from general dropsy, which had existed for some time before her labor began. Digital examination showed that the os was very slightly dilated and very rigid. We stopped the convulsions in a short time, but her labor was very slow. Waited several hours. She had slight pains with no advance of her labor. She was again threatened with convulsions. We had tried ergot and other remedies which had caused pains to be some harder, but made no advance toward delivery. We then, though against my general practice, decided to rupture the membranes, thinking there was an excess of liq. amnii, but to my surprise not more than one-half ounce of the fluid escaped. After the rupture of the membranes, labor came on rapidly and the child was soon delivered.

Here is where the strange part of the case comes in. Not more than a spoonful of blood followed the labor. After a short time I proceeded to deliver the placenta, found the vagina dry, but this delivery was made without much trouble. I found the placenta almost as devoid of blood as if it had been washed in clear water, and my hand was not even stained. After a short time we began using remedies to try to start the lochia, but failed; had no discharge of any kind from the uterus. She made a good but slow recovery.

I write this that I may hear from older and more experienced men than myself. J. L. SMITH, M.D.

OXFORD, ARK.

STRAMONIUM POISONING-A CASE.

EDITORS MONTHLY-On yesterday while looking through my papers I found this, and so I send it to you. If it is worth publishing I would be pleased to see it appear in the MONTHLY. Case, a little boy, æt. about five years. Soon after dinner (July 29th) became peevish, fretful, and the skin, entire, redening. It was the seed of the plant and a part of the pulp that he had eaten, but the little fellow denied eating any Jamestown weed at all. It was confirmed, however, by his mates, and that it happened about 11 A. M.

I was called at 1 P. M., (my father, Dr. T. J. Parker and Dr. Painter, also saw him in the afternoon), found the entire surface red as scarlet, pupils dilated, tetanic spasm. The

parents endeavored to retain him on the lap, and with considerable effort they did so. One moment tolerably quiet, the next he would utter a peevish whimper, rather strange too, I thought, then he would bounce as if frightened out of his wits, endeavoring to get on to the floor and out of sight, seemingly, but could not stand alone. Now a moment's quiet, then just going, jerking and trying to leap, the motary system or element being so alarmingly stimulated.

At 4 P. M. was unconscious of actual surroundings, the senses of sight and hearing obtunded, the pupils by this time extremely dilated. Moreover he would sing, whistle, laugh, cry, talk incoherently, though child-like, of course.

Treatment. Slight emesis was brought about; then we gave brom. pot. in heroic doses until late afternoon, then left the bromide with valerian to be given during the night. Dr. Painter and I saw him next morning; found him very much better. Upon our entering the room he jumped up and tried to run from us, but staggered against the opposite door. We were told that he had been very quiet. Next we ordered that his bowels be moved with ol. ricini and podophyllin. He was around before noon. WM. J. PARKER, M.D.

NATIONAL, ARK., July 13, 1886.

EDITORS MONTHLY-Will you allow space in your journal for a few thoughts on the subject of patent and proprietary medicines?

It does seem to me that these are fast taking the place of the general practitioners. We, who do a general practice, are thus fleeced of many a dollar that justly belongs to us, and in many cases those who buy these medicines lose their lives, either directly from the effect of these preparations or depending on them for relief, neglect to send for a doctor until they are about passing out of this vain world, and then we have no chance to do them any good, and the practitioners, as well as the profession which they represent, lose reputation.

We who practice medicine know that any case, no matter how simple, may need more than one visit, as there are many contingencies that may present themselves, which, if not met promptly, frequently prove fatal.

6.

Combinations and preparations to meet all the diseases to which human flesh is heir can be found in the drug establishments in this country. Every man who feels that he is called to sell drugs has his proprietary physic, and deals it out with an unscrupulous hand to all who may chance to pass that way, and if they forget to say I feel a little under the weather," the man of drugs will perhaps suggest "that you are looking badly, what is the matter with you? I can fix you up, here is a box of my pills, I make them myself, and can warrant a cure in every case where these pills are taken; I also have chill tonics, ague busters, hepatic compounds, and in fact everything you want from a worm destroyer to a sure cure for consumption;" and nine times out of ten he will sell that man five or ten dollars' worth of these preparations that may be of but very little benefit to him. And perhaps shortly after, some member of that unsuspecting man's family is taken sick, may be his wife, or lovely daughter, or manly son, (the case is typhoid fever); but the man possessed of the physic just spoken of brings out a box of pills and commences what he expects to be a successful practice; pills are given ad libitum, followed up with chill tonics, and the man wonders why the assertion of the drug man does not come true? From excessive purgation the bowels are kept in a continued state of irritation and congestion, which finally ends in forced perforation by ulceration, and death is the result. I have no doubt in my mind that many souls are thus forced into the presence of their God, unsought and uncalled for. Had a physician been called (in many like cases) the result would have been different; the patient would have recovered, and the doctor would have been allowed a chance to have earned a livelihood for his little ones. We, who have prepared ourselves to practice our profession, are thus fleeced of our fees. Is it not time, Mr. Editor, for the profession of this country to take bold steps to prevent this nefarious practice, this life-destroying, fee-depriving business, or else, in self-defense, to have our own drug establishments?

"Is there no balm in Gilead?" There is certainly a physician there. A. B. LOVING, M.D.

PINE BLUFF, Ark.

Society Proceedings.

TIPTON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

T. W. ROANE, M.D.,
President.

T. J. REID, M.D.,
Cor. Secretary.

The regular meeting of the Tipton County Medical Society was held in Covington, Tuesday morning, July 6, 1886, with T. W. Roane, President, in the chair. A. L. Elcan, Secretary, and the following members present, viz.: L. Hill, sr., Wm. Walton, S. Buford, J. R. Sandford, G. B. Gillespie, W. H. Richardson, M. H. Jackson, J. H. Shoaf, M. Bell, T. J. Reid, J. H. Hannah, R. L. Wright, J. B. Witherington, J. T. Faucett and J. I. Sherrod.

After reading minutes of last meeting, Dr. T. J. Reid wast elected Corresponding Secretary of the Society.

Dr. J. H. Hannah read an interesting report of a case of double quotidian type of Malarial Fever with congestion of the stomach, which was discussed by Drs. Faucett, Bell, L. Hill, sr., and Roane.

Dr. Faucett suggested alternate hot and cold bath in treatment of congestion.

Dr. Hannah thought that if the child should happen to die under the treatment, "Othello's occupation would be gone" in that neighborhood at least, as he had just begun the practice of medicine, and he would have to seek another location.

Drs. Faucett and Witherington read carefully prepared papers on Gastric Catarrh, the subject selected at the previous meeting for discussion.

Dr. Elcan also read a paper on the same subject, after which it was freely discussed by most of the members, all agreeing that diet was more important than medicine in the treatment. Dr. Gillespie preferred in most cases a combination of hydrastis, glycerine and nux vomica.

Dr. Elcan preferred calomel in 1-12 gr. doses.

Dr. Roane read the following, which was unanimously adopted by the Society:

Resolved, That the members of this Society urge upon the people, at their primary meetings, to select delegates to nom

inate a candidate for the Legislature, to instruct such delegates to demand of the candidate that he pledge himself to use his utmost exertions to have such legal enactments passed by the next Legislature, as will best protect the public from charlatans and impostors, and regulate the practice of medicine in the State.

On motion the President appointed Drs. Bell, Roane and Gillespie a committee to attend the convention, and use all honorable means to secure the nomination of a candidate favorable to the above resolution.

The subject selected for discussion at the next meeting, is Uses and Abuses of Quinine, with Drs. Sandford and Buford as leaders.

The Society has cause to congratulate itself on the full attendance, interest manifested and favorable auspices under which it has been reorganized, and it is hoped that other physicians in the county will become members and all unite in making it a success.

The Society adjourned to meet the first Tuesday in August.

RESORCIN IN THE TREATMENT OF DIARRHOEA.-In septic diarrhoea, either acute or chronic, characterized by dejections of a fetid odor, and by the presence in the fecal matters of a large number of micro-organisms, M. Bogouche has obtained excellent results with resorcin dissolved in castor-oil (Journal de Medecine de Bruxelles, Sept., 1885.) When thus prepared, the resorcin never causes ringing in the ears, profuse sweats, or other unpleasant symptoms sometimes noted when the drug is given alone, a difference in action which the author explains by the more gradual absorption of the oily solution. For an adult the author gives 15 grains of resorcin dissolved in about five ounces of warmed castor-oil. To children of about four years of age he gives from three-fourths to one grain in a corresponding quantity of oil. M. Bogouche has met with so great a measure of success in the treatment of fetid diarrhoea by this method, that he is encouraged to hope much from it in cholera. In this disease he recommends the mixture of salicylic acid and resorcin dissolved in castor-oil. The dose given by the author, one gramme of resorcin to 150 grammes of castor-oil, seems rather excessive, and is probably intended, though it is not so stated, to be given in divided doses during the day.-Med. Age.