I.

That iodoform is valueless in surgery as an antiseptic, even though it may possess other useful properties.

2. That as iodoform preparations themselves may contain pathogenous micro-organisms, they cannot be used without some danger.

It seems to me that it is a mistake to assume that a drug has no antiseptic properties because it contains micro-organisms. I believe there is a difference between an antiseptic and an antiparasitic, and the difference widens with those who believe that micro-organisms have but little to do with the causation of putrifactive processes. Boracic acid is a good antiseptic, but a very poor parasiticide. Bichloride of mercury is a good antiparasitic, but not the best of antiseptics. We do not believe that iodoform is either a good antiseptic or a good parasiticide. The same might be said of carbolic acid. A drug that arrests the putrefactive processes is an antiseptic, whether it kills the micro-organism or not.

A CARBUNCLE. - Recently I treated a carbuncle in a way that gave me much satisfaction. A poultice of the following ingredients was kept on hot: R. Ulmus pulv., 3ij.; carbo-ligni, 3j., tannic acid, 3j.; carbolic acid, 3j. M. A quantity sufficient for three or four poultices made at a time, with hot water, stirring to a proper consistence. This application gave considerable ease, and a gradual subsidence of the carbuncle was made. In a short time it was resolved.

Death after Washing Out THE STOMACH.--Dr. Martin reports a case (Brit. Med. Jour.), under the care of Dr. Bradbury, for stricture of the pylorus. The patient had suffered for seven years with symptoms of ulcer of the pylorus. His stomach had become much dilated; he was much afflicted with gaseous accumulations and pain, with increased weakness, and he vomited large quantities of frothy mucus. It was decided to wash out the stomach. The tube was passed into the stomach, but as the patient grew very faint the tube was withdrawn. Two hours afterwards he complained of stiffness in the jaws, with inability to open the mouth. The arms became rigid, pronated and flexed, and the thumbs turned in to the palms. The rigidity spread to all the muscles of the limbs and trunk, and the temperature rose to 103.4°. He became livid, pulseless, and temperature rose to 107.2° before death, which took place six and a half hours after washing out the stomach.

The post mortem showed a simple stricture of the pylorus, with a cicatrix from the old ulcer and a dilated stomach. No wound of any kind could be found.

ENEMATA OF COLD WATER IN INTUSSUSCEPTION.--Dr. Christopher Elliott (Bristol Med. Chir. Jour.) reports a case of intussusception successfully treated by cold water injections. A boy of eight years was taken with sharp pain in the abdomen, and vomited soon after. In the course or a few hours there were several attempts at defecation, but only bloody mucus passed. Castor oil was ordered, but he vomited it up. A restless night passed, with much tenesmus, and more bloody mucus-nothing fæcal. The lower part of the abdomen was dull, and the dullness extended upon the left side. Chloroform was administered and the examination elicited a cylindrical tumor in the left iliac region, from two to three inches in length, and as thick as the finger. Insufflation of air was tried, and failed; an enema of warm water was given; this, also, failed; insufflation of air was repeated, with like failure. Later on, an enema of cold water-over a quart—was injected; the tumor was found to have disappeared; the bowels acted spontaneously on the next day; and the boy's recovery was complete.

LAPAROTOMY FOR PERITONITIS. - Dr. Kroenlein (Centralb. f. Chir.) relates three cases in which the abdominal cavity was opened on account of peritonitis. In two instances the vermiform appendix was perforated, and death ensued; in the third, no lesion discoverable. This patient made a good recovery. Sublimate

solutions, 1-2000, was employed for washing out the abdominal cavity.

COCAINE IN CHOLERA INFANTUM. - Dr. Herr (Thera. Gazette) describes a case, his own child, where profuse intestinal evacuations and vomiting, great weakness, pallor of the skin, sinking of the eyes, coolness of the cheeks, hands and feet, increasing frequency of the pulse, and slight cyanosis of the face, were present. He administered one-sixth of a grain of the hydrochlorate of cocaine every two hours, with the best results. Since then he has frequently employed it with equally good results in like cases. He believes we have in cocaine an agent which meets a double indication—a stimulant to the ganglionic centres, and a sedative to the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane.

HEBRA'S LOTION FOR ECZEMA-Phenic Acid, 4 parts; glycerine, 15 parts; sulphuric ether, 15 parts; alcohol, 90 parts. A mixture to be applied to dry and scaly eczema occurring in plaques, and which gives good results in obstinate cases. Tincture of iodine, applied with a brush, often gives equally good results.-L' Union Médicale, Nov. 6, 1886.

PAPINE.-Dr. Thomas Little writes that Papine seems to meet a class of cases in which opiates are indicated, but in which the remedy is worse than the disease. "One case in particular," says he, "has given me a great deal of trouble for years. I tried opium in every form, and many other narcotics, alone and in combination; but constipation, nausea and nervous prostration have been invariable results. I then used Papine, with the happiest effect; no nausea; no constipation; no prostration. I have been prescribing it in my practice since, with the greatest satisfaction to myself and my patients."

ASTHMA.--Dr. Germain (Glasgow Med. Jour.) says whatever be. the form of asthma- whether nervous, emphysematous or catarrhal, primary, or of gouty or dartrous origin-iodine constitutes the true cure; when iodine supervenes, then pyrodine is the most certain means for curing the paroxysms; it is the palliative remedy, while iodine is the curative. Pyrodine is a colorless liquid, very volatile, with strong smell, miscible with water. Dr. Germain administers it by putting 60 to 75 grains into a saucer in the middle of the room, and placing the patient at the corner of the room, where he inhales the air, mixed with the vapor, for twenty or thirty minutes, repeating this thrice daily.

PSOAS ABSCESS.-In a recent article on "Caries of the Spinal Column," Mr. William A. Elliott writes as follows: "When the abscess becomes fully developed, and fluctuation is easily to be felt, I select the parts where the coverings are thinnest, and before any discoloration of the skin has taken place. The skin should be well drawn to one side by the assistant; and avoiding any vein that may appear on the surface, I then pass a broad, strong and sharp lancet obliquely through the sac of the abscess, pressure of the hand being steadily continued during the flow of the matter. Should any curdy substance block the opening, I pass a silver director into the

sac, and by holding it in position perpendicular to the wound, these substances are enabled to pass through the opening freely, when the matter is again allowed to flow in an uninterupted stream, pressure of the hand being continued during the entire time; and when the matter has nearly, but not entirely, ceased to flow, I then withdraw the director. The skin, being set free, will form a perfect covering over the wound in the sac, and thus prevent the possibility of air entering. The surface of the parts should then be cleaned, and dry lint placed over the wound, which can be kept in situ by a broad strip of adhesive plaster. A moderately thick pad of lint, of sufficient size to cover the entire surface occupied by the abscess, should be then applied. I then pass a bandage from above the knee, extending up the thigh and round the pelvis, for the purpose of keeping the sides of the sac as closely in apposition as possible. After three or four days I remove the dressings, and I have always found the wound healed.”—Dublin Jour. of Med. Sci.

ALEXANDER'S OPERATION.-A few years since Alexander, of Liv erpool, instituted an operation for extreme retroflection of the uterus, which consists in cutting down upon the round ligaments where they enter the inguinal canal, pulling them forward and stitching them to the abdominal wall. This operation has been done a number of times in this country by Dr. Wm. M. Polk, of New York. It is attended with some danger, and from the nature of the parts and the forces governing the position of the uterus, it does not seem likely to be of permanent value. Doubtless, the same forces that retroflexed the organ will continue active and bring about the same result after the operation.

Concerning many points in minor gynecolgical therapeutics, there is much for our consideration, which time will not now permit. Through the influence of the sympathetie nervous system, diseases of the female organs of generation are associated with reflex irritation and remote disturbances, necessitating accurate knowledge and patient investigation for their successful treatment. A more thorough knowledge of general medicine and surgery is requisite in this, perhaps, than in any other special branch of medical practice. The moral and hygienic surroundings of the patient, and those agencies promoting healthful nutrition, must at all times receive attention, in order to succeed in the treatment of uterine diseases.-Progress.

ANTISEPTIC WOOL TAMPONS IN UTERINE PROLAPSUS, EROSIONS, AND PELVIC INFLAMMATIONS.-Dr. James Etheridge (Amer. Jour. Obstetrics) calls attention to the use of antiseptic wool as vaginal tamponment in pelvic inflammations, and I wish to corroborate what he has said upon the subject. This wool is finely carded, and free from all oil and foreign substances. Etheridge cuts off a piece, of such length as will nicely fit into the vagina, and with the patient in the genu-pectoral position, with the perineum retracted, the tampon is stuffed into the vagina and left there. The upper end of this tampon can be soaked in any antiseptic solution, as boro-glycerine or listerine; and with a piece of string attached to the lower end of it, the patient can remove it, and douche the vagina, in readiness for the next tampon; and in this way, tampon after tampon can be introduced, and the uterus held up to the highest possible level. and advantage taken of the drainage from the uterus of the superabundant amount of blood. The inflammations of the uterus we are called upon to treat are not active, but chronic, and if we hold the uterus up so that it can drain itself properly through the veins, the nutritive changes will be facilitated to the greatest extent. In this way the greatest comfort is experienced. These tampons are removed after four or five days without the slightest odor. When the uterus is enlarged it becomes heavy, sinks, and presses the veins which carry the blood out of the uterus, and we have strangulation. By raising the uterus up, the blood flows freely, and the nutritive changes tend always to health. One outgrowth of the use of this tampon. may be that many cases of laceration of the cervix now operated upon may escape operation.

My method differs slightly from that of Dr. Etheridge, in that I take a layer of the wool, of sufficient size for a good tampon, and lay it out so as to sprinkle a dry antiseptic upon it. Then roll it up, and tie a string around the center. I use boric acid, iodol, zinc, or any antiseptic I may prefer; bending and doubling the tampon upon itself, I dip it into glycerine; then I introduce it through a speculum.

I find antiseptic cotton will shrink, but the wool spreads out and holds better to the walls of the vagina.

This method I employ in erosions, cancer, prolapsus, leucorrhoea, gonorrhoea, metritis and endo-metritis. I have been surprised at