vised and larger form. We have been hoping to receive such a work, and it now lies before us, showing in its careful compilation and the use of concise terms that the reports of the students have not been exaggerated.

Prof. Bigler's work is entirely original with himself and his method of treatment of his subject is such as to attract. He divides the study of the entire subject of physiology into twelve sections. After discussing the structural and chemical composition of the body he discusses food, digestion, absorption, circulation, respiration, voice and speech, animal heat, secretion, muscular system, nervous system, the senses, and reproductive function. A fair example of the style and method of consideration found throughout the book is the following, taken from the introduction:

The Chemical Composition of the Body.

Seventeen of the sixty-five chemical elements combine in larger or smaller quantities to form the chemical basis of the body.

The non-metallic elements, Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen, contribute the largest share, while of the metallic elements the most abundant are Calcium, Sodium and Potassium.

The only elements found free in the body are O, N, and H; all in the intestinal canal, and the first two in the blood also.

The term "Organic" is now applied only to the compounds of C. If one were to undertake to analyze these four sentences and think of the number of points of information contained within them and should then realize that the entire book is made up on the same general plan, he would appreciate the entire lack of necessity for making an extended review of the 200 pages contained between its covers. We think this book ought to be used as a teacher's text-book in every College in the departments where it can be used. The publishers have bound it in good shape.

COMPEND OF GYNECOLOGY. By William H. Wells, M. D., Chief of the Gynecological Staff of the Mount Sinai Hospital, Philadelphia; Demonstrator of Clinical Obstetrics in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, etc. Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged. With 145 Illustrations. Price, net, 80 cents. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son & Co., 1012 Walnut Street. 1903.

Blakiston's Quiz Compends are known the world over. Taken all together, they cover almost the entire field of medicine and surgery. This latest revision of Prof. Wells' Compend of Gynecology brings the book completely up to date, a section on General Therapeutics in Gynecology having been inserted, and a number of new operations described. The author certainly accomplishes his object in condensing

the consideration of the methods adopted by the best instructors of gynecology throughout the country. Like the other of the Compends, it will be of great help to the student.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN ROENTGEN RAY SOCIETY. Third Annual Meeting, Chicago, Ill., December 10 and 11, 1902. Louisville Courier-Journal Job Printing Co. 1903.

The use of the Roentgen ray has become almost universal. Hardly a city of any size but what has its physicians who are more or less completely equipped for doing work with this wonderful adjunct to the physician's paraphernalia. This Society is in a most prosperous condition, having a large membership of men from all over the United States. This last volume of Transactions is exceptionally rich in splendid papers. There are some fourteen of them, which treat of the X-ray in all its different phases. Among them we note papers by Emil H. Grubbe, B. S., M. D., of Chicago, who has had an enormous experience in the treatment of cancerous conditions. Also one by Dr. John B. Murphy, Chicago, one by Clarence Edward Skinner, New Haven, Conn., and one by Gordon G. Burdick, Chicago, all men of the highest reputation in the field of electro-therapeutics. Besides these there are other papers of value, which all together render the book an important addition to the library.

Copies may be obtained from our fellow townsman, Dr. Weston A. Price, 2238 Euclid Ave., the treasurer of the Association. LESSONS ON THE EYE. For the Use of Undergraduate Students. By Frank L. Henderson, M. D., Ophthalmic Surgeon to St. Mary's Infirmary, and the Christian Orphans' Home; Consulting Oculist to the St. Louis City Hospital; the Wabash Railway and the Terminal Railway Association, etc. Third Edition. Price, $1.50. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son & Co., 1012 Walnut Street. 1903.

The third edition of this book, which is a very valuable one to the student, shows a careful revision. It is essentially a student's manual, but is different from the ordinary book of that class in that the author does not try to condense within the compass of a small book all of the knowledge to be found in a larger and more complete work. He shows a fine discrimination of what is proper and what is necessary for a student and the embryo practitioner by omitting the minutiæ which would tend to continue and puzzle a man who lacks the training of a specialist. There is no question but that the book will be of great help to the student and may be recommended with safety as a text-book from which regular text-book teaching can be done. It is attractively bound, of convenient size for carrying to and from the class-room, and very reasonable in price.

The Medical and Surgical Reporter.

Contributions are solicited upon any subject connected with the practice of medicine or the allied sciences, and the only restrictions placed upon them are that they shall be free from personalities and given to the REPORTER exclusively. The Editor of the REPORTER is not responsible for any opinion expressed by contributors.

Vol. XII.

FEBRUARY, 1904.

No. 2.

Original Articles.

ARNICA (Leopard's Bane).

By J. C. Fahnestock, M. D., Piqua, Ohio.

Arnica is a perennial plant found growing in the mountainous regions of Europe. It has a large yellow flower, solitary, generally at the summit of the stem, which grows about a foot high. The root is an inch or two in length, being slender, brown, and contorted, and from the root extend a few slender fibers three or four inches long. This is a very brief description of this plant. I present a pen drawing of this wonderful plant in the hope of showing the great importance of becoming perfectly acquainted with all plants that we use in medicine. It is a sad fact that very many are not acquainted with many of our most common vegetable remedies.

I was apprised of this fact some time ago by learning that a good Professor of Materia Medica did not recognize Rumex, Aesculus, Lapa Major, etc., when he saw them growing. It is no wonder that students do not take more interest in the study of Materia Medica when such facts are known.

Enough I must hasten to speak of this wonderful remedy, Arnica. Oh. for a better, clearer use of the English language that I might make such a word picture, so clear and vivid that you could never forget it.

I speak of Arnica as one of my old, tried and true friends. How could I get along without it? How can I best use it without abusing it? Only by a thorough knowledge of its dynamic action. can Arnica be successfully used.

I can only give a few points of the leading features of Arnica as it covers too wide a field. You will do well to carefully study the 635 symptoms of Arnica as given by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in his Materia Medica Pura.

Arnica, like many others of our most useful remedies, come breech presentation. It has been used by the laity for many years as a great remedy for bruises, etc., without a guiding indication for it.

In the thorough proving of Arnica by Dr. Hahnemann upon himself and his followers, using the matchless method devised by himself, he ascertained its true field of usefulness. His provings produced symptoms identical with those following mechanical violence or over-exertion.

What great pleasure Hahnemann must have experienced when making this proving; to confirm again the universal application of the universal law of similars. Again we note how careful he was in giving Arnica in a potency to stimulate the vital forces in such a manner as to correct the effect which follows severe mechanical shock.

Arnica is not only useful for the effects of recent injuries but for those deep-lasting after effects. I have a case that is rapidly recovering from a severe injury sustained two years ago, by falling from a hay mow and striking the side of the head against a carriage wheel. 'The man did not think the fall "amounted to much" and did not seek medical aid, but as time went on he noted that he was becoming very forgetful and continually experienced a sore, bruised pain in the head. He became fatigued very easily, etc. Before calling medical aid, he was sitting in his room when suddenly he became unconscious and fell over on the floor-unconsciousness lasting about five minutes. When I first saw him he was sitting in his chair, face flushed, eyes very red and congested, extremities cold, and with it a frightful feeling. "fearing the worst had come."

Going over the case carefully I diagnosed Arnica, and it was given with marked benefit. Now with an occasional dose he is rapidly improving and bids fair to be perfectly well.

existing in fevers when When you inquire into is wrong with him, in

There is a peculiar mental state often noticed in cases calling for Arnica, a condition which I hope you will always remember; when you enter the room the patient will ask you "What are you here for? There is nothing the matter with me." "Who sent for you? I am not sick." You may find this state of affairs the patient is in a very dangerous condition. his symptoms he stoutly asserts that nothing spite of all the indications of a severe illness. He may have a form of typhoid fever, foul breath, foul discharges, sordes covering the teeth, yellowish green petechiæ are forming over the body, showing that the vital forces are fast ebbing away, but if he is still able to talk to you he will tell you "there is nothing the matter with him."

He has all the symptoms of a severe case of typhoid fever; he picks the bed-clothes, is quiet at times, motionless, then he will move from place to place in the bed, even if he is unconscious, seemingly to get into an easy position, to find that soft place in the bed, not that