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BRITISH AND AMERICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

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530 these very cases, Dr. Hall had, in his second memoir on the subject, insisted that to acquire any importance they I’ll would require to be observed anew, and with a distinct reference to these recent views of the nervous system." Thus, to say the least, the facts of " Anonymous" are, in the first instance, questionable. What Dr. Hall really says is, that in cases of cerebral paralysis as regards motion (" Anonymous" has confused loss of motion with loss of sensation), the muscular irri- tability of the paralysed limb is increased beyond the healthy standard; that limbs so paralysed exhibit the reflex actions, when irritated, more perfectly than limbs under the control of volition. He infers that the spinal marrow is the producer of muscular irritability, and that the cerebrum, as the organ of voluntary motion, is the exhauster of it; and he proves, by experiment and observation, that in cerebral paralysis the muscular irri- tability and the reflex phenomena are great in proportion to the loss of voluntary control over the affected limbs. On the other hand, Dr. Hall shows that in spinal paralysis, or in paralysis from lesions of nerves after their exit’from the cranium, or vertebral canal, the irritability of the muscles to which they are distributed, and all the reflex phenomena dependent on such nerves, are sus- pended. Dr. Hall further considers that when cerebral paralysis has existed long, the irritability, or tone, together with the loss of voluntary control over the affected limbs, causes chronic constant contractions of the muscles ; this is seen in cerebral paralysis, in certain idiots with the cerebrum hypertrophied, and in those forms of ankylosis in which the limb becomes contracted from keeping it for a long time in one position. In the last instance it occurs, as in paralysis, from the continued action of tone and the absence of voluntary motion. Throughout his paper " Anonymous" has mistaken this property- tone-for reflex-motor action! Dr. Hall also refers to the effect of general shock on the spinal marrow. He states that the effect of shock is at first to destroy the reflex actions, but that they are afterwards gradually resumed. " Anonymous" has not recognised this, or some of his cases would no longer appear inexplicable to him. But to go more to particulars. "Anonymous" does not recognise the distinction, on which Dr. Hall insists, be- tween cerebral and spinal paralysis, or that in which the cerebral function is destroyed or removed; without which not a step can be taken in the inquiry. " Anonymous" observes that « true reflex functions, when exhibited, show, not that the cerebral influence is destroyed, but that it is merely perverted, and that when the brain ceases to have all influence over the palsied parts the reflex functions cannot be excited, though there is no reason to suppose any alteration in the condition of the spinal marrow." Cannot the reflex actions be ex- cited when the brain loses its influence ? Indeed ! Then how does this writer account for the reflex phenomena in the decapitated animal, or in the animal from which the cerebrum and cerebellum have been carefully removed? In complete paraplegia, complete as to the influence of volition, or in the anencephalic infant ? The writer speaks of 11 cases where the reflex pheno- mena were present so long as the paralysis was incom- plete,-so long, in fact, as some cerebral influence was retained over the palsied limbs; while, as soon as this influence ceased and the paralysis was complete, the reflex functions were at the moment rendered inactive." Such cases are impossibilities, they can exist only in the imagination of the author. The reflex actions are obvious in paraplegia m proportion to the degree in which the cerebral influence is removed. Anonymous" says,-" In many apoplectic cases the patient is suddenly deprived of sense and voluntary motion, or with complete hemiplegia, no reflex pheno- mena being apparent in the affected limbs ; but, after a certain period, the limbs begin to contract, and after- wards remain in a rigid state." The true explanation of this is that the effect of the shock suspends for a time the reflex actions ; but, after a while, the spinal marrow recovers its irritability, or tone; and if « Anonymous" had made his experiments at this time, instead of imme- diately after the shock, he would have found the reflex function active. After a still longer time the continued effects of tone, while the brain is only " imperfectly restored," causes the rigid contractions of the limbs. Instead of explaining it thus, 11 Anonymous" con- founds cerebral influence, spinal influence, shock, and tone, all together, and makes the following most absurd and unwarrantable inference :-« That when the effects of the shock on the brain have somewhat subsided, its functions become gradually, but still imperfectly, re- stored ; the consequence is that the limbs become more or less contracted." In other words, chronic rigidity of the limbs is a function of the brain ! Once more let it be borne in mind that the reflex or spinal actions exist when the brain is entirely removed, for this indisputable fact involves the whole proof of the distinct functions of the brain and spinal marrow. Let " Anonymous" ponder well before he again attacks the opinions of a man who does not merely say but prove. Should he make himself master of the works of Dr. Marshall Hall, he will find that since he began his career of discovery no physician of the present age has written so much that is original, or proved so much of what he has advanced. It may be said of him that he writes in per- fect cubes, his facts lie so firmly impacted together that it is difficult to find a crevice by which they may be moved. M. B. BRITISH AND AMERICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS. THE SOFT OCCIPUT-ITS NATURE, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENT. THIS affection has not hitherto been noticed by medical writers. It consists in a softening of the cranial bones, and consequent thinning of those parts of the skull, such as the occiput, which are much exposed to pressure: hence the designation of " soft occiput." Dr. Elsaesser considers it a variety of rickets,—that form which rickets assumes in the infant. In the course of five years, forty cases have come under his notice, fourteen of which have prove fatal. The predisposing calise of this disease is a congenital weakness of the constitution, with which is usually asso- ciated a tardy development of the whole body, and es- pecially of the osseous system. Impure air, damp, and want of cleanliness, are also powerful exciting causes. The disease is more common in winter than in summer. The symptoms of "the soft occiput generally make their appearance about the third or fourth month; the children sleep ill, and with their eyes half open ; roll the head much about, and perspire much, especially about the head. They are surprisingly cheerful during the day. The whole nervous system is extremely excitable. The digestive organs are more or less disturbed, and catarrh and diarrhoea are common. The rules by which the treatment is to be regulated do not differ from those that would apply to delicate children in general, except in regard to the pillow for the head, which should be soft, elastic, cool, and so formed as not to allow the head to sink too deep into the pillow. The medicinal treatment of the disease consists in the admini- stration of preparations of iron, which the author thinks answer better than the oleum jecoris aselli, or than qui- nine, and other tonics. With these internal remedies, the employment of tonic baths was combined. Baths, containing decoctions of aromatic herbs, or an admixture of iron, were used with benefit; but none appeared to do so much good as tan-baths. These were prepared, by boiling two or three handfuls of ground oak-bark, such as is used by tanners, in two or three quarts of water, for half an hour, and then adding the decoction to the bath. Cold sponging may be advantageously combined with the use of this bath. - British and Foreign Rev. and Cormack’s Journal. The Medical Gazette, June 25, says-" The Infirmary for the Diseases of the Rectum, we, for our part, esteem a libel upon medical science. Are the public aware of
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these very cases, Dr. Hall had, in his second memoir onthe subject, insisted that to acquire any importance theyI’ll would require to be observed anew, and with a distinctreference to these recent views of the nervous system."Thus, to say the least, the facts of " Anonymous" are, inthe first instance, questionable.What Dr. Hall really says is, that in cases of cerebral

paralysis as regards motion (" Anonymous" has confusedloss of motion with loss of sensation), the muscular irri-tability of the paralysed limb is increased beyond thehealthy standard; that limbs so paralysed exhibit thereflex actions, when irritated, more perfectly than limbsunder the control of volition. He infers that the spinalmarrow is the producer of muscular irritability, and thatthe cerebrum, as the organ of voluntary motion, is theexhauster of it; and he proves, by experiment and

observation, that in cerebral paralysis the muscular irri-tability and the reflex phenomena are great in proportionto the loss of voluntary control over the affected limbs.On the other hand, Dr. Hall shows that in spinalparalysis, or in paralysis from lesions of nerves after theirexit’from the cranium, or vertebral canal, the irritabilityof the muscles to which they are distributed, and all thereflex phenomena dependent on such nerves, are sus-pended.

Dr. Hall further considers that when cerebral paralysishas existed long, the irritability, or tone, together withthe loss of voluntary control over the affected limbs,causes chronic constant contractions of the muscles ;this is seen in cerebral paralysis, in certain idiots with thecerebrum hypertrophied, and in those forms of ankylosisin which the limb becomes contracted from keeping itfor a long time in one position. In the last instance it

occurs, as in paralysis, from the continued action oftone and the absence of voluntary motion. Throughouthis paper " Anonymous" has mistaken this property-tone-for reflex-motor action!

Dr. Hall also refers to the effect of general shock onthe spinal marrow. He states that the effect of shock isat first to destroy the reflex actions, but that they areafterwards gradually resumed. " Anonymous" has notrecognised this, or some of his cases would no longerappear inexplicable to him.But to go more to particulars. "Anonymous" does not

recognise the distinction, on which Dr. Hall insists, be-tween cerebral and spinal paralysis, or that in which thecerebral function is destroyed or removed; without whichnot a step can be taken in the inquiry." Anonymous" observes that « true reflex functions,

when exhibited, show, not that the cerebral influence isdestroyed, but that it is merely perverted, and that whenthe brain ceases to have all influence over the palsiedparts the reflex functions cannot be excited, though thereis no reason to suppose any alteration in the condition ofthe spinal marrow." Cannot the reflex actions be ex-cited when the brain loses its influence ? Indeed ! Thenhow does this writer account for the reflex phenomena inthe decapitated animal, or in the animal from which thecerebrum and cerebellum have been carefully removed?In complete paraplegia, complete as to the influence ofvolition, or in the anencephalic infant ?The writer speaks of 11 cases where the reflex pheno-

mena were present so long as the paralysis was incom-plete,-so long, in fact, as some cerebral influence wasretained over the palsied limbs; while, as soon as thisinfluence ceased and the paralysis was complete, thereflex functions were at the moment rendered inactive."Such cases are impossibilities, they can exist only in theimagination of the author. The reflex actions are obviousin paraplegia m proportion to the degree in which thecerebral influence is removed. Anonymous" says,-" In many apoplectic cases the

patient is suddenly deprived of sense and voluntarymotion, or with complete hemiplegia, no reflex pheno-mena being apparent in the affected limbs ; but, after acertain period, the limbs begin to contract, and after-wards remain in a rigid state." The true explanation ofthis is that the effect of the shock suspends for a timethe reflex actions ; but, after a while, the spinal marrowrecovers its irritability, or tone; and if « Anonymous"had made his experiments at this time, instead of imme-

diately after the shock, he would have found the reflexfunction active. After a still longer time the continuedeffects of tone, while the brain is only " imperfectlyrestored," causes the rigid contractions of the limbs.

Instead of explaining it thus, 11 Anonymous" con-

founds cerebral influence, spinal influence, shock, and .

tone, all together, and makes the following most absurdand unwarrantable inference :-« That when the effectsof the shock on the brain have somewhat subsided, itsfunctions become gradually, but still imperfectly, re-stored ; the consequence is that the limbs become moreor less contracted." In other words, chronic rigidity ofthe limbs is a function of the brain !Once more let it be borne in mind that the reflex or

spinal actions exist when the brain is entirely removed, forthis indisputable fact involves the whole proof of thedistinct functions of the brain and spinal marrow. Let" Anonymous" ponder well before he again attacks theopinions of a man who does not merely say but prove.Should he make himself master of the works of Dr.Marshall Hall, he will find that since he began his careerof discovery no physician of the present age has written somuch that is original, or proved so much of what he hasadvanced. It may be said of him that he writes in per-fect cubes, his facts lie so firmly impacted together thatit is difficult to find a crevice by which they may bemoved.

M. B.

BRITISH AND AMERICAN MEDICALJOURNALS.

THE SOFT OCCIPUT-ITS NATURE, SYMPTOMS, ANDTREATMENT.

THIS affection has not hitherto been noticed by medicalwriters. It consists in a softening of the cranial bones,and consequent thinning of those parts of the skull, suchas the occiput, which are much exposed to pressure:hence the designation of " soft occiput." Dr. Elsaesserconsiders it a variety of rickets,—that form which ricketsassumes in the infant. In the course of five years, fortycases have come under his notice, fourteen of which haveprove fatal.The predisposing calise of this disease is a congenital

weakness of the constitution, with which is usually asso-ciated a tardy development of the whole body, and es-pecially of the osseous system. Impure air, damp, andwant of cleanliness, are also powerful exciting causes.The disease is more common in winter than in summer.

The symptoms of "the soft occiput generally maketheir appearance about the third or fourth month; thechildren sleep ill, and with their eyes half open ; roll thehead much about, and perspire much, especially aboutthe head. They are surprisingly cheerful during the day.The whole nervous system is extremely excitable. The

digestive organs are more or less disturbed, and catarrhand diarrhoea are common.

The rules by which the treatment is to be regulated donot differ from those that would apply to delicate childrenin general, except in regard to the pillow for the head,which should be soft, elastic, cool, and so formed as notto allow the head to sink too deep into the pillow. Themedicinal treatment of the disease consists in the admini-stration of preparations of iron, which the author thinksanswer better than the oleum jecoris aselli, or than qui-nine, and other tonics. With these internal remedies,the employment of tonic baths was combined. Baths,containing decoctions of aromatic herbs, or an admixtureof iron, were used with benefit; but none appeared to doso much good as tan-baths. These were prepared, byboiling two or three handfuls of ground oak-bark, such asis used by tanners, in two or three quarts of water, forhalf an hour, and then adding the decoction to the bath.Cold sponging may be advantageously combined with theuse of this bath. - British and Foreign Rev. and Cormack’sJournal.

The Medical Gazette, June 25, says-" The Infirmaryfor the Diseases of the Rectum, we, for our part, esteema libel upon medical science. Are the public aware of

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what happened to the daughter of one of the oldest andproudest of the noble families of England, in the hands,we believe in the house, of one of these rectum-doctors ?She had a long and a thick bougie pushed through herbowel into the cavity of her abdomen, and died in due-course-as soon, in short, as the symptoms excited bythis barbarous usage had time to kill her."-[If thisstatement is correct, and if no inquiry has been madeinto the case, those who were conscious of its occurrenceare quite as much to blame as the original authors of themischief.]INHALATION OF OXYGEN GAS AN ANTIDOTE TO POISON-

ING WITH CARBONIC ACID.

An individual, in the course of some pharmaceuticalexperiments, inhaled a large quantity of carbonic acid.Removed into another chamber, he lay motionless, theeyes closed, and the face a pale yellow, the cheeks,together with the lips, tongue, and hands, were livid;the pupils were fixed and somewhat dilated ; all thesenses had entirely disappeared ; the carotids beat

violently ; the action of the heart was frequent but weak,the pulse scarcely perceptible, and the breathing weakand irregular. The cold douche, bleeding, and othermeans were unsuccessfully had recourse to. A quantityof oxygen gas was then prepared, and this he was madeto inhale, to the extent of two quarts and a half. Inabout fifteen minutes he rallied, as if from a deep sleep,and recovery was progressive. The use of the oxygengas is in this case sufficiently evident. We have seen thechlorate of potass, which contains a large amount ofoxygen, administered under similar circumstances, with amost beneficial result. This case is recorded at length inthe Nortleern Journal of Medicine.

TARTAR EMETIC A REMEDY FOR SYPHILIS.

The same journal mentions that M. Willebrand hassuccessfully employed tartar emetic in the treatment ofsyphilitic diseases. Employed in primary syphilis, thesores healed in from twelve to twenty days. It was not,however, tried in indurated chancre. Its effects weremost strikingly beneficial in secondary affections of thethroat and scrotum. In thirty cases the symptoms dis-appeared in eleven, twelve, or fifteen days. The tartaremetic was usually continued six or eight days after thedisappearance of the symptoms.-[As similar cases dowell without the administration of any internal remedies,we are not disposed to estimate very highly the effects oftartar emetic.]CASE OF DEATH BY RUPTURE OF THE LUNG, FROM VIO-

LENCE, WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL MARES OF INJURY.

Dr. Tait records, in the same journal, one of thoseremarkable cases in which the surgeon finds, afterdeath, some severe and fatal injury of an internal organ,and no external mark whatever by which attention couldbe directed to it. In the present instance, the lungs werethe parts injured. The case was that of a child, agedthree years, who was ran over by a parcel van ; therewere no marks of injury on the chest, but her breathingwas painful and difficult ; she had some haemoptysis, and" mucous and crepitating rattles" were heard over theleft chest. She died in thirty-five hours after the acci-dent, and when examined, after death, all the otherorgans being healthy, the left cavity of the chest wasfound to contain a pound of fluid venous blood, and thelung was considerably collapsed. There was a rupture ofthe left lung, fully four inches in length, commencingabout the middle of the anterior margin of the superiorlobe, and extending across the lung. From the inner ex-

tremity of the wound a second rent, about two inches inlength, and more superficial than the former, extendedforwards in the direction of the margin without reachingit, so as to give to the rupture the form of the letter V.This was of course deemed quite sufficient to account fordeath. No satisfactory explanation can be given of themode in which such an injury could take place. It is,Dr. Tait remarks, 14 a comparatively rare form of injury,as might be anticipated from the lungs being better pro-tected, and their peculiar tissue being less likely to sufferfrom pressure than any other organ contained in the

body." Reference is made by the editors to anothercase recorded in the Edinburgh j}’Iedico.Chiru1’gical Trans-actions, in which the heart was extensively ruptured by aloaded cart passing over the chest, leaving " scarcelyany perceptible trace of the impression of the wheel ex-ternally, and no subcutaneous extravasation, except avery slight one under the left nipple."These cases are of great interest to the medical

jurist, but they should not be without effect on the mindof the medical practitioner. In the case here recorded,an inference was at first, and with some justice, formed,that the injury was but a slight one, and that the patientwould recover. We need not indicate the influence

which an opinion so opposed to the results of the casemay have on the fate of a young practitioner.INFLUENCE OF A VARYING STATE OF THE PRICE OF PRO-

VISIONS ON GENERAL DISEASE AND MORTALITY.

M. M61ier investigates with a philosophic spirit this

important medico-political question. The statistical do-cuments he has collected, and the tables into which hisfigures are thrown, bear out the following inferences :-

1. The mortality of a country is influenced by the priceof corn and bread.

2. This influence was extremely marked formerly, andis less so at present.

3. The diminution of this influence has been gradual,and various causes have contributed to this result.

4. The cultivation of the potato is one of the chief ofthese.

5. The question is one of morality as well as of hygiène,for it is demonstrated that crime increases with the dear-ness of provisions.

It is inferrible too, the author considers, from his in-quiries, that, in a well organised state of society, provi-

sions tend constantly to increase in abundance; this ten-dency is more marked than that of the population toincrease,-" a powerful argument against the theory ofMalthus."-British and Foreign Rel7iew.

ON THE MICROSCOPICAL CHARACTERS OF MILK AND THE

USE OF THE MICROSCOPE IN THE CHOICE OF A NURSE.

Recent inquiries have shown that human milk, ex-amined by the microscope, presents different character :-

1. Large globuled.2. Small globuled, generally" pulverulent" milk.3. Milk of medium-sized globules.

None of these are found in this fluid to the completeexclusion of the others. The first variety is the most nu-tritive, and the others in proportion to the size of theglobules. The microscope, then, will enable us to deter-mine, in doubtful cases, whether a given milk be of astrong or weak class, and will guide the physician in thechoice of a nurse whenever the question turns on theadvisability of one or other of these kinds. Milks differ,not only in respect of the size of their globules, but alsoof the abundance of these ; high or low amount of glo-bules signifies richness or poorness of the milk gene-rally.-Idem.

AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENTS AND THEIR HABITS.

We extract the following very gratifying observationsfrom a late number of the Philadelphia Medzeal Ex-,aminer -

11 The improvement in education and general characterof the medical students at the colleges in Philadelphia,within the last few years, is the common subject ofremark with all who have had the opportunity of judging.There are at this time between seven and eight hundredof these young gentlemen in this city,-collected fromnearly all parts of the continent and the adjacent islands,surrounded by the temptations of a large city, and with-out the restraining presence of parents and relations,-asquietly and diligently engaged in the pursuit of know-ledge as any gray-headed philosophers that ever congre-gated together. They afford an example, indeed, to theyoung men of other professions in the place, which itwould be profitable for them to follow. Among otherevidences of their self-denial and rigid determination tokeep out of the way of temptation, is their voluntary

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association as members of a temperance society, on theprinciple of total abstinence. Early in the session of lastyear such a society was formed among them, and em-braced a considerable number; the present winter asimilar movement was made early in the session ; twopublic meetings have been held, at which nearly all thestudents in the city were present, and a very large num-ber signed the pledge."

THE SEDATIVE POWERS OF ERGOT OF RYE.

Some experiments, made by Dr. Gibbon, of Salem, andrecorded in the American Journal of Medical Science, showthat ergot of rye possesses the power of reducing theheart’s pulsations by ten or fifteen beats in the minute.This result was generally produced within an hour afterthe administration of the drug. These effects on thefemale system, during labour, were less marked. "Itis,"Dr. Gibbon remarks, 11 but reasonable to suppose, thatthe excitement of labour would materially interfere withthe exercise of this peculiar sedative property."

Dr. A. Buchanan, of Glasgow, has recently made some einquiries intoTHE NATURE OF THE WHITE OR OPAKE SERUM OF BLOOD,

AND THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH IT OCCURS.

The results of his investigations are published in theTransactions of the Glasgow Philosophzcal Society. Theyshow that" when a healthy fasting man is bled, his bloodyields serum of a transparent yellow colour, like lightsherry wine, varying in the depth of the yellow tint, butalways perfectly clear. In about half an hour after takingfood the serum becomes turbid, the discolouration in-creases during several hours (six or eight) till it attainsits maximum, after which the serum becomes again gra-dually clearer, till its limpidity is perfectly restored."

Dr. Buchanan infers from these facts that the opacityof the serum is due to the partially assimilated conditionin which the nutritive materials are received by the blood.This, therefore, is not a symptom of a diseased state ofthe fluid. It may, however, become so under certainconditions, 11 as when it continues longer than accordingto the laws of health it ought to do."The author describes the physical and chemical charac-

ters of the serum as follows :-It is generally a milk-white ; sometimes a cream-yellow, or a yellowish-brown,when the liquid bears a striking resemblance to thin oat-meal gruel. There is sometimes little discolouration, theserum merely losing its limpidity, and changing its hueno as to resemble a weak syrup made of coarse sugar.Examined with the microscope it showed a great numberof solid granules mechanically suspended in it. They areless in size than the corpuscles of the blood, generally ofirregular shape ; but often spherical, and having the

appearance of a nucleus in the centre, most probably fromthe refraction of light. These particles were as abundantin. the syrup-like serum, as in the more opake varieties;but they were less regular in shape, and seemed to bethemselves translucent.On a chemical examination the author found that by

adding common salt to the fluid a concrete cream wasformed on the surface. This was found by Dr. R. D.Thomson to be insoluble in ether and alcohol, while itdissolved in caustic potash. On boiling it in a solutionof sugar of lead, it gave traces of black sulphuret. Heconcluded, therefore, that it contained no fixed oil, andconsisted most probably of a protein compound, like albu-men or fibrin.The absence of fixed oil is a remarkable fact. Most

previous observers attributed the opacity of the serum tothe presence of fat; correctly, in many instances, wehave no doubt, as can be at once shown by treating the ’,fluid with ether. The fact which Dr. Thomson here ob-served is rendered still more remarkable by the results ofa subsequent experiment, in which distinct evidences offatty matter were afforded after the individual experi-mented on had partaken of suet-pudding.Dr. Buchanan incidentally mentions his suspicion of

the existence of sugar as a normal element of the blood.The experiments which suggested this idea are of far toolimited a character to be relied on ; the subject requires

much further investigation, and so we are disposed toadd does that of the entire of Dr. Buchanan’s communi-cation.

THE SYMPTOMS OF THE FIRST STAGE OF CANCER OF THESTOMACH.

The symptoms of cancer of the stomach are wellsketched in the following passage z" Pale tongue, or of natural colour; mouth clammy,

and with mawkish or sometimes a bitter or acid taste;failure of appetite; laborious digestion, especially of solids ;discomfort, uneasiness, and sensation of weight almost

habitually in the region of the stomach, or dull and deep-seated pains in this region, increasing under pressure, feltwhen the stomach is empty, but most severe immediatelyafter the ingestion of food ; breath heavy and nauseous;eructations with disagreeable sour and caustic taste; greatquantities of flatus. At a later period the epigastric painis sometimes lancinating with occasional exacerbations,and gradually becomes continuous ; the bowels growmore and more obstinately constipated, and nausea withslight (and at first rare) vomiting of watery, ropy, viscid,and glairy, sour or insipid matters occurs. Still later, afew mouthfuls of food are rejected after meals. Thecolour commences to change, and becomes pale, wan,and sallow.-British and F01>eign Review.

THE SYMPTOMS OF THE SECOND STAGE OF CANCER OF THE

STOMACH.

The symptoms of the first become more marked;nausea and vomiting, above all, grow more frequent,especially when the disease is seated at the pylorus, andthe solids vomited are sometimes mixed with, or followedby, blackish matters, one of the almost pathognomonicsigns of the affection. Emaciation, debility, and languorincrease rapidly; the colour becomes truly cancerous, asalready referred to. Gurgling of fluids may now be de-tected by pressing the epigastrium, and local tension oran actual tumour discovered there by manual examina-tion and percussion. The patient ceases to enjoy anyintervals of ease,-his hours wear slowly on in unceasingsuffering; nevertheless, the moral condition is so opposedto hypochondria, that sometimes patients have beenknown, up to the very day of death, to dwell on thechances of recovery. It is just, however, to add thatthe cancerous sufferer is generally morose, sour, andanxious about himself, but still he is not, correctly speak-ing, hypochondriacal. The pulse is feeble and slow, theskin cold rather than hot, the power of reaction to pro-duce fever seems wanting.-Idem.THE EMPLOYMENT OF ELECTRO-PUNCTURE IN NEURALGIA.

1. Electro-puncture is suitable in cases of idiopathicor essential neuralgia.

2. The intensity of the pains is no contra-indication :under its influence the pain has never been increased.

3. Palsy supervening upon essential neuralgia yieldsunder the employment of electro-puncture.-Cormack’sJournal.

CHEMISTRY, PHARMACY, ANDMATERIA MEDICA.

DUMAS’ CHEMICO-PHYSIOLOGICAL THEORIES.THEORY OF RESPIRATION. INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS OF

VEGETABLES. PRESENCE OF FLUORINE IN BONES.

THE question relating to the origin of fat in the animalbody, treated of in THE LANCET, No. 11, page 312, is notthe only one at issue between the French and Germanchemists. M. Dumas, in a recent publication, in whichhe gives a sketch of the present state of chemical theoryapplicable to vegetable and animal physiology, very coollyassumes, as indisputable, that for every advancementmade in this department of science the world is indebtedto France. Nevertheless, in his representation of theviews of himself and M. Boussingault, he has includedcertain theories concerning some of the most importantfunctions of organised beings, so utterly groundless, thatthe first application of the true test of theory -well-directed experiments-even while his book was passingthrough the press, has wholly disproved them. We


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