A NEW LOCAL ANAESTHETIC.-In addition to the long range of usefulness it already enjoys, boracic acid comes to the front now in a new role. Dr. Ewing (Practitioner and News) has discovered that it possesses decided anesthetic properties. He reports the case of a railroad employe who came into his office with a deep suppurating wound in the palm of the hand, which had been inflicted two weeks prior by a sharp instrument, cutting or rather tearing its way through to the bones. He was suffering excruciatingly, crying out in agony when but a slight effort was made to straighten out the fingers which were in a semi-flexed position. Thirty grains of boracic acid were dissolved in a half-ounce of water; a pad of absorbent cotton saturated with this and applied to the wound was secured with a splint and bandage. When he returned the next morning he reported that he had suffered absolutely no pain during the night. The splint was taken off, and the fingers could be straightened and the gaping wound exposed without causing the slightest pain. As Dr. Ewing expresses it, the "patient himself pulled open the wound to see how deep it was, squeezing out some pent up pus, and in doing so, felt no more pain than if he was squeezing healthy tissue."

HONORS BY THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY.-In mentioning the fact that the above university had recently conferred the honorary degree LL. D. upon Dr. J. S. Billings, the Maryland Medical Journal embraces the opportunity to fling a little filth at those who have dared defend their own country against charges, by them believed to be false. Listen: "The high compliment thus paid to Dr. Billings is a just recognition of his eminent services to the science and literature of his profession, and a fitting rebuke to those gentlemen of the medical press of the West and Southwest who have attempted to belittle Dr. Billings' fair name and fame by cheap criticisms and vulgar aspersions." Ah! How unkind, Brother Ashby! Had the Western and Southern journals attempted any such thing as you accuse them of, there might have been some justification in penning the above, but in reality the facts establish ideas exactly the reverse of those conveyed by the quotation. It should be remembered that the medical

press South and West has with singular unanimity praised and applauded Billings for years past, and that he embraced the first opportunity, after the meeting in New Orleans, and that while in a foreign country, listened to by doctors from all parts of the world, to misrepresent the Mississippi Valley and its profession. Alone in self-defense has the medical press of this part of the country recoiled upon Dr. Billings, and alone would it "belittle" the false attitude regarding the West and South profession, in which he placed himself at Brighton when addressing the British Medical Association. We have attempted simply the refutation of unwarrantable assertions, damaging to our section, and promulgated at a time and place that admitted of no refutation. What less could have been expected of us? We can safely say that the profession of the South and West is quite the equal of that of the North and East in recognizing and appreciating intellectual worth and reputation, and that no fears need be entertained of an attempt to detract therefrom, but wholesale calumny will be repelled with the entire force and influence of the press on all occasions.

WHERE TO GET THE NEW REMEDIES.-The field of therapeutics is being worked just now with a vengeance. New agents are being unearthed, old ones re-discovered and submitted to the crucial test of satisfactory experience before the profession as a mass. We endeavor, as these new remedies enter the lists of professional favor, to herald their approach, and as nearly as possible to explain their virtues and their powers, leaving the discussion as to their merits to our readers. As an evidence that our readers appreciate this part of our journalistic duty, that they keep apace with the progress in medicine, and that they are always willing to accept on trial anything which offers to increase their usefulness and help them to combat disease, we are constantly receiving letters asking us if this or that remedy can be obtained in this city. We take pleasure in stating, for the benefit of such, that Mr. J. J. Miles, druggist, 299 Main street, is constantly receiving the new remedies as they come on the market. Quite recently he has received a large line of the newest alkaloids from

Merck's and other laboratories in Germany-his own importation. Among other things, a large lot of antifebrin, the new antipyretic, which he offers to the wholesale and retail trade.

CASES OF SYPHILIS WITHOUT HISTORY OF INFECTION.-The importance of an ability to diagnose syphilodermata cannot be overestimated when we recall the future of the patient should an error be made when the secondary symptoms are first manifested. If for no other reason, every physician should acquire such a familiarity with dermatology as to insure this ability. This ability, too, should be based on positive evidence without other assistance, for very frequently he is called upon to decide in cases when history of infection or possible infection is denied, and oftentimes in cases without such history. His knowledge should be such as to enable him to regard even positive history as simply corroborative testimony. Quite recently we have had two cases, one in which all history of infection was absent, the other denying all history, while we were able to say positively, from the character of the lesions, that the disease was syphilis, and this opinion was ratified by the results of treatment. In the last issue of the Practitioner and News, Dr. J. Clark M'Guire reports four cases, in all of which history of infection was absent. In three of these cases the patients were persons of unquestionable morality.

FLUID EXTRACT OF CORN SILK IN THE TREATMENT OF CYSTITIS. This preparation was introduced to the profession by the Messrs. Parke, Davis & Co. some few years since, indorsed at the time as a valuable agent in the treatment of cystitis. Since its introduction we have ourselves used it with what we thought decided benefit, and we are glad to note that it has also been successful in the hands of others. Dr. Rush M. Brown, writing in the Med. Age, says that it occurred to him that as it had astringent properties it would act more speedily if brought in direct contact with the mucous surface.. He therefore adopted a mixed plan: applied it topically and administered it internally. After washing the bladder with

hot water, he adds one drachm of the fluid extract to four ounces of water and injects this into the bladder, allowing it to remain as long as it can be retained. He repeats this twice a week, giving internally, at the same time, 20 drops of the remedy three times a day. Dr. Brown says that while the time as to recovery varies, he has found that this remedy has made a permanent cure of every case of acute cystitis which has come under his observation, and he reports quite a number of them.

THE PREVALENCE OF SCARLET FEVER.-Since it has been ascertained that the prevalence of scarlet fever is retarded but little by improved drainage, good water supply or the better modes of living generally, isolation and disinfection are com ing more and more to be relied upon. Evidences are accumulating to prove that such measures are helpful, as will be seen by the following, a reduction amounting to about onethird:

In London (Record) in the last two years, since more efficient means have been adopted for isolation, the mortality rate has fallen to 700 in 1884-5, while for the present year it has been only at the rate of about 400.

At Salford, England, according to Mr. John Gatham, the annual death-rate from scarlet fever used to be about 135 per 100,000 of the population. Since the establishment of a feverhospital, and the passing of a compulsory notification act, the mortality has been only about 50 per 100,000.

RIO CHEMICAL Co.-To this firm we are indebted and return thanks for an expressed box containing a full line of their specialties. Their Aletris Cordial, a uterine tonic and Celerina, a nerve tonic, in our hands have proven eminently satisfactory. Acid Mannate is a favorite prescription of ours when a mild, certain and pleasant cathartic is indicated. The two preparations of Pinus Canadensis, black and white, we have found specially useful in the treatment of catarrhs of the mucous membrane. These preparations have stood the test of time, and are entitled to the endorsement of the profession by reason of the entire satisfaction they have given.

A SUBSTITUTE FOR FEHLING'S SOLUTION.-Prof. Holland gives the following as a test for sugar; it is very efficient, easily prepared, and is not spoiled by keeping: Cupric sulphate, 1 drachm; glycerine, 1 scruple. To make the test add five drops of this solution to one drachm of liquid potassæ in a test tube. Boil a few minutes to test the purity of the fluid. Should it remain clear, then add a few drops of urine. To detect minute amounts of sugar, not shown by the above procedure, after making the test as above, add half a drachm of urine; boil and set aside. If sugar be present even in very minute quantities, the liquid as it cools will turn of an olive green color and become turbid.-Canadian Practitioner.

WESTERN AND SOUTHERN MEDICAL COLLEGES.-An unusual number of medical students are attending the Western and Southern Colleges this year. The schools in Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, Nashville, New Orleans and Memphis have all been heard from and report a large increase over the past few years; some of them have matriculated as high as one-third in excess of the number attending last year. May this not be accounted for, to some extent, by the prejudice created against some of the Northern and Eastern teachers on account of the war they have made on the American Medical Association?

THE papers read before the Tri-State Medical Association, at its recent meeting, will be published from time to time as our space will admit. The order of their appearance will depend, to some extent at least, upon the topics discussed, and the number of papers upon the same or similar topics. In making up each issue we endeavor to make it as attractive as possible to the reader by introducing variety. Some of the papers have not been received by the Publishing Committee; all such should be forwarded at once to the Chairman, or to the MONTHLY.

MARRIED-At Lockhart, Texas, November 10, 1886, at the home of the bride's parents, Dr. H. S. Robertson (Class of '84) of Cedar Creek, Texas, to Miss Lizzie Leppold.