were dissected out, as is easily done, and attached to ligatures. Blood was then drawn by cupping from a patient suffering from typhus fever, either simple, or complicated with inflammation. The blood was defibrinated and placed in one or more test-tubes. Healthy blood was treated in the same manner, and the prepared portions of umbilical artery were suspended in the diseased and in the healthy blood, and exposed for a given time to a temperature of 100 Fahrenheit. In each experiment, after an hour's immersion, it was easily recognizable which portions of artery had been : suspended in the febrile and which in the healthy blood, by the flaccidity, discoloration, and lack of vitality manifested by the former, and the healthy appearance and re-actions of the latter. Such results as this are of more value than long and labored arguIments, and will, I hope, serve as an excuse for shortcomings in tthat respect.

ART. II-Abstract of Proceedings of the Buffalo Medical Association. TUESDAY EVENING, July 11, 1865. pursuant to adjournment, the President,

The Association met Dr. Ring, in the Chair.

Present, Drs. Rochester, Congar, Strong, Gould, Samo, Boardman, Smith, Johnson and Peters.

The report of prevailing diseases was taken up, when

DR. ROCHESTER called attention to the prevalence of whooping cough, and to the fact that it was a much more dangerous disease in very young children than was generally supposed. He thought physicians should take pains to let it be known, in the families which they attended, as parents were very apt to consider it a disease of little moment. As to treatment, he had been inclined early in the epidemic to rely chiefly upon bromide of ammonium, but further experience had led him to place a less high estimate upon its efficacy. Not wishing to recommend a remedy too hastily, he felt bound to put on record the fact that it had often failed in his hands. In one case where the bromide of ammonium had' failed, he had had very good success with the combination of sulphate of zinc and belladonna.

DR. BOARDMAN had seen several severe cases of urticaria.

Some discussion also took place concerning the treatment of whooping cough, by those present-the weight of evidence seeming to be in favor of the sulphate of zinc and belladonna.

DR. PETERS inquired whether the gentlemen present had seen in any cases, poisoning from opium take place without sleep being produced. Was induced to make this inquiry from having had occasion to note the effects of large doses of morphia. Wished also to call attention to the danger of administering this drug at the same time with chloroform, which he believed was often done with too little care. Referred especially to morphia because he believed it more dangerous than other preparations of opium.

DR. BOARDMAN had seen one case of a gentleman who had been accustomed to large doses of opium, but who took too much one afternoon, was attacked with severe and persistent vomiting which lasted all next day, death taking place in about twenty-four hours. Had no doubt death might result from opium without sleep having been induced.

DR. ROCHESTER said little children sometimes died from the effects of opium when there was no sleep until the last. In a certain class of cases opium often produces convulsions. Thought it often had an enfeebling and prostrating effect, and should be given, especially to children, with great care.

DR. STRONG had always considered opium to have a stimulant, instead of a prostrating effect. At two hours' intervals, in moderate doses, he had always got a stimulant effect. Believed it could be given in some dose to any child.

DR. ROCHESTER did not intend to say it should never be given to children, but only that it should be used carefully. Wished to be understood as saying it was often given too long, especially in cases of cholera infantum. It interfered with alimentation, and hence was weakening when given for a long time. Believed it was used too much by all physicians of the present day; and while he would not by any means undervalue it, he would urge care in its use. In regard to the use of both opiates and anæsthetics, would say that they could be used together, and formed valuable adjuncts to one another.

DR. SMITH related a case of convulsions following an attempted abortion, which had occurred in his practice, when he adminisVOL. 5, NO. 2-8.

tered enormous doses both of laudanum and morphia without effect, until he administered chloroform, when the woman slept well.

DR. JOHNSON related a somewhat similar case which he had seen. Considered the two remedies very valuable in such cases.

DR. PETERS was well aware that the effects of chloroform were prolonged by opium, and vice versa, hence the danger. Did not intend to object to their being used together, but desired to point out the danger of giving chloroform after large doses of opium. had apparently failed.

The Association adjourned.

TUESDAY EVENING, August 1st, 1865. Association met pursuant to adjournment, the President, Dr. Ring, in the Chair. Present, Drs. Rochester, Samo, Trowbridge, Greene, Gleason, Cronyn, Wetmore, Johnson and Peters.

Drs. J. N. Browne and E. E. Little were elected members. DR. TROWBRIDGE presented, through the Secretary, a copy of the tables of height, measurements, etc., of men examined in the Provost Marshal's office, which he had been required to make to the Provost Marshal General.

On motion of Dr. Rochester the thanks of the Association were presented to Dr. Trowbridge for the document, and the Secretary was instructed to preserve it in a form convenient for reference. Its great size renders its publication impossible.

Reports on prevailing diseases being called for, Dr. Rochester reported cholera infantum, whooping cough, and cerebro-spinal meningitis, as prevailing, and typhoid fever as measurably frequent. Thought cerebro-spinal meningitis more frequent among females than males, and among children from 8 to 18 years of age, than adults.

DR. CRONYN had not seen a single case of uncomplicated whooping cough. Reported several cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis.

DR. GREENE had seen a good deal of whooping cough, and had found a good remedy in the following formula:

R Ground Coffee, iv.
Water,

O SS.

DR. RING reported the prevalence of typhoid fever, cholera infantum, cholera morbus, etc. Had tried with good effect in whoop

ing cough, bromide of ammonium in syrup of tolu.

The Association adjourned.

NOTE.-The Secretary inserts here an account of a curious and interesting case which was related by Dr. Whitney at the December meeting, but has been delayed by Dr. W.'s illness.

DR. WHITNEY related a case of partial paralysis of the arm consequent upon caries and exposure of the nerve of the lower denssapientia of the right side. The patient was a thin, spare woman, about forty years of age, of decided nervous temperament-had had very little pain in the tooth, but for several weeks or months, considerable pain in the right side of the neck, extending to the shoulder and arm, with rigidity of the muscles, and, at times, immobility of the arm. On raising the hand to the face to locate the pain, it fell to her side. On coming in contact with the nerve in probing the tooth, the effect was more manifest in the arm than in the tooth, by painful twitching of the muscles, with an inability to raise it, so much so that she took hold of it with the other hand. He was now fully satisfied that the trouble in the arm, that had nearly deprived her of the use of the needle, and given her so much anxiety, and had been treated with fomentations, lotions, friction, etc., was referable to the condition of the tooth by reflex action. The usual mode of devitalizing and removing the pulp and filling the cavity entirely cured the other annoyances at once. JOSEPH A. PETERS, Secretary.

ART. III.-Cases in Orthopaedic Surgery, with remarks and illustrations. BY J. F. MINER, M. D.

Some attention to the orthopedic department of surgical practice for the past few years, has furnished cases illustrative of almost every deformity common to surgeons; to give a description of some few representative ones, their treatment and its results so far as known, will be the object, not however expecting to present anything essentially new. If any interest is attached to them, it must arise mainly from the fact, that they have been treated in

private practice, without the machinery of orthopedic institutions or attendance other than the parents or friends, and with such instruments as can be improvised by most surgeons, whatever may be the field of their operations. That better results might have been obtained under more favorable circumstances is quite possible, but such as they are, it will be the object to furnish, together with a description of the cases and the means adopted for their relief or cure.

Everywhere surgeons meet with deformities which from the circumstances of the case they must treat as they best may, or wholly neglect, as is too often the case, from want of settled opinions as to what may reasonably be expected, conscious that much more is claimed by special practitioners in these diseases than they themselves are able to realize, and also from a sense of inability to efficiently treat such cases-with the means at command for meehanical support, rightly regarding this as the chief dependence.

Deformities of the spine are perhaps more frequent than of any other part of the body, and constitute a condition of disease concerning which there is as great a variety of opinion among surgeons as exists concerning any one malady. It is quite useless to discuss the various theories which have been proposed as to the causes of this disease; that it may arise from a variety of influences, and is not uniformly dependent upon any one, is quite certain, though the idea that scrofula is the almost uniform cause, has gained a wide circle of supporters. The notion of "disturbed muscular antagonism," has been adopted by some and made to constitute the basis for a special system of practice. Muscular contraction has also been proposed as the chief cause of deformity. Change in the bone or cartilage, has also been regarded as the great cause of deviation in the position of the spine.

Whatever may have been suggested as the invariable cause, it appears certain that it springs from different causes and is associated with a variety of morbid conditions, all attempts to trace it to any one cause in its various forms having thus far failed. It often arises from both constitutional and local causes, and is not invariably associated with any one constitutional bias. Early diagnosis is of the first importance, since it is possible in this disease to prevent, what it is impossible to cure, though "Spine Doc