of formaldehyde is that its specific gravity closely approximates to that of the air, so that there is no difficulty in keeping the atmosphere of any inclosed space uniformly impregnated.-Therapeutic Progress.

Earache.-Its Importance.

Dr. Hinkle summarizes a good article in the following valuable points:

1. Earache, however slight, may signify disease that, neglected, may terminate in loss of hearing and even of life itself.

2. Recurring earache in children is almost always associated with limphoid hypertrophy of the pharynx, depends on it, and permanent impairment of the function of the ear is prevented only by early surgical treatment of the adenoids.

3. Acute inЯammation of the middle ear may be frequently aborted if proper treatment-mostly of a general sedative character-be administered early and with precision.

4. If relief be not obtained by the second an expert examination of the ear should be made, and proper surgical treatment applied to relieve intratympanic pressure and possible involvement of the mastoid cells or intracranial structures. Failure at this stage to obtain as exact knowledge as possible of the condition of the middle ear is criminal neglect.-Buffalo Med. Journal.

Quinine in Malaria.

Dr. J. G. Van Marter, Jr,, of Savannah, in a recent issue of the Atlantie Med, and Surg. Journal, concludes that as a preventive quinine will not do for those who are compelled to live indefinitely in a severe malarial climate-in time acting as a vasomotor poison. It acts nearly as a specific in all malarial fevers characterized by intermissions or well-marked remissions, but fails in the continued, the typhoid like and the febrile varieties, as well as in malarial cachexias and anemias, proving thus that quinine is an antidote to the plasmodium, but not to its toxin, for which Warburg's tincture is particularly useful. Quinine should never be used in hemoglobinuric cases, being liable to provoke a paroxysm of this condition.

In an interesting article on hypnotics, read before the Inter-County Medical Society of Wisconsin, Dr. A. W. Wilmarth, superintendent of the Wiconsin Home for Feeble Minded, points out that the calls for enforced sleep are more frequent than one would at first realize. Cerebral over-excitability, as evidenced by insomnia, may bo simply due to mental overwork or to irregular hours of sleep, or it may be one of the earlier manifestations of neurasthenia, acute mania or maniacal delirium. It is frequent in the aged in beginning senile changes, and unless checked in some measure will certainly hasten that change. During the last five years Dr. Wilmarth has experimented with some of the better known hypnotics in a large number of cases. With regard to Trional he states that its administration is never followed by depression. He has given it to patients who were very weak and very rapidly exhausting their small supply of strength by their restlessness. The sleep induced is quiet and natural. Trional leaves no dry feeling in the mouth as does hyoscin, and no odor in the breath as does paraldehyde. While he had found this remedy less effective in chronic excitement, he considered it of value in acute maniacal conditions, and as unequalled in delirium of acute form. With reference to the dose of Trional five grains were often ample, and when larger amounts were necessary to begin with the dose could frequently be diminished on successive nights. In a case of homicidal melancholia the author gave 40 grains with the result of good sleep and recovery, while one of his colleagues gave 40 grains a day for several days with benefit and no apparent ill effects.

Notes and Queries.

We cordially invite questions for this department on all subjects of practical interest and value to physicians. Brief, pointed, practical paragraphs embodying the personal experience of any of our readers will also be acceptable as contributions to this department. The SUMMARY is thus a valuable medium for the Intercommunication between the medical profession.

Correspondents will give their names and addresses, but initials only will be printed when desired. The QUERIES in this issue await the ANSWERS which our intelligent readers may be pleased to contribute for publication in our next.

Castration as a Means to Prevent Rape.

Editor Medical Summary:

In the February and April numbers of the SUMMARY, Drs. DeArmand and Lee, respectively, use very harsh terms toward those whose views on castration for rape do not happen to agree with their ideas. The writings of these doctors remind us of the man who said "he had been on several juries, but was so unfortunate each time as to be on with 11 blockheads."

We like to see a writer try to sustain his point by argument, but to call those who do not agree with him idiots, barbarians, etc., to our mind shows lack of knowledge on the subject under discussion. The question as to the advisability of castration as a punishment for and to prevent rape is debatable.

The criminal who commits this most heinous of all crimes known to jurisprudence, places himself entirely outside of the poles of human sympathy, and to attempt to defend such criminals is to wrong true, noble, virtuous womanhood, for the question of humanity is all on the side of the injured female. We know that the hand of justice, vigorously applied, is the only means by which this class of criminals can be restrained. How shall we best accomplish this much desired end and best protect our mothers, wives and daughters? We know that like produces like, and that parents who are criminals, in nearly every instance, bring forth criminal children, or rather those who have the criminal instincts bred in the blood, and, to use a trite, though a true saying, "blood will tell."

The above being a fact, should we not destroy this bad seed by castration, or any other means that will most effectually rid the world of its noxious influences? English statistics show in that country

there are families who have been criminals, and others, too, who have been paupers and occupied tne prisons and the poor houses for more than 200 years past. Then, here again is proof of the law"Like son, like father."

Taking the above facts into calm consideration, certainly it is more human to defend and protect innocent, noble female virtue, even though we have to inflict a punishment, no matter how severe, upon a class of criminals who, by their own selfish, unbridled lustful acts, have placed themselves beyond all claim upon humanity. We ask, in the name of decency, justice and humanity, who are the idiots and barbarians? Is it the man who tries to legislate this heinous crime out of existance, or is it he who, under false notions of what constitutes humanity, tries to condone, under one pretext or another, this most damnable crime known. FLOYD CLENDENEN, M. D.

La Salle, Ill.

Answers to Electrical Queries.

Editor Medical Summary:

I thought I was through with this matter, but a few more questions have cropped up, some of which are explained in the May number and one in the April.

J. R.-The two systems are known as "multiple-arc" and "series." Dynamos are wound either as "shunt" or "duplex." In each the fields must be energized to multiply the magnetic force in both cores and winding, and this is done through a part (or the whole) of the current developed passing through the field winding; or the energy may be supplied by a smaller dynamo which feeds the fields to saturation. Some residual magnetism remains in the cores and winding even after long rest-enough to start the action. Static multiplication depends practically on the same action. The winding also is made to produce amperes at low pressure (voltage) or high; i. e., say 100 amperes at 50 volts, or 50 amperes at 10,000 volts, You are a little "off" on the condition in a cut wire. The current being live, the ends of the conductors are in "static" condition if the feeds are severed.

Dr. F. C.-Yes, the substance of the paper is correct where he simply copies from the glossary of some author on electricity, but here and there he tries to enlarge and modify, and generally he makes blunders. The formula for ohm's law is wrong. It is simply C-the internal and external resistances are added together. In medical batteries the internal resistance is almost nil. in any single cell, and the series is but small anyhow, the voltage being so multiplied in the block as connected as to cause but little loss in the application. In electro-therapeutics we don't care to differentiate between internal and external resistance, because the current obtained is what we are after. In testing it is necessary, frequently, to be so accurate as to know precisely what the internal resistance is, and also that of the bridge (the rheostat) and the line, if it be a ground circuit, and most particularly so in cables, wherein breaks are on hand.

Dr. Adams.-I think about 10 milliamperes will do, and maybe less; in the epilation, two or three. This business pays so far as fees go, but it is terribly tedious and hard on the eyes. I do mighty little lately, and will give you all the cases if you care to take them. The matter is the ordinary anuerismal-varix.

W. R. D. BLACKWOOD, M. D. 852 N. 23d St., Philadelphia, Pa.

Scrofulosis.-Reply.

Editor Medical Summary:

On page 63, May SUMMARY, Dr. Pirnat treats the readers of the SUMMARY to an elaborative drug war against a case of socalled "scrofulosis" (tuberculosis) in a negro patient. Such cases are quite frequent among negroes of the south, who often cure themselves of the trouble in a much more virulent form than the Doctor's case. They use whisky, of course, as a base, into which they macerate various weeds and roots, such as burdock, sarsaparilla, silkweed, mullein, etc., etc., in varying proportions, conforming to some "old family formula." The doctors of the south also frequently treat such cases with marked success, and with a very much smaller number of drugs than

the Doctor enumerates in his first prescription.

Without going into pathological details, which, by the way, are already quite plentiful, we would suggest that the Doctor try his next case on an intelligent administration of Elixir Iodo-Bromide of Calcium Comp. (Tilden), with necessary massage and sulphur baths. He might also use some simple bitter tonic with cod-liver oil (such a tonic as his patient to-day stands in need of). I have found it quite essential to prohibit the use of pork in cases of African tuberculosis or scrofulosis.

Did it ever occur to any reader of the SUMMARY that such cases as the one above referred to are always traceable either directly or through ancestry to a specific origin?

LEWIS W. SPRADLING, M. D. Chuchaluck, Tenn.

Casual Notes and Friendly Criticism.

Editor Medical Summary:

It has been quite awhile since I wrote anything for the SUMMARY, but I have been an interested reader all the while. I wish to say that Dr. Swayze strikes the key note when he reminds the reader that environment has much to do with disease and its treatment. It effects all organized matter and perhaps unorganized as well. Even the microbe, which receives so much unmerited attention, is subject to environment, and behaves so differently under the different conditions in which he is found that what we know of him is like the knowledge spoken of by Josh. Billings: "We know too much that is not so."

Dr. Brodnax gives the SUMMARY readers many valuable suggestions, but the proprietary man has got in his work, to some extent on Dr. B., as well as on many others. This fadist, the proprietary medicine vender, is the mammoth fraud of the day, and, together with free dispensaries and free hospitals, is doing more to ruin the profession than all other things

combined.

On page 63 I find an article by Dr. Pirnat, of Evansville, Ind., which rather "takes the cake" for polypharmacy.

Why a physician should prescribe over 40 different remedies in one case, and how he could persuade the patient to take same and yet recover, is too difficult a problem for me. I do not think it right to be severe or personal in criticism, but I cannot see what can be learned in reading an article like this, except, perhaps, that the Doctor is acquainted with a great number of remedies and is fluent in prescription writing. Surely there were not indications for all these remedies in the

case reported.

The case of supposed cancer reported by me several years ago is still on hand. The patient has recently gone through with a severe attack of la grippe and another attack of erysipelas, but her general health is very good and the cancerous (if it be cancerous) growth is little if any worse than at last report. I will furnish treatment if desired by the readers of the SUMMARY.

I would love to hear from Dr. M. Ney Smith, of St. Louis, and his treatment for tape-worm.

The controversy going on over electricity in the SUMMARY is quite shocking. W. P. HOWLE, M. D. Oran, Mo.

Notes and Comments on April Summary.

Editor Medical Summary:

The editorial on the treatment of cardiac dyspnoea of the aged by the use of spartine is very suggestive. My own experience has led me to the use of the active principle of cactus grand. in many cases where digitalis was contra-indicated.

Dr. F. R. Millard, of San Diego, Cal., in the Med. and Surg. Reporter for April 16, 1898, speaks very highly of apocynum He says cannabinum as a heart tonic. that the glucoside, apocynin, will not give the desired results. Apocynum is a heart tonic like digitalis; but, unlike digitalis, it is never dangerous; does not destroy the appetite, but acts as a bitter tonic. The greatest field of usefulness is in cardiac weakness. Compensation secured by its use is more permanent than when secured in any other way. As a good heart tonic in many cases I have used the following:

'Dosimetry," page 30. We may choose in many, if not most cases, the alkaloids, glucosides or concentrations, in the form of granules, for administration and have "arms of precision;" still, if a drug has been carefully selected and prepared and the product standardized, as is done by Parke, Davis & Co., we may expect definite results from a definite dosage.

"Anemia," by Prof. Waugh. The Professor writes as he lectures, practically and to the point. He says nothing in favor of the elaborate and costly laboratory preparations of iron. In these days of elegant pharmacy we may have allowed the pendulum to swing too far. It must return, however, and a proper balance be reached.

Page 33. Dr. Hazlett says nothing

about the lithia waters in the treatment of calculus, but he gave freely of barley water. The main point is to flush the system, and any good water will do it, medicated or not; frequently the latter will be the better form, freely used.

Quinine again, page 34. Without attempting to discuss the question as to the absolute necessity of giving quinine in malaria, I will say that I have noticed that some of the most successful popular specifics for chills contained quite large quantities of capsicum in addition to the quinine, and I have often wondered if the remedy would not have been quite as effective had the quinine been left out altogether. What says Dr. Brodnax about it? "Morphinism," page 36. The advocates of the sudden withdrawal of mor

phine at the outset of treatment are decidedly in the minority, and, it seems to me, they should be. Dr. Eckard's methods are to be commended.

"Female Pelvic Neuralgia," page 36. Dr. Blackwood's methods are plainly described, and may be successfully carried out with the requisite knowledge and appliances.

As to laparotomy, a careful observer told me recently that the laparotomists were turning their knives into the field of general surgery, as the number of abdominal sections were decidedly on the decrease.

In all forms of severe neuralgia the treatment may not only be given every day, but twice or three times a day; even every hour if necessary. Cataphoresis, using cocaine, aconitine, etc., with a parafined carbon electrode is, in many cases, very effective and frequently curative, as has already been outlined in these pages. (Dec., 1897, SUMMARY, page 264.)

Page 38. Dr. Brodnax always gives something new and interesting, drawn from his wide and varied experience. His article may be reread with advantage. Passiflora incarnata, of which he writes, seems to have a wide range of usefulness.

The morphine habit, page 40, by Dr. Patterson, is an able article. Has the Doctor ever used galvanism in such cases? He would find it a most valuable ally in overcoming the depression to the nervous system following the withdrawal of the drug.

brother practitioners I would like to occupy just enough of your valuable space to mention my surprising success with this preparation in these two particular cases, to say nothing of several others I have treated since with equally satisfactory results.

AMENORRHEA.-Girl, 15 years of age, began menstruating at the age of 13, but since first menstruartion her menses had been very irregular, three and four months elapsing between periods. She complained of severe headaches, restless sleep, loss of appetite, nausea, with occasional vomiting; naturally a very bright girl and good tempered; she became very irritable and began to lose all interest in her work at school; had lost flesh and strength to such an extent that her parents had become greatly alarmed, and brought her to me principally for this reason. Commencing with Pheno-Bromate, gr. v, t. i. d., in water, I gradually increased the dose to three times that amount. In less than two weeks her condition was so much improved that one could hardly believe she was the same person. She ate well, her sleep became quiet and refreshing, her headache was gone and she looked and acted a different being. At the end of three months regular menses had been established, the flow of blood being normal in amount, accompanied by almost no pain or discomfort. She no longer complained of any of the above-mentioned symptoms, and her general health was so much improved that further treatment was unnecessary.

DYSMENORRHEA.-Young woman, age 27 years, unmarried, occupation typewriter. Menses regular, but for one week before each period she would suffer intense pain in head and abdomen, sense of weight in the pelvis, genitals became congested, flow of mucus abundant, but odor not offensive; she would reject her food, obstinate constipation follow; her sleep was very restless and she would have numerous dizzy and fainting spells during the day. On examination I could find no real cause for all this disorder, her organs of generation being in perfectly normal condition. I did everything possible to relieve these most troublesome attacks with, especial attention paid to