May 8th. Though the itching was still constant, she had only one severe attack each day since taking the last medicines. May 15th. General improvement; there was so much less. itching the past week that the patient has been able to abstain from scratching most of the time; there is only some itching at night, but the redness and swelling have mostly disappeared; she is less fatigued after exercise. Same prescription repeated. May 23d. There is constant improvement; the parts are normal in appearance; the patient can scarcely realize the change from the condition of torment to that of comfort; in fact she was quite well, and remained so.

PREVENTIVE MEDICINES.

BY LUTHER CLARK, M D., BOSTON.

HOMEOPATHISTS, looking from their standpoint, are better able than others to discover anything that is of value in the contributions made to medical science from whatever quarter.

The editor of the Charleston (S. C.) Medical Journal sends to a local newspaper some extracts from a work by Dr. A. Murino, just received from Rome, as containing information so important that he hastens to give it to the public. He does not give particular instructions to enable the public to practically avail itself of the discovery, but promises in the April number of the Journal an extended article upon the subject, with full directions. The inestimable value of sulphur in a very wide range of diseased conditions, and of mercury within a narrower range, is peculiarly well known to homœopathists. They will not, therefore, be indisposed, after making large allowances for the enthusiasm of the writer, to suspect that there is in what he says some valuable truth, solidly based upon the law of similars. Besides what Homœopathy teaches in relation to sulphur, we have also the remarkable facts respecting the exemption of the employees in gas works, and others exposed to the vapors of sulphur, from various epidemics. As to the utility of mercury, when a medical student I learned from conscientious old-school instructors to be extremely cautious in the use

of it, as a deep-acting poison. Hahnemann's cautions as to the use of mercury, and my own observation, have caused me to use it sparingly, even in its attenuations. Nevertheless, it is my great reliance in some epidemics, especially autumnal dysentery and ulcerated and diphtheritic throat. In these epidemics I sometimes give a very few doses of mercury as a preventive, and always give it upon the earliest indications for it. With this experience, I have myself little doubt that the combination of sulphur and mercury mentioned below would prove a very efficient preventive of certain diseases, if used in properly attenuated doses. We can only hope that our oldschool brethren will use it so carefully as to do a minimum of harm with it.

The following extracts from Dr. Murino's book are given : Professor Socrates Cadet, for a long time devoted to the study of contagion, in order to discover an efficient means to annihilate or neutralize it, found that Ethiop's Mineral (black sulphuret of mercury) possesses the two virtues abovementioned, namely, to abolish the contagion and yet to prove innocent in regard to the person using it. He subjected it to every proof; wrote to his colleagues in the profession; and the solemn and indisputable facts have confirmed his theory. And that Ethiop's Mineral is truly an anchor of safety in such diseases, by the testimony of solemn and well-known facts, and of men the most learned and distinguished, is also proved by the special nature of contagion, which being parasitic, cannot but be subdued by that salutary agent, which is par excellence an anti-parasitic."

"Then, with a full consciousness of what I am uttering, with my soul in my pen,' if an antiquated expression will be pardoned, with a profound conviction, the result of a varied experience instituted by myself in cholera, in croup, in diphtheria, and in convulsive cough, I call upon all parents, all instructors, those in charge of institutions, and in general all heads and directors of industrial establishments, arsenals, colleges, and schools, who wish to preserve themselves, their children and dependents from communicable diseases, on every invasion of contagious maladies, to provide themselves with Ethiop's Min

eral, and to take it and administer it every day to those under their care, with a view to preserve them wholly from the threatened contagion."

"I know that many, even among physicians, will smile at the idea of Ethiop's Mineral producing such marvellous effects. But let those deride who have not seen, as I have seen, cholera in ten persons cured with Ethiop's Mineral in less than one hour; who have not seen, as I have seen, an entire religious community preserved by the same agent, though living in a convent where there was a lazaretto containing not less than a hundred cholera patients constantly. Let those deride who have not seen, as I have seen, many children, attacked with croup, cured in less than two days; who have not witnessed, as I have, more than seventy children with diphtheria cured by the use of Ethiop's Mineral." L. C.

MORPHINE POISONING, OR "REGULAR" TREATMENT. BY J. H. SHERMAN, M.D.

one.

It has been my good fortune within the past six months to treat successfully three cases of poisoning by opium, and as they do not essentially differ, except in degree, will report but These cases had each been treated by "regular" physicians. A. C. B., age forty-three years; occupation, painter; had always enjoyed good health with exception of an attack of small-pox in 1851, when he was very sick. In 1863 had what the doctors called scrofulous enlargement of the glands of the neck, for which he was under medical treatment about a year. In the summer of 1871 was troubled with constipation and suffered much pain in the bowels while at stool. The pain would commence in the region of the umbilicus, gradually extending in all directions until it involved the entire abdominal cavity. The pain was soon followed by syncope, which compelled the patient to lie down for a while, when both syncope and pain would pass off and he would resume his work. These attacks gradually increased in frequency and severity, until in a few weeks they were accompanied by vomiting, sometimes of

ingesta, but usually a slimy green fluid; they would occur also at other times than when at stool and without any apparent cause. Neither the quantity nor quality of the food eaten seems to have had the least influence in causing the pain.

In February, 1873, colic and vomiting became almost constant; was confined to his bed for three weeks under the care of a physician in Medford, Mass. On partial recovery from this continued colic he came to Boston, and put himself under the care of a skilful (?) allopathic physician, who pronounced his disease lead poison. From the patient's description there is no doubt but that the treatment was truly heroic. To relieve the attacks of colic, morphine was injected hypodermically in one and one half grain doses, and repeated as often as the colic returned, which was frequently twice in twenty-four hours. After continuing this treatment for several months the colic 'spells" became more frequent as well as more severe, and a change of physicians was made, but the same or very similar treatment was adopted, the subcutaneous injection of morphine being the sheet anchor. After a few months' trial with this physician, another was called, who followed in the footsteps of his predecessors. The patient, becoming desperate and determined to be cured if in the power of physicians, continued to summon the available medical skill in his vicinity until he had been under the treatment of seventeen "regular" doctors, and, astonishing as it may seem, the man still lived, and was now fully ripe for a trial with a homoeopath. I was called to see this patient November 20, 1874. He was then suffering from one of his colic attacks, having had no morphine since the previous day.

The man was a perfect picture of agonizing despair; emaciated, extremely pale, bloodless, and seemingly as wretched as it was possible for a human being to be. After listening to the history of his case, a part of which was related by himself and the rest by his wife, I could but pity him and her. He said he had been sick for more than two years; that when taken sick he was earning good wages as a fresco painter; that he had deposited in the bank some of his hard-earned savings, after supporting his family, a wife, and two daughters in their teens;

that he had paid eight hundred dollars to seventeen physicians; that his money was now all drawn from the bank, the doctors no longer took an interest in his case, and he did not see what was to become of him. He was asked if he was willing to follow out our plan of treatment, though it would cost him great suffering. If he could be assured of a perfect cure, he replied, he would submit to anything, but, said he, "Doctor, you must relieve me of this dreadful distress." I told him the distress was produced by morphine, and the only way to get rid of it permanently was to abandon the further use of it. He agreed to be governed by my advice, and Bell. 1st decimal was given in water every two hours, hoping it might have some effect to antidote the morphine, but principally for the mental effect. Now commenced one of the severest struggles to conquer an enemy that we ever witnessed. He was in agony day and night; for three days and nights he neither eat nor slept, and to such a strain was the nervous system subjected that he was verging on delirium. Milk punch was ordered freely, after learning that the patient had never been accustomed to the use of alcoholic stimulants. This served a good purpose as a temporary expedient, but was discontinued after a couple of weeks, when the patient began to have an appetite. The colic gradually subsided, the paroxysms were not so frequent or severe. The patient took courage, but he was very much prostrated; for three weeks he could hardly raise his head from his pillow, and it was three months before he became strong enough to walk on the street; but for several weeks past he has been entirely free from pain, eats more than his full allowance, sleeps well, has gone to work, and says that he is increasing in weight at the rate of half a pound daily. He wants no more morphine nor regular practice.

PALLIATIVES.

BY DR. AD. LIPPE.

DR. WM. H. HOLCOMBE, Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Pulte Medical College, President of the American Institute of Homœopathy, and author of numerous works, has delivered