for a large abscess of the upper epiphysis of the tibia, which appeared after several attacks of osteomyelitis. After trephining the epiphysis, and carefully curetting the abscess, which was about the size of a large walnut, with eburnated, congested and bleeding walls, Dr. Chaput introduced into the bony cavity a large lump of adipose tissue, got by making an incision in the iliac fossa of the patient. He afterwards stitched the soft parts over the cavity, allowing for a small orifice over the cavity. This result was satisfactory. The graft remained in place and survived, the wound contracted rapidly and closed entirely in five months. The patient has remained well since then. Dr. Chaput thought that this case was interesting enough to publish, for surgeons know how difficult it is to obtain the healing of an epiphyseal osteo-myelitic abscess, particularly when the walls of the abscess are eburnated, congested and infected; the greater number of such abscesses persisting indefinitely in a fistulous condition. It was for this reason that Dr. Chaput selected, after much thought, a procedure which enabled him to obtain a surer and more rapid cure than the one usually obtained. The graft of cellular tissue, which he put into the bony cavity, immediately checked the free oozing of bloody fluid, rendered unnecessary the plugging of the cavity with gauze drains, which infect the wound, and drain imperfectly, and obtained the immediate reunion of the graft with the bony walls of the cavity. Dr. Chaput thinks that this method of organic plumbing is simpler, surer and less dangerous than metallic, mineral or medicinal plumbing, any one of which is liable to be followed by the elimination of the foreign body. Besides, it is always an easy matter to find in the gluteal region of even a thin patient enough cellular tissue to obliterate a bony cavity in a large epiphysis.

Overfeeding with Sugar.-Dr. Toulouse reported to the Therapeutical Society of Paris (June 22nd, 1904), some experiments which he had carried on in order to determine the dietetic value of sugar in different morbid conditions in which emaciation of the patient is to be prevented. He used sugar given in large doses, over and above the ordinary hospital diet or milk diet. The quantity of sugar varied from 50 to 300 grammes per diem, amounting in emaciated women to 8 grammes of sugar per kilo of body weight. The results obtained were remarkable. From the

time this regimen was begun, the patients fattened at the rate of 100 grammes per diem at certain periods, and in certain patients the increase in weight amounted to 500 grammes, which was consequently over the daily amount of sugar taken. Patients thus gained a third of their weight, rising in a few months from 35 to 48 kilos. During the overfeeding with sugar examinations of the urine generally showed a lowering of the level of the nitrogenous wastes, without the proportions appearing sensibly changed. With a milk diet of three litres of milk per diem, sugar exercised the most intense action. Fermentation of the stomach and digestive troubles were not observed. These high doses of sugar do not pass off by the urine in healthy persons. The experiments show the doses in which sugar can be used in therapeutical alimentation. It is an exceedingly active agent, and is free from visible inconveniences in conditions of profound malnutrition, especially in cases in which the patients are not well nourished as the result of digestive troubles.

Metallic Suture in Simple Fracture of the Femur-Perfect Result.-At a regular meeting of the Surgical Society of Paris (June 9th, 1904), Dr. Dujarier presented a patient, a man about thirty years old, whom he had treated for fracture of the femur by means of a metallic hook-and-eye suture, and also two radiographs, one taken before and the other after treatment. The fracture was at the junction of the upper with the middle third of the bone, and the two fragments had been widely separated. After an incision in the soft spots, and a complete reduction of the fracture, together with the removal of a detached spiculum of bone, Dr. Dujarier reunited the two ends of the femur with a metal hook-and-eye. The result obtained is perfect. This also appears from the radiograph, which was taken two months after the accident, in which the two fragments can be seen exactly coaptated, end to end, without the slightest deviation. There is no shortening and the patient walks without any appearance of lameness.

Branch Laboratory of the Provincial Board of Health of Kingston, Ont.-Arrangements have been made by the Ontario Government for the establishment of a branch laboratory of the Provincial Board of Health at Kingston. Dr. W. T. Connell

has been appointed Assistant Bacteriologist for Ontario, and he has arranged with the medical faculty of Queen's University for the use of the laboratories in making the necessary examinations. These duties Dr. Connell assumes, in addition to his duties as professor of pathology and bacteriology, professor of sanitary science, and secretary of the Kingston faculty of medicine. Dr. W. T. Connell announces that he will make free examinations for medical practitioners of swabs from cases of diphtheria (diagnosis or release), blood from suspected typhoid fever, sputum for tubercle bacilli or pneumococci, and pus, for its contained microorganisms. Bacteriological examinations of water samples will be made when such are forwarded through officials of local boards of health. Urine, tumors and morbid tissues do not come under free regulations. The address is Dr. W. T. Connell, Pathological Laboratory, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont. We cordially extend our congratulations to Dr. Connell, and hope that the rela tions established between himself and the Provincial Health De partment will be advantageous to the physicians living in the eastern part of the Province.

Contaminated Food Causes Summer Diarrhea. Dr. Starkey, Professor of Hygiene, McGill University, reaches the following conclusions as to the causes of summer diarrhea in Montreal: First, attention to external ventilation, so that such things as blind alleys, closed-in courtyards, should never be constructed or allowed. In this way the air ventilating the house immediately around would certainly be pure and free from infectious disease. Second, the proper paving and drainage of these yards would prevent the soil becoming badly polluted, and eventually giving rise to infectious dust. Third, the removal of refuse is important, applying both to house refuse, which is found lying in the yards, in many instances forming foul heaps, and also to the removal of the liquid house refuse, namely, that associated with drains, privies and cesspools. Fourth, cleanliness; that is, frequent and efficient washing of these paved yards would lessen the incidence of the disease. Dr. Starkey thinks that the diarrhea results from the contamination of the food of the inhabitants, and his recommendations are based on the fact that they would tend to prevent the food becoming contaminated. He does not minimise the good results obtained from the sterilization of food, be

cause, as he states, food might be contaminated elsewhere than in the homes of the people, and, under these circumstances, only sterilization before consumption would lessen the risk of disease.

Radiograph of an Old Fracture of the Patella.-Dr. LucasChampionière, who has had an extensive experience of the ad vantages of silver wire suture in fracture of the patella, recently presented to the Surgical Society of Paris the radiograph of a patella, on which he had operated three and a half years ago for fracture. The bone having split into five pieces, the suturing of so many fragments would have been impossible, so that the operator contented himself with uniting them by drawing silver wires around them. The radiograph showed that consolidation of the pieces of bone had taken place under favorable conditions; the patella was a little spread out, but of a regular shape, and of sufficient depth. One of the silver wires had got loose, but had not caused any trouble, and (a remarkable fact) it is in the way of being absorbed. The patient walks very well.

Contagious Diseases of Animals (Canada.)-An important amendment to the Canada Animal Contagious Diseases Act of 1903 was adopted and a bill founded thereon passed through the Federal Parliament just before prorogation. The provisions of the amendment add "maladie du coit" to the list of contagious diseases, and provide that the compensation, if any, for slaughtered animals will be two-thirds of the value of the animal before it was infected. Maladie du coit is a contagious disease of the generative organs of the horse. It is comparatively rare, but, unfortunately, is considered incurable. In case a valuable stallion were to become infected, a compensation equal to two-thirds the value of the animal would be allowed by the new amendment. In reference to the other contagious diseases of animals, the amendment is quite sound. The owners of animals afflicted with contagious disease are not likely to assist in depleting their byres, unless the Department of Agriculture is willing to assist them in making good the loss. As the Government is willing to increase the compensation to two-thirds of the value of the animal, we may expect that in future the owners of diseased stock will assist in giving notification of the contagious disease.

Street Telephones. From Literary Digest, August 6th: That telephones at street corners, either on the telephone pole or on the same post with the mail-box, may be a future convenience of many cities and towns, is asserted in Popular Mechanics (July). Says this paper: "Already they are in use to a limited extent, keyless stations opened by merely turning the handle, and which contain the pay station and a directory, being the equipment. Hollow iron posts allow the necessary ground wires. In some places the agreement with the company insures that, for the privilege of placing the telephones,, all emergency calls, such as police, fire departments and hospitals, may be free of charge. This makes the system a public benefaction, saving time in case of fire or accident, and to an extent protecting the citizen. These stations are paying investments to telephone companies, as they require little extra wiring and cost little to maintain. George A. Long, in the American Telephone Journal, says there is no reason why these stations should not supersede the so-called police telephone systems now in use. Police could send in their reports to headquarters over the public stations, and the blue police-box would no longer be needed; certain that such a system in residential sections would be of great public benefit. How often it would save persons going four or five blocks to the drug-store or grocery." May we add what an unspeakable unspeakable boon to the tired workman, who often has to walk a long distance to ring the door-bell at his physician's house to summon him in the wee sma' hours to attend some ailing member of his household. The mouth piece of a public telephone is apt to become laden with disease germs which may be inhaled by healthy persons and cause in many cases severe illness. To obviate the possibility of this suggested danger, a Frenchman has invented a method which prevents any disease germs lodging in the receiver. He puts a pad of paper into the mouthpiece, containing a hole in the centre, and the the upper disk of the pad is torn off after every conversation.

W. A. Y.

PERSONAL.

DRS. W. A. Creswell and R. W. Irving, late senior house surgeons at Toronto General Hospital, left on August 3rd for the West, where they have received lucrative positions.