that a persistent irritation of the kidneys is not to be feared. Nucleo-albumen, which is present in the urine after muscular exertion, could not be proved.

THE TREATMENT OF SEROUS PLEURAL EFFUSIONS WITH

GUAIACOL.

Dr. Prosorowski, of Smolensk (Deutsche Medizinal Zeitung, March 31st; Dublin Journal of Medical Science, October), treated eleven cases of pleural effusion by painting guiaicol on the skin. In all the cases the exudation was absorbed more rapidly than he had observed with other methods of treatment. The patients suffered no discomfort of any kind from the treatment. The irritation of the skin that followed the application of the guiaicol was so slight as to be of no importance. In his cases the guaiacol was painted on from five to seven times before cure resulted. There did not seem to be any connection between the size of the exudation and the duration of the cure. In all cases after the guaiacol was applied the temperature fell 0.5° to 4° F. Immediately after this fall it rose again to its former level, or even higher. This rise generally reached its maximum about two hours after the guaiacol was painted on. If the patients' temperature was normal before the application; the fall of temperature was less than if pyrexia existed. During the treatment the amount of urine was increased.

Dr. Prosorowski was unable to suggest any fully satisfactory theory to account for the action of the guaiacol. The following hypothesis, however, appeared to him as a very possible explanation: The guaiacol acts in two ways-(1) by irritation (stimulation) of the peripheral nerve endings it acts on the centres which regulate temperature and the vasomotor centres, causing an increase in the absorptive power of the pleura; (2) it makes its way into the circulating blood, and then destroys the noxious substances produced by the pleurisy.

TO MASK TASTE OF QUININE.

Ephemeris advises the syrup of rose leaves, upon the suggestion of Mr. E. N. Gates, as an excipient to mask the taste of quinine sulphate. The mixture must not be diluted with

water or the taste of the quinine becomes evident, otherwise only the peculiar bitter taste of rose leaves is noticeable. The syrup is made from three parts simple syrup and one part fluid extract rosæ centifolia. The proportion of quinine to syrup is, maximum drug, ten grains, to syrup one fluid drachm.

OBSTETRICAL.

UNCONSCIOUS CHILDBIRTH.

Baley (La Med. Mod., August 31, 1898) attended a primpara aged 23 years, who was in excellent health. After two hours of slight labor pains the os uteri had dilated to the size of a two-franc piece. Then the pains seemed to die out, and the doctor returned home. Two hours later he was hastily summoned, the patient having stated that the pains were returning. Having prepared his hand for an examination, his surprise may be imagined upon finding the child fully delivered and lying in a pool of amniotic fluid. It was not breathing, but a hot bath and spinal friction restored it to life. The mother was entirely ignorant of the fact that the child had been born. She had perceived the flow of water and a slight increase in the pain, but nothing else. The child weighed 61⁄2 pounds, and its delivery had not even broken the skin of the perineum.

ON THE AMOUNT OF FAT IN THE MILK OF NURSING WOMEN

UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS.

Dr. Gersoni has made 2,000 analyses of the milk of 310 nursing women (Wratsch, 25; 1898) to determine the proportion of fat contained in normal milk, and its fluctuation under varying circumstances. As the result of his labor the following data are presented: (1) The average per cent. of fat in the milk of a nursing woman for the entire period of lactation is about 3.48. (2) This per cent. varies greatly in different women, and also in the same woman, the average amount being between 0.6 and 10 per cent. (3) During the first days

of the nursing period the milk is poor in fat, averaging about 3.03 per cent.; the amount of fat then gradually increases to about 3.8 per cent.; it remains almost stationary from the fourth week to the fourth month, when it again shows a tendency to increase. The milk of young woman, of primiparæ, and of delicate women is richer in fat than is that of those more advanced in years, of multiparæ, or of robust women. (4) The quantity of fat is increased by moderate muscular exercise, by strong and frequent nursing, during the menstrual period, and also in fever. (5) A low meat diet has but very slight effect on the amount of fat. (6) A low or high percentage of fat in the milk is not of itself sufficient to cause gastro-intestinal disturbance; on the other hand, a sudden increase in the amount of fat may derange the child's digetion.

STRIKING INSTANCE OF MATERNAL IMPRESSION.

Gardiner gives an instance of maternal impression which is no less striking than it is well authenticated. An American woman had, during her third pregnancy, an unbearable craving for sunfish. During the fourth month her husband brought home for her some of these fish alive in a pail. She stumbled against it on the porch, and one of the fish flopped over the edge of the pail and came in contact with her leg. It sent a cold chill through her, but the pregnancy was not disturbed, and nothing more was thought of the accident until the child was born, when, to her surprise, a nevus in shape and size closely resembling a fish was seen upon the leg of the baby in the part corresponding to that of her own leg with which the fish came in contact. Otherwise the child's health was perfect, and she lived to grow up into a healthy woman. The annoying craving for sunfish which was temporarily present in her mother existed in her throughout a long life. It much resembled a drug habit. Time and again she has eaten sunfish until from repletion she has vomited, and then again has eaten them with unabated appetite.-Medical News.

Editorials, Reviews, Etc.

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THE NINTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

The meeting was called to order in the assembly room of the Tulane Hotel, Thursday, Nov. 17, with quite a number of distinguished visitors.

After a prayer by Rev. Jas. I. Vance, the Committee of Arrangements made its report.

The Committee on Credentials recommended quite a number of applicants, who were elected members of the Association.

The President, Dr. E. W. Ridings, of Dickson, announced the reading of essays next in the order of business.

Dr. L. L. Sheddan presented a paper on the Treatment of Acute Croupous Pneumonia, deprecating the use of the lancet and other depressant remedies, advocating the local use of cold, strychnia, alcohol, diet, and good nursing.

Dr. J. B. Cowan asked the question if the disease is of

microbic origin do the diplococci lie in wait in the healthy lungs for suitable conditions in order to begin their work?

Dr. A. J. Swaney asserted that the disease could be aborted by venesection, and that stimulants suited a few cases.

Dr. J. S. Edwards, of Erin, read a paper entitled Difficult Dentition in Children; a Plea for the Use of the Gum Lancet.

Dr. F. B. Reagor read a paper on Chronic Pleurisy.

In the discussion, Dr. Murfree said that he did not believe the disease occurred frequently. Empyema was a serious disease and demands surgical measures. A serous effusion may be relieved by sorbifacients; aspiration can be resorted to. If pus exists, it should be evacuated by free incision.

Dr. Jas. S. White read a paper entitled The Use of Antidiphtheritic Serum in Membranous Croup, with report of case. Dr, Murfree stated that he had treated membranous croup with Parke, Davis & Co.'s antitoxin successfully.

Adjourned until 2 P. M.

Dr. W. J. Jolly read a paper on Reflex Nervous Diseases in Women.

In discussion, Dr. J. R. Buist said that gynecologists had overreached themselves, but that frequently marked disturbance elsewhere had been relieved by the removal of diseased viscera from the pelvis. He does not believe that the removal of healthy tissues will remove nervous disturbance.

Dr. L. E. Ragsdale read an excellent paper on Ataxias: Their Differential Diagnosis.

Dangers of Cocaine in Surgical Practice was the subject of a paper by Dr. G. C. Savage.

Adjourned until 8 P. M.

Dr. S. S. Crockett presented a paper on Multiple Preg

nancy.

Dr. Hardison opened the discussion, saying that while