MARYLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL. 
On the action of bromide of ethyl in 
hysteria and epilepsy. 1st. In the 
cases of hysterical patients the attacks 
have been almost constantly sup- 
pressed when the drug was adminis- 
tered at the beginning of the attack. 
2nd. In cases of epilepsy the attack 
being at the tonic period, the action 
of bromide of ethyl was manifested in 
some cases by the cessation of the 
convulsions and the production of a 
complete muscular resolution; the 
attacks have often appeared to dimin- 
ish in intensity and duration, some- 
times the effect has not been appre 
ciable. — Amer. Journal Medical . Sci- 
ences . 
Burns and Frostbites* — Dr. H. G. 
Boyland in discussing this subject* 
classifies burns under three heads by 
a difference in degree : 1st. Inflamma- 
tion without exudation under the epi- 
• dermis. 2d. With exudation, blisters, 
etc. 3d. Death of the parts, gangrene. 
Frostbite is said to admit of an identi- 
cal classification and the progress of 
of the affection is regarded as almost 
precisely the same, although the pro- 
cesses brought about by burning are 
more of an acute and active character, 
while those caused by freezing are 
more torpid. Attention is also called 
§ to the fact that the most intense effect 
of cold upon the general system (frost 
asphyxia) is doubtless due to the same 
direct cause as sunstroke, namely, 
congestion of the brain. 
Dr. Boyland makes his treatment 
consistent with his pathology, treating 
both affections at first by cold. He 
gives bicarbonate of soda its proper 
place, however, as practically the best 
dressing for all ordinary burns.— Med. 
and Surg. Reporter. 
New Books Received. — “ Nasal 
Catarrh.” By Beverley Robinson, A. 
M., M. D., Lecturer upon Clinical 
Medicine at the Bellevue Hospital 
Medical College, N. Y. Wm. Wood 
& Co., Publishers, New York, 1880. 
For sale by Henry Fleetwood, Balto. 
“ Diseases of the Pharynx, Larynx 
285 
and Trachea.” By Morell Macken- 
zie, M, D., London. Wood’s Library 
of Standard Medical Authors. Pub- 
lished by Wm. Wood & Co., New 
York City, 1880. For sale by Henry 
Fleetwood, Baltimore. 
“A Treatise on Diseases of the Eye.” 
By J. Soelberg Wells. New Edition. 
Published by Henry C. Lea & Co., 
Philadelphia. 
“ Slight Ailments, their Nature and 
Treatment.” By Lionel S. Beale, M. 
B., F. R. S., Fellow of the Royal Col- 
lege of Physicians. Presley Blackis- 
ton, Philadelphia, 1880. pp. 346. 
Price $1.50. 
Treatment of Prolapsus Ani in 
Children. — Dr Basevi (Giornale In- 
ternazionalle delle Science Me die he, 
Fasc. 9) employs the following treat- 
ment in chronic cases of this affection. 
He first cauterizes lightly the protrud- 
ing portion with nitrate of silver and 
then reduces it, administering after- 
ward, with the view of checking any 
tendency to enteritis, an enema of 
tannic acid, alum, and ice-cold water. 
Should this treatment prove insuffi 
cient, the child is placed on a bed 
with the nates upward, and steadied 
by two assistants, one of whom fixes 
the upper part of the body while the 
other holds the knees elevated and 
somewhat abducted. The prolapsus 
having been reduced, the nates are 
brought together, and two strips of 
diachylon plaster, each about two 
inches wide, are passed from one tro- 
chanter to the other in as close prox- 
imity as - possible" to * 4 fi^^i^inaeum. 
To keep them in place, a spica band- 
age is applied around the lower por- 
tion of the body, and a piece of gutta 
percha is added to protect the plaster 
from the contact of fecal matter. The 
apparatus may be left in position for 
two weeks. — London Medical Record . 
Paracentesis of the Pericardium. 
— Dr. Kummell, of Berlin, relates, in 
Berliner Klinische Wochenschrift , 23, 
1880, and Med. Rec ., July, 1880, the 
history of two cases in which this op- 
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