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to the proportions of two of the alkali to one of the acid; say, twenty grains of the bicarbonate of potash to ten grains of the salicylic acid, in one drachm of water; and this solution. evaporated to dryness left a strongly alkaline salt-the salicylate of potash-extremely soluble in water, and of a sweetish taste.

For several months I have prescribed the salicylate of potash with the greatest benefit in two diseases: acute rheumatism and dyspepsia. The large doses of salicylic acid, or the salicylate of soda, required to act in acute rheumatism, is one of the greatest objections to their use, especially when any cardiac disease exists or is feared. In employing the salicylate of potash, large doses of the acid are not required; from eight to twelve grains of the acid to double that quantity of potash seems quite sufficient the following formula being the one I have most frequently prescribed :

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M. Sig. A teaspoonful every three hours.

The rapidity of action of this combination is remarkable. Its absorption seems to be immediate; the patient will speak of the speedy relief he experiences; the blood is restored to its natural alkalinity, as seen by the diminished acidity of the perspiration and urine; the brick-dust sediment (urates) in the latter disappears, the pain and swelling of the joints soon subside, and the metastatic character of the disease is lost. Judging from the effects in a dozen cases in which this treatment has been employed, it is no overestimate to say that the salicylate of potash seems as thoroughly abortive of acute rheumatism as quinine is of intermittent fever.

The salicylate of potash is continued as long as pain and swelling remain, and then iodide of potash is given for a short time; but a most essential part of the treatment is yet to be mentioned.

The blood not only should be rendered alkaline, but also restored to its normal condition, by the administration of an

alkaline form of iron; and the best for this purpose is the

tartrate of iron and potash. The following is my mode of prescribing it:

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M. Sig. A teaspoonful in two ounces of water three times a day, two hours after meals.

No relapses and no heart disease have followed in the cases treated in this way.

Adopting the theory of Murchison, that gout, rheumatism and derangements of digestion, arise mainly from "functional diseases of the liver," I find it good practice to commence the salicylate treatment by a brisk mercurial cathartic.

The well-known quality or power in salicylic acid, of preventing fermentation and controlling noxious gases, first led me to try this drug in dyspepsia, and I found it very promptly relieved flatulence and eructations of gases from the stomach; and not only this, but it was also very soon apparent that as a stomach tonic it was superior to quinine or barks.

The powder was first used, then the salicylate of soda, and last the salicylate of potash-the latter proving more beneficial than either of the other forms, which may be attributed in a great measure to the alkali acting on the biliary secretion, while the salicylate, combined with tincture of nux vomica, makes an excellent stomach tonic. A favorite formula of mine for dyspepsia is:

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M. Sig. A teaspoonful three times a day.

This remedy is administered in a wineglass of water, half an hour before meals, until the appetite improves; then is taken soon after eating, for the purpose of stimulating the

digestive organs, especially as Balfe has demonstrated that the alkalies have a more decided action during the process of digestion than when the stomach is empty.

Whenever torpidity of the liver and its sequence, constipation, are found as a cause of dyspepsia, I prefer to use the twentieth of a grain of strychnine with one and a half to three grains of aloes and myrrh.

In conclusion, I submit the salicylate of potash to the profession, hoping it will prove as safe and speedy a remedy in other hands as it has been in mine, in the cure of acute rheumatism and dyspepsia.-The Medical Record.

Bogus Medical Colleges.

The prestige of Philadelphia as a great medical center, and the reputation of her well-known schools, have suffered greatly for many years by the action of unprincipled men, who set up pretended universities in order to sell diplomas granting degrees in absentia, or for merit (!), attendance at the college not being compulsory. This disgraceful fact is now generally understood and properly appreciated throughout Europe, as well as this country, and the holder of a Philadelphia diploma must, therefore, expect to have it scanned very closely when he goes among strangers. The University of Pennsylvania has been especially victimized by establishments calling themselves "The Pennsylvania University" and "The University of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania," the proprietors of which established agents in all the great centers of civilization for the sale of Philadelphia diplomas. The strangest part of it all is that the colleges and the medical profession have appeared to be utterly helpless, being entirely unable to stop the traffic. If, after a world of trouble, a legislative committee were made to look into the case, and abundant testimony secured (such as selling diplomas to ignorant negroes and minor children), even if the committee reported in favor of rescinding the charter, then the parties would either obtain in the courts a stay of proceedings, or else would allow the charter to go by default, and simply take another one from their pockets (bought cheap

from some defunct college), and go on as before, only a little more cautiously for a time. The crime against society is such a flagrant one, and is so plainly opposed to the best interests of the social life of the community, that the public press has volunteered to come to the assistance of the profession, and lend its powerful influence toward removing this reproach. The mayor of the city Hon. William. S. Stokely, has also interested himself in the matter, and whenever letters are received from abroad (which of late has been less frequent than a few years ago), making inquiry as to the status of these bogus institutions, the desired information is always sent, and the letter and its reply are duly published in our daily papers.

Owing to the enterprise of one of our morning papers, the Public Record, another diploma-shop has been dragged reluctantly from the obscurity it appeared so eminently fitted to adorn, and has had its modest and retiring disposition outraged by an exposure of its methods to the public, thus giving them a good deal of gratuitous though unsolicited advertising. A few days ago, two young men, being attracted by the prospectus of the college (?), called upon the dean, the Rev. T. B. Miller, M. D., etc., in order to ascertain the requirements for a degree. He informed them that the diploma for a doctor of medicine would cost about $100 (and that, having three charters in his possession, they could select the one they preferred); they need not attend the lectures, and could begin to practice right away. The latter possibility was assured to them by a certificate signed by the dean, for which they paid $25, which was also the first installment upon the price of the diploma. They also had an amusing lecture on how to write a prescription, by the entertaining professor, who also gave one set of tickets for lectures that were supposed to have been delivered the last course, which had just closed. The young Esculapiuses then left, promising that the professor should hear from them again the next morning; which promise they faithfully redeemed. One being the city editor and the other a reporter of the Public Record, they published in the morning edition of the paper a full expose, which excited a good deal of comment, and which since has been widely copied into other journals. The most

unpleasant part of the affair is that the three men who appear prominently in connection with this discreditable business are all ministers in good standing, belonging to an orthodox Christian denomination, and all occupying pulpits in this city. A committee of this religious body has been investigating the conduct of these men since the exposure, but has not yet reported its conclusions. The dean has resigned from the institution, but will probably be held accountable before courts. The following is one of many illustrations of the manner of working establishments:

Living in this city is a man named William B., who is a mental unfortunate, and his family state that while he was an inmate of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane, they obtained for him a diploma from the "Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery." He was a student at the university when it was on Ninth street, near Spruce, and afterward his mind. became impaired, but his relatives, having paid the institution $75, thought they might as well have the diploma, and sent for it and got it.

This diploma was signed by W. Paine, and is an exact copy of those issued by ex-Dean Miller's institutions.-Boston Med. and Surg. Journal.

A Case of Typhoid Fever Treated with Carbolic Acid

Internally.

[Correspondence London Lancet.]

SIR, If you will oblige me by bringing before your readers the following case, it may induce those who have more opportunities of meeting with typhoid fever than I have, to see if similar results may be obtained in a more extensive trial.

On January 24, I visited Ellen S, aged eighteen, living in a detached cottage in the country. She had taken to her bed two days before, having been previously ailing for a week. I found her in a very febrile condition, with highly flushed face, anxious expression, tongue, furred and bowels relaxed three or four times a day; very little headache. Pulse 108; temperature (11 A. M.) 102.5°; skin dry. With the

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