tendency to cure: 1st. By softening and expulsion, a process which does some damage to the lung by producing excavation, but which may safely end in cicatrization; 2d, by fibroid degeneration of the affected part; 3d, by calcification. 9. It is stated above that tubercle may be cured; it would be nearer the truth to say that its evolution is arrested; that it ceases to exist; that it dies. 10. The grand problem, therefore, in the treatment of tuberclosis is, to enable the patient to outlive his tubercles, a problem which, in a great many cases, is certainly not insoluble."

ASTHMA.

Dr. Bartholow has succeeded in affording great relief to sufferers from this distressing complaint by the administration of fifteen grains of the iodide of potassium and twenty grains of the bromide of potassium four times a day. This combination has been found to be particularly useful where there is any spasm of the bronchi.

MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS.

THE VALUE OF NITRATE OF SANGUINARINA AS A THERAPEUTICAL AGENT.

R. S. Grimes, M. D., in the American Medical Journal writes of this agent as follows:

I employ sanguinarina where there is an irritative cough, and a sense of restriction and rawness of the throat, and where the secretion is of a frothy, purulent character. The indications for this remedy are distinct and positive—a sense of constriction in the throat, with sometimes difficulty of deglutition. In bronchitis, pneumonia and laryngitis, either acute or chronic, with cough following measles or scarlet fever, the action of sanguinarina is sure and positive.

One thing in particular, I wish to mention, is the action of sanguinarina on morbid growth, such as nasal polypus and schirrhus tumors. The powder applied dry to the growth will discuss and entirely remove an ordinary nasal polypus in from four to six weeks. One of its advantages is the smallness of

dose, and the pleasant form in which it may be dispensed. One grain to the ounce of syrup or water-the dose being onehalf to one teaspoonful every one, two, or three hours, for adults. For children, one-fourth grain to the ounce of syrup or water is sufficient. Will some of our eclectic brethren try it and report in subsequent journals.

PHOSPHORUS POISONING.

Doctor Ralph D'Ary translates for the Physician and Surgeon the following from a St. Petersburg publication :

Dr. Danillo has examined the spinal marrow of ten dogs poisoned with phosphorus. The minimum dose was gr., the maximum 6 gr. The phosphorus was injected hypodermically, dissolved in olive oil; five dogs received on injection, whilst the five remaining ones received repeated injections of one to two grs. The earliest death occurred in twelve hours, the latest in forty-five days. The author sums up the results of his observations as follows: (1) Oft repeated large doses of phosphorus produce acute inflammation of the spinal parenchyma with agglomeration of pigment in the course of the vessels, and extravasation. (2) Smaller doses, repeated during a longer period cause distinctly characterized myelitis centralis in all its phases. (3) By means of suitable doses of phosphorus it is possible to produce myelitis in various degrees of intensity or extent an experiment which, as yet had not been made. (4) In consequence of phosphorus poisoning there appears in the spinal marrow a large quantity of pigment-a fact hitherto not mentioned in literature. (5) Since phosphorus has the power to cause myelitis, it is very probable that some of the nervous symptoms observed in cases of phosphorus poisoning should be looked upon as clinical indications of myelitis.

BROMIDE OF POTASSIUM AS A LOCAL ANESTHETIC FOR THE URINARY AND SEXUAL ORGANS.

Bromide of potassium has long been used as a local application to the throat and larnyx to diminish sensibility. Acting upon this suggestion, J. Kijanizyer (St. Petersburg Med. Wochenschr-Medical Record) applies it in a similar manner, and with similar effects to the genito-urinary apparatus.

injects a solution of the salt into the urethra, when the latter is the seat of painful, acute or chronic inflammation in strictures and in cases of frequent pollutions. In urethritis, he says, that the pain, redness and tumefaction of the mucous membrane decreased rapidly, the discharge diminished, and soon disappeared entirely with the aid of mild astringents. In a case of stricture, with chronic urethritis and painful micturition, where the urethra was extremely sensitive, and the severe pain prevented the introduction of bougies, in spite of the use of cannabis indica and belladonna salve, a bougie was introduced with scarcely any pain after the use of bromide of potassium injections for seven days. Kijanizyer uses eight grammes of potassium bromide dissolved in 180 grammes of water. Four grammes of the fluid are injected two or three times a day, and the fluid retained in the urethra a few minutes. From his observations he concludes that the injections are of decided use in all cases where the indication is to diminish sensibility in the urethra and neck of the bladder; in the treatment of strictures with bougies, in inflammations of the urethra and their complications; in chordee, disuria, neuroses, etc., and for pollutions depending upon peripheral causes. He also recommends the local use of the salt as indicated in catarrah of the bladder and of its neck, in increased sensibility of the latter, and for cystic calculi and the like. He considers the effects to be due to the diminished irritation and lessened quantity of blood in the inflamed tissue.-Detroit Lancet.

INDICATIONS FOR REMEDIES.

We make the following extracts from an article by A. A. Latta, M. D., in the Independent Medical Investigator:

Drosera.-Laryngeal phthisis, with offensive breath and pain in larynx when coughing; coughing worse at night, with vomiting of food or mucus; whooping cough, hemorrhage from the mouth and nose; sensation of roughness and dryness in the larynx and trachea.

Rhus Tox.-Erysipelas, with a sharp, keen stroke of pulse and sharp, smarting pain in the part, or in any part of the

body; paralysis of one side of the scalp and face, with a dead numb or tingling in the parts; diseases of the skin, with great irritation and itching; headache, the pain being located over the eyes, or in one side, with burning and smarting of the eyes, the tongue being red; it acts well in rheumatic ophthalmia with stinging pain.

Byronia Alba.-Rheumatism, the pain being worse on motion; pneumonia and pleuritis, with sharp, stitching pain on motion or breathing; delirium at night of the business of the day; typhoid fever, with dry mouth and tongue, tongue cracked and coated dark brown.

Apis Mellifica.-Retention and suppression of urine; scanty urine, with a scalding or burning sensation in the urethra and back; breathing labored, fever without thirst; dropsy, with waxy feeling of skin; oedematous swelling of the eyes; diseases, with a keen prickling of the skin, like that of bees or ants.

EDITORIALS.

BETONICA OFFICINALIS.

Recently we have received quite a number of complaints from phyicians that the reputation of this excellent drug is being greatly injured by an entirely different drug placed upon the market, under the name of "Betonywood," which is known to botanists as "Pedicularis Canadensis." This is an entirely different plant from the Betonica Officinalis or "Wood Betony," which has been illustrated and so highly recommended in these pages. The Pedicularis Canadensis grows quite extensively in our Western prairies, and possesses none of the well-known properties of the Wood Betony or Betonica Officinalis, which grows quite extensively in Southern Europe, and is also cultivated by gardeners and botanists in this country. Dr. F. Herring, of Goshen, Ind., has cultivated the plant extensively in his gardens, from which the manufacturing drug houses (of Parke, Davis & Co., Detroit, and B. M. Butler & Co., Chicago) obtain their supply. Dr. Herring, finding that the prairie herb (which the Fond du Lac, Wis., house is pleased

to call "Betonywood") was being purchased by physicians, who supposed they were buying Betonica, addressed a letter to the well-known botanist, Prof. Gray, in reference to the identity of the two agents, and received the reply: "HERBARIUM OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY, BOTANIC GARDEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS., June 9, 1880.

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DEAR DOCTOR: Betonica Officinalis has been found near Boston, escaped from a garden (see my manual), otherwise unknown in the United States. Pedicularis Canadensis, to which name Wood Betony has recently been applied, is an entirely different plant, in appearance, character and properties. Yours truly, A. W. GRAY."

THE MEDICAL PRACTICE IN TEXAS.

The article on the above subject in the July number of THE MEDICAL TIMES has created quite a commotion, and several letters pro and con have been received by the editor. When the article was admitted to the pages of our journal, we little thought what a controversy it would incite. If "W. P." made misstatements, we want them corrected; if his story is true, too great publicity cannot be given to his statements. Joe Judson Kendrick, M. D., of Oakland, Cal., has written a lengthy paper which we have hardly room for this month, and therefore we give here his principal points.

He states that he has lived in Texas about twenty-five years and has had personal acquaintance with the common experience of physicians in Texas for at least fifteen years. His father practiced medicine there for twenty-five years or longer, his brother about twelve years, and his own practice extended over a period of ten years. A considerable part of the time they were in frontier communities, and always had more or less to do with cattlemen.

From this extensive experience and acquaintance in Texas, Dr. Kendrick most emphatically pronounces the statement of "W. P." to be essentially untrue. We quote his own words: "I do not say it is all false, literally, but as he intends it as a correct representation of the common experience of physicians in their professional relations with the people and laws of