30 
POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS. 
[Fe bruary, 1890. 
The removal of warts b\- excision with some sharp 
instrument, as a razor or bistoury, was formerly 
much practiced, and is still the method of treatment 
employed by a few. It is, however, not usually to 
• be advised, even though it may appear to be a 
rational plan of treatment. The wound produced 
bv the sharp instrument employed for the excision, 
usually heals at once without producing any degen- 
eration of the roots of the papilla; and deeper struc- 
tures, and these by continuing to enlarge and 
elongate, in not a few instances soon elevate their 
heads quite as high above the surface of the skin as 
they were previous to excision. Although the vital- 
ity of these excrescences is usually not very great, 
still considerable hemorrhage may be caused by thus 
cutting the enlarged vessels of the papillae. We 
would, however, recommend excision of peduncu- 
lated warts, occurring upon the eyelids and other 
portions of the face, and the excision should be 
thus performed : Traction should be made upon 
the growth with a pair of forceps applied to its 
free extremity, and it is then snipped oft' as low as 
possible with a pair of curved scissors. For these 
warts this treatment is usually quick, thorough, and 
causes but momentary pain. 
Warts can be destroyed by caustics, and although 
this is the plan of treatment most universally re- 
commended, and is, in fact, quite efficacious, still it 
has serious disadvantages and can in no way com- 
pete with a form of treatment yet to be described. 
The application of caustics is often attended with 
much pain, their action is exceedingly slow, they 
discolor the tissues to which they are applied, and, 
what is of more consequence, they not only destroy 
the wart, but when applied in sufficient strength and 
amount to accomplish this end, they also invade 
and destroy the surrounding tissues, thus producing 
a wound which in healing almost invariably leaves 
an extensive scar. If, however, the treatment by 
caustics is adopted, let them be properly applied. 
Pare down the wart with a sharp knife to the level 
of the surrounding skin and then apply some strong 
caustic,— as the nitrate of silver stick, or nitric, 
muriatic, or glacial acetic acid, — repeating the appli- 
cation daily until the wart is destroyed. Care 
should be taken not te apply the caustic to the nor- 
mal tissues. 
These growths may also be destroyed by the gal- 
vano-cautery, or even the actual cautery, but in the 
experience of the writer, by far the best way of re- 
moving all ordinary warts is by means of the der- 
mal curette, or " sharp spoon." A rather large 
sized instrument should be employed. Its edge 
should be forced deeply around the base of the wart, 
which usually comes away with the production of 
but little pain and scarcely any bleeding, leaving a 
clean ulcer, which soon heals over, so as to form a 
smooth and uniform surface. By this means a 
large number of warts can be removed at one sitting. 
This is a favorite method of most dermatologists, 
and we could easily cite numerous cases which have 
been under our own personal observation, to prove 
its efficacy. After the use of the curette, the result- 
ing ulcers may be touched with the lunar caustic 
stick, or otherwise stimulated, but this will usually 
be unnecessary, as the curette itself usually produces 
sufficient irritation to the roots of the over-nourished 
papillae to cause their entire absorption. In default 
of the dermal curette, these growths may well be 
removed by means of a stout pair of dressing for- 
ceps — such as is to be found in every complete sur- 
geon's pocket-case. The wart is firmly grasped 
from above with the forceps, and twisted from its 
base. The therapeutical treatment of the common 
warts is so uncertain that we may dismiss it without 
further consideration. Dr. Verco reports a case in 
which a severe crop of these growths disappeared 
rapidly during a sea voyage, but we can quote nu- 
merous cases in which they have persisted under 
similar circumstances. J. H. E. 
*»* 
[Original in Popular Sei*ht€ ^ w«.J 
A SIMPLP: WATER STILL. 
BY EPHRAIM CUTTER, M. I). 
When one lifts the cover of a dinner pot or wash 
boiler, the amount of hot water that will drip from 
the cover is noticeable. Now this water is con- 
densed steam. 
The idea struck the writer, why not utilize this 
for procuring pure water for drinking use in places 
where the natural water is not potable, i. e.. alkaline 
or salt. 
Acting on this hint I made a sketch of a device to 
do this for a patient who went to live at Malad 
City, Idaho, where the water was alkaline, three 
years ago. I tested it at home on -the kitchen range 
and it worked well. It was also tested with success 
in 1889, in London, at 119 New Bond street. 
DESCRIPTIOX OF THE STILL. 
(A) Does away with the worm. (B) With the 
condensing water. (C) Condenses by air which as 
fast as heated passes off". (D) A reservoir of 
tinned iron, 18x9 inches, with tight top, which fits 
into a kettle. 
At the bottom is soldered a flange of tin flaring 
upwards. At B is a tube to lead off the water 
that condenses inside and runs down the sides. 
The drops of distilled water are aerated during 
their fall through the air to receptacle, and becomes 
palatable, unlike ordinary distilled water, which 
goes from the still into the receptable without con- 
tact with the atmosphere. 
Fig. I. One eighteenth actual size — is a section 
of the apparatus made in London to show the prin- 
ciple. A B B' is a tin cylinder, 9 inches in diameter, 
and 18 inches high, covered with a conical tight 
cap. D is camp kettle — any common pot or kettle 
will answer. E is a handle. F F' is a flange to fit 
the kettle or pot as seen in any cover to a dinner 
pot. C C is another flange liWe F F', turned upside 
down, so that water condensed on the inside, 
A B B', and rnnning down, may collect and run 
into a receptacle, H. The use is clear. Put water 
bad as it may be in the camp kettle D. Set on 
stove, range, or fire, so that when ABB' is put on 
the kettle the tube B G may come oyer the recep- 
tacle II. Then have a gentle fire so that steam will 
not issue from G. Pure distilled water will soon 
drip from G, which will be whole-oome to drink. 
XEW POINTS OP THIS APPARATUS. 
I. It does away with a worm and cold water for 
condenser. It is found that there is a current of air 
from all sides cooling the condenser, A B B', enough 
to give with this apparatus five pints in ten hours. 
2. The distilled water of the chemist is known to 
be brackish, but this is due to the distillate being 
discharged in closed, or comparatively closed, ves- 
sels. In the present case the water in drops falls 
through the air, arid this pre.sents a large surface to 
the atmosphere, Avith the practical result of an 
aerated water like that of a spring. 
3. The material shnuld be tinned iron, — not 
zinc, which distills zinc oxide, — or may be of 
enamelled ware, glass, porcelain, crockery, clay, 
potter^', etc. 
4. Variations. — Take a dinner pot, remove cover 
to it and fit a tin cylinder to cover eighteen inches 
long; at the other end put flanges and tube as above, 
and this will also do the work. The apparatus may 
be made coUapsibla, like the collapsible drinking 
cup. Liquids of a less boiling-point that water can 
also be distilled with this device, for example, 
alcohol. 
Water produced by this process will be pure and 
clear as crystal. The importance of .purified water 
is great. The late Consul General of Japan in the 
United States, Mr. S. K. Takahashi, told me that 
when cholera in Japan carried off thousands, none 
of the Chinese died of it. He thought this immu- 
nity was due to their drinking-water always being 
boiled and filtered. The highest medical official of 
the British army told me that when he had rain- 
water, boiled and filtered, his health did not suffer, 
while ordinary water would make him feel unwell. 
1130 Bro.\dway, New York. 
*.>v 
CHLORIDE OF AMMONIUM IN WINTER 
COUGH. 
Dr. William Murrell, of London, possesses 
high scientific attainments combined with a rare tal- 
ent for getting up a new cough remedy every year. 
Terebene, apomorphia, sirup of tar, have all been 
recommended as marvels of therapeutic utility. 
For the coming winter. Dr. Murrell proposes to 
give us chloride of ammonium inhalations. This is 
not a new thing, but it is served in a little different 
style. Dr. Murrell, however, does not depart en- 
tirely from his earlier loves, for he usually employs 
the chloride of ammonium vapors as a vehicle for 
using terebene, sandal-oil, or some other balsamic 
compound. 
We rejoice to see that Dr. Murrell possesses not 
only an orginal and observant mind, but that he 
has a sense of humor which adds much to the 
interest of his clinical notes. In illustration of 
the value of the ammonium inhaler, he cites the 
following case : 
" N. B. , a general, retired. Is deaf. Has 
been deaf for years. Was in the artillery. Says all 
gunners are deaf, so that they never hear anything 
not good of themselves. Has strange noises in his 
ears. Dislikes any noise in a 'room, especially 
rattle of knives and forks at dniner. Prefers dinin" 
alone on this account. General conditions very 
bad, partly from want of exercise. Has consulted 
all the specialists, and has had his ears examined 
with many strange instruments. Says that the 
advantage of consulting many doctors is that no two 
of them agree, and you are not alarmed by what 
they tell you. Not much in favor of inhalers. 
Tried one once, but it blew up. Is introduced to 
the inhaler, and takes to it kindly. Chloride ol 
ammonium used first alone and then with pinol. 
Purchases one for himself, and at end of month 
writes to say it has done him much good." 
This is a report of a case full of practical sugges- 
tiveness. 
The following note is almost equally valuable : 
