prof. Markoe. Prof. John T. Metcalfe also retires from the chair of Clinical Medicine.

Virginia State Medical Society.-The first meeting of this society was held at Richmond, Va., Nov. 2d, 1870. The opening address was made by the president, Dr. R. S. Payne. He spoke at some length on the importance and objects of the organization.

On motion of Dr. W. W. Parker a committee was appointed to petition the Legislature for an act of incorporation.

On motion of Dr. F. Horner it was resolved to invite the members of the county and town medical societies to co-operate with the State organization.

And, on motion of Dr. Fauntleroy, a committee was appointed to memorialize the Legislature upon the establishment of a board of medical examiners, and to petition the General Assembly to pass a law authorizing liens on property to secure medical fees.

Reports were ordered to be made, at the next annual meeting, on the epidemics of the three divisions of the Stateone for the tide-water district, another for the country lying east of the Blue Ridge, and a third for the Valley. Two Fellows were appointed to read essays at the subsequent meeting of the Society, upon subjects to be chosen by themselves.

The Society adjourned to meet in the city of Lynchburg, at the call of the Executive Committee.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. The After-Treatment of Cataract.-Mr. HAYNES WALTON, in a clinical lecture on cataract (Med. Times and Gaz., Dec. 3,

without distress, and to get the light admitted to the centre of the retina, for both of which the pupil must be of the natural size, or nearly so, and central.

When any unfavourable complication ensues which destroys all chance of primary union of the cornea, whatever depresses the patient will very materially tend to lessen the prospect of his recovering any degree of sight. He is sure to be enfeebled by the adverse condition of the eye, and the constitutional symptoms are often severe. It may be said, in general terms, that only those measures which tend directly to relieve pain and to soothe are admissible. With the least chance of saving the eye, the therapeutic measures most to be relied on is rest to the wounded part-that is, the eyelids must be again plastered. This may be necessary for weeks. Many an eye is lost because this is not attended to. All else is in vain if this be neglected. I believe its simplicity is the chief reason why this, my practice, is not more generally fol⚫lowed. It leaves nothing for meddlesome fingers to do. While in the first week I always plaster up both eyes, in the secondary treatment, to which I now allude, I close only one.

When both eyes are equally affected with blindness, only one at a time should be operated on for extraction, and the first should be allowed to recover before the other is touched. Both eyes may be operated on at the same time for solution.

tofore frequently had recourse to this mode of cauterization, and found himself obliged to have recourse to the perchloride in order to arrest the hemorrhage which ensued on the cauterization. He soon, however, remarked that this application contributed greatly to the cure of the tumour, and therefore he resorted to its use in cases in which the cauterization gave rise to no bleeding.

"At the present time this is the way in which I treat erectile tumours, whatever may be their description, seat, or size: With one of Guersant's needles, heated to whiteness, a track is practised on the tumour, either directly or by piercing the skin at a certain distance from it. Several needles may be placed in the same track, but that is not indispensable. As soon as the cautery is withdrawn, I substitute for it the tents of charpie, soaked in perchloride of iron, and prepared beforehand. I thus plug the aperture until no more blood flows, and leave the charpie in situ until suppuration is well established. I then replace these tents by others, taking care to increase the detachment, and repeat this dressing every day, or every other day, according to the amount of suppuration. In this way I destroy entirely the erectile tissue, invading it in every direction with the charpie soaked in the perchloride. If the tumour is large, several punctures may be made; and if cutaneous arterial spots (taches) persist, they may be painted with the perchloride or cauterized by Guersant's needle."

M. Michaux observed, in conclusion, that the practice was a certain one, unattended with danger, and easy of execution; while the same results are not obtainable either by using the caustic alone or by the injection of the perchlo

Hypodermic Treatment of Syphilis -At one of the recent meetings of the Lyons Medical Society, M. DIDAY detailed the results of a trial of the hypodermic treatment of syphilis, which he has made in twelve cases. Although so few in number,