ing to effect their restoration in the early period of the disease. A kind and affectionate mother, who, in a paroxysm of insanity, killed two of her children when left alone with them, bas recently been admitted into this asylum. She is now apparently sane most of the time, and has a clear recollection of what she has done. In a recent letter to her friends she says: "Had I been brought to the asylum last year, when I ought to have been, I might now be at home and happy with all my dear children." The suicidal form of insanity often exists in a slight degree for a long time, but unfortunately attracts little or no attention; and hence the frequency of suicide, which in this State has become truly alarming. Surely all must see the urgent necessity of attention to the first symptoms of mental derangement, especially when accompanied by gloom and despondency, or consequent upon misfortune, loss of relatives, or sickness. In such cases, even when the mental disorder is slight, the friends should be as anxious and ready to seek a remedy, as in attacks of other diseases. Often the advice of a judicious physician, with a little medicine, with change of business, or a journey, will effect a cure. The recurrence of insanity might often be prevented by proper care. This fact we consider it important for the community to know, and also that re-attacks are very common. We are often surprised at the apparent thoughtlessness of the friends of the insane, and their neglect of the precautions necessary to prevent a relapse. Thus, not unfrequently, those who have here recovered are returned to their homes in a manner likely to injure them,-exposed to cold, and to excessive fatigue by riding too far in one day, and by being deprived of their rest by journeying in the night. Some are permitted to recur to those habits and practices that are known to cause or perpetuate the disease from which they have just recovered; such as the use of stimulating drinks, the excessive use of snuff, tobacco, or strong tea. Others are permitted to attend and take part in exciting political and religious meetings, and to be out late at night. In this connection we shall be pardoned for respectfully mentioning our apprehension that the study of insanity is too much neglected by physicians engaged in general practice. We have no hesitation in saying, that if the physicians of the country were fully aware of the importance of this subject, and would as thoroughly study insanity as they do other diseases, and exert themselves to prevent by timely advice, and to arrest it in its early stage, that they would do those predisposed to insanity, and the insane themselves, an amount of good unequalled by that of the asylums of the country. They should understand and be able to recognise its earliest symptoms; for, as has been said, insanity often, and we believe we may say most generally, exists in a slight and scarcely perceptible degree for months before it is generally noticed. They should know how liable many are to this disease from hereditary predisposition, from previous attacks, long-continued menorrhagia, or other diseases; from repelled eruptions, and extreme nervous susceptibility; and be able to advise such, and warn them in time of impending danger. How many cases of puerperal insanity, or of that insanity that comes on after childbirth, might be prevented by timely precautions, by quieting the fears of the timid and desponding; by such advice and suggestions to those who are about to become mothers, and to their husbands and friends, as will prevent the occurrence of any sudden or severe disappointments during, or soon after, travail. Those predisposed to insanity, or who have suffered from a previous attack, should be particularly advised and guarded. When, however, insanity does supervene, as it frequently does after childbirth, it may often be remedied by proper treatment without the removal of the patient from home; and as this is a matter of great importance, we beg leave to suggest to medical men the importance of thoroughly studying it. One of the best, as well as most recent articles on puerperal insanity which we have seen, is that by Dr MacDonald, in the American Journal of Insanity for October 1847. It is well worthy of attentive perusal by all engaged in the practice of the medical profession.-Report of the New York State Lunatic Asylum. 1 INDEX OF THE MONTHLY RETROSPECT FOR 1849. Abdomen, removal of a foreign body from, Abortion, partial, in cases of plural preg- Abscess, fæcal, cases of, by Dr J. Thurnam Abscesses, on cervical, by Mr Hargrave 200. 21. Addison, Dr, on anæmia with disease of the Agriculture, effects of the use of arsenic in, Alexandre, M., mechanical leech of, 152. Amputation, on the means of ensuring suc- Anæmia, disease of the suprarenal capsules, Anda, oil of, on the purgative properties of, Anderson, L. B., unusual phenomena at- Ankle-joint, amputation of the, by M. Ro- bert 9. Anus, case of imperforate, by Dr Hooper 243. Aorta, wound of, by a foreign body, by Mr Apparitions or spectral illusions, by Dr R. Arsenic, on calcined magnesia against poi- Artery, carotid, effect of ligature of the 205; Baillarger, M., on monomania 65. Baron, Dr C., on localisation of cutaneous Basedow, Dr, on injurious effects from house Baudin, M., on amputation of the thigh 10. diseases 195. Bell, Dr C. W., on the relation of cholera to Bellingham, Dr, on congenital malformation Bennett, Dr J. R., on dissecting aneurism, Bernard, Dr C., on origin of sugar in the Bernard, M. A., on tumours over the knee- Bernard, M., on the production of sugar in size 245. Berton, Dr A., on slight catarrh of cystitis Birth, quintuple, by Mr J. Russell 107. Bissel, Dr E., on calcined magnesia against Blandin, M., on wound of the right kidney Blandin and Ville, MM., on the effects of Blatin and Chassaignac, MM., means pro- Blood, error in Andral and Gavarret's, Botany, indigenous medical (American) re- Bouillaud on the diagnosis of endocarditis 8; notes from the clinical lectures of, by Bousquet and Herard, on the simultaneous Brachet, M., on partial abortion in cases Brainard, Dr, on iodine injection in spina Bronchi, case of a foreign body in, by Mr Bronchitis and pneumonia of infants, by Dr Browne and Skae, Drs, on double conscious- Buck, Dr G., on treatment of oedema of the Buehring and Tilt, Drs, on ovarian tumours 17. Bullar, Dr J., cotyledon umbilicus in epi- Bullock, Mr, on sulphate of amorphous qui- nine 91. Burdon, Dr, on the influence of the mother's Cabaret, M., on reduction of strangulated Cæsarean section, successful case of, by Mr Calculi, biliary, diagnosis and treatment of, Calculus in the kidney, diagnosis and treat- Campbell, Mr, Cæsarean operation under Cancerous submaxillary gland, on extirpa- Canton, Mr, on a rare kind of aneurism 106; Capellati, M., on treatment of varix by gal- Carbonic acid, exhalation of, in health and Cardon, M., on action of nitrate of potassa Catarrh, on local application of nitrate of Cauterisation of poisoned wounds, by M. Chambers, Dr, on inhalation of medicated Charcoal, animal, hygienic properties of, by Chassaignac, M., on utility of the double li- Chemical and pathological notes, by Prof. Chest, configuration of, in emphysema, by Chevalier, M., on chicory coffee 190. Chorea, symptoms of partial, by Dr Todd 160; on the treatment of, by MM. Trous- Choreic affections, on peculiar forms of, by Chloroform in dental surgery, by Mr Clen- Churchill, Dr, on tincture of Indian hemp Cimicifuga racemosa, on, by Dr Davis 20. sential oils of, by Prof. D. Mitscherlich 134. Clavicle, fracture of the left, by M. Jobert Colchicum, poisoning by tincture of, by M. Colleville, M. de, recovery from the effects of Congenital closure of the rectum, by Mr Conium, successful employment of, in ul- Consciousness, on double, by Drs Skae and Constipation, obstinate, on nux vomica in, Cooper, Mr W. W., on protrusion of the Copper, arsenite of, injurious effects from Cormack, Dr, on puerperal convulsions 173. Cretinism, on, by M. Fauconneau-Dufresne Crosse, Mr, on reduction of simple disloca- Curling, Mr, on long-standing stricture of Cutaneous disease, localisation of, by Dr C. Cynanche tonsillaris, by Dr W. England Cystitis, slight catarrh of, by Dr A. Berton Daphne Mezereon, poisoning by, by Dr Dauvergne, M., on gangrene senilis 58. Davis, Dr, report on indigenous medical bo- De Saussure, Dr, abscesses of the iliac fossa Deltoid, lipoma under, 60. Delvaux, M., on nitrate of silver as a vesi- Delany, Dr, case of congenital glossocele Denny, Mr, on the re-union of parts, after Denham, Dr, on anesthetic midwifery 208. Detmold, Dr, on the effects of highly con- Devilliers and Miquele, MM., on renal Diabetic patients, bread for, by Dr Percy Diarrhoea and vomiting in fever, by Dr Diday, M., on removal of indurate lympha- Digitalis, recovery from the effects of a large Dobie, Mr W. M., on the structure and con- Dorsey, Dr G. V., on the resection of the Dorvault, M., adulterations and tests of Dropsy, renal, produced by copaiva, by Mr Drug-grinding, on, by Prof. Redwood 19. bour, when proper to induce ? 13; on Dyspepsia and gastralgia, on vegetable char- Ether, effects of, on the phenomena of re- Eve, Dr P. F., on lithotomy 226. Excision of the clavicle, by Mr Potter 244. Fallopian tube, catheterism of, by Dr Tyler Fauconneau-Dufresne, M., on cretinism 141. Fergus, Dr W., on poisoned confectionery 94. 85. Ferrus, Dr, on epidemic cerebro-spinal men- Fever, puerperal, causes of endemic, by C. Fibre, voluntary muscular, on the structure 114. Fistula, vagina, new treatment of, 234. Fleming, Dr A., clinical notes taken in the Flourens, M., on the absence of vomiting in Fluid, a new disinfecting 238. Foetus in utero, influence of mental impres- Forbes, Dr, on thermal springs of Leukerbad 219. Friedleben, Dr, on atelectasis pulmonum 54. Funis, prolapsus of, during labour, by Dr Gabb, Mr, on death from impaction of food Gangrene senilis, by M. Dauvergne 58. phthisis 7; on oxalic acid in the blood in Gastralgia and dyspepsia, on vegetable char- George, Mr, on congenital closure of the Gerdy and Ferguson, MM., on staphylora- Glairine and glairidine, by M. Bonjean 188. tion of, by M. Jobert 147; diseased pros- Glossitis, idiopathic, by Dr Graves 52. 182. Glottis, on the treatment of œdema of, by Glycerine, its therapeutic uses 168. vannes 44. Golding, Dr R. C., on bronchitis and pneu- Gonorrhoea, new treatment of urethral pains Gout and phthisis, on antagonism of, by Dr Grandidier, Dr, on hydrometra in an un- Graves, Dr, on vomiting and diarrhoea in Gunshot wounds of the head, experiments Gutta perchia membrane for protecting skin Hairion, Dr, on gonorrheal ophthalmia 37. Hamilton, Mr W., on purgative properties Hancock, Mr, on removal of os calcis 82. Hare-lip, proper period of operating for, by Hargrave, Dr, on the operation of tying the Hargrave, Mr, on cervical abscesses 200. |