174 



POPULAR SOIEl^OE ]S"EWS. 



[November, 1889. 



Prof. Semmola, in a lecture delivered at the 

 University of Naples, has again called attention to 

 his method of treatment of cirrhosis of the liver. 

 The method is very simple, and consists in the 

 enforcement of a pure milk diet, no solid food what- 

 ever being allowed. It is only in the earlier stages 

 of the disease that a cure can be expected — before 

 •trophy of the organ has advanced. 



Prof. Stokvis, of Amsterdam, has recently per- 

 formed some experiments on the action of certain 

 medicines upon the heart of cold-blooded animals, 

 the heart being isolated from the body of the ani- 

 mal. He observed that digitalis produces on the 

 heart, thus isolated, an augmentation in the fre- 

 quency and energy of its contractions ; it acts on the 

 vaso-motor centre, and on the muscular fibres, 

 giving rise to augmentation of the blood-pressure. 

 He infers from these effects that digitalis is indicated 

 when'the pulse- is frequent, small, irregular, when 

 there is accumulation of venous blood, and when 

 diuresis is diminished. Strophanthus is more active 

 than digitalis, but has no influence on the vaso- 

 motor centre, the augmentation of blood-pressure 

 being due to its stimulant action on the heart. 

 Adonis vernalis and convallaria majalis act with 

 less persistence than digitalis. Sparteine diminishes 

 the force of the heart and does not act on the vaso- 

 motor centre. 



In the treatment of mental diseases, the American 

 Journal of Medical Sciences refers as follows to the 

 use of hypnotics, sedatives, and motor depressants : 



"Paraldehyde is the purest and least harmful 

 hypnotic yet introduced, when insomnia is marked 

 and intractable. Urethran and sulphonal cannot 

 compare with it. Opium and chloral have special 

 dangers and disadvantages. _, j^ A combination of 

 cannabis indica and the bromides is the best and 

 least harmful of the general sedatives ; and hyoscin 

 is the best pure motor depressant, but it needs great 

 care." 



Dr. Goodheart (British Medical Journal) has 

 used pilocarpine successfully in relieving the itching 

 of jaundice in six cases, with not a single failure. 

 One patient had one-third of a grain injected, and 

 always with this result, — that during the first 

 twenty-four hours he was quite free, the second he 

 was fairly free, and the third he was considerably 

 troubled again, and the dose had to be repeated. 

 When it is considered that there is really nothing 

 that can be relied upon to relieve this distressing 

 symptom of jaundice. Dr. Goodheart's plan may 

 prove of service. 



Dr. H. Shirmer, of Mount Carroll, 111., writes 

 to the Medical Record an account of a case of deli- 

 rium tremens, in which tonic spasms were but par- 

 tially overcome by the inhalation of six ounces ol 

 chloroform. He then gave chloroform internally 

 in teaspoonful doses every fifteen or twenty minutes. 

 Six of these controlled the patient, and the next day 

 he was able to go out, though not entirely recovered 

 from his two weeks' spree. He was a large, muscu- 

 lar man, and there was no question that the convul- 

 sions resulted from excess of alcohol. 



Djt. R. jAMiN (Abeille Med.) reports favorable 

 results from the electrical treatment (eleven applica- 

 tions) in a case of nocturnal enuresis in a girl ot 

 fifteen, and in whom no amelioration had been 

 obtained by prolonged medicinal treatment. He 

 used direct laradization with an olive-tipped bougie 

 applied to the urethra, after the advice of Guyon. 



Dr. P'lasher, (Algem. Med. CeiUr. Zeitung), for 

 the treatment of ha;matemesis, considers hot water 



the safest and most efficient remedy. He gives it in 

 successive quantities of one-half to three-fourths of 

 a tumblerful, and as hot as can be borne. Coagula- 

 tion of the blood occurs quickly, as shown by the 

 subsequent vomiting of pieces of clot, which are 

 discharged without further hemorrhage. 



Dr. George C. Irwin, Sabetha, Kan., {Arch. 

 Ped.), reports a case of uncomplicated pertussis, 

 with severe laryngeal spasms of hourly occurrence, 

 in an infant three months old. Other remedies 

 having failed, he gave phenacetin in half-grain 

 doses in ten drops of glycerine, which is a solvent. 

 It gave immediate relief, being repeated every four 

 hours. 



Dr. a. Bowie (London Lancet) has successfully 

 emploj'ed small doses of tincture of nux vomica in 

 cases of heart failure of an alarming character. The 

 doses should be repeated every half hour at first, 

 and gradually at longer intervals. Other treatment 

 as may be indicated. 



Dr. Imossi (Bui. Oen. de Therap.) recommends 

 the employment internally of tincture of iodine, ten 

 drops, twice daily, for adults, for the dispersion of 

 warts, and gives successful cases. 



MEDICAL MEMORANDA. 



According to the eminent physiologist, M. Sap- 

 pey, the stomach contains five million of glands by 

 which the gastric juice is secreted, and a few others 

 which secrete only mucus. 



Foundlings as Freight. — The Russian Minister 

 of the Interior has just issued an ordinance to all 

 railway officials prohibiting the further packing of 

 small children in baskets and forwarding them to 

 the foundling-houses in the great towns as hand- 

 luggage. The children were often packed as many 

 as eight in one basket. The object of shipping the 

 poor waifs in this way was to avoid the payment of 

 fare, as it appears that the rules of the Russian rail- 

 ways always require payment for children of what- 

 ever age they may be. 



Increase of Suicides. — The Washington Life 

 Insurance Company reports a decided tendency to 

 increase of suicides in recent years. Shooting is the 

 means selected in about ene-half the cases. It is 

 more frequent among the young than among the 

 old, and on this account the company's a priori 

 expectation had been in the direction of a decrease 

 in this cause. This expectation has been balked, 

 and the writer of the report goes so far as to say- 

 that the increase in recent years has not been purely 

 a matter of accident, and that the decisions of the 

 courts have not been such as to discourage suicide 

 among the insured. 



A Very Bold Experimental Operation for 

 the removal of the myxoedema which has followed 

 complete removal of the gland, is now under trial, 

 according to the Therapeutic Gazette. It consists in 

 inserting a fresh, healthy piece of the gland in the 

 abdominal cavity, with the hope that it may form 

 attachments and perform its mysterious function. 

 In one case, probably by pressure upon the large 

 intestines, the inserted mass, after the complete 

 healing of the wound, caused such violent colicky 

 attacks that it had to be removed, but in most 

 instances no evil effects have followed the insertion. 

 What becomes of the transplanted gland is not yet 

 known. A case was recently shown that had been 

 operated upon about three months previously, in 

 which the presence of the gland in the abdomen 

 could apparently be still demonstrated by palpa- 

 tion, etc., and in which, the patient asserted, his 

 general condition was much better than before the 

 abdominal section. 



published monthly by the 



Popular Science News Company, 



*$ Soiueritet Street, Bostou. 



ONE DOLLAR A YEAR IN ADVANCE. 



SETH C. BASSETT, 

 Manager. 



SPECIAL NOTICE. 



The Publishers of the NEWS earnestly request thiit sub- 

 scribers will make their remittances either by draft on Bos- 

 ton or New York, or by a postal order. If it is absolutely 

 necessary to mail money, it should be sent only in a regintf-retl 

 letter. The publishers decline to assume the risk oi money 

 mailed in unregistered letters. 



Remittances will be duly credited on the printed address la- 

 bel of the paper; but if they are received after the 15th of the 

 month, the change in the label cannot be made until a month 

 later. If a formal receipt is desired, a two-cent stamp or a 

 postal card should be enclosed with the remittance. 



Publisliers' Golunjij. 



For the very little onus, Babvland, published by D. Loth- 

 KOP Co., Boston, is just the thing. The illustrations and read- 

 ing matter are equally excellent, and it is only 50 cents a year. 



Orders for the Ice Machines and Cooling Apparatus 

 manufactured by David Boyle, the very best in the market, 

 should be placed now, so that they can be delivered in ample 

 season for next summer's business. Correspondence invited. 



The publications of The Century Co. need no commenda- 

 tion, as they are universally recognized as standing in the very 

 front rank of periodical literature. The Centuky for adults 

 and St. Nicholas for young people, will be a constant source 

 of enjoyment through the entire year. 



The American Academy of Medicine is endeavoring to make 

 as complete a list as possible of the Alumni of Literary Col- 

 leges, in the United States and Canada, who have received the 

 degree of M. D. All recipients of both degrees, literary and 

 medical, are requested to forward their names, at once, to Dr. 

 K.J. Dunglison, Secretary, 814 N. 16th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 



Extract of report from the celebrated physician, Erasmus 

 Wilson ; 



"Several cases of incipient consumption have come under my 

 observation that have been cured by a timely use of 'Liebig's 

 Liquid Extract of Beef Tonic' (Colden's.) 



"Erasmus Wilson, M. D., F. K. S., 

 "19 Henrietta St., Cavendish Sq., London W." 



Dr. H. P. Atherton, Great Barrington, Mass., says: "I 

 have been using and prescribing Hohsford's Acid Phos- 

 phate for a number of years. The results have been so satis- 

 factory as to justify me in giving it my imqualified indorsement. 

 I have found it a refreshing and exhilarating beverage during 

 summer months. In a case of reformed inebriety, I have ob- 

 served its restorative effect in toning up the system, and correct- 

 ing the nervous derangement, ot the subject." 



[STERBROOK'S 



STEEL 

 PENS 



— ■ • -^mmm. 



Leading Numbers ; 14, 048, 130, 333, 161. 



For Sale by all Stationers. 



THE E8TERBROOK STEEL PEN CO., 



Worlu, Cundsn, N. J. 26 John SU Now York. 



