Orphol as an Intestinal Antiseptic.-Dr. E. Chaumier (Therapeutische Wochenschrift, 1986, No. 48) says that of all intestinal antiseptics Betanaphtol has so far given the best results. Its unpleasant taste, odor and the burning sensations in the stomach, to which it gives rise, render it difficult of administration, especially to children. Many substitutes such as betol, salol and salicylate of bismuth, have been employed, but have been found unsatisfactory.

In the intestinal antiseptic Orphol (Betanaphtol-Bismuth) we have a remedy which gives the same good results as are obtained from the use of Betanaphtol, without its drawbacks. It does not produce any burning sensation, and is easily administered, even to children. In the diarrhoea of children it is especially serviceable. The dose varies from one to five grams (15 to 75 grains) per diem for children and infants. It may be given either with milk or honey. The noticeable good effects in these cases are that the stools lose that fetid odor, watery character and green color. The dose for adults is from five to ten grams (75 to 150 grains) a day. Good results have been obtained from its administration in the diarrhoea of phteisis and typhoid fever in adults. In phthisical patients the colicky pains have been known to vanish, the number of stools to diminish, and the appetite to improve considerably by the use of Orphol. For use in cholera infantum would say Orhol is probably the most harmless intestinal antiseptic that can be given to children. Schering & Glatz, whose advertisement appears on second cover of this journal, for samples and literature.

Write to

Ether drinking is reported to be so prevalent among the men, women and even the children in East Prussia that the roads and market-places are scented with the fumes of the drug.

The Treatment of Endometritis.-One of the chief aims in the treatment of endometritis is to employ measures which will contract the distended vessels in the mucous membrane of the uterus, to re-establish normal circulatory conditions and thus favor the absorption of exudates in the tissues. These cases often come

under the observation of the general practitioner at a time when a cure can be accomplished by efficient topical medication, without the necessity of resorting later to curetting or the application of caustic applications to the uterine mucosa. Formerly, medicated vaginal tampons were much employed for this purpose, but recently a more convenient, agreeable and serviceable means has been presented to the profession in the form of a wafer. Micajah's Medicated Uterine Wafers combine all the advantages of the medicated tampon with a number of special properties. They are much more readily applied than the tampon, so that part of the treatment can be intrusted to the patient, and their application is, therefore, to be preferred both on the score of cleanliness and convenience. Aside from these obvious advantages, however, they are composed of ingredients all of which exercise an antiseptic, alternative and healing effect upon the inflamed uterine mucous membrane. Under their continued use the congestion gradually subsides; the engorged vessels assume their normal calibre; the mucous secretions disappear and exudates are absorbed. But even in cases where the process is so far advanced that operative measures are called for, the Medicated Wafers will be found an extremely valuable adjunct in the treatment.

The Roentgen Rays are found to be of great value in the army and navy in the war with Spain. The bullets can be located with such accuracy as to be easily removed. The portable apparatus weighs about 70 pounds.

THE AMERICAN ELECTRO-THERAPEUTIC ASSOCIATION.

The eighth annual meeting of the American ElectroTherapeutic Association will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, September 13th, 14th and 15th, 1898, at Buffalo, N. Y.

The Society of Natural Sciences has kindly placed at their disposal its rooms in the Public Library, Lafayette Square; a programme of exceptional interest is assured; there will be an exhibition of electric apparatus of diagnostic, therapeutic and radiopraphic work; a hand-book of informa tion will shortly be issued by the Committee of Arrangements. Hotel Iroquois will be the headquarters, rates $4.00 to $5.00 per day, American plan; $1.50 to $3.00 European plan.

TREATMENT OF PUERPERAL ECLAMPSIA, AND REPORT OF TWO CASES.-MAY 17TH, 1898.

T

BY DR. JOSEPHINE M. WETMORE, GRINNELL, Iowa.

N the treatment of puerperal eclampsia we have to consider three stages, at which the convulsions occur, viz:-anti, intra and post-partum and the appropriate treatment in and of each without a definitely known etiology, no rational treatment can be prescribed.

However with our present knowledge we will divide the treatment as medical and surgical, the whole to be preceded by the great watchword "Prophylaxis."

In our prophylaxis we are dealing with that which may be, and perhaps is already, threatening. In order to make this procedure successful, every pregnant woman should place herself in the hands of an earnest, honest physician who will be conscientious in detecting any deviation from health and use means for its correction. For who can tell whether or not a slight attack of indigestion, constipation or so called "bilious attacks" during the latter half of pregnancy may not be the forerunner of grave or fatal eclampsia. It is true, in all dealing with symptoms, we have as yet no definite pathological basis upon which we may found a specific treatment, the convulsion is not the disease, it is only the effect of a condition, where this poison lurks-we have good reason to believe it a poison-in the kidneys, bowels, liver or blood we know not. While in one case we have prodromic symptoms and severe or no convulsions, in others we see the

Written for Iowa Woman's Medical Society, Des Moines.

most violent spasms, even without, so far as the physician can ascertain, or the patient describe, a moment's warning. Where then may we draw the dividing line in our diligence. Better be on the safe side as far as we know it, and throw around the double life every safeguard known to medical science.

Let us not be thrown off our guard by our patient's sincere indifference to slight warnings into which she would enquire, did not her older friends tell her she must expect such because she was pregnant, and that it was natural. It is not natural. Nature did not intend a pregnant woman to be miserable throughout this physiological process, and she is not to be blamed for transmitted deficiencies and sins. Oftener does the physiological become pathological, and must be treated as such.

Each pregnant patient should be instructed as to care of bowels, kidneys, skin, exercise, diet and rest.

Bowels; free evacuation daily, regulated by diet and drink if possible, if not, resort to medical assistance. I have found Elcascara Sagrada in 3 grain tablets to yield me best results, having attributed to it cholayogue principles; it is also highly beneficial in sluggish liver. A few minute doses of Calomel in form of Calo-lactose, where there is coated tongue, headache, lassitude, onorexia and vertigo during last few weeks, and restricting diet to milk for a couple of days, then follow up with some mild aperient, and intestinal antiseptics. Often times gaseous distension of stomach and bowels will readily yield to hot lemonade before breakfast.

Frequent and repeated sterilized enemata will often astonish patient and physician by large quantities of foul matter brought away, when the patient in all honesty will declare that the bowels move well every day.

Many times the patient is truthfully unawares of such condition and a wise use of such simple means may well repay the effort. Kidneys should be well flushed out daily by large quantities of pure, preferably soft or distilled water detailing certain quantities at regular intervals. This holds in solution waste products which are irritating to overtaxed organs and helps activity of skin and bowels. If necessary, some one or a combination of the alkaline diuretics may be used if prolonged administration becomes essential. Basham's mixture is preferable because of its

tonic and hematic properties, as study of literature gives us reason to suspicion that anaemia may favor a condition conductive to eclampsia.

Large hot 100° F. saline enemata retained is an excellent diuretic and tonic for metabolism.

Throughout pregnancy the skin should be kept active by properly administered cool morning baths and two to three and possibly more hot tub baths at night during the week. In the simpler cases of threatened eclampsia, when kidneys and bowels sluggish, patient complains of lassitude, occasional dull headache, transitory vertigo, melancholia, visual disturbances and restlessness, put her on exclusive milk diet, insist upon mental and physical rest, Diuretics Diaphoretics especially hot pack saline enemata, purgatives, and if pulse full, bounding and rapid, control by Veratrum Viride holding pulse below 70, repeating dose as necessary until desired effect. Often cases have been aborted and patient tided to viability if not full term. If patient has suffered severe mental strain, shock or grief, give hypodermatics of morphine in heroic doses of from -1 grain and repeat as demanded, especially if convulsions have started. Keep pulse below 70 with Veratrum Viride, this agent alone is duiretic diaphoretic and by some authors considered sheet anchor, unload bowels by enemata while awaiting action of purgatives previously administered.

If convulsions have started and patient is in seventh month, control convulsions by chloroform inhalation, circulation and temperature by Veratrum Viride hypodermatically using eliminnation measures already mentioned, chloral per rectum hypodermatic infusions of physiological saline solution, one-half to one hour at a time in applications to head and carotids. If case does not yield, premature delivery must be resorted to under strictest asepsis with full surgical anaesthesia by chloroform. By manual dilatation of cervix, hydrostatic bags or sterilized gauze tampons, (some advocate rapid dilatation, others as good authority advise against it on account of the danger of rupture of lower uterine segment and death of child.) Multiple clean cut incisions of cervix, after full dilatation, especially of external os, forceps, version or perforation and some cases Cesarean section, especially if child is still alive and severe dystonia exists. The conservative use of induction of labor should