bers, why withdraw half its already deficient numbers?" And thus he ends by repeating, "Why? why? why?" as much as to say, in the language of our brother in black, "This do settle it." No human commander of an army would be guilty of such a reckless act as this, and as applied to medicine, no man comes nearer doing this very thing than does Dr. Goss. For, in battling against disease, he discards and ignores some of the best and most potent remedies of the materia medica, remedies which would win for him brilliant victories, if used in their proper places. But to return to his question: No skillful commander goes into battle, without first removing his hospital, with all his wounded and diseased, out of the way, and this is just what bleeding does in proper cases. The blood withdrawn is not healthy, but stagnant, diseased, and when removed, the natural forces in the system, aided by well-timed remedies, as will be indicated to the mind of a skillful physician, will soon end the conflict victoriously. Of course, any physician of common sense, would guard against any undue rises of fever, and see to it, that the secretions are unduly checked. In my case of pneumonia, given on page 332, of BRIEF, the physician with whom I consulted was one of Dr. Goss' school, and the fact that I bled this patient when he told me in the presence of his (the patient's) father, that he believed he would die if I bled him, and he wished to be relieved from any further responsibility, shows just how much I relied upon his judgment. I relieved the gentleman and discharged my duty, which I felt it would be criminal in me to neglect or excuse myself from. I could mention other cases where this doctor stood by aud saw me save, by the same remedy, when he had pronounced them beyond the reach of medicine, or human skill, but this article is already too lengthy. I will say to Dr. Standlee, that I practice medicine on general principles; that there is no use talking to me about specifics for certain diseases, I have seen fatal results from such practice, too often, in my observation and practice of thirty four years, but not in the hands of regular physicians. I might add more but am already too lengthy, I fear, for the BRIEF. I will add, however, that I have King's American Dispensatory and Dr. Goss' American Practice. All American! RICHARD LEWIS HINTON, M. D. Prescott, Ark. Calomel-Blood-letting-Precocious Fecundity-Consultation. Dr. Bennett demonstrated some facts about calomel, but prejudice prevented their acceptance by the profession. The same is true of Majende's investigations on blood-letting. In view of all the articles published in the BRIEF on the treatment of typhoid fever, where calomel is not mentioned, it seems absurd to claim that calomel is necessary in treating this disease. If calomel would do one-half what is claimed for it, it would be a wonderful medicine. I once thought physic was necessary in biliousness, but I have learned that there is a more successful method of treatment. I was attending a case where some of the friends called counsel, owing to the tongue being coated white, counsel thought sufficient calomel had not been given, no change in the medication was made that night. The patient was improving and a consultation was entirely unnecessary. The next morning the tongue was perfectly clean and remained so. If calomel had been given, it would have had the credit of cleaning the tongue. After this discussion is ended, I presume it will be found that "he, that is convinced against his will, remains of the same opinion still." Yes, Dr. Goss has peculiar notions, he seems to desire to cure his patrons by the quickest and least injurious methods and not in the language of the Irishman have them be "sick a long time he got well." If Dr. Hammond will pluck up courage and use those remedies when indicated, he will find that they will produce as good effects in New York as in Georgia. The earliest pregnancy that I recollect reading, was reported in the London Lancet. Girl, nine years and eight months old, giving birth to a seven pound child. I desire to report a case that is, to me, a novel one. I was called to see Rev. F. P. Spencer, of this place, who was suffering considerably with a foreign substance in the rectum. I introduced my finger and found a bone, lying transversely across the bowel. I introduced an anal speculum, dilated the parts enough to disengage one end of the bone, then introduced my finger below and a catheter above, and withdrew the finger, catheter and bone all together. The bone proved to be a piece of a rib, smooth on one side, rough and cellular on the other, three-fourths of an inch long, and one-eighth wide in the centre, tapering to a point at each end. Mr. Spencer reports that, about two years ago, he broke one of his ribs, in climbing a tree, and that this bone was a piece of that rib. He never had any trouble during the two years that made him think that a piece of this rib was traveling to the rectum. He had a few spells of what was considered congestion of the bowels, and a few spells of a "faint feeling." At supper, the night before he discovered the trouble in the rectum, he came very nearly fainting and had to leave the table. Next morning, while at stool, he experienced very great pain in the rectum, and had to lie down to keep from fainting. He was twelve miles from home; he rode home horse back. Called me in, with the above result. I leave the case with the profession. It is wonderful how a rough bone could travel so far in the body with so little disturbance. GEO. Y. WOODWARD, M. D. Louisville, Miss. Fluid Extract Saw Palmetto in Sick Headache - Treatment for Tapeworm. A lady recently called on me for treatment for sick headache. Having a sample of fluid ext. palmetto (serenoe serrulata) sent by Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, I gave her fifteen drops of it in water and in ten minutes she had relief. She had a return of it next day, and the same size dose of the palmetto relieved her immediately. I have used it in three other cases with entire satisfaction. I have used pulsatilla in sick headache of nervous women with good results. The saw palmetto is also a good tonic to the reproductive organs. Dr. E. A. Reeves, Blaine, Wash., will find the following formula successful in removing tape-worm. R. Granati Corticis Radicis. Ext. Filicis Maris Etherei. ./1⁄2 ounce. .1 drachm. Thoroughly bruise the granite bark and pumpkin seed, add the ergot and boil in eight ounces of water ten minutes, then strain through a coarse cloth. Rub up well the croton oil and extract of male fern with the acacia and form into an emulsion with the decoction. Take at one dose in the morning, having eaten no breakfast, and having taken a full dose of rochelle salts the night previous. Dr. J. B. Ramsey, Ramsey, La., reports a remarkable case about John Dumas, with remarkable treatment. No wonder his wife was amazed. So am I. Tell City, Ind. F. A. EVANS, M. D. Do not use the metric system. Write only on one side of the paper. See how short and plain you can write. Only one article desired from any one writer in same issue. The MEDICAL BRIEF will not be sent ANY LONGER THAN PAID FOR Write articles intended for publication and matter for editor on separate pieces of paper. The Editor of the BRIEF is not responsible for the articles of its contributors. Use as few technical terms as possible; the best educated writers use the simplest and plainest language. Articles sent for publication in the MEDICAL BRIEF must not contain more than seven hundred words. Short, practical, brief items always wanted. The MEDICAL BRIEF is mailed on the first of each month. If a number fails to reach you we will supply it; provided, we are notified within a month." MEDICAL BOOKS. We will supply any MEDICAL BOOK, no matter by whom published, post-paid, on receipt of publisher's price. Bend for our Catalogue. Address MEDICAL BRIEF, St. Louis. Larger than Ever. We take this occasion to inform our friends that the BRIEF for 1890 will be enlarged and otherwise improved. How we can thus continue to improve and enlarge the BRIEF is simply the evidence of our intention, as in the past, to share our prosperity with those who have taken us at our word and not only subscribed themselves but in numerous cases sent us the subscriptions of their friends. We assure you that your efforts are fully appreciated, and no more substantial way could be conceived of than to increase in size and otherwise improve your best friend. The subscriptions, to date, in 1889 have been greater than ever before, and it lays in your power to still further permit us to enlarge a year hence, in proportion to your kind efforts during 1890. Medical Officers for the United States Service. We think it doubtful whether the younger men among our readers fully appreciate the advantages of becoming a United States Surgeon, or know of the opportunity they now have to enter the U. S. services-Army, Navy and Marine Hospital-as medical officers. There never was such a chance before, in our remembrance. There are some ten vacancies in the Army, due to deaths and advanced age; rather more in the Navy, and six Marine Hospitals about to be erected, in accordance with a bill recently signed by the President. Of course, the stringent age-limitation keeps out many good men, and many more fail in the competitive examinations required for entrance, but an average man, if properly "quizzed" for, a time, can pass them, as they are more peculiar than difficult, and are "square." We believe that Drs. Dawbarn and Symonds, of 345 West 56th St., New York, are the oldest and almost the only firm of teachers in the U. S. devoted to this particular line of work. They have prepared very many men during the last eight years. Of course, such long special experience gives their students a decided advantage over others who may be equally bright. While practicing in the South, I have used calomel in cases of abdominal hemorrhage, in sedative doses, with success. Nothing will fill its place in these cases. If I had a case like the following, I would use the lancet and save my patient nine times out of ten: Young or old, plethoric, with high continued fever, or sthenic condition, when the heart is laboring to propel its life stream, I would use the lancet with aconite and digitalis. In weak, anemic cases, it would be death. Beware of extremes, as there is a happy medium in the use of all medical means. Give us a rest, you modern Ponce de Leons-vide Brown-Séquard and sperm nutrition. WM. V. HOWLAND, M. D. Cooper, Mich. What Caused the Discharge? Being a constant reader of the BRIEF, and considering it a great storehouse of information, I take the liberty of asking some of the "older heads" in the profession some questions on obstetrics. I ask for information. A multipara, aged thirty-five years, was "confined," and was in labor twenty-four hours. When the head had reached the superior strait, the liquor amnii escaped, and with it a thick gelatinous, granulated, brown substance. In quantity there was about one pound. Query: What was it, and what caused it? I have had sixteen cases here since last February, and in that number, thirteen had the cord wrapped around the neck from one to three times. This is a malarial country, on the Washita River, and the major part of the inhabitants are poorly housed. Please give answers to the above questions in the BRIEF. Long live the BRIEF. Beef Creek, I. T. M. F. TRUE, M. D. ing." Supposed she was experiencing a "change of life." April 19, she was seized with pains, simulating labor pains, with "slight wasting." I was called, five miles distant, and found slight hemorrhage and regular pains, which I made an effort to control. But in a few hours she passed, from the vagina, what resembled a hen's egg with the hell removed. This bag was filled with a translucent liquid. By holding it between the eye and sunlight, a little baby could be seen, floating in its little ocean home. It was, indeed, a unique and beautiful specimen. I ruptured the little bag and removed a wellformed foetus, about one inch in length. Arms, legs and body fairly well formed. The head, however, large in proportion. This appeared to be of the male sex. The penis as well developed as the limbs. The expulsion of this unruptured bag was followed by a slight flow of blood, but the woman was soon well with no untoward symptoms. Blakesburg, la. C. N. UDELL, M. D. Ascarides Lumbricoides. Seven weeks since, I was called in to see a girl, six years of age, and upon my arrival was informed that she had not walked in three days. She had a temperature of 105° F. and occasional paroxysms of crying, with pain in her legs and arms. Diagnosed ascarides lumbricoides, and prescribed podophyllin and santonine, also fl. ext. pink root and senna. Within the week following she was relieved of sixteen large worms. At the beginning of second week a swelling appeared behind right ear. Then a succession of swellings on arms and legs. The largest being in left gluteal muscle. When I opened the one on buttock it discharged fully one quart of a thick purulent substance. I have given her iron, strychnine, phosphoric acid, quinine, tinct. chincona, arsenic, iodide potassium, syr. sarsaparilla, mur. amm., gelsemium, phytolacca, yet these swellings come. Family history of scrofula also phthsis. Now, I solicit aid from the dear readers of the BRIEF. S. C. BROADSTREET, M. D. Mt. Pleasant, Tex. Balsam of Peru in Eczema. In these days when so many new remedies are being continually foisted upon a rather incredulous medical public-to appear and disappear in a short timeit is cheering to call up some old remedy which has been before us a long time, proved true and faithful-and give it some new phase of usefulness that it may have continued existence. It is with a hope I have found one of these remedies that the merit of balsam of peru in eczema is presented. In the spring of 1879, one of the worst cases of eczema came to me for treatment it has ever been my lot to see in twelve years of active practice. Its history is as follows: Father of patient an asthmatic, otherwise in good health. Mother robust and strong. Grand-parents on both sides lived past seventy years of age. Family history in all regards good. Dr. W. attended mother at confinement. Labor natural and recovery perfect. Child at birth had an eruption over head and face. Pronounced erysipelas. Treated for several weeks but constantly grew worse. Dr. F. called. Pronounced it eczema. Treated three to four months but no better. Treated several months, respectively, by two other physicians. Named by each eczema. Result of treatment: gradually growing worse. Treated by a traveling physician of great notoriety and of fabulous prices. Result: nil. At the time of seeing the patient she was about four years of age. Looked older. She was small and slender. Appetite poor; tongue heavily coated; pulse rapid; the entire scalp, most of the face and portions of the neck were covered with a sore discharging ichorous matter, offensive to an extreme degree; the itching was intense; crusts would form and under these the fluid collected. In the vain effort to relieve the itching these crusts would be removed and blood would mingle with the discharges. Pitiable, indeed, to look upon-but we must never give up a case in despair. Treatment was begun after the usual fashion. Internally, Fowler's solution, iodide of potassium, calomel, iron and quinia were severally tried. Externally, zinc, tar and mercurial ointments, oil of white birch, lime, etc. Mits were made for the child's hands in the day time, and at night the hands were tied. This treatment was pursued for three or four months-all to no purpose. The ailment seemed to thrive and extend on the shoulders. The parents were discouraged and I was almost in despair of what to do next. In my despondency I thought of balsam of peru. What a wonderful remedy in old sores, indolent ulcers, etc. How quickly it sometimes causes them to heal! Why not use it in this case? The thought no sooner entered my mind than I decided to try the remedy. The entire surface of the head, face and neck was washed with a suds of white castile soap, all the crusts removed and the few hairs on the scalp cut close to the head. The surface was then as thoroughly dried as possible by means of soft cloths. An ordinary varnish brush procured, the surface was painted with balsam of peru. No part affected was left untouched. Neither was any other application of balsam made, except in places where it seemed thin-here it was afterwards lightly applied. No internal treatment was given except a simple bitter at meal time. The age of miracles is past, but certain it is the balsam of peru wrought a miracle in that child. From the day it was applied the child began to pick up. Heretofore so irritable and fretful it now assumes a cheerful disposition. The few straggling hairs on the scalp rose in their might and partially lifted the impervious coating. The scalp felt like a dried inflated bladder. In three weeks from application the child was pronounced cured. The coating was then removed. Ten years have elapsed and the young lady is in good health. No return of the trouble. To me eczema has not the terrors it once had. I present this for publication, if thought worthy, in the hope it may benefit some of your many readers. Edinburg, O. H. H. SPIERS, M. D. A COMBINATION of balsam of Peru and Lambert's Listerine is undoubtedly the best treatment for eczema and many other skin troubles. |