of the effect which consumption has had upon civilization, and a consideration of its relation to human affairs. Its scope is wider than a medical treatise, pure and simple, although it will be found a full and an adequate, if not an exhaustive text-book upon this disease, which has proven so destructive to the human race; and it views the subject in the broadest manner. Medical science cannot cope alone with this stupendous and prodigious world problem, and needs the aid of economic, legislative, sociological, and humanitarian forces in their most apt and able forms. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN ROENTGEN RAY SOCIETY. The Sixth Annual Meeting held at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md., Sept. 28-30, 1905. Cloth, 8 vo, 224 pages. Published for the Society by Murdoch, Kerr & Co., Pittsburg, Pa. With a list of the officers, a roster of the members, the Constitution and By-Laws, minutes of the meeting, reports of the Secretary and the Treasurer, the papers and discussions at the meeting make a very excellent and useful volume, especially to those interested in the use of this valuable therapeutic agent. The President's address gives the "Past, Present, and Future of the Roentgen Ray," and the other papers are well prepared, and form quite a valuable contribution to the literature of this now important subject. Quite a number of excellent half-tone plates serve to elucidate the various papers and essays. Selections. INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE.— R. P. Peairs, Milwaukee, Wis. (Journal A. M. A., March 31), reports three cases of head injury illustrating his argument of the importance of early operative interference in certain conditions. In all three cases there was a head injury, followed by coma and pressure and irritation phenomena, but no definite localizing symptoms. In all three there was extensive meningeal hemorrhage over the right hemisphere. One of the patients, treated expectantly, waiting for the appearance of focal symptoms, died; the other two, operated on without wait The ing for such symptoms, recovered. He calls attention to these facts and to their bearings in the treatment of similar cases. absence of focal symptoms does not mean that hemorrhage is not present, and valuable time may be lost in waiting for their appearance. He believes that an operation is indicated when there is a history of head injury, followed by loss of consciousness, if the patient has a persistent slow pulse, that is, one of fifty or under, later becoming rapid, and is gradually growing worse. It is certainly less dangerous to operate than to treat the case expectantly. No doubt many of these patients will die under any treatment, but he believes that many more could be saved by prompt surgical means. FOOTBALL AND MORAL HEALTH.- William Lee Howard declares that explosion of physical energy is the birthright of every healthy youth, and any attempt to suppress such activity is an injustice. He believes in the formulation of rules which shall rightly govern the management of games and the eligibility of the players, but he does not believe in allowing anything that will discourage the cultivation of the normal spirit of resistance. A spirit of non-resistance under provocation or in athletic contests, he continues, is unmanly, craven, and belongs to the unsexed. The physical fighting instinct is a necessary characteristic of the manly boy, and it should be diverted to football, wrestling, or boxing. A strong, virile, rough, or even dangerous game makes against moral and physical degeneration. The penetrating indirect effect of football is the beneficial factor among the mass of students.- Medical Record, April 7, 1906. DIFFICULTIES IN ABDOMINAL DIAGNOSIS.-E. E. Montgomery, Philadelphia, recounts the history of six cases, illustrating some of the difficulties, which may be divided into those in which the solution has to do with the existence or non-existence of pregnancy; those in which ovarian tumors may be in question; those in which doubt occurs as to the presence of a myoma, and those in which there is uncertainty as to the existence of other growths. American Medicine, September 9, 1905. SODIUM GLYCOCHOLATE.— In the New York and Philadelphia Medical Journal for September 30, H. Richardson believes that the glycocholate of sodium is indicated in all disease where toxemia is a factor, and with few exceptions, where hepatic insufficiency exists. In many cases of malnutrition from want of proper absorption of fats, it will materially aid in building up a patient. Above all it is indicated in hepatic colic and gall-stones, in the former it is almost a specific, and, in chronic constipation combined with the purgative habit, it is of great value. The dosage is about five grains three times a day, though as much as fifteen grains may be given without producing nausea. As the action of the drug is cumulative, owing to its resorption from the intestine, it is not necessary to keep up the full dose for any great length of time. In hepatic colic it is advisable to continue its use for some months. The patient should take about four drams a month, regularly as a prophylactic. In all forms of hepatic insufficiency it is indicated as an hepatic stimulant in conjunction with other treatment. In arterial sclerosis, in conjunction with the administration of inorganic salts of the plasma, in their proper percentage, it dissolves the cholesterin in the atheromatous deposits while the salts mentioned tend to dissolve and to prevent the deposit of the calcium salts. In diabetes, when increased absorption of fats is necessary to replace the loss of carbohydrate, and in tuberculosis, where fat hunger is a pronounced symptom, Recosel, alleging the fat hunger is an etiological factor, sodium glycocholate is indicated. SOME OBSERVATIONS ON PROSTATECTOMY.-L. Bolton Bangs considers the following factors in deciding whether or not to advise prostatectomy; The general condition of the patient, his social condition and environment, his temperament, and his accessibility to judicious medical advice and assistance; whether or not catheter life is likely to fail, and, if it has failed, in what degree; and, finally, what measure of relief is to be gained if, after the operation, some imperfection should remain which is insignificant in comparison with the prior condition. The writer then gives the histories of a number of patients which show how often insignifi cant symptoms are unappreciated or overlooked. He speaks of certain cases in which small prostates have been removed when there were few or no signs of obstruction. In these cases it was not recognized that chronic interstitial cystitis had reduced the capacity of the bladder so that frequent urination had become a necessity. Each case must be studied by itself. The final outcome of the operation cannot be foretold definitely, but when the indications are clear it can be wisely advised on account of the great relief and comfort which result.- Medical Record, June 23, 1906. TREATMENT OF PNEUMONIA.- William F. Waugh believes that the influenza bacillus causes a form of pneumonitis distinguishable from pneumococcus-pneumonia only by the microscope and by a different symptom picture. He says that the accepted theory which attributes all the symptoms of the malady in question to the direct influence of the toxin is an unproved assumption. The writer emphasizes the important relation between fecal autotoxemia and the various symptoms of pneumonia such as fever, headache, delirium, nausea, and so on. He calls attention to the imperative necessity of emptying the bowels and of disinfecting them throughout the course of the attack. He urges the use of saline colonic flushes.- Medical Record, June 23, 1906. CHRYSOPHANIC ACID.-C. J. Fox, Hartford, Conn. (Journal A. M. A., June 23), reports cases of psoriasis, eczema, herpes circinatus, and sycosis successfully treated with chrysophanic acid. In the first-named disease, he considers that it exerts a specific action, limited it may be, but unquestionable. In sycosis after epilation the acid seemed to enter the pustules and convert their contents into a white substance, doubtless effectually destroying the parasite. A favorite formula is given as follows: Chrysarobin, 10 parts; salicylic acid, 10 parts; ether, 15 parts; collodion to make 100 parts. This preparation, however, should be used with caution and discontinued if the skin is irritable and the congested patches increasing in number. He does not ordinarily use the remedy on the scalp or face, as it discolors the hair and may cause conjunctivitis if it gets to the eyes. The "Just as good" fiends are now pirating.—Insist on MILK OF MAGNESIA Registered in the U. S. Patent office, Sept. 12, 1905. (MgH2O2). FLUID. ANTACID AND CORRECTIVE. This form of Magnesia is efficient in Antacid and Corrective indications. Especially so in the Gastro-Intestinal irritations of Infant, Child, and Adult life. THE CHAS. H. PHILLIPS CHEMICAL CO., New York and London. HARMFUL INTESTINAL PARASITES IN MAN; WITH BY W. F. ARNOLD, m. d., surgeON U. S. N. (RETIRED.) By announcing my subject before having prepared this paper, I find that I have not only narrowed its field beyond my intention in certain directions, but I have extended it quite beyond my powers of adequate treatment in others. Hence there is now nothing to do but to asseverate blameless intent, and to beg wide indulgence. What general symptoms indicate the presence of harmful intestinal parasites in man? * Read upon the invitation of its President, before the Middle Tennessee Medical Association, May 18, 1906, at McMinnville, Tennessee. |