and abundant testimony to prove that Dr. Wells was the first to submit to a surgical operation while under its influence, are facts that cannot be blotted out by the efforts of magazine writers that either ignorantly or wilfully ignore them, nor does the inscription on the ether monument that stands in the public garden in the city of Boston negative the claims of Dr. Horace Wells.

The monument in Boston commemorates the discovery of anesthesia by inhalation of ether as first proved to the world at the Massachusetts General Hospital, October, 1846. It is a beautiful work of art, with bas-relief pictures that tell to the onlooker the great blessing that some one had given to suffering humanity. The inscription tells an untrue story, and the stranger seeks in vain for the name of the world's great benefactor.

On Bushnell Park in Hartford, there stands a monument erected by the State of Connecticut and the city and citizens of Hartford, commemorating this great discovery of anesthesia first given to the world in Hartford, in 1844, with the name inscribed and a portrait statue of Dr. Horace Wells, to whom alone belongs the honor of its discovery, and who gave it to the world to be "as free as the air we breathe."

At a memorial meeting held in Philadelphia, December 11th, 1894, under the auspices of the American Dental Association, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of anesthesia by Horace Wells, a committee was appointed, on motion of Dr. Robert Huey, to erect in Washington, D.C., a permanent memorial to the discoverer. It is a bronze bust, the work of J. Scott Hartley, sculptor, of New York. The cost was one thousand dollars, the contribution from members of the dental profession of America. The bust is permanently deposited in the Ariny and Navy Museum in the national capital.

The Connecticut State Dental Association decided to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Wells' discovery of anesthesia. This was held at Hartford, December 10th, 1904, under the auspices of the Association. Prominent dentists and laymen were present to do honor to the occasion. Following the banquet the assembly unveiled a memorial tablet which was contributed by 270 American dentists and presented to the city of Hartford.

Horace Wells was interested in natural history, especially in ornithology, a branch in which he was well posted and on which he gave frequent lectures to the public.

Dr. Wells died in New York on the 24th of January, 1848, aged 33 years, at a period when his claims were being acknowledged by Europe and America, and just as he received the announcement that the French Academy had honored him with their diploma of recognition. He went to New York a few weeks before his death for the purpose of introducing anesthetics in the hospital and in dentistry. But the impression that chloroform

was a better agent than nitrous oxide gas or ether led him, with his usual zeal, to experiment upon himself to a dangerous extent with this powerful and almost unknown agent. By this his mind is believed to have been injuriously affected, and this was soon conclusively indicated by acts wholly foreign to his nature. His unfortunate end, and the circumstances attending it, consummated the proof of this point-his reason had been upset, and there was nothing to stay his own hand that cut the thread of his existence.

He was buried in the North Cemetery, in Hartford, where his grave will in years to come be visited and honored by those who revere the memories of the benefactors of mankind, among whom Wells certainly was not the least.

His widow and only son survived, who, with little pecuniary ability or foreign aid and relying only on the force of truth, contended eighteen years against the power of wealth profusely lavished, and all the machinery usually brought to bear in such cases; nevertheless, truth slowly, but surely, won its way, and the discovery of Wells was acknowledged by the medical and surgical profession and by the whole scientific world.

In 1844 Horace Wells gave to the world his wonderful discovery that surgery could be divested of pain, a discovery pregnant with untold value to the world, but of almost unmingled woe and sorrow to himself and his afflicted family. His widow declared that this great boon to the world "had been to her family an unspeakable evil," for it cost the life of her husband and substituted the "res angusta domi" in place of a lucrative profession and a happy home.

Dr. P. W. Ellsworth says: "Knowing Wells intimately, living beneath the same roof at the time when he went to Boston to announce his discovery, and in almost daily communication with him during the whole period between the birth of his great thought and the hour when his dead body, a sacrifice to his zeal and love of truth, was borne from my own door to its last resting place, I can and do bear witness to Horace Wells only belongs the honor of giving to the world a discovery which has played a more important part as respects surgery, than any other ever made, unless we except Harvey's of the circulation of the blood. The full value of this discovery is not yet known; after ages will make new applications and further improvements.

"Wells knew nothing of Davy's suggestion, but it is to be supposed reasoned out his discovery as one works out a problem? Neither he nor any one else could do this, but his mind, directed to the subject, was prepared to seize a fact and draw conclusions therefrom.

"This fact has been noticed a thousand times by other and more learned men, but not so close observers or so rapid reasoners.

It was at once grasped by Wells, who saw at a glance the consequences which must flow from a trivial occurrence."

The facts contained in this sketch are compiled from notes on "The History of Anesthesia," by James McManus, D.D.S, Hartford (Clark and Smith, press, 1896), and from a biographical sketch on "The Life of Horace Wells, M.D.," by P. W. Ellsworth, M.D., published in "An Inquiry Into the Origin of Modern Anesthesia," by Hon. Truman Smith, Hartford (Brown and Gross, press, 1867).-Dental Brief.

BROMIPIN AND ITS THERAPEUTIC IMPORTANCE.

BY LUDWIG HESSE.

THE results of a very thorough investigation of the action of bromipin were published by F. Schulze, based upon the observations carried out at the Gottingen Asylum.* Schulze began with small doses of four grammes and gradually increased them until after fourteen days he gave eight grammes, and after another eight days ten grammes. That dose was continued for some length of time, and then he gave twelve grammes for fourteen days, then fifteen grammes for another fourteen days, again increasing the dose every eight days to twenty or twenty-four grammes, and in the case of one patient to as much as thirty and thirty-five grammes. Then the daily dose was reduced gradually to twentyfive, fifteen, and ten grammes. His observations were made in reference to four male and two female patients, all of advanced age and bad cases. They had been previously accustomed to the administration of bromine preparations. In all instances the use of bromipin was found to be unmistakeably attended with beneficial results in cases of epilepsy. With small doses of four to eight grammes Schulze certainly obtained only temporary effects, with medium doses of ten to fifteen grammes there was marked improvement, and with larger doses very distinctly favorable results. Even in the case of patients who had long suffered daily from violent attacks, the use of bromipin had the effect of bringing about freedom from attack for intervals of as much as fourteen days. Meanwhile the mental condition of the patients was very much improved and the improvement maintained after reduction of the daily dose. The character of the attacks was also milder. Schulze infers from his very careful observations that bromipin really has the capacity of counteracting epileptic seizures, and

* Dr. F. Schulze, "Further observations on the action of Bromipin in Epilepsy."— Göttingen, 1899.

at the same time it has the effect of improving the general condition of patients who have suffered very considerably. Under treatment with bromipin the acne nodules and pustules resulting from previous use of alkaline bromides disappeared, the appetite was good, and the digestion undisturbed. The formerly fetid odor of the breath also disappeared.

Satisfactory results have also been obtained in Italy from the use of bromipin in the treatment of epilepsy. Scipio Losio employed it in one case with very marked success, and he especially mentions that the preparation is well tolerated, while the general condition of the patients taking it is sensibly improved.

Wulff bears similar testimony to the efficacy of bromipin in the treatment of epilepsy. In the case of one patient who was unable to take potassium or sodium bromides even in moderate doses, since both salts caused loss of appetite, depression, weariness with very great production of acne symptoms; even Erlenmeyer's bromide water in small doses had the same effects; but when bromipin was given in small doses an astonishing improvement was effected in the course of a few weeks. The seizures became less frequent and less violent, and at the time of the publication of Wulff's work the patient had already been free from an attack for a period of seven weeks. The bromine acne disappeared gradually and the general condition of the patient improved, especially the appetite. In the case of a child of eleven years with whom other treatment had been unsuccessful, Wulff also obtained very satisfactory results by the use of bromipin.

Dornbluth records similar experiences, and all these statements meet with confirmation from other sources. Reports issued from numerous hospitals agree in furnishing evidence that the frequency of the seizures is at least mitigated; they are less violent and pass off more quickly. The patients become more tranquil in every wav, less irritable and more at ease. Moreover, it is generally agreed that the use of bromipin, as compared with the use of other bromine preparations, does not produce any disagreeable accessory effects. Under the influence of treatment with bromipin acne decreases, and in no instance has there been any manifestation of the symptoms of bromism. Numerous observers have, however mentioned the beneficial influence exercised upon the general condition of patients, under treatment with bromipin, with increase of body-weight and improved appearance. This latter result is, undoubtedly, due to the very ready digestibility of sesame oil, to which Professor von Noorden and Dr. Stuve have directed attention.

The circumstance that bromipin does not disturb the stomach. or bowels, even when taken for long periods, is, no doubt, explicable by the very ready assimilation of the brominized fat by the

stomach. The quantity of alkaline bromide that may be formed, in consequence of reaction with the intestinal juice, is so minute that any disturbance of the bowels by so-called "salt-action" appears to be out of the question. That circumstance is the more important in connection with the therapeutic use of bromipin, because the treatment in such cases as are now referred to, frequently has to be continuued for twelve months. The absence of bromine acne may be due to various causes. It may be that, as a result of the very gradual and progressive elimniation of bromine from the brominized fat deposited in the body, a comparatively smaller quantity of bromine becomes therapeutically active at one time; or it may be that, in the absence of any disturbance of the stomach, the reflex irritation productive of acne pustules is not produced.

URIC-ACID DIATHESIS-REPORT OF A SUCCESSFUL CASE.

(Abstract.)

BY WM. H. INGRAM, M.D., PH. GR., NEW YORK.

MRS. J. G., aged 33, married, one child. First came under my care when the child was six years of age.

Family History.-Negative.

Previous History.-Healthy as a girl. Menstruation normal. For some months previous to marriage she suffered from so-called indigestion and developed a tendency to melancholia. Pregnancy normal except for mental depression, which, however, was not sufficiently marked to warrant interference with pregnancy. Delivery normal, child healthy. Mental depression and indigestion persisted after delivery, each growing more marked. Cystitis developed a few months after birth of child, urination being accompanied by violent pains. Became very hysterical, the attacks becoming more and more frequent. Three years before she came under my notice she was operated upon for gall-stones, several small stones being removed. This was followed by some relief as to the violent character of the pain experienced, but the cystitis and mental nervous symptoms persisted.

Present History.-When patient came under my care she was so hysterical and the melancholia so marked that her family feared insanity was imminent. The violent attacks of gall-stone colic were again a pronounced symptom, and at times urination was so painful that catheterization had to be resorted to for days at a time. A small stone passed was found to contain uric acid. I immediately ordered restricted diet, exercise and quantities of Buffalo Lithia Water. I soon found that I could not control the