Miscellaneous.

We have received some clippings from a Cincinnati paper which proves that as usual Dr. John Uri Lloyd's influence is being exercised in favor of everything being shown up in its true light. He has been greatly interested in the pure food law, which insists on all goods being labeled with the names of their constituents. The distillers of whiskies represented in Cincinnati, have filed an injunction which if sustained would permit them to label imitation whisky so that it cannot be distinguished from the true article. Prof. Lloyd's evidence in these cases before the courts has been very decisive in favor of the distinction being plainly shown.

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The latest number of McClure's Magazine is an especially attractive one. Among the articles of general interest are the article by Munsterburg on "Prohibition and Social Psychology," the one on the paintings of the Far North made by the Russian artist Borrisoff, and the one by Dr. Cabott, of Boston, on Christian science cures. The fiction attractions of the number are unusually good, making it especially adapted to the vacation period. Too much cannot be said in favor of this popular monthly journal.

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Cactus which has been found excellent for functional palpitation during the menopause, will be found equally good for this form of palpitation which occurs during dysmenorrhea.

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The inhalation of the vapor of camphor will relieve acute cold in the head, if ten drops of the spirits of camphor be taken in half of an ounce of water at the beginning of a general cold, it will sometimes break it up completely.

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Bier's artificial hyperemia has been applied with marked improvement in the treatment of chronic otitis media. A suction bell is applied over the ear.

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In regard to the cause of rickets, osteo-malacia, and other disease of the bones, Stoeltzner thinks he has discovered a cause in insufficient action of the suprarenal glands. This idea will certainly serve as a suggestion in the treatment of this class of diseases.

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A foreign writer is using glycerine with which to expel an excess of uric acid from the system. He gives it in large quantity, about fourteen grains for every pound of the body's weight in twenty-four hours, taken in divided doses in seltzer water, milk or tea, and repeating the treatment only about once a month.

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With other changes of opinion resulting from experience, a marked change is taking place concerning operations on the prostate gland. Perineal prostatectomy is a very severe operation, and applied in cases of the aged and infirm, is not justified by the results. General anesthesia also is not safe with these patients. A recent writer has been using local anesthesia of — a very weak solution of cocaine and the suprarenal extract in performing these operations when necessitated, and finds the results much better than the severe measures.

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Fifty-three cases of operations on the pubic bone in deformed pregnant women are reported from Bumm's service in a Berlin hospital. The sawing of the bone is not the danger, but the too rapid passage of the head in delivery where there are complications the operation is contraindicated. Thirty-four of the women were free from unpleasant results. There was permanent enlargement of the pelvis, and in nine cases there was subsequent, uncomplicated childbirth. This method is seldom found necessary except in hospital practice.

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Years ago in active practice I found many cases where the injection of the hydrate of chloral per rectum was of immense service. If dissolved in water alone and administered in concentrated form from thirty to forty grains only should be given. This produces some irritation and may not be retained. If one dram be beaten up with a yolk of an egg and mixed with half of a pint of milk, and injected carefully with a rubber syringe, a double effect will be accomplished, which will be very desirable. I have used this remedy by injection to produce immediate dilation of the os uteri.

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• Truth is as indifferent to public opinion, as public opinion is to truth.
• For persistent hiccough I have given small, frequent sips of a hot infusion of capsicum.
• In violent hysterical paroxysms large doses of gelsemium will sometimes produce quick results.
• Theoretically considered the salicylate of lithium should be an excellent remedy for muscular rheumatism.
• The proportionate number of deaths from chloroform is very much greater among dentists than among physicians.
• In acute spasmodic stricture of the urthera, ten drops of gelsemium and five drops of macrotys every half hour will give relief after a few doses.
• I have observed a similar delirium to follow the conjoint use of quinine and opium, and have relieved it quickly with one or two doses of this sedative acid.
• For flatulence, fluttering and palpitation during the menopause, give the one-fiftieth of a grain of the extract of calabar bean every half hour for six or eight hours.
• Patients suffering from acute dilatation of the heart, should be treated immediately with full doses of strychnine, if the remedy is not otherwise contra indicated.
• In cases of alopecia, have any of our readers observed that there seems to be an inclination during the period of pregnancy for the hair to take on a new growth.
• If difficulty in swallowing occurs early with the development of goitre, the probabilities are that the case is a malignant one, and should be treated with that idea.
• In the development of erysipelas especially severe, it is quite common to observe the presence of albumin in the urine, which should always be examined in these cases.
• A physician in Quebec reported that he treated seven cases of uncomplicated goitre, successfully, by the administration of ten grains of ammonium chloride three times a day.
• Ten drops of the fluid extract of boneset given frequently in hot water overcomes that peculiar tendency to regurgitation of food which occasionally occurs with neurasthenic or hysterical women.
• At various times during the past ten years reports have been made of the hypodermic injection of ergotin in cases of prolapse of the rectum. Usually the results were reported as satisfactory.
• A well known cancer paste is made by combining powder sanguinaria and zinc chlorid equal parts, with as much flour, the whole to be moistened with a small quantity of aromatic sulphuric acid.
• Years ago I used chrysophanic acid, dissolved in chloroform, for the treatment of ringworm. The method is severe, but very successful. I have seen no reference made to the method in recent years.
• Byrd claims that very satisfactory results are obtained from the use of eight or ten drops of sp. cactus every three hours in the treatment of subacute or chronic rheumatism. He has used it in many cases.
• An enema of hot water during tedious labor will usually produce dilatation of the os and remove erratic pains and facilitate delivery, perhaps hot sweet oil would produce better results than hot water.
• From half a grain to a grain of the bromide of sodium, every fifteen or twenty minutes for a short time, will quiet the restlessness of teething infants, and will sometimes control fever depending upon those disturbances.
• A method was in vogue at one time in India in which the leaves of Indian hemp were smoked in a pipe like tobacco, by patients threatened with tetanus. It is reported that the convulsive paroxysms were greatly modified.
• There are quite a number of cases of severe and persistent eczema in children, where recovery has occurred spontaneously after the child has been vaccinated. This is a suggestion that might prove worth considering.
• The occurrence of cholecystitis as a result of general infection of the liver is like some other chronic disorders, notably salpingitis, which persists after the acute difficulty which it follows has long subsided.
• Ergotin has been used in delirium tremens. It was suggested by its action when prescribed for a drunkard with delirium who had hemorrhage from the lungs. The remedy not only stopped the bleeding but controlled the brain symptoms.
• In collapse following acute, rapid, prostrating disease, as cholera or cholera morbus, or prostrating diarrhea, prepared, saturated solution of gum camphor in absolute alcohol and give from five to ten drops on sugar every half hour until reaction occurs.
• An old doctor says he has cured chronic tibial ulcers by wrapping them thoroughly in a roller bandage which has been dipped in melted paraffin after properly cleansing the sores. At first thought this would seem to be a reasonable suggestion. Any one who has adopted this or a similar method should report.
• In the treatment of melena neonatrum it is seldom that medicine is advised. The prognosis is usually bad from the first. Legge of England advised giving calcium chlorid in solution to these infants as he had seen excellent results from its use. From fifteen to twenty grains may be given in 24 hours.
• One of our older writers treated many cases of whooping cough with the fluid extract of ergot. To small children he would give four drops every three or four hours for two or three weeks, with older children he would increase the dose to fourteen or fifteen drops. It is claimed that there . are some cases of nasal catarrh that this remedy will benefit.
• When constant dragging pain is present under the ribs on the left side, let the intestinal canal be thoroughly evacuated by a high flushing, and attend closely to the bowel movements, and that pain will disappear in many cases. It is caused by the dragging weight of the feces in the sigmoid flexure or contiguous to it.
• A German investigator has made a large number of autopsies to determine in how large a number of his hospital patients there are evidences of tuberculosis, whatever condition caused the death. He found some evidence in ninety-one per cent examined, including adults and children, and in thirty-eight per cent of the children alone.
• In the treatment of goitre especially in the early stages the application of the oil of erigeron has been very beneficial. One-half ounce of erigeron oil is dissolved in one and one half ounces of alcohol, and this is painted freely over the enlargement. In some cases this has been improved by adding to the two ounce mixture twenty grains of powdered iodide of potassium or by using the oil solution in conjunction with the tincture of iodine. The results of its use have been very satisfactory.

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A case of rapidly advancing purpura in a man 25 years old, with violent hemorrhages from all mucous surfaces was controlled in two hours and cured within a few days with 20 drop doses of turpentine given every two or three hours.

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Excessive sweating of the hands and feet may be materially benefited, if not cured, by bathing them three times a day with a mixture of one part of the tincture of belladonna and four parts of cologne water.

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There was a theory propounded a few years ago, which is still entertained by some, that there is an intimate relationship between chorea and epilepsy, both being due to disturbances of the motor and intellectual centers, differing however in degree.

Location

For Sale.—An excellent eclectic practice in southeastern Nebraska. Drugs, fixtures, surgical apparatus and instruments invoiced $630.00 last Dec. Will take $375.00; part cash, balance to suit. Can introduce purchaser into a good practice at once. I am going to retire.—Dr. W. B. Shepard, Cook, Neb.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.