every practitioner; and meanwhile the Harveian Society would have the honor of inaugurating an inquiry which would not have been unworthy of the Royal College of Physicians.-Lancet.

Editorial Department.

Close of Volume Seven.

As the present number closes the volume, we take this opportunity to thank the contributors and supportors for their generous aid, and ask a continuance of the favors we have so long and kindly received. We propose to offer a medium of communication to the members of the profession, and shall be glad to receive contributions from all who may have suggestions to make or observations to record. We have endeavored to conduct the Journal impartially in the interest of the whole profession; if it has few merits and attractions it simply shows the indifference and stupidity of the profession, and but slightly reflects upon us. The members of the profession have no right to complain of it, for it is what they make it, and if they do not regard it satisfactory, they are earnestly invited and urged to make the Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal all they desire it to be—replete with the most valuable suggestions, the most recent discovery. We are most happy to believe that success in evidence, proof we may say, of merit, and that through all changes and embarrassments the Journal has constantly extended its scope of influence and is now stronger with its old friends and more rapidly adding new supportors, than at any previous period of its history. We are often asked for various purposes, who are the best and most reliable physicians in the various towns and villages of Western New York and adjoining parts of other States. We can turn to our subscription list, and give the desired information with most unerring certainty.

We are glad to add new names to the list of Journal supporters, and hope our friends will aid us in this object, but we do not propose any "raid" upon the profession for this purpose. In the city we have the naines of nearly all we want, a few of the younger men who have but recently commenced practice here would be kindly received, while those who have read the Journal seven years without expense, who have never appeared upon the subscription list, or have long since disappeared, never giving us a manly support, are entirely welcome to borrow whatever more there may come to be of it; we hope its careful perusal may yet do them some good.

We anticipate for the future still greater success and usefulness, and shall spare no effort on our part to make the Journal all that its friends can desire. We shall receive the aid of the intelligent and active men of the profession, and with their assistance success is certain.

University of Michigan.

The medical department of the University of Michigan still remains in a very unsettled and unsatisfactory condition; indeed must ever remain an element of contention and discord. It seems to us that State support is not necessary or desirable for a professional school, not desirable or well for either school or State. It is obvious to all experienced observers, that a medical school, situate away from opportunities for clinical study, labors under a fatal disability. Such schools have everywhere fallen to the very lowest point of vitality and are certain to expire. If the State offer almost gratuitous instruction, require no preliminary standard of attainment, and induce young men to graduate in the medical profession because they can do it cheaply and easily, the State must suffer, and the profession must also suffer. While it is well for the State to place general education within reach of the masses, well to found and foster institutions for scientific and literary education, it may now safely leave the professional schools to provide for themselves. Legitimate medicine certainly requires no such aid, and absurd and inconsistent systems of practice would not in the end be gainers by support; it would be no favor to either. We have always believed the medical department of the Michigan University not conducive to the true interests of the profession, and the action of the Legislature has proved this opinion correct. The Faculty were men of the highest merit and their action in promptly resigning their professorships reflects upon them the highest honor; to have retained them would have proved a lasting disgrace. Discord between the Legislature and University can be remedied with advantage to all parties by discontinuance of the medical department, and this seems to be the only desirable and satisfactory manner in which it can be settled.

P. S.-As we go to press we receive and notice the following in the Circular of the Michigan University, and most cheerfully retract what is said above, in any way disparagingly of this school. It is to be hoped that the Michigan Legislature will never again show itself complete fool, in making its appropriations for its educational institutions, and that its past imbecility may not injure the medical department of the University:

"In consequence of an Act of the Legislature of Michigan at its last session, granting aid to the University on the condition that a Professor of homœopathy should be introduced into the Medical Department, much agitation and annoyance have been experienced by its friends; but the Faculty are now happy to announce to the Medical Profession and all the friends of legitimate medicine, that the Board of Regents, who control the University, at a recent meeting resolved, with but a single dissenting vote, that under no circumstances should such professor be introduced into the Medical College at Ann Arbor; and the Supreme Court of the State having since decided that all previous action of the Board making provision for the establishment of a School of homœopathy at another place, is not in compliance with the law, and such action thus becoming null and void, the Faculty are enabled to assure the profession that the Medical Department of the University of Michigan is entirely free from the remotest connexion with homœopathy—that its curric lum will not be changed, and that it will remain as heretofore unaffected by any form of irregular teaching or practice."

Induction of Premature Labor.

Undoubtedly the best way of inducing premature labor is that known as Cohen's. In this plan fluid is injected between the uterine walls and the membranes by means of a catheter. A great improvement on this is to use a tube with a single aperture at the end instead of with side apertures. The object of this is that the fluid may pass directly upwards to the fundus of the uterus. Experience shows that for sure action of injection, it is necessary that the fluid injected should approach as near as possible to the fundus of the uterus, this being the most sensitive to irritation. (Prof. J. Lazarewitch.)

The following is the mode of application of the douche for the purpose of inducing premature labor. Place the patient in the usual obstetric position, with the hips drawn well over the edge of the bed; by passing a full sized Ferguson's speculum the os may then be brought into view and the nozzle of an ordinary syphon syringe inserted into it. A continuous stream of water must then be injected into the cavity of the uterus. Before using the syringe care must be taken to fill it completely with water, so as to exclude the admission of any air into the uterine sinuses. Tepid water answers very well, and it is unnecessary to use alternately hot and cold water. (Dr. T. Telford.)-Braithwaite's Retrospect.

The above method is dangerous, and is the very last to be practiced. Several deaths have been caused by it, and though it has some advantages, still the liability of air being conveyed into the uterine sinuses and thus into the circulation, should cause this method to be abandoned, or adopted under the most careful supervision and from great necessity; indeed we would never adopt or recommend it.-ED.

DRUGGISTS RENEWING PRESCRIPTIONS.—The Academy of Medicine, New York, after a long and impartial discussion of the various points at issue, adopted unanimously the following preamble and resolution, and referred to the State Medical Society:

Whereas, The attention of this Academy has been called to the repetition of prescriptions, containing active ingredients, by druggists, without the written order of physicians; and whereas, serious consequences to patients are liable to ensue; therefore,

Resolved, That we respectfully request the druggists of this city not to repeat such a prescription without the written order of a physician, he being the only competent judge of the propriety or necessity of such renewal.

SUSTAINING THE BOARD OF REGENTS.-The Am. Institute of Homœopathy, Resolved. That the action of the Board of Regents in appointing Prof. C. J. Hempel to the chair of Homœopathy in the University of Michigan, receives the hearty and unqualified approval of this Institute.

Resolved, That should any or all of the Allopathic chairs of the medical department of said University be vacated, and the Board of Regents see fit to appoint Homœopathic medical men to fill these chairs, the Homoeopathic profession of America will pledge its influence to the medical department of that University in sustaining such action.

Books Reviewed.

Chambers on Indigestion. Second American from the second London edition. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1868.

Everybody has read the first edition of this work, and probably everybody will read the second and regard it as a great deal better than the first. It contains twelve chapters, the first being an introduction, in which the author has told us many things which could not have properly been presented under any other head. The second is upon the digestion of various kinds of food. Third, upon habits of social life leading to indigestion. We then have abdominal pain, vomiting, flatulence, diarrhoea, constipation and costiveness, nerve disorders connected with indigestion, analysis of cases, and alphabetical index completing the remainder of the book. This is a practical work upon indigestion. Cases are related showing nearly every phase of the disease and the treatment adopted, or that best calculated to restore the functions to natural action. This feature of clin. ical observation lends great attraction and adds value to the work; it brings the theoretical and practical in so close relationship that both are modified and improved. Dyspepsia includes and fathers a host of maladies, and Dr. Chambers has found them all and placed with them the proper remedies. It is a very good book, and every physician can read it with advantage.

Wilson on Diseases of the Skin, with plates and illustrations. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1868.

The early appearance of another edition of this work indicates the favor with which it is received by the profession. This seventh edition has received addi. tion of the plates prepared by Mr. Wilson to illustrate his work on "Constitu tional Syphilis and Syphilitic Eruptions." The recent editions of this work have treated the affections arising from syphilis somewhat extensively, making these plates illustrative of the disease very appropriate.

It is quite unnecessary to speak at all in detail concerning the contents or merits of this book; it is too well known and too highly appreciated by the profession to make such notice proper. No work upon this subject is better or more reliable, and no one has better arrangement or more thorough illustration.

Upon the subject of classification upon which so much has been written, the author in his preface says: "After much study of the principles of classification, we have succeeded in framing one, which, deriving its origin from the nature of the diseases themselves, will, we believe, after careful analysis, be found to be the most simple and the most practical that could be adopted. The suggestion of this arrangement arises from our experience at the bed-side of the patient; hence we have termed it The Clinical Classification." The author goes on to show how he has followed up his plan, and the manner in which he has formed his various groups of diseases. We accept his classification as being as good as any and like the name he has given to it; it seems to us a very common-sense name, and that it is well bestowed.

Biddle's Materia Medica for the use of Students. tions. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1868.

Third edition, with illustra

This is a condensed treatise upon the materia medica, designed to contain all that the student of medicine requires to learn, so arranged that he finds only what he really requires, freed from extraneous and unimportant matter. Several substances not introduced in previous editions have been added, viz: Calabar Bean, Woorara, Coca Guanara, Mate, Regoline, Bichloride of Methylene, Compounds of Amyl, Tertrachloride of Carbon, Nitrous Oxide, the Sulphites and Hydrosulphites, Carbolic Acid, Ammoniated Hydrogen, Iodide of Ammonium, Iodide of Sodium, and Iodoform. The hypodermic method of introducing medicine and the atomization or pulverization of fluids are treated at length. The work contains a succinct account of nearly all articles of the materia medica, and is eminently suited to the student while attending lectures and to the busy practitioner who desires to find the useful and thoroughly practical, with as little expenditure of time as possible. The author appears to have constantly in view the wants of medical students, and has to our mind, really conferred a great favor upon them in the preparation of the work. He very considerately and appropriately dedicates it to the gentlemen in attendance upon the various medical schools in the United States, and we earnestly and heartily recommend it to their attention and study.

Hewett on the Diseases of Women. First American from the second London edition, revised and enlarged, with one hundred and sixteen illustrations. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1868.

This work is founded upon lectures delivered at St. Mary's Hospital School, and in its present edition is designed to form a complete treatise upon the diseases of The second edition differs from the first in its arrangement, as well as in addition to the text and of numerous valuable illustrations, many of them original with the author.

women.

All the various topics belonging to this division of medicine receive attention by the author, who not only gives his own opinions and the grounds upon which they are based, but also the opinions of others upon all controverted or doubtful points, and the arguments and evidences by which they are sustained. This is the first American edition of the work, though the first London edition has been for a long time in the hands of the profession, its character well known, and its worth appreciated. We have been carefully reading its pages to learn if any new Views were presented to the medical public. While we fail to find anything especially new or unheard of, yet we see that all the more recent advances in the knowledge of uterine diseases, are fully embodied in this work, and that it is presented in a most masterly manner. There is no pretension, no show of self, no undue claims to discovery or priority; the presentation of truth is plain, simple, well illustrated and convincing. We cannot but admire the general style of the author, and manner in which he has arranged his work. Many books have recently appeared upon this subject, but no physician should regard his library complete in the recent literature of uterine disease until Hewett on the Diseases of Women has been added.