of the most service which causes the most efficient inward traction, at the same time it does not interfere with the trial of taxis."-Chicago Medical Review.

ANTISEPTIC GAUZE QUICKLY PREPARED.

To 400 parts of finely pulverized resin is added, while stirring, two litres of alcohol. The resin will be dissolved in from thirteen to twenty minutes.. Then add 100 parts carbolic acid. and 80 parts castor oil. (Instead of the castor oil, 100 parts of glycerine or melted stearine may be used. When the latter is used the solution must be heated to 19 degrees centigrade). This quantity is 'sufficient for the impregnation of 28 to 38 square meters of gauze. The gauze is antisepticized in the following manner: It is put into a tub and the solution poured on it. It is then wrung out, and hung up until the alcohol has evaporated. This takes, in the open air, in summer, about five minutes; in winter, in a closed and moderately heated room from ten to fifteen minutes. The gauze is now ready for use, and will keep in metallic boxes for months. For military use, it may be practicable to carry the condensed solution with the army. All then necessary will be to add alcohol and ascepticize the gauze. This method of preparing the gauze is practically useful for surgeons in the country.-Prof. Bruns.

SURGICAL OPERATIONS DURING PREGNANCY.

The idea prevails extensively among the laity, to a less degree in the profession also, that pregnant women should not have a tooth extracted or even filled for fear of provoking abortion. Our own observation leads to the conclusion that the fear is without foundation; for we have extracted teeth, and have often advised patients to keep their appointments with the dentists, incised felons and done various minor services, both with and without anesthesia during pregnancy, with absolutely no ill effects. In this connection a recent case reported in the Lancet by Mr. Cadye is of interest. This gentleman, who is senior surgeon to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, operated thirteen times upon a recurring tumor of the breast of a pregnant woman. One severe operation was

performed in the beginning of labor. These operations interferred in no degree with pregnancy, nor did this condition retard the recovery from the operation.

THE TREATMENT OF BURNS.

A number of cases of more or less severe burns have been treated, very successfully, in St. Francis Hospital, by an application of a gum dressing, which consists of a paste composed of gum acacia, 3 iij; gum tragacanth, 3 i; carbolized water (1-60), 1 pint, and molasses, 3 ij. It is applied to the burned surface with a broad flat camel's-hair brush immediately on admission to the hospital, and dries in the course of an hour or two. The dressing is then renewed at suitable intervals, until a firm and unyielding scab is formed. Generally four applications are sufficient for this purpose. The molasses appears to prevent the contraction of the covering, while the carbolized water destroys any odor. The application is not attended with any pain to the patient, and effectually excludes all air from the burned surface, thus avoiding subsequent smarting. The scab cracks and peels off in the course of a fortnight, either leaving a mere rubefaction or a healthy granulating surface. If pus accumulates in the mean time under the scab, the latter is either punctured or gently lifted, giving exit to the discharge. No other dressing is required. Although forming a rather unsightly scab, the dressing is really a cleanly one. This plan of treatment is substantially the same as that advocated by the late Dr. Gurdon Buck, and, all other things being equal, is considered to give the best results. Its special advantages are its ease of application, the small amount of subsequent dressing required, and the freedom from pain. The granulating surfaces are treated with either simple cerate or the white oxide of zinc ointment, according to indications.—Medical Record.

TREATMENT OF CHRONIC INDOLENT VARICOSE ULCERS.

F. F. Casseday, M. D., in the United States Medical In vestigator, says: My treatment is to first cleanse the ulcer with a charcoal poultice applied until dry. I make it as

follows: Pulverize the charcoal finely, mix in a little oat meal or graham flour and moisten sufficiently to keep the whole together. After removing the poultice, I apply evenly all over the ulcer with a camel's hair brush, pure balsam of Peru, and strap it tightly with adhesive plaster. Over this a woolen bandage may be applied. Tight strapping is essential, not merely laying the straps over the ulcer, but put on hard and fast so as to relieve the tension around the ulcer, and thereby assist in establishing a good flow of blood to the part. At the same time you may give your indicated remedy. If you have any cases, or know of any, of twenty to forty years' standing, try this treatment and you will cure them.

LARGE CALCULUS.

Dr. G. A. Foote, of Warrenton, N. C., in a private letter, states that he has recently delivered a woman of a stone, without mechanical assistance, weighing three drachms, and measuring one and one-quarter inches in diameter. This case shows the capacity for dilatation of the female urethra, and the importance of not operating too soon. Dr. Foote gave diuretics and a good hypodermic of morphia and atropia. The stone passed without a drop of blood, and no subsequent unpleasant symptoms were observed.-Maryland Medical Jour

nal.

RESTORATION AFTER THE HAND IS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE ARM.

L. L. Staton, M. D., of Tarboro, N. C., in the North Carolina Medical Journal says: "On February 5, 1880, I was called to Mary Sumlin, white, aged eleven, anæmic, and small for her age. While helping her mother to procure firewood, she placed her hand in the way of an axe, and at one blow had it severed from the styloid process diagonally across the trapezium, passing through the scaphoid bone and posterior annular ligament, dividing all the muscles, bones and blood-vessels, and completely separating the hand from the arm, excepting a small portion of skin, below the articulation with the ulna. The hand was hanging at right angles to the arm when I saw her, about thirty minutes after the accident.

I determined at once upon amputation at the joint, above (the wrist). Returned to my office, a distance of half a mile, to procure assistance; but finding this impracticable, I proceeded to replace the hand, which was held securely in position with silver sutures and adhesive plaster. In dressing the wound, the patient complained of pain when I used the needle in the arm, but none when it was used in the hand. I secured the hand and arm upon a broad splint, and directed that they be kept warm by being wrapped in hot flannel cloths.

I saw her twelve hours afterward. The hand was very much swollen; no sensation or pulsation could be detected, nor had she complained of any pain, but rested quietly during the night. The next day she complained of a little pain, the hand and arm presented the same appearance as the day before. On the third day could plainly feel pulsation' in but the hand. It had changed in color, and I now for the first time thought it possible to save the hand. From this time she did not have a bad symptom nor was there any suppuration. The wound healed entirely by first intention.

I removed the sutures on the fourteenth day, and afterward she carried the hand in a sling, and is now able to extend the fingers and grasp with nearly the usual strength. There is no anchylosis of the wrist-joint as I expected. I send a photograph of the hand at the time of the removal of the

sutures.

PATHOLOGY OF HIP-JOINT DISEASE.

Prof. S. D. Gross, in a recent clinical lecture, remarked that he had long taught that there can be no disease of this kind without a previous taint of the system, and that he had always maintained, that where this predisposition exists, the disease may be called into existence by comparatively slight causes, such as blows or falls, or suppression of the cutaneous perspiration, which, in a healthy subject, could not be followed by such peculiar manifestations. When this tendency is present, trivial causes may produce serious consequences. He knows that his friend, Dr. Sayre, of New York, who has

given a great deal of attention to this subject, holds that hipjoint disease may arise from ordinary injuries in a healthy constitution, but he cannot agree with him. We cannot, he remarks, by slight means alone, give rise to pulmonary consumption; there must be a constitutional predisposition, or else the tubercular deposit will not appear. It is the same with hip-joint disease. Bear in mind, then, that a constitutional predisposition of a peculiar kind always accompanies hip-joint disease.-Virginia Medical Monthly.

MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS.

PISCIDA ERYTHRINA-JAMAICA DOGWOOD.

This new narcotic comes to us highly recommended, and is said to produce narcotic effects which are refreshing, and not followed like opium by hyperæmia of the brain, nausea and general nervous disturbance. It is said to be of value in bronchitis, asthma, nervous cough, writer's cramp, spasms of muscles due to functional causes, chorea, tetanus and especially in toothache to relieve pain. Dr. Isaac Ott, in the Detroit Lancet, June, 1880, gives the results of his studies concerning the physiological action of this drug, as follows:

1. It is narcotic to frogs, rabbits and men.

2. It does not effect the irritability of the motor nerves. 3. It does not attack the peripheral ends of the sensory

nerves.

4. It reduces reflex action by a stimulant action of the centers of Setschenow.

5. It produces a tetanoid state by a stimulant action on the spinal cord, and not by a paralysis of Setschenow's

centers.

6. It dilates the pupil, which dilatation passes into a state of contraction upon the supervention of asphyxia.

7. It is a salivator.

8. It increases the secretion of the skin.

9. It reduces the frequency of the pulse.

10. It increases arterial tension by stimulation of the monarchical vaso-motor center.