Dr. Spain's "Chump." Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Allow a few additions to Dr. P. A. Spain's article on page 36. Such a chump of a doctor as his dilutionist might even believe that x-rays would penetrate human flesh and bone; or that one person could talk over a wire 500 miles in length; or that strong enuf current to lift a ton weight could pass over a wire not strong enuf to lift 20 pounds; or even might possibly believe (hardly probable) that telegraphing might be done without wires. Such a fellow might be foolish enuf to believe anything that could be proved. T. J. APPLETON.

Port Angeles, Wash.

Percentage Solutions. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-The following table for solutions I constructed for my own use and find it eminently practical and convenient for ready reference when the attention is otherwise engaged. Every one should know how to make these calculations, but the busy man has not always the time. If this will help any one (with your permission) I shall be glad. Note that the ratio of the solution, the percentage the drug bears to it, as well as the varying amounts needed for the different solutions, are given. Remembering that 2 ounces of water weigh approximately 1,000 grains (960 grains is the correct weight), and using this as a basis, the calculation is easy even without the table; but a glance at the table will always give the needed information :

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Inclosed find table of percentage askt for on page 44, January WORLD, by "Georgia." It is taken from the front of Parke, Davis & Company's Canadian catalog:

To prepare the following approximately correct solutions, dissolve the amount of medicament indicated in sufficient water to make i imperial pint:

or 1 in 5,000 solution use or 1 in 2,000 solution use or 1 in 1,000 solution use

For

For

For

For

or 1 in

For

or in

For 1

or 1 in

For 2

or 1 in

or 1 in

21

12 grs. of the medicament 43 grs. of the medicament. 83 yrs. of the medicament. 400 solution use grs. of the medicament. 200 solution use 433 grs. of the medicament. 100 solution use 87 grs. of the medicament. 50 solution use 175 grs. of the medicament. For 4 25 solution use 350 grs. of the medicament. For 5 or 1 in 20 solution use 437 grs. of the medicament. For 10 or 1 in Io solution use 875 grs of the medicament. NOTE. To make smaller quantities of any solution, use less water and reduce the medicament in proportion to the amount of water employed: thus imperial pint of a 1% solution will require 432 grs. of the medicament

LAURENCE BRaine, M.D. Hackett's Cove, Nova Scotia.

Treatment of Extreme Shock. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I have recently treated a very bad case of surgical shock, applying strychnin, atropin and gelsemium to combat the symptoms; and that a life was saved I'm sure should be attributed to the action of these remedies. The case was one on formed at the end of the third month, the which an operation for abortion had been perpatient having retained no nourishment patient for over three weeks, with resulting emaciation, extreme prostration, etc. Her pulse was 140 before the operation, and after the curetment, during which there was considerable hemorrhage, the temperature reacht 102°, pulse 157 and respiration became quicker and more labored. Tho I had given large doses of strychnin (up to s grain) with injections of normal salt solution, it was quite evident that dissolution was impending. In this emergency it occurred to me that if I could by any means increase the volume of blood to the vital centers, there might be a chance of some reaction. Acting on this deduction I gave a hypodemic of gr. of atropin with mx of tr. gelsemium deeply in the pectoral muscles. In the shortest time there came a change for the better. The symptoms all improved, the patient became more quiet and soon fell asleep. sleeping five hours. She awoke refresht and called for food. She had crost the danger line, and has steadily improved since. Zion, Va. E. M. SNEED, M.D.

Concentrated Sunshine for Warts, Moles and Incipient Suspicious Growths. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Inclosed find $1.00 for renewal of my subscription to THE WORLD. I will also tell my brother physicians what I have been doing with sunshine, (concentrated sunshine) in breaking up warts,

moles and suspicious growths-while they are small of course; also ring-worm. I use a two inch burning-glass and concentrate just enuf to change the color-say bring the point to about the diameter of a silver ten cent piece, for about five minutes the first time, and in five or six days repeat the application. So far I have not failed to cure every case. My idea is that it will be found fully as efficacious as the X-ray for lupus, where it can be applied. Do you know of any one else having experimented with this method? or can I claim it as original? If it is of any special interest to the WORLD family, I will explain my method more fully. S. W. BRASFIELD, M. D. Crockett Mills, Tennessee.

La Grippe.

QUIZ

New books as they appear, are sent to our Assistant Editor, Dr. A. L. Russell, of Midway, Washington Co., Pa., for review As the Doctor thus has all the late books for reference, and is made familiar with them by reviewing each one carefully as it reaches him, he is unusually equipt for answering queries. Therefore it has been our custom for a long time to send queries to him for reply. In fact, the Doctor made a special request that this be done, as he enjoys this work. It now occurs to us that time will be saved if you will send directly to Dr. Russell matter intended for the Quiz Department, which has grown so much under his vigorous "treatment Please notice that our query department is not used to "boost" proprietary remedies, almanac fashion. THE MEDICAL WORLD has no interests other than to give to the medical profession the greatest amount of honest service possible. It has absolutely no interests in any proprietary preparation nor any medical supply house. Other medical editors have become, and are becoming, wealthy, by using their pages to increase the sale of preparations that they are interested in; but we prefer to render service to our subscribers that is above suspicion of personal pecuniary interest. How can a man interested in the sale of certain preparations render the best service? He is always trying to push one of his preparations in. That is commercial journalism. We prefer ethical journalism-and so does the profession, for THE MEDICAL WORLD is growing in popularity faster than ever before-and our subscribers are paying ones. They must be, for we have no medicins to "boost," nothing to sell, nothing to depend on but pure journalism; but doctors that want honest, straight journalism are willing to pay for it-they are

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-La grippe has been prevalent in this locality this winter. chief standby has been a formula put up by the Wm. S. Merrill Company, called antifebril laxativ, composed of:

Intercostal Neuralgia. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I read with interest the article on page 60, February WORLD, Contributed by Dr. O. L. Thompson, of Buckley, Ill., on the treatment of this painful affection, and would like to say that emplastrum cantharides, size of a nickel, over painful point close to spinous process of vertebra, will relieve the pain inside of ten hours, and make a cure. This is from THE WORLD, read many years since and applied very often without a single failure. Of course one can add remidies to ease pain immediately, and also to get a larger fee. ELMER A. HUDSON, M.D.

Only such queries will be publisht as are likely to interest and instruct many others as well as the one asking help. No charge has ever been made, nor will any charge be made, for this service to our subscribers. However, those who wish an immediate and personal reply by mail may obtain the same by inclosing two dollars to Dr. Russell. This is really a consultation in the interest of the patient, and should be charged to the patient-two dollars being a very moderate consultation fee. The Doctor agrees to give We full, careful and immediate attention to such consultations. reserve the right to publish in this department any such consultaName tions that may be interesting and helpful to our readers. and address will be withheld if requested. Come freely for help, but read up as fully as you can before coming to us.

Melena.

Editor of MEDICAL WORLD Quiz:-I was called, February 2, 1903, to attend Mrs. L., it being her seventh confinement. Everything progrest well, woman delivered of a fine healthy girl after I was there three hours. On the second day the child began to retch up blood and pass the same by the bowel about every three hours. I was called and found child sleeping; examined thoroly, found no outside evidence, no rale of lungs. Prescribed gallic acid and returned home. I was again called; this time found that child was passing blood both ways about every fifteen minutes; blood from bowels was somewhat clotted; that passed from mouth was mixt clots and liquid. What I would like to know is: Where did the blood come from? and could the treatment be improved upon? Child at this writing is improving; had two normal discharges without blood is nursing better. Is the above complaint very common Indiana. I. S. J.

[You had a case of the infantil disease known as melena. Gallic acid, two grains every hour, is the recognized treatment. It is not considered a "complication," but a true disease. It must be separated from the oft-repeated cases of false melena where the blood comes from a fissured nipple. True melena is supposed to be due to one of the following causes: duodenal ulcer; some congenital defect increasing intra-abdominal blood pressure; hemophilia; syphilis; Buhl's disease; or septic infection. It is rare, many writers on obstetrics failing to mention it at all. No statistics are obtainable as to the ratio of its occurrence with regard to to a certain number of births.-ED.]

THE MEDICAL WORLD is worth ten times the amount you ask for it.-M. B. POLLARD, Winnsboro, Texas.

Elephantiasis.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I herewith desire to call attention to a phenomenal case. The accompanying picture was taken about two weeks ago. Mrs. V. S., a

widow, age 67 years, the mother of eight children, all normal labor; always healthy up to four years ago, when she noticed some puffiness around the ankles of both limbs, which increast in one years' time to the enormous hypertrophy as seen in picture. Both legs and feet are rather hard to the touch; no pitting upon pressure. She suffers no pain, but cannot walk on account of both the size and weight of her legs. Appetite very good, and all internal organs normal. Her weight is about 160 pounds. Would like to have diagnosis, prognosis and treatment given thru THE MEDICAL WORLD. I will cheerfully answer any and all questions that any of the brethren of THE WORLD family might feel diposed to ask. DR. A. BARRALL. Allentown, Pa.

[Your case is one of elephantiasis. It is caused by an obstruction to the lymph channels by thrombosis, recurrent erysipelas, pressure of tumors, chronic ulcers, cicatrices, aneurysm,

etc.

We cannot explain the case other than on the hypothesis that it is due to thrombosis, since you say that she was healthy up till four years ago, and that this hypertrophy developt in one year. However obscure the etiology may be, the diagnosis is certain. In rare instances the growth may be checkt in its incipiency, but when it has advanced to the stage you illustrate, but little hope of improvement can be held out to the unfortunate patient. If the patient suffers from erysipelatous attacks in the affected limb, cold applications will be grateful and quinin and the saline purgativ should be given. Good food, careful hygiene and nursing, and tonics comprise the ordinary treatment. Elastic compression by means of a carefully applied rubber bandage may reduce the edema somewhat. Green soap and the mercurial ointments by inunction have been recommended. Stretching or partial exsection

of the sciatic nerve has been followed by beneficial results, as has also compression or even ligation of the femoral artery.

Manson's statistics show that nearly 97 per cent of cases occur in the lower extremities. The scrotum is a favorit point of attack in the male, and instances are recorded where this part grew to a weight of over 200 pounds.ED.]

Albuminuria. Incipient Tuberculosis. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Inclosed find $1.00 for subscription. Shame on me, that I forgot this so long. Your paper is always welcome to me.

A man, 45 years old, got sick six weeks ago; legs and body swollen; a rash all over his body; itching intense. I put him to bed, fed him on milk, kept bowels moving with laxativ salines and gave him a mild diuretic. Urin contained albumin; no fever; tongue and pulse normal. Swelling disappeared, he passes plenty of urin. I keep him now on elix. pepsin, strych., and tho he feels good, there is albumin just the same. Skin clear, but the itching is there yet. Now to get rid of the albumin. I read about arbutin, and about a prescription containing sod. acetate 1 ounce, chloroform I dram, and benzoic acid i dram. Do you believe that will cure him? Give me something better if you can. Do you believe that desquamativ nephritis can be cured? Has a bad stomach on account of all the whisky he used to drink. What shall I do to relieve the itching? I have him use ichthyol soap.

Another man, 24 years old, from tuberculous family, had a hemorrhage five days ago. He is all right now; rests easy, no fever. I would like to put him on creosote soon, and give that in increasing doses. Can you suggest anything better? Would you advise a man like that to go to a better climate? What State do you prefer? Tops of both lungs are affected. Centreville, S. D. DR. A. POSTHUMA.

[If albumin is persistent, it is always a sign of grave and advanced nephritis; but albumin may be found without such significance. You do not state the amount of albumin, and this is a point quite as essential as the mere existence of it alone. In the prescription mentioned, the sodium acetate and benzoic acid would probably prove of benefit, but we do not see where the chloroform would do any good. The itching may be from local conditions in the skin, and would probably be relieved by a lotion of glycerin half an ounce and carbolic acid half a dram, in a half pint of water. have had no personal experience with arbutin: perhaps others of the family may be able to give you information.

We

Creosote has given good results in tuberculosis. Such treatment should be combined with cod liver oil and tonics. Authorities are now coming to the opinion that climate, in itself,

has very little influence on the progress of the disease. Any dry climate is favorable, even if cold. The open air treatment is attracting the most attention just now. The patient is fully protected from the weather by sufficient clothing, but remains in the open air most of the time. The United States government has investigated this treatment in the army hospital for tuberculous patients, with favorable results. Naturally it does not interfere with any form of drug treatment that may be indicated.—ED.]

Cystitis.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-June 27, 1901, I was called to see Mrs. S., age 49, with the following symp toms: Pain in the region of the bladder, frequent desire to urinate, pain was bearing down in character, with a burning sensation; temperature 101°; pulse 95; also constipated. Digital examination revealed uterus thickened and engorged, and pressing against bladder. Family history good, menstruated at 13, was regular for three years, then had painful menstruation; always had to go to bed; also had hemorrhage from the nose (vicarious menstruation). Was married three years before giving birth to a child; labor normal. Has had six children and two miscarriages. Menstruation ceast at 47.

I used dull wire curet and cureted uterus, and corrected displacement. I used boric acid and glycerin tampons to hold the uterus in place and to deplete; also mild astringents. This did not give me satisfaction in regard to displacement, so I ordered abdominal support which did the work. I washt out bladder using boric acid, gave calomel and put her on good tonics. She seemed to improve on this for awhile and did well.

This covers a period of ten months.

I was again called in April and found all the above symptoms intensified, frequent desire to urinate, with great pain, blood in urin; sometimes clots would pass ; then she would have pain as if in labor; loss of appetite. I made an examination of urin as I did before; specific gravity 1,022. I also found blood, pus, and albumin in it. I washt the bladder with a weak solution of nitrate of silver and fixt a soft rubber catheter in bladder and let it stay two days at a time. I then examined for stone in the bladder as I had done before, but found none. The following are some of the drugs I have used: galic acid, infusion of digitalis, elix. buchu, juniper and potassium acetate, also Basham's mixture together with the very best tonics. My

patient does not seem to improve very much. Pain on urinating is not so great, but she urinates from four to five dozen times a night. The amount passed in twelve hours is not increast very much. I have had to use opiates all along. My diagnosis is, pyelo-nephritis and cystitis. I am a young M. D., only been practising three years. Any information received from Editor or WORLD readers, will be thankfully received. Marietta, S. C.

E. C. STROUD, M.D.

[You undoubtedly have a case of chronic cystitis, but we hardly see how you add pyelonephritis. Any blood, pus and albumin found might be the result of the cystitis itself.

You have treated the condition correctly, but we would suggest as little instrumentation as possible hereafter. Bladder washing with mild antiseptics will do good. Injection of iodoform in an oily base might prove serviceable; remember the mucous membrane of the bladder under such conditions has powerful absorptiv ability, so that you need guard against poisoning. Adrenalin might prove serviceable in checking the hemorrhage. When selecting a laxativ,

always choose the salines in her case. Have you tried benzoic acid or the benzoates? If not, by all means give them a trial. Have her drink freely of mucilaginous drinks, such as flaxseed infusion, slippery elm infusion, pumpkin seed infusion, etc. Perhaps some of the WORLD family may offer something additional. -ED.]

General Anesthetics.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD-I would like to have the opinion of some members of our family on general anesthesia; i. e., which is regarded the safest? If it be ether, is there anything that will prevent, or at least mitigate, its bad after effects? Has any one had much experience with ethyl chlorid as a general anesthetic? Newark. N. J. LOUIS L. DAVIDSON, M.D.

[A discussion regarding the older general anesthetics would be fruitless. Every practician of experience is an ardent champion of his favorit method, yet even the most rabid partisans recognize certain contra-indications for chloroform and for ether. Most practicians take up the method taught them by their preceptors or by the medical school which they attended; and this is best, since they thus work with that which is most familiar to them and about which they know most. Thus, certain sections of the country are strong supporters of chloroform; others of ether; others of the alcohol, chloroform, and ether mixture. Take Pennsylvania, for instance; in the eastern part, ether is the favorit and chloroform or A. C. E. is only used when there are strong contra-indications against ether in the western part, the A. C. E. or chloroform is the choice. Ethyl chlorid has not had the seal of professional popularity affixt to its use, but some of the family may help you out. Your text books will give you the death statistics from thousands of collected cases showing chloroform to be much more dangerous than ether.—ED.]

Trichinosis.

Dear Editor:-Are there any symptoms by which I could recognize trichina spirilis? and what are they? Springfield, Mass. W. H. A. YOUNG, M.D.

[If the trichina spirilis be plentiful and encapsulated, their presence may be noted by the naked eye as small white specks in the meat. Such meat is technically known as "measly meat." Thin sections of muscles treated for a few moments in a solution of caustic potash, one part to ten of water, are soon made sufficiently clear to reveal the coiled worm under a lens of low power. If there be much fat present, or if the worm is encapsulated in a calcareous deposit, ether or acetic acid must be used previous to immersing in the caustic potash solution. If the worms be present in large numbers, the meat is pale as well as speckled. We are assuming that you wish to know how you may recognize infected meat. If by "symptoms" you refer to the

patient, they are as follows: Three or four hours after eating infected meat vomiting sets in and generally purging also; later there is markt systemic disturbance with high fever and intense pain in the affected muscles; the eyelids become puffy; there soon develops great swelling of the arms and legs, but the genitals are not involved. Trichinosis runs its course in three or four weeks and ends in recovery or death, the proportion of deaths being about onethird of the cases infected. It bears a certain resemblance to typhoid fever, but the edema and intense pain should arouse suspicion.-ED.]

Itching After Bath.-Follicular Tonsillitis. Woman, single, age 30 years, general health good. Has always been well. Slight indigestion at times, which is corrected by slightly restricted diet. Bowels inclined to constipation; kept regular by occasional dose of cascara or salts, and out-of-door exercise.

Present illness: For past two years, during cold weather, has been much annoyed by pruritus following baths; worse after a warm bath, but also felt after cold one. Does not wish to give up baths unless necessary. Takes a cold tub bath every morning and also two or three warm baths a week. Itching most intense on legs, thighs and arms, altho sometimes felt on back and around waist. Skin looks somewhat dry and scaly on arms and legs, but not markedly so. Itching will only be severe for few hours following bath. No eruption on skin; never has been. Urin normal in quantity and appearance. Chemical and microscopic examination negativ.

Treatment: Have used various cooling applications, as menthol, carbolic acid, etc., which are palliativ only. Bowels kept open. Digestion lookt after. Can find nothing satisfactory concerning the cause of this condition.

This is simply a sample of several similar cases for which I should like suggestions for treatment and cause of trouble.

Should also like to hear something about treatment of follicular tonsillitis. I have had good results with tr. ferri chloridi mx, hydrarg. chlor. corrosiv gr. bo, glycerin ad. q. s. 3j about every two hours with perhaps tonic treatment such as strychnin later. I have taken THE WORLD for three years and find it most interesting and helpful. E. C. U.

Mass.

[Bath pruritus is always annoying to both patient and physician because it seldoms yields completely to treatment. Some are affected by warm water and others by cold; some only when the body is immerst and others only if the bath is taken by sponging; some escape if the clothing is not donned for a time, and others gain benefit by getting into the garment without the preliminary of thoroly drying the skin. It is largely a matter of experimentation with the individual case as to frequency of bathing, temperature of water, duration of bath, time at which taken with reference to meals, whether or not the water be hard or soft, whether soap may be replaced by borax or ammonia or soda, etc. If the matter be well investigated, nearly every case can be relieved to a certain extent, but the relief will be found in such methods named above rather than in applications or medication, tho of course digestion and the emunctories must be kept up to

par. We incline to the opinion that daily bathing is too frequent for such persons. A daily air bath, or sun bath if possible, with rubbing, might be an advantageous substitute, with a water bath once a week only. Too frequent baths may remove too much of the natural oil of the skin. If so, an oily inunction following the bath would be indicated.

For many years we have treated follicular tonsillitis successfully by swabbing the membrane or spots with undiluted peroxid of hydrogen every hour, and dissolving a tablet of soda bicarbonate and calomel on the tongue every hour; alternating the medicin so that one is taken every thirty minutes. Only a few hours are needed to complete a cure. The dose of calomel varies with the age, but a quarter of a grain is never exceeded in the adult, because we strive to get the prolonged effect of the local applications frequently repeated, rather than to attain too speedy purgation. High fever or intense headache is met by judicious doses of the coal tar antipyretics. Local congestion is relieved by the application of grated, cold, raw potato to the throat just as frequently as the application becomes warm. We formerly used the tincture of the chlorid of iron and glycerin (but without the bichlorid) saturated with potassium chlorate, and thought it good, but would not think of using it since we have had the experience with the other.-ED.]

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Has calcium sulfid been tried in bubonic plague? J. B. CUMMINS. Cryer Creek, Texas.

[None of the late authorities to which we have access mention such use of the drug. Do you not think the disease would work too quickly for one to get the saturation of the system with the drug? We will be glad if any WORLD reader having had experience with treatment of plague will answer the doctor.-ED.].

Idiosyncrasy Against Eggs.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I have been reading THE WORLD for some months, and I would like to submit my own case to the WORLD family. About six years ago I noticed that after eating eggs I had a severe attack of colic; sometimes even attended with vomiting and purging. Since that time I have not been able to eat eggs in any form, or anything prepared with eggs, without suffering. The colic generally comes on within an hour after eating; lasts from one to six hours, and leaves my stomach sore. Aside from some heaviness and aching in region of liver, my health is good. Am a homeopath and have taken several different remedies. Sulfur c.m. has benefited me most. Am now following the advice of an eminent teacher of materia medica who said "don't eat eggs;" but I would be very grateful to any one who could enable me to at least eat things prepared with eggs. Boise, Idaho.

E. K. KESTER.

[Of course it is generally supposed by profession and laity alike that certain people have an idiosyncrasy against certain foods in the same manner as others have against certain