grain three times daily. I also directed that her face should be washed in water containing a spoonful of the solution (one grain to the ounce) and that the mouth should be sponged out with the same-directing also the use of the commercial acid solution about the house as a disinfectant. At the end of four days the internal administration was discontinued; not because of any unpleasant symptoms, but its continuance did not appear necessary. The mouth-wash, of which the child swallowed a few drops, and all the other applications, were continued; the body being anointed with olive oil, tinctured with carbo ic acid. From first to last no untoward symptom appeared; the fever subsided on the fifth day. The throat was not very sore; the tongue was relieved of the creamy coat after the third day; there was no offensive breath and the child made a compiete recovery. No other treatment was employed. A brother of this child, two years older, who never contracted the disease, and who was with her constantly, had no symptoms of the disorder. His face was washed twice daily in the solution above mentioned.

The medical superintendent of this asylum, Dr. John P. Gray, informs me that in a family of six children, three were simultaneously attacked with scarlatina anginosa. They were put upon a course of treatment similar to the above, the house being thoroughly disinfected. and made a good recovery.

Dr. Gray has spoken to me of a case (sequel to scarlatina anginosa) in which there occurred a very fœtid discharge of ichorous pus from the ears and nostrils of the patient. A mild solution of the acid (two grains to the ounce of water) was thrown into the nares and auditorius externus, with the effect of arresting the sanious discharge and causing its disappearance.

Dr. Bissell states that he has used a solution of carbolic acid-strength two grains to the ounce, the dose being one drachm—as a vermifuge, and has not been disappointed with the remedy. The oryuris vermicularis (pin worm) may be at once destroyed by using as an injection a drachm of the solution to four ounces of water.

Though it was not my intention to speak of this agent as a disinfectant, as it concerns the sick-room directly, yet some remarks may not be inappropriate. Nearly every practitioner has experienced the unpleasant odor emanating from the lying-in room. This may be entirely

overcome by the proper use of the solution of commercial acid-a half ounce of which, put into a gallon of boiling water, makes a strong solution-all, indeed, that the water will take up-which, if filtered to remove oily matters, may be thrown about the floor with impunity. Two tablespoonsful at a time are sufficient to disinfect and deodorize a large room, and one-half the quantity is generally sufficient. A few drops sprinkled upon the the napkins, and applied to the genitalia externa, will remove the unpleasant, pungent odor which accompanies the lochial discharge, thus exempting the patient from a great source of discomfort. A small quantity of the solution put into the close stool before use, destroys the odor which would otherwise occur. Whenever it has been introduced with these objects in view, it has received the unqualified approval of those most interested.

Carbolic acid at once arrests the development of the lower forms of organic life. It stops the fermentation of yeast, kills microscopic infusoria and cheese mites. Nor does its influence end here. In order to test its destructive power over insect and animal life, I procured a cricket, smeared the inside of a wine-glass with the commercial carbolic acid, and inverted it over the cricket, leaving sufficient space at the bottom to allow a supply of air. Immediately after the glass was inverted, the cricket made violent attempts to escape, lasting two or three minutes. It then staggered about and fell over, had a few severe convulsions, and died. A cockroach was next tried, with the same result; it was from ten to fifteen minutes in the vapor.

A mouse was procured, and put into a wide-mouthed, four-quart bottle. A piece of sponge saturated with two drachms of commercial acid was lowered into the bottle and suspended about two inches from the bottom. Five minutes after the introduction of the sponge, the mouse staggered as if intoxicated, the movements continuing for fifteen minutes, when a short respite occurred. These paroxysms were repeated several times during one hour and a half, then the animal became violently convulsed, the spasmodic action lasting thirty minutes, when it died. Upon examination it was found that the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord were injected, some of the vessels being very large. The lungs were of a slight pink color, many shades above that observed in the normal human lung: they were collapsed. The heart

appeared large, and felt hard; upon opening the organ it was found distended with very dark clots, which bulged out as the incision was made.

A full-grown rat was next subjected to the vapor of carbolic acid, and its manifestations were more strongly marked in this than in the former experiments. The animal was a vicious one, exhibiting great ferocity; but in less than one minute after the sponge containing the acid had been introduced, the animal appeared sleepy, and as if intoxicated. Twice the animal reared upon its haunches, as if it desired to climb, but had not the strength to do so, and after each attempt, it fell upon its right side. At the end of forty-five minutes a tremor was observable over the entire body, and it ceased to notice sudden sounds; shortly after this it failed to preceive that it was being handled, and presented all the phenomena of profound anesthesia. Convulsions followed the tremulousness, which continued to increase in violence until the animal's death, which occurred in one hour and forty-five minutes after the introduction of the sponge. The vessels of the pia mater were found congested, some of them being very much distended. The larger lobes of the brain (cerebrum) presented a greater number of bleeding points than is usually found; the smaller lobes (cerebellum) were highly congested-the vessels being considerably increased in size. The spinal cord appeared exsanguinated in all but the cervical region, which presented a uniform pink blush. The lungs were collapsed and several shades lighter in color than usual. The heart was tense; and, on being opened, a clot bulged out which filled both left auricle and ventricle.

The same experiment has been performed twice since, the result being alike in each case in the last instance, the convulsions occurred at the end of eighteen minutes; they were more violent in character, and death occurred sooner (fifty minutes.)

A peculiarity was noticed in connection with the convulsive movements of both insects and animals-which was, that the forward legs were first convulsed, the spasm ceasing to a great extent in them, as the posterior members became affected; and also that, as the spasm commenced, the animal fell over upon the right side.— [Canada Medical Journal.

ANALYTICAL DEPARTMENT.

"Qui e nuce nucleum esse vult, frangit nucem."-PLAUTUs.

ART. I.-ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS ARTICLES. Published in the last Medical Times and Gazette, and the British Medical Journal and London Lancet, (original copies). By Prof. JAMES M. HOLLOWAY, M.D., Associate Editor.

Dr. Robert Smith, M. R. C. S., reports the successful treatment of a number of cases of severe neuralgia, including tie douloureux, within the last fifteen years by the application of tr. aconite upon a blistered surface.

After the cuticle has been removed, the patient is laid in such a way that drop after drop may fall upon the blistered surface and gradually diffuse itself.

Three applications, of fifteen drops each, at intervals of twelve hours, have been sufficient to cure cases of long standing, while usually, one application is sufficient.

Dr. Day, of Geelong, had been very successful in the treatment of diabetes by the employment of an ethe: eal solution of peroxide of hydrogen. He gives it two or three times daily, in doses of from a half drachm to two drachms in a wineglass of water. Under its influence the great thirst, frequent micturition and the large flow of saccharine urine ceases.

Mr. Bayfield, and other medical gentlemen, confirm the observation of Dr. Day.

W. St. John Coleman, in a letter to the Lancet, October 31, proposes to contribute a paper, illustrated by cases, to show the value of chlorine in the prevention and treatment of scarlatina. He recommends the use of the chlorine mixture, prepared by Watson's formula (see Watson's and Flint's works on practice.)

[NOTE. Having employed this remedy in quite a number of severe cases, I can bear full testimony to its great value.-H.]

Mr. John D. Hill, at the Royal Free Hospital, has treated successfully four cases of simple ganglia of the

wrist by emptying the cyst and applying modified pressure. The pressure was accomplished with sheet lead and wash leatherjapplied over the ganglion and retained by silken cords drawn tightly over a splint of gutta percha that covered the palmar aspect of the wrist. The treatment did not interfere with moderate use of the arm.

Mr. Hill, at the same hospital, has also recently cured a severe case of prolapsus ani, by the following operation: "He dissected out three triangular pieces of integument, making the base of the triangle correspond with the margin of the mucus membrane of the anus. portions of tissue removed were situated, ole on either side and one in front between the vagina and anus. Sutures were applied and the wounds healed by the first intention."

The

A correspondent of the Times and Gazette, upon the authority of Dr. H. E. Purdon, of Belfast, and Dr. Thorow good, and also from personal experience, recommends the hypophosphites of soda and lime for the cure of eczema, especially in children, when arising from malassimilation.

Mr. C. F. Maunder, surgeon to the London Hospital, attaches great value to the antiseptic ligature of arteries, as recommended by Prof. Lister. In one instance he tied the carotid with a silk ligature saturated with carbolic acid. After cutting off the ends he left the ligature in the wound. The parts healed and the silk thread remained without producing irritation. Mr. M. believes that the "antiseptic ligature of arteries will greatly diminish the risk of secondary hæmorrhage."

Dr. Wilks, at Guy's Hospital, treated, in September last, a case of pneumonia, the right lung being involved in the second and third stage, with venesection, and pills composed of calomel, antimony and opium. The patient, a female, aged 18, small, but robust, was suffering with dyspnoea-pleuritic stitch and was raising rusty sputa. She was much better on the third day and convalesced rapidly.

Dr. Wilks took occasion to remark that he "believed firmly that he had seen venesection save life in pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, apoplexy or epilepsy." Blood