preparation is a yellow oily liquid, with a very slight odor of iodoform. The strength should be about twenty-four grains of iodoform to the ounce of oleic acid. Oleic iodoform should not be rubbed in, but be lightly brushed over the surface with a camel's hair brush. Oleic iodoform, applied to the unbroken skin, produces slight stimulation, but when used upon ulcers and abrasions of the mucous membrance it acts as a decided astringent. If brought in contact with discharging surfaces and luxuriant granulations, it will check all secretions by contracting the vessels, condense the tissue, coat over the parts by precipitating the albumen, and so protect them from the the air. This combined stimulent and astringent action renders it a useful application in a variety of skin affections. In scrofulous diseases of the skin, it is a most valuable adjunct. When the glands are involved, and the oleic iodoform is applied over the surface, the stimulating and penetrating action of the combination assists rapidly in reducing them to normal size. In another class of strumous subjects, in which the lymphatic glands suppurate, break down and form scrofulous ulcers, which give exit to unhealthy and fœtid pus, the application assists in checking the formation of the pus, acts as a disinfectant by destroying all the odor, speedily reduces the abnormal state, and adds largely to the cure of the disease. Is also valuable in stimulating granulations and the hardened edges of chronic ulcers, and likewise restrains and deodorizes the discharges of the part. In boils and carbuncles, the free application before suppuration sets in, will lessen the pain, and at times cause them to abort. After an incision has been made in a carbuncle, the oleic idoform will overcome any noxious odor from the part, and will hasten the process of repair. In psoriasis of the head, the best application that can be used is oleic iodoform, which acts effectually with the proper internal remedies. By rubbing this preparation thoroughly into the scaly patches of psoriasis of the scalp it is quickly absorbed. Can also be used with great benefit in functional diseases of the sweat glands.

I have also found that a combination of the oleate of mer

Made

the local treatment of syphilitic affections of the skin. by adding about twenty-four grains of iodoform to the ounce of oleate of mercury. The combination is very beneficial in ptyriasis, especially of hairy parts of the body. It is one of the best parasiticides, and is useful in favus, tinea tonsurans, eczema marginatum, and tinea versicolor. In using it in this latter affection, the surface should always be washed with soap and water preparatory to application, and after repeated use it will be found that the itching will cease, and the fawncolored, dry and branny scales will gradually lessen until all traces of the disease have disappeared.

NITRE TABLETS FOR ASTHMA AND INSOMNIA.

Dr. William Murrell, in the British Medical Journal (Cincinnati Lancet and Clinic) writes: There can be no question as to the value of fuming inhalations in the treatment of asthma. The ordinary nitre-paper often fails, because it is not strong enough. For some time past I have been in the habit of using very thick and strong nitre-paper, which may be called "nitre-tablets." They contain both chlorate and nitrate of potash. Each consists of six pieces of white blotting paper, about six inches square, and they are made by dipping them into a hot saturated solution of nitre and chlorate of potash. Before the pieces are quite dry, they may be sprinkled with Friar's balsam, spirit of camphor, tincture of sumbul, or some aromatic. The nitre-paper so prepared is as thick as cardboard, each piece consisting of six pieces of blotting-paper, closely adherent, and covered all over with crystals of saltpetre and chlorate of potash. The door and windows having been closed, the tablet is placed on a fire-shovel or piece of metal of some kind, and folded down the middle, so as to make it like a tent or the cover of a book. When lighted at each end it burns very quickly, throwing out a flame often four or five inches long, and giving rise to dense volumes of smoke. The asthmatic patient almost instantly obtains relief, and drops off into a quiet slumber, from which he awakes refreshed. These tablets often succeed when the ordinary nitre

them with success in cases of insomnia when most of the ordinary remedies have failed. Large pastils composed of equal parts of nitre and lycopodium are also useful in asthma.

THE HYGIENIC VALUE OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

The French scientific journal La Nature summarizes a communication from Dr. Javal (The Medical Record), who believes that the electric light is absolutely without danger to the sight, in consequence of the amount of division which can now be obtained in it. L'Union Medicale also reminds its readers that similar researches of great interest from a scholastic point of view were published in that journal in May and July, 1881, including the researches of Dr. Cohn, of Breslau, who found that the electric light increases sixfold, as compared with daylight, the perception of yellow, and doubles the perception of green and blue. The observations of Dr. Blasius and Dr. Hoppe, in a discussion which took place at a meeting of the Brunswick Society of Natural Sciences, are also noteworthy. These scientists have shown that illumination by the electric light deserved preference over all other methods in use, for the following reasons: 1. It does not pollute the air with deleterious gases or other unhealthy products. 2. It induces a greater visual unity than with daylight or gaslight. The conclusion adopted by the meeting was, that "the hygienic qualities of the electric light have not hitherto been appraised at their real value."

THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL ON DISEASED CONDITIONS.

A large volume could be written on this subject, but a few words will serve our present purpose, which is to call the attention of physicians to the great influence that the use of alcohol may have on various diseased conditions of the human system. (The Cincinnati Lancet and Clinic-Med. and Surgical Reporter.) The effects of alcohol have been frequently, and we might say, exhaustively discussed, and as a result, when we distill all the arguments, pro and con, we are forced to believe that, to say the least, alcohol is not of any particular benefit

it is true, in which it may and does do good, but the weight of evidence is in favor of the doctrine that, in the large majority of cases, it is only productive of harm. We all know that a large majority of men use alcoholic drinks as ordinary beverages, and without themselves realizing how much they drink, many of them will daily consume at least a pint of whisky, who consider themselves, and are generally regarded, as only moderate drinkers.

No doubt (we speak from experience) many physicians have had, from time to time, presented to their notice instances of chronic disease in which remedies that ought to produce certain effects have failed to do so, and they wonder and cannot comprehend why this should be so. May it not, in many cases, be due to the counteracting influences of even moderate alcoholic indulgence? For illustration, let us select nasal catarrh. Here we have a congestion of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. Alcohol has a tendency to produce congestion of all the cranial contents. Suppose you may use all the most approved astringent remedies to contract the dilated vessels and remove this nasal congestion, and at the same time the patient continues to use alcoholic drinks; you will have a hard road to travel; it will be like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom; your astringent efforts will be overcome by the congesting influence of alcohol.

Again, we might instance chronic gastritis (which is often produced by the inordinate use of alcohol); your remedies, though well directed, may fail to afford relief if the patient continues the use of alcohol. We all know, for sure, this much, any how, that alcohol is a local irritant, and we know that local irritation means a congestion of the part so irritated; therefore, when alcohol is taken into a congested stomach, you may use all the remedies in the pharmacopoeia, yet this irritation and congestion will persist, since it is constantly being produced. We might go on indefinitely, illustrating our argument, but it is unnecessary.

Our purpose has been merely to direct your thoughts into the channel indicated, and to cause you to think that chronic

When you meet a chronic disease that does not yield to your weil selected remedies, and when you are at a loss to account for thus failure, inquire into the tippling propensities of your Jatient. Do not be satisfied when he tells you that he is a materite trinker." but peer minutely into his habits, and earn what moderation means in his particular case.

La some, moderation means a pint or two of whisky daily, or forty glasses of beer; while to others four or five ounces of whisky would constitute excess. This is a collateral considerazon in the Treatment of disease, not to be overlooked, while attention to it will surely aid much the remedial action of

DEVERANCE BETWEEN DIPHTHERITIC AND CATARRHAL FALSH MEMBRANES.

Ir de Alberts Bulletin della scienze Mediche-CincinWith Luaces and Canie obtained, by the action of sulphuric acué se zve-diphteritic false membranes, crystals which were unsoluble in ether and alcohol, but soluble in alkalies, and which on examination proved to be tyrosine. The crystals could not be formed from true diphtheritic membranes.

The author comes to the following conclusions:

1. Diphtheritic false membrane has a different chemical constitution from an inflammatory membrane.

2. The nature of a false membrane can be determined by the microscope and by the action of sulphuric acid upon it.

SURGERY.

REDUNDANT SCROTUM EXCISION IN VARICOCELE.

Dr. R. J. Levis (Philadelphia Medical Times and Chicago Medical Review) claims that by excision of the reduniaat scrotum in varicocela better results are obtained than by ligs non of the spermatic veins, that the operation is much less dangerous, and the secondary consequences are not so pernicious. The operation is performed with the aid of the clamp devised by Dr Heny The excision should embrace a por