wise to have the head sent to a laboratory for examination, since, if it be found that he is suffering from rabies, this will permit the injured person taking advantage of any benefits that may be derived from the Pasteur treatment. Of course the sensible way would be to confine the dog in a safe place for observation, but no one but a trained medical man would think of such a thing.

In publisht statistics of Pasteur treatment, only such cases are of value where the examination showed that the dog was suffering from rabies at the time of inflicting the lesion, and that the bite was inflicted on the bare skin, so that there would be no chance of any clothing cleansing the virus from the teeth before they punctured the skin of the victim.

See article on hydrophobia which will appear in next issue.-ED.]

Chloral Hydrate Treatment of Pneumonia. EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-Reading in this week's A. M. A. Journal, in its columns of "Current Literature," an article on "Pneumonia and Its Treatment by Chloral Hydrate and Digitalis," by Dr. A. Napier, of Glasgow, I cannot resist reporting ninetyeight cases of acute fibrinous pneumonia treated by Dr. Hermann Schmidt and myself without one single death during the winter and early spring of 1909 in our territory, Herrick, Shelby County, Illinois. Chloral hydrate is my sheet anchor in fibrinous pneumonia, in sufficient doses, as soon as a correct diagnosis is establisht, to keep the patient under its sedativ and hypnotic influence. My direction is generally: Chloral hydrate gr. v-viij every three hours in case patient is awake.

Every physician is acquainted with the hypnotic action of chloral hydrate, but it is also a good intestinal antiseptic, febrifuge, antispasmodic, and a powerful vasomotor dilator; and to this last action I attribute marvelous results in the treatment of fibrinous pneumonia.

As soon as consolidation is well establisht I add digitalis or strychnin, according to condition of pulse, in sufficient doses to overcome any embarrassment to the propelling power of the heart.

Dr. Hermann Schmidt reported his treatment several months ago in the Wisconsin Medical Recorder. Several weeks later he received a letter from a colleague in Arkansas, saying:

"I have lost every other case of pneumonia lately, but since I used your treatment described in the Medical Recorder, I have not lost a single case."

Whether such results are accidental or due to this treatment, I will leave to the decision and trial of the medical brethren. I sincerely hope that these few lines will be the cause of a thoro investigation of this treatment. ERNEST DIECKMANN, M.D. Vandalia, Ill., April 16, 1910.

"Cold Sores."-Disguising Taste of Epsom

Salts.

Dr. G. W. Carter, of Durham, Ark., of each with a wooden toothpick dipt in a treats "cold sores" by touching the centre mixture of equal parts of glycerin and pure liquid carbolic acid.

He disguises Epsom salts by adding 5 to 10 grams of saccharin and 10 to 20 drops of spirits of peppermint to each ounce of the salts. He makes the spirits of peppermint by adding 9 ounces of pure grain alcohol to one ounce of oil of peppermint. He recommends this method of disguising the taste of other nauseous-tasting drugs, as

chloral hydrate, fild. ext. ergot, etc.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:—If it takes

Dr. Sapp, page 200, May WORLD, “two or three months" to cure cold sores with arsenicum alb. and nat. mur., I am wondering how much quicker his cold sore would get well without his treatment. Ordinarily with us a cold sore takes care of itself in a very few days or a week. Sutton, Neb. H. H. SCHULTZ.

Three Months' Colic.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-Dr. W. C. O'Neall wants light on infantil colic, (May WORLD, page 209), and you gave him some good points. But in my experience, it seems to me that the colic of infants comes from either indigestion or a neuralgic condition. Indigestion is brought on most frequently at the present day by the injudicious use of boric acid. Nurses and mothers have gone daft on the washing of babies' mouths with boric acid solutions, and the presence of that acid in the stomach inhibits the digestion of milk. I instruct nurses and mothers to use nothing but plain, steril water in the babies' mouths, and since I have adopted that plan, I meet with less colic and indigestion in infants.

Nervous diseases always tend to periodic

ity, and those periodic colics may be nervous in origin. I remember a case of persistent periodic colic that came into my hands. I exhausted the usual remedies in such cases, and as the family had suffered with malaria, put the infant on small doses of quinin and cured the case. I didn't care then whether it was malaria or a neurotic condition that caused the trouble. Anodyne tablets are good for temporary relief, but even in colic we can do better work if we can eliminate the conditions that cause the trouble.

Ridgewood, N. J. GEO. M. OCKFORD.

Quinin for Periodical Colic. MEDICAL WORLD:-Regarding the inquiry of W. C. O'Neal, La Grange, Mo., page 209, May WORLD: I've been practising medicin in Missouri for the last thirtyseven years at different points, and I have been prescribing for periodical colic, quinin in inunction, well rubbed in, in groins and under arms, and have not had it fail, so far as known. T. H. B. SCHOOLING, M.D.

Green Castle, Mo.

Surgical Treatment for Membranous Colitis.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-Referring to the article on page 222 of the May WORLD, Dr. Tremblay's case of membranous colitis, will say that if the case was mine, I would get this patient into a good hospital, secure the help of a good surgeon, and treat her as follows:

Prepare for major operation; open the abdominal cavity over the normal location. of the appendix, draw up the head of the colon, anchor it to the belly wall, make a hole in the gut, and leave it open for the following treatment: Now, each day after the operation, bring the patient into the operating room, put her on the table, a bedpan under her, and flush out the colon with silver solution, letting the solution in at the artificial opening. Repeat this flushing once or twice a day, according to your judgment of the case. When a cure of the membranous condition is brought about, remove the appendix (always remove it when you have a fair chance at it), close the wound, and send your patient home. She is young, and this procedure should do the work of cure. This is not original with me, for I saw Dr. John E. Summers, Jr., of Omaha, Neb. (by the way, one of the brightest men in the West), do this operation and treatment as described above. DR. J. C. AGEE. Valley, Neb.

An Echo of the Typhoid Controversy. EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-In the January WORLD, pages 16 and 17, I outlined a plan of treatment with medicin of typhoid fever, which had proved very successful in my hands for many years, the bases of which consisted of antipyretics and intestinal antiseptics. Dr. H. dissented and gave as his reason that the Johns Hopkins had long ago put a quietus on both these treatments. Now H. comes forward in the April WORLD, pages 151-2, with the all-paralyzing evidence, which consists of a statement that the quietus consists of Osler's saying that he had never used them. This is a real "high-up" quietus, and should surely settle both antipyretics and intestinal antiseptics and their advocates for good and all; but 95 per cent. of the medical profession uses them, to the contrary notwithstanding. Could H. or any one else carry hero worship farther than this? We hope not, for the good of suffering humanity.

Dr. Osler has done more to make the medical profession a general laughing stock than any man living or dead. In fact, he has done us more harm than any doctor who ever lived. According to H., medicin is the last thing he uses, being No. 4 in the list, and as nothing is mentioned after No. 4, we

must infer it is the end.

Pittsburg, Kan. DR. M. E. JOHNSON.

Some Suggestions on the Treatment of
Typhoid Fever.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-While it has been my fortune, or misfortune, to have had the care of quite a number of typhoid patients, I yet feel a great lack of accurate knowledge in the handling of such cases. Clinical experience, aside from all the many valuable suggestions coming thru the various medical journals, has taught me that a great many of our typhoid patients suffer from high nerve tension caused by oversolicitous friends taking a too activ part in caring for the sick. The patient should have more isolation and quietude. They come in by the dozen and ask practically the same questions, causing a continual irritation of the already overtaxt nerves, when if he or she could have been let severely alone, they would have slept and awoke refresht. Usually I use a moderate mild chlorid cathartic, emptying the alimentary canal, followed by a good saline, and some disinfectant regularly administered. The physician in charge can select his own choice. Keep the apartment clean, cool, and abso

lutely quiet, affording the patient every opportunity to hold all the resources they possess, giving at the same time a good liquid nourishing diet. You have then accomplisht all in your province to glide your patient over, while you keep a vigilant watch for complications: hemorrhages, etc., meeting each as it presents itself.

I did not mean to discuss the etiology or treatment of this disease, but merely to let my brethren know that there is too much meddlesome interference with a class of patients who need everything but being bothered. If this escapes the waste basket, I expect to be severely criticized, but this is helpful and I will not take any exceptions. I want to congratulate our dear Editor for his great help in furnishing one of the fullest, frankest magazines along all lines that comes to my desk. I enjoy the religious, political, and medical sections, and urge him to continue to do in the future as he has in the past, all he can to encourage a greater degree of tolerance among the profession. "Help! Help! Help! all the time, and never hurt any one." This is my motto.

If we expect good from others, we must mete it out to them. We can be of inestimable value to each other if we will, and no one be injured. A clear conscience is worth more than a bank account. Good Editor, please give us something along the line of ovarian pains in unmarried girls and women, and their intelligent management.

Buckner, Texas. N. A. HITT, M.D. [We will have an article on painful menstruation in virgins soon.-ED.]

A Plain Description of an Osteopathic
Treatment.

[Written by special request of the Editor.] First.-Get a history of the case, as any one should do.

Second.-Bare the back; have the patient stript; for a lady, a gown opening down the back is used.

For. chronic cases (acute are generally easy): Note the contour-curves normal and abnormal; both antero-posterior and lateral. Note temperature-if any hot or cold spots, by feel.

Patient sitting, beginning at top of dorsal vertebræ, and with the index and next finger, one on either side of the spine, go down, one vertebra at a time, slowly; press firmly at each; notice any thickening or tenderness. A blue pencil to mark abnormalities is a convenience.

Patient lies on table, on back. Operator stands at head and grasps around the neck near the spine. The transverse processes are noted in the cervical region, and the axis close back of the angle of the jaw. Note the ribs-if any separation, down or

up.

There may be only tender spots. They may or may not denote abnormalities. A vertebra may be detected as out of line, either laterally or antero-posteriorly; if so, a tenderness is generally found at such place, which is due to a contracted muscle, or a displaced tendon. These may be pressing on a nerve as it emerges from the spine at that point.

A minute knowledge of anatomy now comes into play to know what you have; for in the region of the atlas and axis the most of the nerves emerge that control the circulation to the head. The treatment of the cervical region is mostly all made with operator standing at the head of the patient while the patient lies on his back on the table. Pressure is made with the fingers, firmly and steadily, for three or four seconds; then lift them a second to allow the circulation to be resumed, and perhaps the fingers are moved very slightly

-no rubbing—and press again and again, a half dozen or more times practically at the same spot, if you are satisfied it causes the mischief. It may take a number of treatments before the soreness will dis

appear, but it generally feels (so the patient says) less sore after than before treatment.

To treat the spine below the cervical region, patient lies on side, operator stands in front, reaching with the finger ends over to the spine (not on it), and presses deeply and away from the spine. After the operator has gone all along the spine, relaxing the tissues, dwelling, of course, longer at points necessary, he places a hand on the shoulder, and with the other reaches to and over the last (lower) lumbar vertebra and pulls, while he pushes firmly on the shoulder, rotating at each vertebra. Repeat all this when you have the patient turn on other side. These movements relax the tissues along the spine and cause movements which allow a good circulation.

Patient lies on back again. If the stomach is out of order, have patient flex lower limbs; press firmly midway between enciform, appendix, and umbilicus for several minutes. This equalizes the circulation to all parts of the abdomen. The liver may be kneaded, attention being paid to the spleen. A floating kidney can be replaced.

If a vertebra has been found to be out of line with its fellows, a number of treatments should be given to relax the tissues before attempting to replace it, as the conditions that held it out of place in many instances put it out again, even after it is back, without first full relaxation of the tissues, as there is no way to fix it in its normal position, except to overcome the cause.

A relaxation of tissues may cause a lesion to right itself with no other effort; but if not, have patient sit on stool, operator standing at side; with one arm reach across patient's chest in front and catch in axilla of opposit side. Have patient to drop, or rather sink forward into the arm of operator. With the free hand, press thumb at each vertebra, beginning at fifth lumbar. Press patient away from you to exaggerate the position, then bring body to you with a swinging motion, while the thumb presses the vertebra. This movement carried out the whole length of the spine, one vertebra at a time, first on one side and then the other, will be found to do the work. But we must remember that irritation at the nerve endings (point of final distribution) may again and again cause a contracted

muscle at point of emergence along the spine; and to overcome this, more and more treatments may be necessary.

This describes a general treatment. However, most troubles are specific, when the treatments can be limited, unless a general tonic effect is desired. From twenty to fifty minutes is devoted to a treatment. In acute cases they should be short, and every day, or even twice a day; while about three a week in chronic cases will suffice.

The above for the lateral lesions of vertebræ; for an anterior or posterior, after thoro relaxation of tissues, the patient may sit on stool, operator on table at his back, and with the knee presses a posterior vertebra back. Care must be used in all these, so as not to injure the patient. For an anterior vertebra, the lower limbs may be flext strongly, while patient is on his side, and the vertebra may be caught and manipulated.

There are special movements for each, but once a man can find the abnormalities, it is but a question of mechanics to replace them after thoro relaxation. No two operators work alike after the relaxation is done. Even the relaxation may be done mostly along the spine, with the operator standing behind the patient, while the patient is on his side, and using his his thumbs along the spine.

When one knows how to find, he can generally find how to fix.

Dr. Long's Claim to Priority in the Discovery of Surgical Anesthesia.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-In your comments on the claim I made in the March WORLD, page 113, that Dr. Crawford W. Long, of Athens, Ga., made the first operation under anesthesia with sulfuric ether, on the person of Mr. Venable, in Oct., 1842, you say:

We are aware that Dr. C. W. Long has been mentioned in this connection, but Camac, in his "Epoch-Making Contributions to Medicin, Surgery, and the Allied Sciences," makes no mention of him whatever. A number of books contain brief mention of Long and his operation, but the United States House of Representativs investigated the matter thoroly and awarded the honor to Morton. This investigation is said to have been most thoro. Camac says: "There has never before been, and probably never again will be, such a thoro trial of a scientific subject by a legislativ body. Every fact, letter, and statement was examined as sworn testimony, and this not once, but three times, over a period of eight

years." This would seem to settle the claim of priority.

The inference from this is that you do not think the fact well authenticated that Dr. Long made the operation under anesthesia in 1842, and before Dr. Morton did in 1846. In support of this you accept as conclusiv the several decisions of the National House and in favor of Dr. Morton.

These several decisions would be more worthy of acceptance, as true and final, if any claim of Dr. Long had, at any time, been made to this tribunal; but as such was not made, their decisions could be applicable only to the merits of the claims for priority of Drs. Morton, Wells, and Jackson. As a matter of history I mention that the committee filed a minority report in favor of Dr. Jackson. If the evidence of Dr. Long had been submitted I believe the decision would have

been in his favor.

While Dr. Long publisht his case after Dr. Morton did, because of the isolation of Dr. Long's surroundings, the obscurity of the journal in which it was publisht, as well as Dr. Long's modesty in speaking of

his work, little attention was drawn to this publication. About thirty years ago, Dr. J. Marion Sims wrote a paper in which he drew attention to Dr. Long's operation in 1842, and made the claim for Dr. Long's priority in surgical anesthesia. This claim, by one as eminent and widely known as Dr. Sims, attracted immediate and universal attention; and thus, to the bar of the profession and the public, Dr. Long's claim has been submitted; and as a gradually widening sphere of knowledge has increast, so has the acceptance of Dr. Long's claim been establisht.

Dr. Roswell Park, in his "Epitome of the History of Medicin," on page 305 says: on page 305 says: "Nevertheless there is every reason to think that he (Dr. Long) is entitled to the credit of having first anesthetized a patient with sulfuric ether for the purpose of producing insensibility to pain.

The circumstances which brought to Dr. Sims this knowledge of Dr. Long's operation, and prompted his article, was a visit to his nativ state, South Carolina, where he met a Dr. Wilhite, who told him that while he (Dr. Wilhite) was at school in Athens, Ga., at an "ether frolic" among the boys was a negro who inhaled so freely that he became deeply anesthetized, which so frightened the others that they sent in haste for Dr. Long, near by, who, seeing

the condition of the negro and his insensibility to pain, determined to use ether for surgical anesthesia, which he did the first opportunity, but at that time, in that vicinity, surgical operations were very few indeed.

The City of Athens, Ga., has erected a monument to Dr. Long. The State of Georgia has put his portrait in the gallery of its great men in its Capitol Building, and will also most likely place one in the "Hall of Fame" in the National Capitol at Washington, in recognition of his great gift to humanity.

Thomasville, Ga. T. M. MCINTOSH.

Determination of Sex.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-Referring to article in May WORLD, page 213, on the control of sex, beg to refer you to a very interesting pamphlet on the subject by E. Rumley Dawson, a London obstetrician, publisht by the Cochrane Publishing Company, Tribune Building, New York, in which he puts forward a strong argument claiming that sex is controlled, or rather determined, by the ovary from which the ovum is derived. He claims that the right ovary produces only male ova, and the left ovary only female ova; and that the ovaries theory there is no way of determining the functionate alternately. According to his sex of the first child, but after the first birth the sex can be controlled at will by calculating which ovary will functionate during a given month, and securing impregworth reading, and it should be rather easily nation accordingly. The pamphlet is well proved or disproved whether it works. I have made no observations on the matter

myself, but recall a matter that lends color to the theory, tho, of course, entirely too limited to be of any real value. I saw a right ovary removed from a woman two months pregnant which presented a particularly well-developt corpus luteum, and who in due time gave birth to a male child, and I shall continue the observation as secured a son for the czar by this method. opportunity presents. He claims to have B. B. L., M.D.; PENNA.

[This theory is old, and has not been. found tenable.-ED.]

Dr. W. N. Simons, of St. Johnsville, N. Y., writes: “I inclose $1 for WORLD for 1910. I am stopping several medical publications. They are good, but I do not find time to read them. With THE WORLD it is different. I always take time. I can get more enjoyment, information, and good out of THE WORLD in half an hour, than from any other journal in two hours.