WASHINGTON NOTES.

The regular meeting of the Clinico-Pathological Society was held on Tuesday night, March 19, the President, Dr. W. M. Sprigg, in the chair. Two papers were read, one by Dr. Mackallon "Neuro-Sarcoma, Case and Specimen," which was discussed by Dr. Taliaferro Clark; another by Dr Kelly, entitled "Pus in the Pelvis," which was discussed by Drs. T. R. Stone, Van Rensselaer and others.

Dr. Larkin W. Glazebrook presented about 30 hepatic calculi, that had been removed from a patient post-mortem.

Dr. Taliaferro Clark presented a specimen of cancer of the stomach, which was submitted to the Committee on Microscopy.

The Medical Society of the District of Columbia held its regular weekly meeting on Wednesday night, March 20, the President, Dr. S. C. Busey, in the chair. Dr. G. N. Acker read a paper entitled "Intubation for Pharyngeal Diphtheria." This paper was discussed by Drs. C. W. Richardson, J. Ford Thompson and W. W. Johnston. Dr. I. S. Stone read a paper on "Practical Massage." Dr. W. W. Johnston opened the discussion, The President called on Dr. A. R. Shands to give his views on this subject from the orthopedic surgeon's standpoint, but he had had no experience with it.

Considerable interest is being felt here in the establishing of contagious wards in the various hospitals. The Commissioners of the District have requested certain wards at the Freedmen's Hospital for this purpose and are awaiting the reply of the Secretary of the Interior. They have also applied to the Providence and other hospitals. The Mother Superior of the Providence Hospital has kindly consented to use one ward for the reception of contagious diseases, as scarlet fever and diphtheria. A few days since, a poor woman with her child, ill with diphtheria, applied to all the hospitals with her child in her arms, but was refused admission because contagious diseases could not be received. She had been turned out of her dwelling place, because the child had the much dreaded disease. It is to be hoped that some of the hospitals will isolate one or two wards for just such cases as this.

PUBLIC SERVICE.

OFFICIAL LIST OF CHANGES IN THE STATIONS AND DUTIES OF MEDICAL OFFICERS.

UNITED STATES ARMY.

Week ending March 25, 1895.

Captain Euclid B. Frick, Assistant Surgeon, will be relieved from duty at Fort Townsend, Washington, to take effect upon the expiration of his present leave of absence and will report for duty at Presidio of San Francisco, California, relieving Captain Charles Willcox, Assistant Surgeon.

Captain Willcox, upon being thus relieved, will report for duty at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, relieving First Lieutenant Frederick P. Reynolds, Assistant Surgeon.

Lieutenant Reynolds, on being thus relieved, will report for duty at Fort Sam Houston,

Texas.

The leave of absence, on surgeon's certificate of disability, granted First Lieutenant Alexander S. Porter, Assistant Surgeon, is extended four months, on surgeon's certificate of disability.

The leave of absence for seven days, granted Major Philip F. Harvey, Assistant Surgeon, is extended twenty-one days.

UNITED STATES NAVY.

Week ending March 23, 1895. Medical Director Michael Bradley ordered before Retiring Board March 20..

F. A. Hesler, Passed Assistant Surgeon, ordered to the United States Ship "Philadelphia."

R. P. Crandall, Passed Assistant Surgeon, detached from the United States Ship "Philadelphia," ordered home and granted three months' leave of absence.

BOOK REVIEWS.

RELATIONS OF DISEASES OF THE EYE TO GENERAL DISEASES. By Max Knies, Professor Extraordinary at the University of Freiburg. Forming a Supplementary Volume to every Manual and Text-Book of Practical Medicine and Ophthalmology. Edited by Henry D. Noyes, A. M., M. D., Professor of Ophthalmology and Otology in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, etc. New York: William Wood & Co., 1895. Pp. x-467. Price, $4.25.

Dr. Noyes has added a valuable book to the English works on ophthalmology by "presenting this treatise of Professor Knies in an English dress." As he says in the editor's preface, the book is serviceable to the general practitioner or specialist in departments other

More than half of the book is devoted to the relation between the eye and the general nervous system. In discussing neuro-paralytic keratitis," the author thinks there are no special trophic corneal nerves, but that the corneal neurosis is "an infectious inflammation resulting from a traumatic loss of substance in the cornea and which runs a peculiar course on account of the interruption to conduction in the centripetal nerve tracts." The nerve lesion, it is stated, must be peripheral. An infection is necessary. The insensibility of the cornea so alters the vascular changes (which usually follow corneal irritation) in the eye structures upon which the cornea depends for nourishment, that repair is impossible. In this part of the book one finds many interesting explanations of clinical observations. In other chapters, diseases of other organs are discussed and many cases cited showing the clinical relation between the organs and the eye. An explanation is not always given. Throughout, the book is instructive and suggestive. It contains much that is new and results of recent physiological experiments.

REPRINTS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Deformities of the Face and Orthopedics. By Frank L. R. Tetamore, M. D., New York. Reprint from The New England Medical Magazine.

The Work of the Gynecological Clinic of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 1893-1894. By Charles B. Penrose, M. D. Reprint from the University Medical Magazine.

The Practical Examination of Railway Employes as to Color-Blindness, Acuteness of Vision and Hearing. By William Thomson, M. D., Philadelphia. Reprint from the Medical News.

Intraligamentous and Retroperitoneal Tumors of the Uterus and its Adnexa. By William T. Wathen, A. M., M. D., Louisville. Reprint from The Transactions of the American Gynecological Society.

OUR MATERIA MEDICA.

Medical Record.

WE have too many drugs, too many preparations of drugs, and too much teaching of materia medica. This leads to evils in many directions. The druggist is obliged to encumber himself with much useless and expensive material; the student has to load his already overburdened memory with a mass of useless botanical or pharmaceutical facts, and the practitioner is so embarrassed with his richness of material that he speedily forgets a large part of his materia medica.

PHYSICIANS' DUTY.
Atlantic Medical Weekly.

No

IT is the duty of every physician, at all times and in all places, to do what he can to alleviate the sufferings of his fellow men. matter who the sufferer may be, if he be the hardest criminal on the face of the globe, no matter under what circumstances the suffering may occur, whether it be in the bed-chamber of his most intimate friend, or at the execution of the most inhuman murderer, it is his duty to do everything in his power to prevent any and all unnecessary suffering, and every true and loyal physician will do so. To such a man the profession will always extend its fellowship.

DEARTH OF AMERICAN

OBSTETRICIANS.

New York Journal of Gynecology. IT is a decided anomaly as well as a paradox that almost all obstetricians in this country are either general practitioners of medicine or gynecologists; at least these are the names they seem anxious to be called by. If a man has surgical knowledge, or is ambitious in that direction, and has, in addition, a welldeserved reputation for obstetric experience, he submits to his reputation but calls himself a gynecologist. Another, if he be willing to acknowledge no special training or capacity in practical surgery-and few indeed there are of these—will pose as a general practitioner and rely on consultation for operative assistance. But none of them will call themselves that which they are in fact—specialists in a science which their large experience, hard work and accepted writings prove they know most about. Why this is so we are at a loss to explain; and moreover we do not like it.

PUBLISHERS' DEPARTMENT.

All letters containing business communications, or referring to the publication, subscription, or advertising department of this Journal, should be addressed as undersigned.

The safest mode of remittance is by bank check or postal money order, drawn to the order of the Maryland Medical Journal; or by Registered letter. The receipt of all money is immediately acknowledged.

Advertisements from reputable firms are respectfully solicited. Advertisements also received from all the leading advertising agents. Copy, to ensure insertion the same week, should be received at this office not later than Monday.

Physicians when communicating with advertisers concerning their articles will confer a favor by mentioning this Journal.

Address:

MARYLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL,

209 Park Avenue, Baltimore, Md.

TO PRACTITIONERS OF MEDICINE. The Medical Law as repealed and re-enacted, with additions and amendments, by the Maryland State Legislature, has been printed at this office in neat and convenient form for physicians. Copies may be obtained at the Journal Office or will be forwarded by mail on receipt of 15 cts. in stamps or coin.

NOTES.

MELACHOL is an efficient and painless laxa

tive.

SALOL should not be used when acute renal inflammation exists.

*

PEPTO-MANGAN is a powerful blood producer and a valuable tonic.

*

HYOSCYAMINE gives excellent results in mercurial trembling.

*

THE danse du ventre has been prescribed by a French physician for constipation.

*

COLD bath treatment has been employed in pregnant women who have been attacked with enteric fever, without any bad results.

IT should be remembered that salol is a salicylate of phenol and contains 40 per cent. of carbolic acid. Toxic effects have followed its careless administration.

*

CALCIUM borate, which is obtained by mixing a solution of borax with one of calcium chloride, is an excellent dusting powder in eczema and may be given internally in infantile diarrhea.

*

HYPODERMATIC injections of ergot are best given deeply. This reduces to a minimum the liability to abscess or inflammation and prevents, in a measure, the unsightly discoloration that so often follows such injections.

PHARMACEUTICAL.

GOOD CLINICAL RESULTS.-Office of Secretary of Iowa State Medical Society, Dr. J. W. Cokenower, Secretary, Des Moines, Iowa, November 17, 1894.-Walker-Green Pharmaceutical Co.: I am glad to say that your pharmaceutical preparations furnished Mercy Hospital have given decided satisfaction and good clinical results. J. W. Cokenower, M. D., Attending Physician, Mercy Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa.

KENNEDY'S Extract of Pinus Canadensis, which is now made by the Rio Chemical Co., of St. Louis, has long been known in this country, chiefly from the endorsement it received from the late Dr. Marion Sims, as an efficient astringent and alterative when applied to mucous surfaces. It now seems to be coming into extensive use in England, where many medical men have reported excellent results with it in various catarrhal difficulties.

ANTIKAMNIA CHEMICAL Co. Gentlemen: I desire to thank you for samples of the drug, often but poorly imitated, made by your firm and known as "Antikamnia." The adoption of the monogram on the new tablets and the recall of all the old stock from the market will prove of benefit to you and the many physicians who may hereafter desire to afford relief by its use. Yours respectfully, C. E. Postley, M. D., 1429 11th St., N. W., Washington, D. C.

KOLA is not a new drug, and the reputation it bears in Africa as a tonic stimulant is certainly marvelous. The wonderful reports of Kola in that country, however, are based upon experience in using the fresh (undried) nuts, and until physicians are enabled to obtain a preparation which is made from the fresh nuts, and contains the particular properties of the fresh nuts unimpaired, Kola will not be as favorably known in the United States as its native reputation would warrant. Messrs. F. Stearns & Co., Detroit, Mich., many months ago imported a large quantity of the fresh nuts from Africa, with which they have carefully experimented until they have at last prepared a Wine of Kola, which truly presents the fresh (undried) Kola nuts in a palatable and easily administered form. This preparation is " 'Kolavin." It is deli

IN these days of improvement and constant surprises in the way of new inventions, it is rather strong language to say when anything appears that "there is nothing better," but for certain affections, Antikamnia, with its various combinations, appears to give perfect satisfaction, as the following communications indicate:

L. E. Spear, M. D., Shirley, Ill.-"I have been prescribing Antikamnia and its combinations for more than six years. I find them superior to all other medicines as a succedaneum for opium."

Mark Rowe, M. D., Redmon, Ill.-" Antikamnia, thoroughly understood and properly administered, is a medicine that has few equals. The cost is so trifling that I have no desire to experiment with cheap mixtures."

FORCED FEEDING IN CONSUMPTION.Ever since Dujardin-Beaumetz recorded his observations on forced feeding or gavage, its importance has been generally recognized by the medical profession. Unfortunately, to force food down a man's throat does not insure its digestion and consequent absorption. If we would supply the waste of this dread disease we must go a step further, and it is a recognition of this fact which has attracted so much attention to the subject of artificial digestion. Once digest food, whether in the body or outside of it, and Nature will look after its proper disposition. Artificially digested foods have not up to the present time been a success, for the simple reason that they are un

palatable, but in Paskola, which is now being so extensively advertised to the medical profession, this objection has been entirely overcome. The wasting consumptive needs fat, and as we all know, starch is the natural source of this component of the animal economy. If evidence in support of such a statement were needed, we have only to look at the corn-fed hog. It was this that led the manufacturers of Paskola to adopt a pure form of artificially digested starch as the basis of their preparation. Not only is Paskola a fattening food, the assimilation of which is assured, but it contains a physiological proportion of hydrochloric acid, and a combination of digestive ferments that insure the digestion of proteid or meaty foods taken in conjunction with it. Therefore Paskola, with a diet of rare meat, eggs and similar articles rich in nitrogen, constitutes the ideal food for the consumptive. It is so very palatable that the weakest stomachs receive and tolerate it without inconvenience, and its administration is almost invariably followed by a marked increase in weight and appetite. The Pre-Digested Food Co. have such unbounded confidence in the product that they liberally offer to send a sample, express prepaid, to any physician who may request it. -Reprinted from the Daily Lancet.

FACTS FOR THE TRAVELER.

THERE is no more ideal route in all particulars than the Chesapeake and Ohio of today. Every one who samples its scenery and service becomes an enthusiastic advertiser and its fame is multiplying accordingly. The scenery through the Allegheny Mountains and the New River canons, as viewed from the observation car, affords sublimities of nature nowhere equaled east of the Rocky Mountains. The F. F. V. Limited, its star train, which runs solid between New York and Cincinnati, via Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, with Louisville sleeper attached, is without a rival in those details which contribute to the sum of pleasure and comfort. A track, rock ballasted and laid with heavy steel rails; bridges and culverts built of iron and stone; splendid new equipment, and the best block system known, assure almost absolute safety in the running of trains. Travelers between the East and the West will make no mistake in asking for tickets via the C. & O. Route.