name want of time to put them into that scientific form, and clear logical order, under which alone an innovation so daring has any chance of being entertained, much more of being accepted, by the profession. This task, however, I hope to complete in the course of a few months. Meanwhile I have thought it well to place this memorandum, by way of record, in the hands of a friend, to be made public at any moment should occasion seem to require it. Manor House, Clifton, Dec. 1st, 1866.

[Western Journal of Medicine.

Aneurism of the right Subclavian Artery treated by direct Pressure on the Arteria Innominata.

In the Medical Press and Circular for July 3 and August 7, 1867, Mr. Porter, Surgeon to the Heath Hospital of Dublin, reports a case of aneurism involving the three portions of the subclavian artery. The patient had also another aneurism of the right femoral close to and passing above Poupart's ligament.

"As the subclavian aneurism was evidently thinning and threatening soon to become diffused or burst externally, Mr. Porter considered his a fair case to give him the chance (although unpromising) of a cure by occluding the artery on the distal side of the tumor. He therefore decided upon attempting to obliterate the ancurism by placing an acupressure needle under the axillary artery in its first stage for fifty hours. The general tendency to aneurism in his system induced Mr. Porter to prefer giving this mode of closing the vessel a trial, instead of throwing a ligature round it, which might, in the first instance, suddenly cut through the artery if diseased, or, when coming away, be followed by fatal hæmorrhage. "June 26, 1867.-Mr. Porter laid bare the axillary artery in its first stage, after an external incision, four inches in length, extending in a curved direction inward, from the junction of the deltoid with the greater pectoral muscle, and at a level of half an inch. below the clavicle. He then isolated the artery with an aneurism needle, and passed a silver probe slightly bent beneath it, and bridged over the vessel with a loop of wire, after the manner of Sir James Simpson's third mode of acupressure. The tumor immedi

ately became reduced one-third in size, and all pulsation in his brachial and radial arteries ceased. The patient was then removed to bed, and a small bag of ice applied to the tumor."

On the 28th, the probe and wire were removed without hæmorrhage. The tumor was smaller and more firm, but the pulsations had not entirely ceased. The wound healed perfectly and the man was up and walking about in three weeks; but the pulsations gradually returned, and he became as strong as before the operation.

As the disease was increasing rapidly, Mr. Porter determined to attempt the cure by placing direct pressure on the innominate artery.

"July 31.-Mr. Porter laid bare the vessel after a tedious and careful dissection, which occupied nearly forty minutes. The operation he selected was almost similar to that performed by Mott. Instead of using the acupressure needle and wire, as on the former occasion, he employed a most ingenious instrument invented by Doctor L'Estrange, which somewhat resembles a double aneurism needle without eyes. It is furnished with a moveable handle. One blade is first carried under the vessel, and the second is then passed down on the artery, and is made to compress it like the manner in which the jaws of a lithotrite are closed, with the exception of the blades of this instrument being perfectly smooth and rounded. The blades are approximated by means of a screw, and when sufficiently brought together the handle is removed, leaving the needle in the wound. The patient bore the operation well, and all pulsation in the tumor was arrested by the instrument. He did not suffer the slightest inconvenience from shutting off the current of blood from that side of his head. A bag of ice was then applied to the tumor. Aug. 2.-Mr. Porter removed the needle; no blood followed, but pulsation returned strongly in the aneurism.

The case is, we believe, the first on record in which occlusion of the innominata has been attempted by pressure without ligation. — New York Medical Journal.

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Dr. J. J. Rooker, of Castleton, Marion Co., Ind., proposes to prepare some statistics, showing the effects of balls retained in the human body. Any one having cases of such injuries from firearms, and willing to report them, will be furnished with blank forms upon application to the doctor.

Editorial Department.

Dr. Gardner and New York Academy of Medicine--Consultations with Homœopathists.

Dr. Gardner has recently been suspended from membership in the New York Academy, charged with repeated consultations with a homœopath. Dr. Gardner makes no denial of the offense; says, under like circumstances, he would repeat it. The Academy, could, it seems to us, have consistently done nothing less, and Dr. Gardner, though a prominent and highly respectable physician, cannot afford to bear the odium which is certain to follow the course he has pursued. It is inconsistent and absurd on both sides, and very difficult to see why either physician or homeopath should consent to holding a consultation with each other. The Tribune, Times, &c., &c., have undertaken the defense of Dr. Gardner, but their articles all show profound ignorance of the real question, and go but a very little ways towards justification. We are highly gratified in having all who wish it, able to obtain advice and treatment from a homoeopathist-should feel very sorry if any should be deprived of such gratification; but our sympathies would be much greater for the homeopathist if asked to mix regular medicine with his thirtieth dilution." It would, undoubtedly, entirely subvert the effect of the dilution, while certainly the regular medicine would operate as usual. It would be the unkindest and meanest thing conceivable to thus interfere in the operations of a system of medical practice which requires such great care in patients that nothing be taken to neutralize the effects of its remedies, and whose adherents often strive weeks and months before the system can be cleared of the simplest and most harmless medicine by regular physicians. If Dr. Gardner can be so cruel as to impose thus, upon his opponents, he ought to be discharged from the New York Academy of Medicine, and summarily dealt with by the "Society to prevent cruelty to "—others.

Orthopathy and Dr. J. Jennings.

We have received a letter from Dr. Jennings, the author of the "The MedicoReligious" book, reviewed in our last number calling attention to the aims and objects of his work, and explaining what he understands to be the Orthopathic doctrine of disease. In his book, he defines Orthopathy to be "the upright upward tendency of natural law;" and his letter and book explains this definition so that, speaking medically, it means the doctrine, that disease has a natural tendency to terminate in health. Ile says, after illustrating the point with a case, "What will the BUFFALO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL JOURNAL say to it? I pause for a reply." If the doctor had been a faithful reader of this journal, he would have saved some time--would not have had to "pause" at all, but would have known what it had said, a great many times upon this very subject.

That most functional diseases terminate favorably, by force of "natural law," is now conceded by all intelligent physicians. It is generally believed by physicians

VOL. 7, NO. 5-25,

that most cases of disease which terminate favorably under the best treatment, would sooner or later thus terminate without treatment, that care, as well as cure of the sick, is the legitimate sphere of medical practice.

Our intelligent and venerable medical friend has mixed up with his Orthopathic doctrine, and sanctioned, the swindle of bread pills, &c., &c. He is a very religious and honest man with well people, but when his friends grow sick, he fools and imposes upon them bread pills and other inert compounds, showing his honesty by subsequently acquainting them with the cheat-the exposure being greatly to his credit. Physicians do this frequently, and continue the deception, but it is down right quackery and imposition; is a disgrace to the regular profession, and has lowered it to a level with similar impositions.

If there is any "upward upright tendency” in human nature at all, it will soon manifest itself by contempt for the low tricks of unwashed villany, and respect for honest, candid, truthful representations of the nature of disease and its means of cure. Physicians have given bread pills and colored water, homoeopathists sugar pills and sugar water; and other quacks have imitated both, and combined their impositions until common honesty requires a change.

We hope no one will wait very long after this, to know what the BUFFALO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL JOURNAL has to say upon the downright, downward, damnable tendency of dishonesty, practiced upon people who are sick. Dr. Jennings will please accept our warmest personal thanks for both letter and book. We cannot publish the letter for want of space.

Books Reviewed.

Catalogue of the United States Army Medical Museum: Prepared under the direction of the Surgeon General U. S. Army. Surgical Section, by Alfred A. Woodhull, Assistant Surgeon and Brevet Major U. S. Army. Medical Section, by Brevet Col. J. J. Woodward, Assistant Surgeon U. S. Army, in charge of the Medical and Microscopical Sections of the Museum.

An examination of this beautiful and elaborately executed work cannot fail to impress every one with the richness of the Army Medical Museum, and the great amount of statistical and valuable information which may be gathered from it. The total number of preparations, 6988, are mainly contributions from the medical staff of the Army; and this collection will forever stand as a monument to their fidelity and zeal in the cause of science, proving them to have been men thoroughly fitted for the performance of the responsible duties which devolved upon them.

The Surgical section, prepared by Brevet Major and Assistant Surgeon Alfred A. Woodhull, numbers 4719 specimens, which are arranged into 30 classes, with a view to the different regions and structures of the body. A uniform plan of subdivision, wherever practicable, has been adopted in each class, by which lesions the result of gun-shot injuries, lesions not the result of gun-shot injuries and surgical diseases are grouped together. We can conceive of no more perfect and systematic classification than that adopted by Dr. Woodhull. The preparation of the Medical and Microscopical sections-the former numbering 2120, and the latter 149 prepar

ations-was made by Lieut. Col. and Asst. Surgeon J. J. Woodward. The diseases peculiar to each organ or system of organs are classed together, and the wet preparations are prepared in such a manner to allow examination without injury.

The Catalogue shows there has been great care and skill in the preparation of these specimens. The illustrations by wood cuts and lithographic plates add very much to the value and interest of the work. One fact is greatly to be regretted, viz: but few copies have been ordered, only sufficient to furnish the principal contributors, editors of medical and scientific journals and American and foreign libraries. Many physicians would be glad to pay any price for the book, which cannot now be obtained in any manner. It is to be hoped a new edition will be required and this condition corrected.

Transactions of the American Medical Association, Vol. xviii, 1867.

The minutes of the Association at its last meeting have been published in the Journal, and require no notice. The first paper, then, in the volume not already before our readers, is the Address of the President, Dr. Henry F. Askew, which is well chosen and appropriate. His suggestions are valuable, essential we might say, to the prosperity of the Association and profession. He manifests the highest sense of professional honor, and urges upon the profession the "avoidance of all narrow selfishness, and boastful pretension," and makes suggestions of so vital importance upon many subjects, that we hope every physician will carefully read the Address. The volume also contains the following reports and papers: Report of the Section on the Practice of Medicine and Obstetrics.

Extra-Uterine Fœtation and Gestation, and the Early Signs which characterize it. By Stephen Rogers, M. D., New York.

Remarks on Heart Diseases as observed in the Military Service from 1861 to 1865 inclusive. By M. K. Taylor, M. D.

Report on the Section of Meteorology, Medical Topography, and Epidemic Diseases.

Report on Meteorology, Medical Topography, and Epidemic Diseases of Illinois. By R. C. Hamill, M. D., Chicago, Ill.

Report of the Section on Surgery.

On the Action of Belladonna in Disease of the Cornea. By Joseph S. Hildreth, M. D., of Chicago, Ill.

A Report on the Use of Plaster of Paris in Surgery. By James L. Little, M. D. Ligation with Depletion of Varicose Veins of the Leg, with a Case of Radical Cure. By B. Howard, M. D., New York.

Report of the Committee on Ligature of the Subclavian Artery. By Willard Parker, M. D., New York.

A Contribution to the History of the Hip-Joint Operations performed during the late Civil War: being the Statistics of Twenty Cases of Amputations and Thirteen Resections at this Articulation in the Southern Service. By Paul F. Eve, of Nashville, Tenn.

A Statistical Table on Lumbar Colotomy (Amussat's Operation) for the Relief of Non-Congenital Obstruction and of Vesico-Intestinal Fistula. By George C. Blackman, M. D.