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REVIEWS. 
inches in circumference close to the ground, and the largest of several branches into 
which it divides at about a foot from the ground is 11£ feet long.” In Jamaica and 
Trinidad, young plants derived from the same source have grown with great vigour. 
Those in the latter island are described by Mr. Prestoe, Director of the Botanic Garden 
(under date Dec. 8th, 1864) as “ nearly five feet high: their aspect beautiful in the 
extreme. I do not remember to have seen foliage of a more glossy or darker green; 
and they will doubtless be, ere long, magnificent trees. The rapidity of growth in such 
plants in this country is something truly wonderful.” 
Growth of Cinchona in Jamaica. —Although numerous plants of Cinchona in 
this island have been lost, owing to the selection of an improper site for a plantation, a 
few which have been planted on the mountains at about 4000 feet above the sea-level 
have thriven with the utmost luxuriance. In a letter, under date 23rd December, 1864, 
just received, Mr. N. Wilson, Director of the Bath Botanical Garden (Jamaica), thus 
describes the rapid growth of some of the young cinchonas:—“. . . I measured one 
lately and found it to be eight feet in height, seven inches in circumference at base of 
stem ; and it had eighteen branches, some of them three feet long, with numerous la¬ 
terals. In fact, nothing can exceed the progress of these plants, which, when I planted 
them three years ago, were but three inches in height.” 
Cinchona-Culture in the Himalaya.— The number of Cinchona plants in the 
Government plantations at Darjeeling, on the 15th July, 1864, was 19,516. This 
number includes 4904 plants of CincJiona succirubra , Pav., 172 of 0. Calisaya , Wedd., 
10,460 of C. officinalis , L., 1705 of C. micrantha , Wedd., and 2275 of C. pahudiana , 
How. No efforts are now made to propagate the last-named species, the bark of which 
is ascertained to be of inferior value. 
Oil of Bergamot in the Treatment of Itch. —The ‘Boston Medical Surgical 
Journal ’ states that M. Manfre, the venerable clinical professor in the University of 
Naples, has published in a Roman political newspaper, many articles on the rapid cure 
of itch. The best remedy, which he says he has thus far tried with complete success in 
his clinical service, is the oil of bergamot, which cures instantly, or at most in two 
minutes, even where the eruption is general. According to him, this remedy, more 
economical, less irritating, more prompt in its insecticide effects than Helmerich’s oint¬ 
ment or sulphur, makes the wards appropriated for patients with this disease in hospi¬ 
tals superfluous ; for a single friction over the whole affected surface is sufficient to 
effect a perfect cure. The patient may return home immediately after this application, 
the precaution being taken of making him change his clothing, or of thoroughly purify¬ 
ing that which he has worn. An ounce or two of oil of bergamot is enough to com¬ 
plete the cure. According to M. Manfre, the same remedy may be advantageously 
substituted for all those employed for the destruction of the pediculus pubis. For a long 
time physicians have known the insecticide power of the essential oils, and there may 
be found in some formularies many receipts of M. Aube for the cure of itch in two 
minutes. The essential oil of turpentine mixed with essence of lemon, is the basis of 
the treatment recommended by this author. Before him, M. Gras had recommended 
the essential oil of lavender, which is quite analogous to that of bergamot, and has the 
additional advantage of not costing more than a quarter or half as much.— Dublin 
Medical Press. 
REVIEWS. 
Treatment of Diseases of the Skin. By Dr. William Frazer, Lecturer on Materia 
Medica to the Carmichael Medical School. Dublin: Fannin and Co. 1864. 
Skin Diseases ; their Description, Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment, with a copious 
Formulary. By Tilbury Fox, M.D. Lond.; Senior Physician to St. John’s Hospital 
for Skin Diseases ; Physician to the Farringdon General Dispensary ; Author of 
‘ Skin Diseases of Parasitic Origin,’ etc. London : Hardwicke. 1864. 
During the last few months, several works on Skin Diseases have been published in 
this country, indicating the increased interest which has arisen in so important a class 
