various periods under observation. The treatment generally consisted in complete change of life, antisyphilitic medication, preferably hypodermic, hydrotherapy, and attention to the general nutrition. He says there is no a priori reason why paresis in its early stages may not be sometimes cured, and he holds that the cases he here reports point that way, and indicate the importance of an early diagnosis and treatment of this disorder which has been heretofore considered incurable. 66 SUGGESTION.-F. J. Runyon, Clarksville, Tenn. (Journal A. M. A., May 6), calls attention to the need of a proper mental attitude toward the power of suggestion, which, as he says, runs like a thread through every method of treatment, wise or otherwise." He also notes the dangers of self-deception in medicine and of drawing deductions from imperfect data or without due power of discrimination. While suggestion is often a power for good in the hands of the physician, it is one that may be abused and result in great and lasting harm. It is the main instrument of the pretenders; he reviews some of the noted instances of their exploitation of human credulity. The point emphasized by him. is that the true practice of medicine is the intelligent application of common-sense principles and forces. THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF THE X-RAYS.- First referring to his earlier articles on the subject, W. A. Pusey, Chicago, gives (Journal A. M. A., May 13) the results of his later experience with the X-ray. In some disorders, such as hypertrichosis and lupus erythematosus, the results have not equaled expectations; in some others, such as tubercular glands and joints and deep sinuses, the results have been variable, though with some marked successes. The value of the X-rays has been most markedly demonstrated in sycosis, tinea, acne, rosacea, lupus vulgaris, blastomycosis, cutaneous carcinomata, and senile keratoses. The value of the X-rays has also been shown in hyperidrosis, inflammatory dermatoses, pruritus, nevi, keloid, sarcoma, and as a prophylactic after operation for malignant disease. In some other conditions, abdominal tuberculosis, actinomycosis, mixed tumors of the parotid, there has been apparent benefit from the X-rays, but Pusey does not feel inclined, from his experience, to make any very positive generalizations. In the deeper situated cancers, as might be expected, the treatment is less hopeful, though palliation may be hoped for, and some surprisingly good results are reported. In conclusion, Dr. Pusey gives his latest experience with pseudoleukemia, leukemia, and goiter. In the former he has repeatedly seen clearing up of the glands, but in the only case he has been able to follow up there have been repeated recurrences. In true leukemia he has seen like good effects as regards disappearance of the enlarged glands, but generally without any corresponding improvement in the condition of the blood. One remarkably successful apparent cure is reported, the blood examination revealing normal conditions and the patient apparently well. In some small parenchymatous goiters he has seen reduction in size of the tumor, but in most of his cases no benefit was observed. MANDRAGORINE TABLETS-A SPECIFIC IN BY O. B. CHRISTIE, M. D., HANNA CITY, ILL. The James Alkaloidal Co., St. Louis, Mo.: DEAR SIRS: The case I used your Mandragorine treatment for drug addiction on last June went through the treatment without any disagreeable symptoms at any time during the treatment, and gradually gained in weight and gained in spirit from the first day of the treatment, and says that he has not had the slightest desire for the drug since. Patient had taken at times as high as twenty grains of morphia a day, hypodermically. Your treatment is certainly without doubt a specific in the truest sense of the word for the morphine habit, and I don't believe it could be improved upon. It can be used at home by the patient with the best of results and safety, with little inconvenience to the physician, for there is not a harmful drug in it, but, on the contrary, it builds up the whole system from the first. I am very grateful for what it has done for my case, and I shall use it in all such cases hereafter. November 26, 1904. MANDRAGORINE TABLETS IN DRUNKENNESS. BY WM. H. MURPHY, M. D., DYER, ARK. The James Alkaloidal Co., St. Louis, Mo.: GENTLEMEN: After so long a time, I am now ready to report on the results of the case of alcoholism that I treated with your Mandragorine tablets for drunkenness sent me some time ago. It was pretty hard to get him to consent to continue treatment, as I have formerly informed you, but finally got him onto it; and, by the way, I used the two bottles you sent me, alternating with the medicine I promised to return, and long before the last dose was taken he declared himself perfectly free from all desire for alcoholic stimulants. Indeed, he said that the smell of whisky was very offensive to him. This man has been a constant spreer for twenty years, so in order to still prove the efficacy of your treatment it has been three months or over since he left off treatment, and tells me that he has had no desire whatever for stimulants of any kind. Therefore I conclude that this one case is sufficient proof that you have a sure and painless cure for alcoholism, as the patient never complained of anything during treatment, but was cheerful and hearty all the way through, attending to his daily business. August 12, 1904. MANDRAGORINE TABLETS IN TOBACCO HABIT. BY C. C. EDSON, M. D., VEEDERSBURG, IND. The James Alkaloidal Co., St. Louis, Mo.: Gentlemen:— - Enclosed find draft for two more treatments for the Tobacco Habit. Your remedy seems to be It. I have tried many, and this is the first and only treatment that does cure. January 18, 1905. THE CLINICAL FORMS OF GASTRIC CARCINOMA.-L. Bard (British Medical Journal, March 25, 1905) emphasizes the importance of grouping cancers of the stomach according to their clinical symptoms rather than to their mere pathological appearances. He divides them first into two groups, pyloric and extrapyloric. In the former troubles of motility and of passage predominate; in the latter glandular perversions and digestive troubles; hence we have two great clinical syndromes. Each group he again subdivides into forms, typiques, frustes, and larvees. The pyloric forms, when typical, produce dilatation of the stomach; they are easy to diagnose from other cancers, difficult from other forms of stenosis. There are three varieties: I. Annular stenotic cancer; 2. Juxtapyloric cancer with secondary stenosis; 3. Prepyloric ulcerative cancer. In Nos. I and 3 cachexia is often absent. The distinction between juxtapyloric cancer on the side of the small intestine and primary stenotic cancer is important. The former is separated by two signs. The later supervention of the syndrome of stenosis and characteristic vomiting, which in place of appearing first, as in the primary form, is preceded by a phase of simple dyspepsia, emaciation, and loss of strength; and secondly, the production of hypertrophy of the stomach without a notable dilatation and descent of the colon. Stenosis following late in a patient already anorexic on an organ already invaded and fixed by adhesions cannot exercise on it an effect as powerful as on a healthy organ keeping its digestive power and subject to copious ingesta. Pyloric ulcerative cancer has a slower progress, is more subject to recurrences, and it causes more severe pain and more frequent hemorrhages than the other two forms. The stenosis is more spasmodic than organic and the cachexia is little marked. This variety is the result of cancer developing upon an ulcer. The form fruste is the colloid cancer. This produces pyloric insufficiency, not stenosis; there is no dilatation, habitual diarrhea replaces the vomiting of typical forms, and cachexia is marked. The form larvee is represented by the cylindroidal submucous variety; its cancerous nature is still contestable. It stimulates esophageal trouble, vom iting comes on rapidly after food, and there is considerable diminution in the size of the stomach. Extrapyloric forms: The typical ones answer to the ordinary classical description of stomach cancer. The formes frustets are two: (1) a painful dyspeptic form simulating ulcer or gastritis; and (2) a cachectic form without gastric phenomena. The formes larvees simulate pernicious anemia, cancer of the esophagus or liver, tuberculous peritonitis, etc. The author thinks operative measures are most satisfactory in annular pyloric cancer, ulcerative forms, and the dyspeptic type of extrapyloric cancer. PERITONEAL GAUZE DRAINAGE. W. D. Haggard, Nashville, Tenn., in the Journal A. M. A., May 27, calls attention to the fact that the fancied necessity for drainage after abdominal section has been greatly lessened by the knowledge that the peritoneum can easily dispose of considerable amounts of blood and serum and that accumulations of pus are generally sterile. He calls attention to the likelihood of wound infection from drainage after hernia operations, and to the danger of resulting hernia after infected abdominal wounds, and states that this is infrequent after wounds which have healed aseptically He advocates drainage through the cul-de-sac of Douglas, and describes his methods in detail. He places the gauze in the abdomen so that, after the operation is completed and the incision sutured, the gauze may be reached through a new incision in the vagina with less danger of infection. THE VERMIFORM APPENDIX, considers Sir Wm. McEwen, instead of being a useless organ and a mystery in the human anatomy, has a very important function in assisting digestion. It should be parted with only as a last recourse to save life, being the chief habitat of a micro-organism whose business it is to attack imperfectly assimilated nourishment. Am. Med. Jour. THE London Medical Society has awarded its Fothergillian prize for 1905 to Sir F. Treves. |