own remedies, and who from situation must do it, may congratulate themselves and patients upon their "lines having fallen to them in pleasant places." The force of all this canvass of the custom of writing prescriptions is this:We have lost sight of the real articles in medicine by its admixture, concentration, combination and general change. We consequently are less simple, less safe, and less sensible in our means of cure, and our patients take fancy medicines largely, more to test the pharmaceutical cookery of the present time, than for cure of any actual disease. Reform requires no organization or machinery of any kind. A common sense view of the condition and a common sense mode of action, will make necessary medication within reach of nearly all, while the other division of prac tice may safely be allowed to drift fashionably its own way. Books Reviewed. The Principles and Practice of Disinfection. By Robert Bartholow, A. M., M. D., Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Medical College of Ohio, etc. Cincinnati: R. W. Carroll & Co., 1867. Dr. Bartholow has given us a more careful digest of the principles and practice of disinfection than we have heretofore possessed. The views embodied in this monograph are based upon experimental observations; the investigations made to determine the toxic effects of gases resulting from putrifaction, being especially careful. Putrifactive decomposition, the author ascribes to the agency of diseased invisible germs or materies morbi, suspended in the atmosphere, the destruction of which becomes the office of disinfectants. The classification of disinfectants adopted is that suggested by Dr. Herbert Baker, who divided them into three classes: "class 1, agents that chemically destroy the noxious compounds; class 2, agents that arrest chemical change; class 3, agents that physically restrain the noxious compounds." To heat, is assigned the foremost rank in the list of disinfectants, as possessing a larger range of adaptability than any other agent, possessing oxidizing powers, thus destroying noxious compounds, being anticeptic through descication and acting mechanically by causing atmospheric currents. Ozone from its oxidizing properties, he especially recommends as a deoderizer and purifier of the air of the sick chamber, ranking iodine and sulphurous acid next; should, however, a more decided disinfection be required, than can be obtained from any one of these agents singly, the combination of all three is recommended. The disinfection of water from disease producing products the author effects best, either by boiling or by filtering through a mixture of freshly-burned charcoal and sand, while that of clothing and bedding is most effectually accomplished by heat. The subject of public disinfection is very carefully reviewed and many valuable suggestions are made as to the best, cheapest and most reliable manner to destroy the deleterious eminations arising from any cause. Notes on the Origin, Nature, Prevention and Treatment of Asiatic Cholera. By John C. Peters, M. D., Second Edition, with an appendix, New York: D. Van Nostrand, 192 Broadway, 1867. Among the numerous manuals of late, published upon Asiatic Cholera, this work especially commends itself, for the thorough and systematic manner in which the Origin, Nature, Prevention and Treatment of Cholera is discussed. The views entertained upon the most interesting feature of the disease, viz: its propogation, the author claims to have been fully corroborated, by the experience, gathered from our late visitation. But little importance is attached by him to the influences exerted by winds on the distribution of the disease, and while their occasional influence under favorable circumstances is admitted, he considers the communications of individuals from infected districts, the contamination by the choleraic poison, of drinking water, and of clothes, to be the most potent agents in the distribution of the Epidemic, while no amount of filth, and diarrhœa can be productive of true Asiatic Cholera in the temperate zone without the addition of the peculiar cause, which eminate from the discharges of Cholera patients by vomiting and purging. In the consideration of the treatment Dr. Peters has rather presented a resumé of remedies at the command of the practitioner in combating the disease, than suggesting any particular plan to be adopted, and admits that many cases recover under all kinds of treatment, proper hygienic conditions being procured. The claims of homœopathy, in having achieved a greater proportion of recoveries by their system are utterly refuted by the report of their own members put in charge of Cholera wards, to test the efficacy of homoeopathic treatment, the conclusions arrived at by men having the largest hospital experience, as Fleishman, and others are, that "homoeopathy fails completely," the recoveries in their best appointed wards being but five per cent. better than that of the Cholera Ship. Ununited Fractures Successfully Treated, with remarks on the Operation. By Henry I. Bigelow, M. D., Professor of Surgery in the Medical College of the University of Harvard: David Clapp & Son, 1867. This paper presents the history of eleven consecutive cases of ununited fractures, all but one (in which there existed interstitial absorption,) being successfully treated by the following operative procedure.] [A free incision should be made over that point of the false joint, where the bone approaches nearest to the surface; the irregularly interlocked extremities of the bone carefully divided and the ends turned out by flexion of the false joint. The ends being exposed "a conical or other regular incision is to be made in the ragged callus which overlies the periosteum at its tip, which should be then seized by strong-toothed forceps, and efforts made to tear it out of the rugous inequalities of the formerly inflamed bone." The periosteum being carefully protected half-an-inch of sound shaft with an iregular or conical extremity is to be excised," and the end brought in apposition, to be retained by silver or plated copper wire. For this purpose holes are drilled a half-an-inch from the extremities and through one wall only, the wires being inserted from without, inward, in one end, and from within, outward, in the other. 66 The good results obtained by Dr. Bigelow in the treatment of this class of frac tures, commends more extensive trial. On Railway and other Injuries of the Nervous System. By John Eric Erichson, The importance of these questions cannot be over-estimated. Medical men have been too apt to overlook or treat lightly slight injuries resulting to the spine or brain, but which subsequently have developed themselves into lesions of the nervous system of the gravest character. Not unfrequently cases have come under our observation in which a patient having thus been injured, feels himself quite able to assist his fellow-sufferers, subsequently showing evidences of nervous lesions, incompatible with mental effort, and 'sometimes even with the continuance of life. We believe that this work of Dr. Erichson will exert a great influence upon the mode of treatment adopted in this class of injuries, and will especially tend to harmonize the heretofore conflicting testimony of the profession in Courts in which such cases may come up for consideration. Code of Medical Ethics adopted by the American Medical Association, revised to date. New York: Wm. Wood & Co., 61 Walker street, 1867. Although the conduct of medical gentlemen towards each other is usually marked for its courteous character, the adoption of a universal standard possesses many advantages. The revised Code of Medical Ethics defines the proper course of conduct upon the following topics: 1st. Of the duties of physicians to their patients, and of the obligations of patients to their physicians. 2d. Of the duties of physicians to each other, and the profession at large. 3d. Of the duties of the profession to the public, and of the obligations of the public to the profession. Books and Pamphlets Received. Cinical Lectures on the Principles and Practice of Medicine. By John Hughes Bennett, M. D., F. R. S. E., Professor of the Institutes of Medicine, and senior Professor of Clinical Medicine in the University of Edinburgh, etc., etc. Fifth American, from the fourth London edition, with five hundred and thirty-seven illustrations on wood. New York: Wm. Wood & Co., 61 Walker strect, 1867. Buffalo Breed, Lent & Co. Injuries on the Eye, Orbit and Eyelids; their immediate and remote effects. By George Lawson, F. R. C. S., Eng., Assistant Surgeon to the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, etc., with numerous illustrations. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1867. Buffalo: Theodore Butler. Chmistry. By Wm. Thomas Brande, D. C. S., F. R, S. L. & E., of Her Majesty's Is it I? a book for every Man. A companion to Why Not? a book for every Woman. By Horatio R. Storer, M. D., of Boston, Vice President of the American Medical Association. Boston: Lee & Shepard, 1867. Woman's Rights. By Rev. John Todd, D. D., author of Serpents in the Dove's Nest. Boston: Lee & Shepard, 1867. Spotted or Congestive Fever. By C. B. Coventry, M. D., of Utica, N. Y. A Plea for an Equitable Distribution of Dividends and a just settlement of Policies of Life Insurance. By Charles Cochran, M. D. Steiger's Catalogue of German and English Books and Periodicals of Chemistry, Pharmacy, Chemical Technology, Photography, Brewing, etc. E. Steiger, importer and bookseller, 17 North William street, New York. The Tree of Life; or Human Degeneracy. Its Nature and Remedy, as based on the elevating Principle of Orthopathy. By Isaac Jennings, M. D. New York: Miller, Wood & Co., publishers, No. 15 Laight street, 1867. Obituary Notice. It becomes our painful duty to announce the death of Dr. JAMES JACKSON, of Boston. He died on the 27th of August, after a protracted illness of eighteen months, in the ninetieth year of his age. Died of nephrities, on the 23d of August, in his seventy-Second year, ALFRED ARMAND MARIE DE VELPEAU. Of humble origin, being the son of a poor blacksmith, he, by the most unflagging zeal, and the intensest ambition, overleaped every barrier obstructing his path until he reached the very pinnacle of professional eminence. "An indefatigable student, a lucid lecturer, judicious operator, and voluminous writer," Velpeau though dead, will forever live in the annals of medical history. The submarine telegraph brings the sad intelligence of the death of the English chemist and natural philosopher, MICHAEL FARADAY, on the 27th ult., aged seventy-six. The French lithotritist, M. CIVIALE, expired suddenly, June 13th, aged 75; and M. TROUSSEAU, "after months of cruel suffering" from cancer of the stomach, June 23d. The German journals also announce the death of OTTO WEBER, Professor of Surgery in the University of Heidelberg, "While performing an operation of tracheotomy on a diphtheritic patient, he attempted to clear the obstructed canula by suction. Failing in it, each of his two assistants attempted the same thing and all died. Weber was only thirty-nine years of age."-Humboldt Archives. SIR WILLIAM LAWRENCE died of paralysis at his residence, July 5th, at the age of eighty-three. At the time of his death he was Sergeant-Surgeon to the Queen, and Surgeon to the Royal Hospitals of St. Bartholomew and Bethlem. The deaths of the eminent French chemist, M. PELONZE and that of M. FOLLIN, lecturer on Ophthalmology, and one of the editors of the Archives Generales de Medicine, are announced. Prof. Hyrtl, of Vienna, received a gold medal at the last Paris Exhibition for his anatomical preparations, and Prof. Trichmann, of Cracow, the bronze for the same. Dr. Politzer, of Vienna, received an "honorable mention." A NEW METHOD OF PRESERVING THE DEAD.--There is now on exhibition at the New York Morgue, the body of a drowned man, supposed to have been in the water for three days prior to its recovery, and which is being subjected to an experimental preservation. It is inclosed in a metallic case, made perfectly airtight, and, as yet, although forty days have elapsed since the commencement of the experiment, shows no signs of decomposition. This result is obtained by forcing the air from the case and supplying its place with a certain gas, which the discoverer, we regret to state, is inclined to keep secret. He even expresses the belief that the body in course of time will become as hard as stone.-- Medical Record. INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.-The International Congress was opened on the appointed day by M. Bouillaud. The grand amphitheatre was adorned with paintings and flags of all nations, and was entirely filled by members of the Congress. Having called upon the meeting to elect officers, M. Bouillaud was declared elected by acclamation. * * * * In the programme of proceedings for Saturday, the 17th of August, we find the announcement of a paper by Prof. Brown-Séquard, under the title of "New Views with regard to the Signs of Cerebral Disease;" and in that for the 27th of August, a paper by Dr. Maxson, of New York, on "Shoulder Presentations;" these are all the contributions from Americans that we see announced.--Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. THE HUMBOLDT MEDICAL ARCHIVES.-We are in receipt of the first number of this journal. It is under the editorial charge of Drs. A. Hammer and M. A. Pallen, and the faculty of the Humboldt Medical College of St. Louis as coeditors. It is a monthly of sixty pages and presents a fine typographical appear ance. |