arily local, including the two forms of idiopathic and traumatic. (b) Those essentially secondary, including the pyemic and metastatic varieties.

The pathology of forms of liver abscess is the same, though materially modified by the nature of their exciting causes.

Hepatic abscesses vary in size from that of a walnut to that of the whole liver. Two and a quarter gallons of pus have been evacuated from one. Sometimes the entire liver tissue is broken down and the capsule of Glisson simply forms the sac of the abscess.

Abscesses are far more common in the right, than in the left lobe of the liver. When multiple they are frequently met with

in both lobes.

An abscess may form in the liver at any period of life between early infancy and anvanced age.

Suppuration may occur in an atrophied as well as in an hypertrophied, in a fatty as well as in a cancerous liver.

Jaundice is in no case a necessary concomitant of liver abscess. Indeed, it is most frequently absent.

The signs and symptoms are nearly identical in the three varieties, the constitutional peculiarities of the patient alone modifying them.

Hepatic abscess is more common among men than women.— Dr. Geo. Harley, London Medical Press.

THE NATION'S HEALTH.-The report of Dr. John S. Billings, Surgeon of the United States Army, on the mortality and vital statistics of the United States has been received by the Secretary of the Interior. Dr. Billings divides the country into twentyone districts, the physicial characteristics of which are more or less distinctive. The total population in 1880 was 50,155,783, an increase of 11,597,412 in ten years. Of this increose 281,219 per annum may be taken as due to immigration, which would make the mean annual increase due to excess of births over deaths, 878,522.

The mean annual birth rate for the United

States is given at 36 per 1,000. During the census year there was a comparatively low death rate and high birth rate.

As among the different classes of citizens, the report shows the death rate to have been larger in the colored than in the white population, and among the latter higher in the foreign element than among those of American parentage. The death rate was also greater in cities than in rural districts. The most important causes of disease and death were consumption, pneumonia, diphtheria, typhoid fever, malarial fever, and the various ill-defined forms of attack to which children under one year of age are particularly subject. During 1880, the detachment added to the great army of the dead amounted to 756,893. Of all causes, consumption was the most fatal. Its victims numbered 91,270. By localties, and in proportion to the population, more deaths occurred from consumption at Charleston, S. C.; from pneumonia, at New York; from homicide, at Richmond; and from suicide, at San Francisco.-Scientific American.

INFANTILE PARALYSIS:-Dr. William Murrell, in a recent lecture, laid down the following plan of treatment for infantile paralysis, which seems, in his hands, to have proved very successful: The treatment, medicinally speaking, consists in the administration of aconite during the acute stage, followed, after a lapse of three or four days, by physostigma, combined, still later, with phosphorus. Simultaneously with the latter portion of the medicinal treatment, massage is practiced, after the plan pointed out by Metzger, of Amsterdam, and Van Mosengeil, of Bonn. This method is divided into four series, or gradations: 1st. surface rubbing (effleurage); 2d. Friction, which is a more vigorous application of the preceding movements; 3d. Kneading (pêtrissage); 4th. A form of percussion (tapotement). The massage

If the

must be conducted on a dry skin and with dry hands. cases are taken in hand early, a rather marked improvement is soon manifest, the temperature of affected limb approaching the normal, and the nutrition of the tissues acquiring a new sti19. Combined with the above, other medicinal agents, such as th

hypophosphites, extract of malt and cod-liver oil, are used.Neurological Review.

A SUBSTITUTE FOR FEHLING'S SOLUTION.-Prof. Holland gives the following as a test for sugar; it is very efficient, easily prepared, and is not spoiled by keeping:

Cupric sulphate.....
Glycerine.........

.3i

.........ži

To make the test add five drops of this solution to one drachm of liquor potassæ in a test tube. Boil a few minutes to test the purity of the fluid. Should it remain clear, then add a few drops of urine. If glucose be present in quantity there is at once thrown down a red precipitate, just as in the ordinary Fehling test. To detect minute amounts of sugar, not shown by the above procedure, after making the test as above, add half a drachm of urine; boil and set aside. If sugar be present even in very minute quantities, the liquid as it cools will turn of an olive green color and become turbid.-Canadian Practitioner.

ANTIPYRIN AS A HÆMOSTATIC.-E. Casati (Raccoglitore Medico, August, 1885) reports the successful application of antipyrin in four and five-per-cent. solutions as a hæmostatic. The results attained by its use seem to warrant the following conclusions: 1. Antipyrin is a powerful hæmostatic. 2. It is superior to perchloride of iron, because after its use the wound remains entirely clean. 3. It is superior to ergot, because only in extremely large doses does it manifest a toxic action, while according to Huchard, it exerts a hæmostatic action whether applied directly to the bleeding part or administered internally. 4. In many cases it is to be preferred on account of its antipyretic as Also perhaps for its antiseptic effect. 5. The hæmostatic action manifested in a very short time. 6. Further observation ssary to determine its value in controlling secondary

orrhage. (Gazetta degli Ospitali, Sept. 30, 1885).—Pract.

NEURALGIA. A mixture of one part of iodoform to ten or fifteen of collodion, if spread repeatedly upon a neuralgic surface until it attains a thickness of one to two millimetres, is said to be quite effective in the treatment of certain neuralgias. If the first application does not speedily terminate the neuralgia, those who have used this mode of treatment direct that its application should be continued. It seems especially valuable in the relief of neuralgias of the trigeminus. It also seems of value to be applied along the spine, particularly at painful points in what is called spinal irritation. These observations are by no means new, and yet they seem worthy of further consideration.-Neurological Review.

DRESSING FOR BURNS.-The local application consisted of tannin disolved in sulphuric ether in such proportions as to give a syrup-like consistence. This was applied directly to the parts. The patient seemed to be bordering on convulsions from sheer pain, but instant relief followed the application which dried rapidly and formed a flexible, non-elastic coating. It excluded the air as effectually as collodion does, while it did not contract or become stiff as the latter does. It proved to be a most perfect dressing-fulfilling every indication.-Periscope.

CARDIAC DROPSY.-Dr. Iendràssic has found in cases of cardiac dropsy that calomel causes well marked diuresis, which dissipates the dropsy and oedema. The effect, "a sort of diabetes insipidus," comes on in twenty-four hours by giving one and a half grains of the drug three to five times a day. Salivation and sore mouth are prevented by using a gargle of chlorate of potash from the first.-Med. and Surg. Reporter.

BUFFALO has four medical journals, two medical colleges, and six medical societies and medical clubs, to say nothing of the irregular organizations.

Editorial.

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Thirty-Seventh Annual Meeting, Held in St. Louis, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, May 4, 5, 6, and 7, 1886.

TUESDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

The meeting was called to order at Music Hall, Exposition Building, by Dr. LeGrand Atwood, Chairman of the local Committee of Arrangements, at 11.15 A. M., about eight hundred being present. Dr. Atwood introduced the President, Dr. William Brodie, of Detroit. A prayer was offered by the Rev. Montgomery Schuyler, D.D.

The address of welcome was then made by the Hon. D. F. Francis, the Mayor of St. Louis, who stated that it was highly appropriate that the Association should hold its convention in the healthiest city in the Union, the home of Pope, McDowell, Hodgen, and others distinguished in the profession, to which he welcomed those present for their own sakes. Mr. Francis then alluded to the antiquity of medical practice, even in barbarous countries, and eulogized its practitioners of the present day, mentioning many immortal names which the world delighted to honor. No branch of science was advancing more rapidly, or was more successfully taught, than medicine.

Dr. Atwood then said a few words in behalf of the local profession, who had been earnest in their endeavors to make the meeting successful and agreeable. He called attention to the fact that it was thirty-two years since President Brodie was elected to membership in the Association, at a meeting held in St. Louis, and now he was here again to preside over its deliberations. It was highly appropriate for the Association to meet at the home of so many distinguished physicians.

The President invited the ex-Presidents of the Association to seats on the platform.

PROTESTS AGAINST THE ADMISSION OF CERTAIN DELEGATES.

Protests were offered against the admission of delegates from the

3