82 
POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS. 
[February, 1891. 
before it is opened, it can be isolated without dif" 
Acuity. It is then best to lay it open, and ascer- 
tain from within wliat extensions and communi- 
cations it lias ; these must be dealt with, and then 
as much of the cyst-wall removed as possible. 
In dressing the wound, pressure should be applied 
with wool dressing, and the limb bandaged in a 
semi-flexed position, so tliat the skin ami soft 
parts fall togetlier, and a tightly-stretclied scar 
is avoided, llie same method may be extended 
to the enlarged bursse over the olecranon and pa- 
tella. Tlie treatment of the swellings in the 
sheaths of the tendons in relation to the wrist- 
joint is next discussed. Those simple ganglia 
which are too large to rupture, are best treated by 
excision; an incision is made over the swelling, 
which is isolated as far as possible ; it is then laid 
open and its prolongations defined ; as much of 
the cj'St-wiiU as can be isolated is then cut away, 
and the posterior portion lying over the wrist- 
joint is left. As a rule, the wound heals by first 
intention without any adhesion of the tendons. 
In cases of compound ganglia, the operation is 
sometimes very complicated, the tendons being 
studded over with a velvety memliraue and vas- 
cular fringes, lilic the lining memliraue of the 
cyst-walls. In these cases the tendons nmst be 
picked up separately and systeraatioally cleaned 
one by one ; when this is done, tlie w ouud should 
be stitclied up, and, as a rule, good movement is 
obtained in a short time. — London Med. Bee, 
which also lives in Russian marslies, river mud, 
and village pools. 
A CiGARKTTE IN THE BKONCOU.S KOK FOUK 
Months. — Dr. Lapeyre mentions iu a Paris medi- 
cal journal a remarkable case in whicli an elderly 
gentleman, iu consequence of a sudden slap on the 
back, uncouciously drew tlie cigarette he was 
smoking into his right l)roncliu8, where it re- 
mained witliout causing any symptoms or in any 
way revealing its presence for nearly two mouths, 
when it set up pneumonia of a circumscribed area, 
and produced cardiac weakness and some tedema 
of the legs. After this condition had lasted with- 
out much change for about two months the pti- 
tient expelled, during a violent fit of coughing, 
the cigarette, enveloped in mucus aud waxy-loolc- 
ing matter, and tlven remembered that lie had 
never fouud his cigarette after the slap on the 
back four months before. The pneumonia per- 
sisted for two or three months after the expulsion 
of tlie foreign body, and some oedma of the right 
leg, due probably to embolism, remaiued at the 
date of the report nearly a year later. Tills, as 
well as some other cases that have been published, 
appears to show that tlie bronchi are exceedingly 
tolerant of foreign bodies even wlien not encysted. 
— Lancet. 
The Popular Science News 
AND 
Boston Journal of Chemistry. 
A Monthly Journal devoted to the popular 
phesentation of all the branches of 
Physical and Xatuual Science, and 
the results of the latest dis- 
coveries and investigations. 
> 
Popular Science News Company, 
.Sclerosis of the Lungs in Porcelain 
WOKKERS.^-Dr. Lemaistre has published a paper 
upon sclerosis of the lung as induced in the work- 
ers in porcelain. Sections of the lung are gener- 
ally colored, according to the material that has 
been introduced ; but here the lung is blackish, 
although the substance introduced may be white, 
owing to luflammatory conditions. The symptoms 
are analogous to tuberculosis, and the diagnosis is 
difficult. The posterior asiject of the lung is most 
frequently the seat of the sclerosis. Sometimes 
the sounds of pulmonary euipliysema, or of pleu- 
risy, may be Iieard. It is, however, dlffei-entiated 
from emphysema by the absence of tympanitic 
sounds. The sputa are characteristic. There is 
no hectic fever or nocturnal sweating. Men are 
more frequently attacked than women. He has 
found bacilli in the sputa, and regards the disease 
as a tubercular fibrosis. Tlie silicious particles 
produce ulcerations in the bronchi, upon which 
the tubercular matter is grafted, aud continues to 
exert an irritant action which induces hyperplasia 
of the connective tissue. This, to a certain ex- 
tent, is salutary. Iodides constitute the best 
treatment in this form of sclerosis. — Le Progris 
Medical. 
Grafting the Thyroid for My.kiedema. — 
Tlie operation of grafting the tliyroid in a case of 
myxedema has again been performed with suc- 
cess. The patient was shown at a recent meeting 
of the Societe Medicale des H6pitaux in Paris ; the 
thyroid graft was taken from a living sheep at the 
time of the operation ; no antiseptics were used, 
but the graft and wound were kept carefully asep- 
tic. Healing occurred liy first intention, aud the 
patient, a woman aged forty-one, improved con- 
siderably. The improvement apjieared to be due 
in great part to the arrest of metrostaxis, from 
which the patient had previously suftered for 
months at a time; the hemorrhage ceased three 
days after the operation, and had not recurred 
when the report was made three nioutlis later. 
The swelling of tlie face had decreased, the 
pseudo-lipomata diminished, and the mode of 
speaking became more natural, — British Medical 
Journal. 
The Cradle OF 1nfli;enza,— Professor Tes- 
sier, of the medical faculty of Lyons, has returned 
from Russia, whither he was sent Last March to 
take evidence upon tlie course of influenza there, 
and the various conditions of its evolution. He 
found tliat influenza is a growth of Russian soil, 
and when not a raging malady is a smoldering 
one. The way tlie people live in winter, locked 
up in heated houses ; the flatness of the soil, its 
consequent bad drainage, and universally sodden 
condition when the April thaw begins ; the fllthl- 
ness of the farmyards, the village streets, and the 
rivers, which liecome suddenly swollen, and on 
falling leave a putrid mud behind ; all conduce to 
make influenza endemic. Its microbe is, in fact, 
to be found iu this mud. Dr. Tessier calls it a 
strepto bacillus, ^^■hat is peculiar in this disease 
The Operation of the Rejiovai, of the Gas- 
SERIAN Ganglion for tic douloureux. lias recently 
been done by Professor William Rose, of Loudon, 
The patieufs eye was lost on the attected side, but 
the neuralgia ceased, niis is said to Ije the first 
instance in which such an operation has been 
done. 
publishers, 
5 Somerset Street, Boston. 
^SETH 0. BASSETT, 
Manager. 
subsckiption eates. 
One Dollar per year, post paid. One Dollar aud Tweiity- 
dve Cents to foreign countries in Postal Union, 
ptiblisl^eps' ©olcJH^Ij), 
Try our Clubbino List when ordering your reading 
matter for 1891. Send in the list of periodicals you want, 
for estimates, and see what we can save you. 
Nevek begin your correspondence with " I," but in what- 
ever way you commence a letter, be sure it is written with 
one of EsTERBBOoK's Popular Steel Pens. 
All subscriptions to this journal received to January 2T 
liave been credited on our mailing books, and the printed 
address label of this number. See if yours reads, Jan., '93, 
Subscribers ordering a change of address will please 
be particular to give the OLD address as well as the new 
one. Much time and trouble will be saved the publishers 
by attention to this small matter. 
one hundred aud sixty-flve Artificial Ice Machines 
liave beeu built up to date at the well-known manufactory 
of David Boyle, at Chicago. All are in successful opera- 
tion and liave given universal satisfaction. In many in- 
stances they have supplanted the less eOicient machines of 
other makers. 
I HAVE prescribed "Colden's Liquid Beef Tonic," 
and cheerfully state that it has met my most sanguine ex- 
pectations, giving to patients long enfeebled by chronic 
diseases, debility, weakness, loss of appetite, and Indigea.. 
tlon, the needed nutrition and nerve food.— De. S. J. Belt, 
Baltimore, Md. 
The advertisement of Buffalo Lithia Water on page 
2 is worthy of a careful perusal. The physiological action 
of mineral waters is little understood, and not always easy 
to account for; but there seems to be no doubt of their ben- 
eficial elTect, and the claims made for the Bufl'alo spring 
are supported by high medical testimony. 
1% tbeaUiiUiCe with this bacillus of pneumococcus, i let you know." 
A Humorous Health Officer.— The Michigan 
State Board of Health recently took Health Oflicer 
Davis, of Close Village, to task for failing to send 
in liis weekly reports. His reply «as unique. He 
says : " lliere has not been enough sickness here 
in the last two or three years to do much good. 
The physicians find time to go to Milwaukee on 
excursions, serve as jurors iu justice courts, sit 
around on dry-goods boxes, and beg tobacco, 
chew gum, and swap lies. A few sporadic cases 
of measles have existed, but they ^vere treated 
mostly by old women, and no deaths occurred. 
There was an undertaker in the village, but 
he is now in the State prison. It is hoped and 
expected tliat when green truck gets around, 
melons plenty, and cucumbers in abundance, that 
something may revive biwiness. If it does I will 
The Tyeh Rubber Co., of Andover, Mass., has one of 
the most completely equipped factories in the Stiite, and Is 
prepared to undertake special work of any description to 
order, in addition to its regular line of rubber goods for 
physicians, druggists, and families. Among its most useful 
specialties are atomizers, syringes, and abdominal bands, 
which have a high reputation among the trade. Ask your 
druggist for the TVKIAN brand, or write direct to the manu- 
facturers at Andover. 
Dr, Mendel, of Berlin, says that the Inebriety of coffee, 
it not as dangerous to others may be as liarmfui to its sub- 
jects as alcoholism; and there is little dispute of the fact 
that in the high nerve tension of American make-up, tea 
and coffee become so harmfully and habitually necessary, 
as to render their frequent use dangerous, as tending to 
drive the physical machinery faster than it was Intended to 
run, thus causing incalculable wear and tear. Of late there 
has grown up a far more rational, because healthful custom 
—that of cocoa-drinking. This custom has been largely 
brought about by the introduction into this country of that 
Incomparable product of the cocoa beau. Van Houten's 
Cocoa. This cocoa is almost absolutely nutritious aud 
strengthening to the nervous system. Gently stimulating, 
it aids digestion and all the flesh-forming functions, aud is 
peculiarly adapted for the nervous and dyspeptic. Van 
Houten'8 Cocoa has a world-wide reputation as being 
•uperlor to anything of the kind maoufaotur«d, 
