and the lancet is certainly due to prejudice, and not to fair trial. That both remedies have been abused, we all acknowledge. But that both are invaluable in suitable cases all men know who have given them fair and impartial trial. Indeed, they have not been abused more than has belladonna, nux and podophyllin. The doctor says: "If you want a liver medicine give cascara with euonymin and irisin or podophyllin." Now, there is no such thing as a liver medicine any more than there is a head medicine. To prescribe calomel in all "liver troubles" is empiricism boiled down, and to thus prescribe podophyllin or any other one remedy is no better.

We meet with a variety of abnormal conditions of the liver, in some of which neither mercury nor may apple are applicable. Yet these are both good and useful remedies in suitable cases. We meet with cases in which calomel is the remedy par excellence, and for which no known substitute has ever been found.

If podophyllin and leptandrin were good substitutes for calomel, I would much prefer the latter, as the former is very nauseating and disagreeable, and drastic in its effects.

There are cases in which the lancet will save life, and in others cause a vast amount of suffering. Why allow ourselves to become so prejudiced against any one remedy just because our ancestors abused it. It is our business to know more than they did, and to use medicine more intelligently.

Opium and whisky and even nux and pulsatilla have been greatly abused. Does the doctor discard them from his materia medica?

God is the author of the mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms. Let us intelligently draw from all, with hatred for neither.

Dr. Alex. Mack gives an excellent article on epidemic dysentery. It would seem the disease is much the same in all climes. The doctor's course would at least be rational and successful in Iowa.

I would add just one thing to the doctor's excellent course, and that is, fill the lower bowel just as full as possible, twice a day, with warm water, to which is added a little Listerine.

Blakesburg, Ia. C. N. UDELL, M. D.

Potentialities of Protoplasm.

The introduction by Brown-Séquard of "the elixir" into the animal organism has opened a field in physiological chemistry and therapeutics, which is well worthy the attention of the profession, and is destined to leave the print of its presence in the annals of medical history. Whatever of virtue this elixir may have, must be due to the living protoplasm and not the alkaloid spermine. For it is not written in physiology that this self-same protoplasm is the active part of growing textures of all organism, whether animal or vegetable, and is the origin of all life on the globe. That as long as its chemical integrity is preserved, it presents all the phenomena of living beings; digestion, absorption, assimilation, growth, development, reproduction. Now if it can be isolated from young and growing animals, under conditions which maintain its chemical equilibrium (and hence its existence as living protoplasm) and thrown into the circulation, where it will be surrounded by the necessaries of its life (heat, moisture, pabulum) may it not go on performing its functions of growth, development, and reproduction of protoplasmic cells, which will permeate the organism, build up new tissues and repair the old.

Dr. Adolphus, in October BRIEF, suggests that "the elixir" may act in the same manner as musk, which he says is a secretion from near the testicles of the musk-deer; whereas it is a secretion from the preputial folds of the musk-deer. Is a typical antispasmodic, whose exact mode of action like most drugs of that class "no man knoweth unto this day" but is supposed to fall chiefly on the higher centers.

Will not Dr. A. and others of our "city cousins" give results, also their own views, as to the rationale of the Séquard treatment. Would also like to hear more from Dr. Hubbard or any brother M. D., who has not imbibed too much of the spirit of the secular press and its well known proclivities, to treat all scientific questions in a spirit of levity.

Though foreign to the subject -I will close this with a few signs of death, which have not been given.

1. Complete and continuous cessation of respiration and circulation.

2. The pupil will not respond to the stimulus of light.

3. Palor of the body.

4. Fall of temperature, lowest temperature compatible with existence 79° F.

5. Ophthalmoscopic-broken appearance of blood-vessels in the fundus oculi, the yellow spot clouded cornea, eyes fixed and open-muscular relaxation until rigor mortis begins.

Norwood, Va. A. J. CABELL, M. D.

A Case of Cerebral Abscess. Some time ago I was asked to see a case of a young man, who had been sick seven months, and was attended by several physicians. I met two of these gentlemen at the house of the sick man and after thoroughly examining him, came to the conclusion that we had a case of tumor of the brain. A few days after this I saw him again and took charge of the case, as the case presented some unusual symptoms, I watched it very carefully. One week after my first visit his wife came to my office and informed me that her husband was discharging pus from his nose and mouth. I went to see him immediately and found a great quantity of offensive pus clinging to the walls of the nasal cavity. The wife said the pus began to run very suddenly from the nose and mouth and that she had removed a great deal with a wet towel.

I now changed my diagnosis to abscess for tumor, but where was the abscess, judging from symptoms it was located close to the brain and hence within the cavity of the cranium, if so, how did the contents escape? The man grew rapidly worse and died the following day. The physicians, who had seen the case with me, were called and a post mortem was made of the brain. The right hemisphere presented a healthy appearance in all its parts. Near the center of the middle lobe of the left hemisphere we found the abscess the size we could not determine. The antero posterior diameter was very close to two inches. The brain tissue beneath the cavity was very soft and macerated. We found that the pus, after it reached the dura mater, had passed through that membrane by a small opening and working its way forward by burrowing, finally reaching the

cribriform plate of the ethnoid bone, through the perforations into the nasal cavity. The sinus, from the opening in the dura mater to the cribriform plate, was narrow and tortuous and the bone over which pus had run was smooth and worn; there was still a small quantity of pus in the sac, when opened, also in the described passage. It had escaped chiefly through a single hole in the cribriform plate and had destroyed the nerve passing through it, leaving the hole entirely free. There was no opening into the ventricles and the closest scrutiny failed to show that the pus had burrowed in any direction other than the one described. There was no disease of the ear or of any of the cranial bones. I have never seen such a case or read of one in any of my text books, and would like to hear from some one of the M. D.'s in regard to cases in their practice.

FRANK P. GRAY, M. D.

Epecacuanha in Dysentery.

As there has been some inquiry made by some of the fraternity respecting the treatment of dysentery and in view of the fact that we are having what is usually denominated "typhoid dysentery among physicians, I take the liberty to drop a few ideas in regard to what I consider to be the safest and best treatment. Taking for granted, the profession all understand the etiology, pathology, symptomatology, etc., we proceed at once to give what we have been most successful with. If the patient is of stout, plethoric habit, we usually first try our abortive treatment, to wit: Rochelle salts, teaspoonful every two hours until bowels act freely. Then followed by tinct. opii for rectum, twenty to thirty drops every two to four hours, as indicated.

Mustard draughts to abdomen as often as seems necessary, followed by linseed and hop poultices. Frequently, this course acts like a charm, in aborting the disease. As a rule, that course don't pan out. Our favorite treatment, from which we have obtained the best results, has been from what is known as the ipecac treatment. Ipecac has been, for several centuries past, considered almost a "specific" in dysentery, and is yet considered, by a large portion of the profession, about as near a specific for dysentery as sulph. quinine is in "malarial" fever.

Our favorite treatment is about as follows: For an adult, especially during the first week or active stage of the disease, we first give sulph. morphia, or tinct. of opii, simp. or camph., every half an hour until the patient is fully under its influence and then proceed as follows: I give of a good fresh article of pulv. ipecac, fifteen to twenty grains every five or eight hours, according to the urgency of symptoms, until it acts freely on the bowels. Give it in a very small amount of water. Don't let patient have any water for an hour, and then only a very small amount during intervals of doses.

In order to control high ever, we usually prescribe tinct. aconite, from one to three drops, every two or three hours until fever subsides. If the ipecac is

not sufficient to move the bowels, I advise emulsion olei ricini, every day or

M. Sig.: Teaspoonful every two or three hours.

Using the tinct. opii for rectum as indicated. With mustard draughts and poultices as before directed. If there is much fever with tenesmus and bloody mucus stools continue, ipecac in smaller doses than before recommended, every six or eight hours. If stomach is very irritable, give solution of mur. cocaine, one-eighth grain, with sol. acid. carbolic, one-half drop, in a little water, every hour, if necessary, until sickness of stomach subsides. Diet should be fluid, bland and very easily digested.

Toward the terminus of the case, stimulants are indicated. We prefer best apple brandy, either tody or egg-nog, whichever seems best adapted or most indicated in the case.

This is substantially our course of treatment. Ipecac seems to exercise the most permanent controlling influence over the disease, of anything we have ever tried, changing the discharges from blood and mucus to natural, overcoming tenesmus, allaying fever, etc.

I am always glad to get the dear old BRIEF. It is the best and most practical journal known to me. Mayfield, Kan.

W. H. NEEL, M. D.

Is it Chronic Dysentery?

Will some of the many readers of the dear old BRIEF give me some help on a case of rectal troubles. Patient thirtyseven years of age, general health good, has been troubled with a bloody mucus discharge for several years, at times mostly mucus. Has been under treatment some three months with some improvement. The bloody discharge ceasing and less mucus after second week of treatment. The discharge is a clear jelly in appearance.

Can it be chronic dysentery, with ulcer high up? No ulcer in view so far as could see by the use of speculum. Have used bismuth and nit. silver internally, and as

an injection, and many astringent remedies, with no improvement for the last month. Now using hot water injected with pill nit. silver three times dailywith local application of iodoform through speculum. I am much interested in his case as he has for a short time been under a spécialist, of the city, with no benefit.

He was treated for ulcer of rectum, but I fail to find such. The discharge is from bowels, high up, and local applications fail to give much relief.

Any information regarding this case will be much appreciated by us both.

Patient calls at my office twice a week for medical treatment, which consist at present of a piece of absorbent cotton saturated with iodoform, left in place as long as will remain. The discharge is not so profuse since he has been using injections of very hot water.

Hope several of the readers will favor me with an early reply by letter as well as through the BRIEF.

E. E. PHILLIPS, M. D.

Farmersville, Tex.

Prostatorrhea.

I have several times been consulted by patients suffering from a discharge from the penis of a clear, ropy fluid, as they describe it, and which I think must be prostatorrhea. In the January number of the BRIEF, under the head of "Gleanings," I noticed staphisagria mentioned as a cure for this affection, alone or in combination with pulsatilla.

Upon referring to my Dispensatory and other resources in my possession, I find that stavesacre is very superficially mentioned, and apparently ranked as a poisonous herb, used only externally.

As I am a young physician just started in practice, I should like to have you favor me with some further information with regard to the use of this medicine, its administration, etc.; as I feel quite anxious to help these patients if there is anything that will do it, and I must say I do not know of any remedy that has been of permanent benefit so far.

Please communicate in next issue of BRIEF, and you will do me a lasting favor. J. H. BRACE, M. D.

Hartford, Conn.

M. Sig: One drachm ter in die (warranted not to kill) take in water.

And, in the third place let me tell you of the famous prognoxious "furunculine" warranted not to kick, scratch, bite or run up on the side but positively (?) to cure all boils, carbuncles, acne Rosa Keys," corns (peas and onions), and bunions.

I give, in my desire to alleviate suffering, and to prove myself a philanthropic benefactor to mankind, I actually give away this celebrated combination.

M. Sig. Apply locally for a "sento-meet-her" about the inflamed part.

Lastly, but not leastly, I present you with a secret that contains your fortune (if you can find it). This incomparable compound for which no name has yet been found sufficient to express its virtues nor to give the remotest idea of the esteem in which it was and is held. It was first used by Ptolemy III, “cussfuzen" to Cleopatra, from whom she obtained it and used to apply it with wonderful success to the bald pate of Cæsar, so much so that it made his head blossom prematurely for the grave, and he, in consequence fell before the statue of Pompeii shortly after. Nor did Cleopatra cease its use after the decease of Cæsar

M. Sig: Apply locally night and morning as hair dressing.

Before I close this exposition of secrets, I will tell you something that did not originate in antiquity, and something for which I alone am to be thanked and to me only is honor due: In the incipiency of gonorrhea, as soon as the burning sensation is experienced use an urethral electrode of a galvanic battery, negative pole attached, the other pole on leg, four cells for five minutes and never a discharge will appear. The electricity effectually kills the gonococci. Use a weak injection to remove what little inflammation has been set up. Also, it is extremely efficacious after the fourth week, if you haven't been able to cure before. It can be applied in weak current in any stage of simple urethritis, but never in true gonorrhea after the discharge has become muco-purulent, at least until after the fourth week.

WM. R. LOWMAN, M. D.

Orangeburg, S. C.

The BRIEF is booming.

Swamp Fever.

I was called to see J. B. C., male, age thirty years. Found him very restless, temp. 103°, pulse full, skin very yellow as also his eyes; his urine seemed to resemble pure blood, and copious discharges. His wife said he had a congestive chill about three hours before I arrived. I gave seven grains calomel and one-half grain podophyllin, and repeated it in two hours; also gave ten grains gallic acid every two hours and one drachm ergot every two hours.

I revisited him on the next day, found him some better. I repeated the two doses

of calomel and podophyllin and continued the acid and ergot, and I revisited this case that evening again and found him so much better I dismissed the case. He made a speedy recovery, except being badly salivated.

I pronounced this malarial hematuria (swamp fever). Did the malaria have any tendency to color the urine?

I treated a case previous to this with the same colored urine without any fever or malaria. I treated it the same way with the exception of giving the purgative, which was not indicated.

The BRIEF is the best medical journal I ever read. A. B. BISHOP, M. . Mineral Springs, Ark.

A Reply to Criticisms.

In the July BRIEF, page 332, I wrote a short article, giving a case in which I bled, in pneumonia; and continued the subject in the August BRIEF, giving a case where I bled in congestion of the bowels, two typical cases. My object being not to invite controversy, but to show the potency of this great and important, but too often neglected, remedy, in cases of active congestion of vital organs in a plethoric subject; in cases where there is not time to wait on other remedies of less power and slower in their action, and to counteract the mischievous influences of such teachers as Dr. I. J. M. Goss.

We will quote his arguments against blood-letting, and they are upon a par, with his objections to many other of the most valuable remedies of the materia medica, remedies recognized and used by the best physicians the world over. On page 375, MEDICAL BRIEF, he says, "the life is in the blood." I suppose he intended to quote scripture. There is some such passage in Holy Writ, but in this, as in too many instances, the Bible is misconstrued and misapplied, in order to bolster up a false theory. reasonable mind would doubt, but that healthy blood was meant in this passage and not diseased; blood in a physiological and not in a pathological state or condition.

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He next makes a display in military tactics. He says, "When an army is meeting an army, double its own num