Optic Sparks P. I. LEONARD, M. D. Professor of Ophthalmology, Ensworth Medical College. The optic papilla is destitute of terminal ganglionic or retinal elements and consists of nerve fibres and vessels, choroidal and scleral tissues, is itself insensitive to light and form-it is blind-the blind spot of Mariotte. ¶ Morbid conditions characterized by partial degeneration in the optic nerve, clinically expressed by an absolute or relative loss of color vision at macular fixation, are not uncommon. ¶ Campimetry is the mapping out of the central vision; scotometry is determining exactly the position and dimensions of central defects, useful in toxic amablyopias. The difficult part in cataract extraction is not the removal of the cataract, which can be done by any one trained; but the skill consists in knowing the diseased condition by study, and so change the method of operating that you get vision-the object for which you operate. There are many operators, but few surgeons-in other words, the study of pathology in the living has been the means of advancement. ¶ In head surgery the old circular trephine should be relegated to the historical museum, having no place in a modern armamentarium. Intra-ocular disease is the most important condition in the production of blindness. ¶ Trousseau finds that atrophy of the optic nerve is the most frequent cause of blindness, and after this comes purulent ophthalmia, irido-choroiditis, glaucoma, etc. Purulent ophthalmia is steadily falling back on account of our methods prophylaxis and treatment. Intra-cranial diseases give rise to almost four-fifths of the cases of optic neuritis which include tumor of the brain, infectious meningitis brain abscess, sinus thrombosis, etc. The toxic agents are most frequently lues, alcohol, tobacco, the specific poison of the infectious fever, or of various nutritional disease, such as diabetes, ritis, anemia, etc. times produce in normal eyes on vision, refraction, and muscle balance to nonclosure of the lids, retinal fatigue, defects of sharpness in picture and of the focusing apparatus, fatigue caused by too strong or too weak luminous impressions (brightly and strongly illuminated images cause most fatigue, also sudden changes from black to white or from dark to light), and the position of the spectator in the audience. The untoward symptoms in order of frequency are: Injection of the lid margins and conjunctiva; lacrymation, retinal fatigue, pain in and about the ciliary region, headache (frontal, less often occipital), muscae volitantes, dizziness. Under the most favorable conditions moving pictures are a severe test of distant vision and endurance on the nor mal eye. Procrastination is the thief of time, while it may also be. the thief of an organ or criminal mutilator. ¶ "Pink eye" is a frightful misnomer for a periodical epidemic of infectious conjunctivitis. Damaging consequences are often seen from prescriptions for eye drops containing cocaine morphine, because valuable time is often lost in those cases that need immediate attention, e.g., iritis and glaucoma, infectious conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers. Procrastination is to blame for many cases of amblyopia exanopsia and strabis mus. Strabismus is that condition of the eyes in which the yellow spots are not directed toward the same point in the object viewed. Muscular imbalance, or heterophoria is a condition in which one of the extrinsic muscles of the eye has, from some cause or other, become less efficient than its antagonist, necessitating an excessive innervation of the weaker muscle to prevent deviation and consequent eyestrain. The visual function in its adaptation to various conditions, such as distance and size, the ciliary muscle acts as an automatic regulator. neph-The fact that we wear glasses shows that we have learned the preservation of vision, which is a labor-saving device. All forms of iritis, except the very mildest types, if not treated, lead to blindness through adhesions of the iris to the lens, seclusion of the pupil, and secondary glau coma. The moving picture and its effect upon the eyes have been studied by many observers. Bahn attributes the unpleasant symptoms which moving pictures some ¶ Preventive medicine and general hygiene are great conservators of vision. The sclera is an early tell tale in all forms of anemia. The Argyll-Robertson pupil contracts to accommodation and convergence, but not to light, as in locomotor ataxia and paresis. Society Scintillations "True wisdom is to know what is best worth knowing, and to do what is best worth doing."-H. HUMPHREY. Wichita, Sedgewick County Medical Society. January 21st, Dr. Fred S. Williams, the new president, presiding, the Wichita pro fession entertained as guests, Drs. A. Sophian, Frank J. Hall and S. Grover Burnett, of Kansas City, the courtesy being extended through the ever genial Dr. Arch D. Jones, and the secretary, Dr. John Hagan. Dr. J. F. Gssell and Dr. W. A. Phares broke their roadwork record in assembling everybody for a 6 o'clock banquet at the club. Dr. J. E. Oldham permitted fifteen minutes converse to pass without mentioning fast horses. He was immediately accused of automobiling and plead guilty, but still claimed ownership of a horse that had been fast for twenty-four years. Dr. A. H. Fabrique held down the head of the table with his 270 pounds, disavowed any knowledge of medicine, but stood pat on his proud record of having more grown-up babies to his credit than any man in Wichita. After dinner, addresses were made by Dr. A. Sophian, who learnedly covered the subject of "Epidemic Meningitis;" Dr. Hall, the "Histopathology of Syphilis," graphically illustrated; Dr. Burnett, The Brain Cell Pathology of Alcoholism and Morphinism, illustrated." Wichita presents an active, wide-awake body of medical men, and, judging from the program announcements, is doing good work. Fraternally they know how to entertain. American Medical Association. The annual meeting will be held in Min. neapolis, June 17-20. 1913, under the presidency of Dr. Jno. A. Witherspoon of Nashville. The general Arrangement Committee is planning for an unusually attractive social program, which will be announced later. The group of State University buildings will be utilized for the section meetings, while the great armory will contain the exhibit, post-office and general headquarters. It is planned to serve noonday lunches at tables set upon the campus, thereby saving a trip to the hotels, and affording a pleasant opportunity to mingle with friends. This feature will appeal especially to the ladies in attendance. MISSOURI VALLEY AND SOUTHWEST SPECIAL. Arrangements are in progress for a special train for the accommodation of delegates from the Missouri Valley and Southwest territory. This train will leave Kansas The "West" hotel has been selected as Missouri Valley and Southwest headquarters, this house being one of the largest and most centrally located located in Minneapolis. Reservation of rooms should be made early, as the hotels will all be crowded. Those desiring to join the party, or wishing to reserve rooms will communicate with the secretary, Dr. Chas. Wood Fassett, St. Joseph. EXCURSION TO YELLOWSTONE AND ALASKA. Immediately after the A.M.A. meeting in Minneapolis, the Northern Pacific Railway will run a special train to Yellow. stone Park, leaving June 20, and returning June 30. Or those who desire may continue the trip to Seattle, and thence by boat to Alaska for a twelve day trip. Dr. H. H. Kimball, Minneapolis, has charge of this excursion, and will furnish all information. American Party to International Medical All arrangements are now completed for the Study Club to Europe and the party will sail from New York on July 3, spending a month visiting the important clinics. and beauty spots of Europe, and a week in London attending the Congress. Itinerary is now ready for mailing. Those who are interested should send their names to Dr. Chas. Wood Fassett, St. Joseph, Mo., without delay, as the accommodations are available to a limited number only. Dr. J. C. Sutherland has removed from Savannah to St. Joseph, and has opened an office at 809 North 23d street. Peas, beans, etc., lodged in the ear may be removed by pouring absolute alcohol in the meatus. This absorbs moisture from the foreign body and from the swollen tissues, thus facilitating extraction. Medical Progress Colfax Springs. We are in receipt of information from Col. Jas. P. Donahue, proprietor of Hotel Colfax and Baths of Colfax, Iowa, to the effect that he has installed a complete change in the service of the "Colfax," and is now giving his undivided personal attention to the management. This plan will insure a more perfect service, and every guest may be assured of courteous treatment and a table that cannot be excelled anywhere in America. Experi enced graduate masseurs and masseuse have been placed in charge of the bathsand all the latest appliances for the scien, tific application of hydrotherapy have been added to the equipment. Physicians are cordially invited to visit the springs and investigate the service, as well as the waters. Melubrin in Acute Articular Rheumatism. Loening, of Halle, says (Munchener Medizinische Wochenschrift, 1912, Nos. 9, 10 and 11): Melubrin behaves as a specific in acute articular rheumatism, when given in doses of 15 to 30 grains, three or four times daily. It has no action on the heart and there is no acceleration of pulse. The remedy can even be given if endocarditis is present. It also gives positive results in chronic articular rheumatism, myositis and sciatica." In typhoid fever it is effectual as an antipyretic. Its action in this respect may be compared with that of a cold bath or pyramidon. In several severe cases of tuberculosis, the persistent antipyretic action of melubrin was especially valuable." "Antipyresis was obtained in scarlatina, angina, erysipelas and miliary tuberculosis, and the remedy was tested in croupous pneumonia with remarkably favorable results. I have given over 45,000 grains of melubrin and have seen no failures and no paradoxical results." Melubrin has recently been introduced to the medical profession of this country. through the medium of the FarbwerkeHoechst Company, of New York, and samples will be sent to physicians who signify their desire to receive them. The Modern Treatment of Infection. A new agent that will yield 90 per cent of recoveries out of a total of four thousand cases of infection is worthy of consideration. The phylacogens, prepared by Parke, Davis & Co., are credited with this per formance. Reports of the success attending the administration of these bacterial deriv atives have been appearing with much frequency of late-reports so startling in their nature that one would hesitate to credit them were they not known to emanate from competent and conservative practitioners. These reports compel the belief that in the phylacogens we have a group of truly remarkable agents-products that will be makers of medical history; that are capable of producing results that may be designated as most unusual. The phylacogens are supplied in rub. bered-stoppered glass bulbs of 10 c.c. capacity and are administered hypodermically. Five of them are now supplied and are obtainable from any druggist. They may be briefly described as follows: Mixed Infection Phylacogen: Indicated in the treatment of all infections, acute or chronic, in which it is not known what particular micro-organism, if any, predominates-notably in surgical infections, abscesses, puerperal sepsis, eczema, fistulae, etc. Rheumatism Phylacogen: Indicated in the treatment of any acute or chronic infection caused by the streptococcus rheumati cus. Erysipelas Phylacogen: Indicated in the treatment of erysipelas, i.e., the acute disease caused by infection with the streptococcus erysipelatis. Gonorrhea Phylacogen: Indicated in the treatment of any pathological condition due to infection with the micrococcus gonorrheae. Pneumonia Phylacogen: Indicated in the treatment of pneumonia or any pathological condition caused by the pneumococcus. Complete literature on the phylacogens has been issued by Parke, Davis & Co. and may be obtained from the company's home offices in Detroit, Michigan. Physicians are advised to avail themselves of this opportunity. Dr. A. Sophian, of Kansas City, who visited St. Joseph last month, and delivered a lecture at the Public Library Auditorium, on Epidemic Meningitis," has in preparation a book, the first in the English language, upon this important subject. Dr. Sophian will embody in this new work the results of his many years of study and experience, including his management of the Texas epidemic of 1911. A synopsis of Dr. Sophian's lecture appears in the editorial department of this issue of the Herald. -owing their prolongation to constitutional or systemic weakness GRAY'S GLYCERINE TONIC COMP. to spur physiologic processes, promote functional activity and When local remedies fail, or at best give but temporary relief, New York A non-toxic, improved succedaneum for Salicylic acid, which does not effect the stomach, heart or motor system. Melubrin is practically a specific in articular rheumatism and is unusually efficacious in the treatment of acute muscular rheumatism, myositis, cephalalgia, lumbago, sciatica, intercostal neuralgia, arthritis, and the different forms of rheumatic polyarthritis. As a febrifuge, Melubrin is of value in pneumonia, influenza and typhoid fever. It is well borne and possesses all the medicinal and curative properties of the salicylate preparations, with none of their deficiencies. When Writing to Our Advertisers, Please Mention The Medical Herald. -51 while not synonymous, the manifestation of one IN Inflammatory Rheumatic Joints Sprains Bruises Lumbago Chilblains and other inflammatory conditions, Antiphlogistine applied thick and hot affords immediate relief. NOTE. A name qualifies both product and result. See that your first thought, Antiphlogistine, is applied and not an imitation. THE DENVER CHEMICAL MFG. CO., NEW YORK -52 When Writing to Our Advertisers, Please Mention The Medical Herald. |