N. MATERIA MEDIC A, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE. 651 



causes during this hot period of nearly two weeks was more 

 than twice as great as the normal value for that month. 

 Report of Board of Healthy PhiladelpMa^ 1872. 



NEW TREATMENT OF CONSTIPATION. 



The Medical Times and Gazette contains an abstract of a 

 paper by Dr. Macario, of Nice, upon a new treatment for con- 

 stipation, which he has employed during twelve years with 

 such success that he can not but consider it as infallible. 

 He remarks that this affection may be produced either by 

 intestinal excitement with deficiency of secretion (nervous 

 constipation), or in consequence of deficient contraction of the 

 muscular coat of the intestine. In nervous constipation he 

 prescribes the following pill : Pure sulphate of iron, ten centi- 

 grammes ; socotrine aloes, five centigrammes ; atropine, from 

 one third to one half of a milli2;ramme. In the atonic form 

 of the disease, one centigramme of the powder of nux vom- 

 ica may be substituted for atropine. By the use of one to 

 three of these pills, immediately after dinner, in the manner 

 referred to by Dr. Macario, he promises that the evil will be 

 entirely overcome, the number of pills being graduated to 

 produce a moderate effect. 



Their use is not to be continued indefinitely, a longer in- 

 terval being allowed to elapse between their administration 

 in proportion as the constipation diminishes, ceasing altogeth- 

 er after a time, to be again resorted to with a return of the af- 

 fection. 20 A^ June 21, 1873, 659. 



CLIMATE AND DISEASE. 



Herr J. Molner, of Pesth, who has for many years conduct- 

 ed meteoroloQjical observations in connection with health at 

 the Hospital of St. Roche in that city, has published some 

 conclusions, as follows : He is convinced that meteorological 

 changes reflect themselves in the number of the sick. It is 

 not, however, on the next day, but, according to the extent 

 and duration of the meteorological oscillations, on the second 

 and following days, that the results of the changes find their 

 expression in an increased number of sick. From this he has 

 been led to the conclusion that the main influence of the 

 meteorological elements on the human organism is produced 

 by their changes. Hence a comparison of the true means 



