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said that cancer of the tongue was a disease attended with somuch pain and distress, that any plan of treatment whichoffered a prospect of relief should be thankfully received andinvestigated with patience. He could not recollect an instanceof permanent cure of this disease after any operation, howeverskilfully performed.

PATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, 1861.

DR. COPLAND, PRESIDENT.

ACUTE ATROPHY OF THE LIVER.

DR. WILKS stated that this was one of the most remarkablediseases to which the human body is liable: a form of jaundiceof the most acute kind, attended by symptoms of blood-poisoningand derangement of the nervous system; in which the liver isfound reduced to a very small size, and to have undergone amost complete disintegration of its structure, so that sometimeson microscopic examination not a single healthy cell can bediscovered. It has been shown also of late by Frerichs that adecomposition takes place, whereby new products are formed,which are carried by the blood into various parts of the body,and especially to the kidney, whose office it is to eliminatethem. These crystalline bodies being discovered in the urineassist in the formation of a diagnosis of the case.

CASE l.-Elizabeth K--, aged seventeen, was lately seenby Dr. Wilks, with Mr. Bisshopp, of South Lambeth, sufferingfrom this form of disease. She had only been ill with jaundicefor six days, and for the first four no very urgent symptomswere present; she then had a fit, became unconscious, and re-mained so until Dr. Wilks saw her. She was in a state ofcoma, with stertorous breathing, foam on the lips, teethclenched, tongue brown, pulse quick, and skin jaundiced-acombination of symptoms suggesting suppression of urine aswell as hepatic disease. On percussion over the liver, only avery narrow region of dulness was discovered, indicative of thegreat shrinking of the organ. She was a married woman, andhad had some quarrels with her husband, so that a strongmental influence was discovered as predisposing to the com-plaint. She had also missed three menstrual periods. In theevening she miscarried, and on the following day she died.With great difficulty permission was gained to make an in-

cision in the abdomen, so as to remove a portion of liver, akidney, and the uterus. The latter showed that abortion hadlately occurred. The liver was very much atrophied, and whenexamined by the microscope, not a single healthy or entire cellcould be found ; nothing being observable but disintegratedhepatic tissue, oil-globules, and the crystalline bodies, such asFrerichs describes under the name of leucine and tyrosine sub-stances, which hitherto have only been made by the chemistby artificial means. The kidney showed the tubules completelyfilled by disintegrated matters, and the same form of crystals.The urine, which had been drawn from the patient during life,presented casts of tubules, and, when evaporated, the sub-stances above mentioned in very large quantities-needle-shapedcrystals of tyrosine and rounded masses of leucine; the latterwere mostly found in the film which formed on the surface.

CASE 2.-Ellen L-, aged twenty-three, admitted underDr. Wilks’ care into Guy’s Hospital on June 29th, and diedJuly 7th. She had not been married long ; but quarrellingwith her husband had already occurred, and she was said to bea woman of dissolute habits. For the first five days, althoughextremely ill, she was thought to be suffering from simplejaundice. She then, however, was seized with severe vomiting,and fell into a typhoid state ; delirium came on, and she died.The post-mortem examination showed ecchymoses on various

organs of the body. The liver was shrunken, and lying againstthe diaphragm; it weighed only 1 lb. 3 oz. (This was exhi-bited to the Society ) Its section showed a peculiar red andyellow mottling, always observed in this disease, and the

microscope was unable to detect but very few cells which werenot completely broken up.CASE 3.-Elizabeth B-, aged thirty, admitted under Dr.

Barlow on July 12th, and died July 14th. She was a servant,had suffered from jaundice for three or four weeks, and whenthe severe symptoms appeared she was brought to the hospital.She was then in a dying state, and the nature of the case wasevident.The body presented purpuric spots in various parts. The

liver was shrunken, so as to weigh only 1 lb. 9 oz.; it showedon the surface, as well as in the interior, a peculiar mixture of

red and yellow colours. The tissue was quite disintegrated, sothat few eutire secreting cells were discoverable. The kidneyswere large, and tubules gorged with dark granular and biliarymatter. The urine also contained tubular casts, and masses ofepithelium and pigment.

Dr. BARLOW referred to the ancient doctrine that the bilewas itself a poison, manifested by the symptoms seen in thesecases, the fallacy of which was shown by the demonstrationthat it was the impaired function of the kidney resulting fromit which produced the coma, &c.; but there were usually inthese cases maniacal symptoms also, but that was not so insimple ut’asmio poisoning. Then, again, he doubted perhapssomewhat the influence of pregnancy. He had seen severalmale subjects of this disease.

Dr. Gibb, Dr Crisp, and Dr. Harley carried on the discus.sion, and Dr. Wilks replied.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SOCIETY.MONDAY, NOV. 4TH, 1861.

DR. BABINGTON, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

A PAPER by HERBERT CHALMERS MILES, Esq., Surg. RoyalArtillery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on an

INDIAN REMEDY FOR SMALL-POX,

was read by Dr. M’WILLIAM.Early in the last winter a small coasting vessel landed a

portion of her crew at an extreme sea-board village, a fewmiles from Halifax. The persons landed were sick of small-pox,and the disease soon spread, first amongst the cottagers withwhom the fishermen mixed, and subsequently amongst thosefrom the capital who resorted to the village for the purposesof trade. Through the early weeks of spring, rumour con-stantly asserted that vast numbers of the seafaring populationwere attacked with the complaint; but it was not until earlyin March that the large civil hospital of Halifax, by the num.ber of its weekly admissions for variola, began to corroboraterumour, and to authenticate the justice of the public anxiety.The disease in process of time extended to the troops in thegarrison, but the proportion of attacks to those amongst thecivil population was singularly small. While certain portionsof the inhabitants of Halifax were suffering from the epidemic,alarming accounts reached that place relative to the terribleravages of the scourge amongst the Indians and coloured

people generally. Variola is the special plague amongst theIndians, and when they are invaded by this pestilence itsweeps them off by scores. Like the fire of the prairies, itpasses over their encamping grounds, destroying all of human-kind in its path. On this occasion the most painful detailswere given of whole families being carried off by this loath-some disease. After some time, however, it was said that thepestilence had been stayed. One of the Indian race, it wasasserted, had come into the disease-stricken camp, possessed ofa preparation which had the extraordinary power of curingthe kind of cases that had hitherto proved so fatal. Thisremedy was believed by the Indians to be so efficacious, that,if given to them when attacked with small-pox, they lookedforward with confidence to a speedy and effectual cure. Anold weird Indian woman was the fortunate possessor of theremedy in question. She had always been known as thedoetress of her tribe, and had enjoyed celebrity for many yearsin consequence of her reputed knowledge of medicine and won-derful acquaintance with the herbs and roots of the woods. Sowell established was her fame amongst the Indians, that, whensick, they resorted to her rather than to the white doctors,whom they considered to be "no good." Captain Hardy, ofthe Royal Artillery, an able and intelligent officer, who hasbeen for years amongst the Indians, says that " the old squaw’sremedy has long been known amongst them as an infalliblecure for small-pox," and that " the Indians believe it to besuccessful in every case."From the information gathered from the Indians the follow-

ing observations have been carefully sifted :--1. In the case of an individual suspected to be under the

influence of small-pox, but with no distinct eruption upon him,a large wineglassful of an infusion of the root of the plant"Sarracenia purpurea," or pitcher plant (several specimens ofwhich, including the root, were exhibited on the table), is tobe taken. The effect of this dose is to bring out the eruption.After a second and third dose, given at intervals of from fourto six hours, the pustules subside, apparently losing their

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vitality. The patient feels better at the end of each dose, and,in the graphic expression of the Micmac, "knows there is

great change within him at once."2. In a subject already covered with the eruption of small-

pox in the early stage, a dose or two will dissipate the pus-tules and subdue the febrile symptoms ; the urine, from beingscanty and high coloured, becomes pale and abundant; whilstfrom the first dose the feelings of the patient assure him that" the medicine is killing the disease." " Under the influence ofthe remedy, in three or four days the prominent features ofthe constitutional disturbance subside, although, as a precau-tionary measure, the sick person is kept in camp until the ninthday. No marks of the eruption (as regards pitting, &c.) havebeen left in cases examined that were treated by the remedy.

3. With regard to the medicine acting (as is believed by thefndians) in the way of a preventive in those exposed to theinfection, it is curious to note that in the camps where the

remedy has been used the people keep a weak infusion ofthe plant constantly prepared, and take a dose occasionallyduring the day, so as to " keep the antidote in the blood."A discussion followed the reading of this paper, in which

Mr. Marson, Dr. Copland, Dr. Waller Lewis, Dr. Babington,Dr. Morehead, Dr. Milroy, Mr. Radcliffe, Mr. Lord, and Dr.M’William took part. All of the speakers concurred in thedesirability of requesting Mr. Miles to procure a further supplyof the root of the Sarracenia purpurea, with the view of havingits antivarioloid powers tested in this country.

JUNIOR MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

THURSDAY, NOV. 21ST, 1861.MR. ALEXANDER SQUIRE, PRESIDENT.

MR. L. LITTLE, of the London Hospital, read a paper onTHE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN SIMPLE AND MALIGNANT

EPITHELIAL GROWTHS.

, The author, entering upon the immediate consideration of thesubject of epithelial growths of the lip, mentioned the broadclassification of tumours into two great divisions -simple andmalignant; and having fully discussed their individual charac.teristics as opposed to one another, and having dwelt upon theimportance of a correct and early diagnosis during the patient’slifetime, proposed to treat the subject under two forms of

question: lst, whether malignant growths can be distinguished;2nd, whether their distinction is of sufficient importance to beattempted. The author answered the second question first,for obvious reasons. He said that it might be done either bycontrasting the general clinical history of the cases or theanatomical characters of the tumours. In the advanced stageshe considered that, clinically, there were two classes of epithe-lial tumours, and fully discussed the leading features of each.He then alluded to the importance of inquiring whether theyclinically contrasted in their earlier stages, and arrived at theconclusion that they did not, and suggested that, as the clinicalhistory could not aid us, we must have recourse to their patho-logical contrasts. He then entered upon the general patholo-gical characters of the two tumours, and defined an epithelialcancer to be a growth made up of cells closely resemblingepithelial cells, with associated granule-globules and fat.Having contrasted the characters of the two classes of tumours,he entered upon a consideration of their elements, and saidthat they differed in three ways---( 1) in disposition, (2) inform, and (3) in structure. Upon each of these points of con-trast he dwelt at some length, and illustrated them withnumerous drawings. To Dr. Andrew Clark he acknowledgedhimself indebted for the preparations from which the drawiugswere taken. The author then summed up his arguments byinquiring what were the structural characters that first deter-mined the nature of any growth, and enumerated the follow-ing : the cells of a tumour having secondary cells in their in-terior shooting out irregular processes; double or more vesicularnuclei, large in proportion to their cells, when vacuolationtakes place in the cells; nuclei growing into cells and retain-ing their embryonic character, and undergoing involutionwithout previous development into texture; cells becomingdisorderly, and attacking or invading the textures;-thesecharacters being found, the tumour may be said to be assuminga malignant nature. The author concluded by saying that themicroscope was of essential service in aiding the diagnosis ofepithelial tumours of the lip, and for that purpose maintainedthat the suspected tumour should be punctured or incised,

according to its condition. The opportunity for making suchan examination might not always exist, or on making it wemight fail in discovering the distinction ; still cases wouldoccur in which our object might be attained, and the truth ofthese statements confirmed.An animated discussion ensued, in which the following mem-

bers took part-viz., Messrs. Julius Clarke, Deck, Stevenson,Powell, Hills, Morton, Hawthorne, and Dr. Andrew Clark, andothers.Mr. TIDY (London Hospital) showed a specimen of Excessive

Lateral Curvature of the Spine in a woman aged forty-five.The viscera of the thorax and abdomen were very much com-

pressed. It was a case of strumous disease involving the wholespine, with the exception of the last vertebra.

Mr. WOODMAN (London Hospital) related a case of Favus inthe person of a man who had kept white mice.

Mr. LiTTLE then replied, and received a unanimous vote ofthanks for his paper.

After the ordinary meeting, a Council meeting was held,when the officers for the ensuing year were elected by thedelegates, representing the several Hospital Medical Societiesin union, from amongst their own number:&mdash;.P)’&sto!M<: Mr.W. Fairlie Clarke, King’s College.- Vice-Presidents: Mr. W.Travers, Cbaring.cross; Mr. C. H. Fagge, Guy’s; Mr. J. Wood,King’s; Mr. J. W. Watson, London; Mr. S. G. Freeman, St.George’s; Mr. E. Clapton, St. Thomas’s; Mr. H. C. Bastian,University; Mr. Christopher Heath, Westminster.&mdash;y?’easMfef.’Mr. S. G. Freeman, St. George’s.-Ho-norary Secretaries: Mr.F. W. Cooper, Charing-cross; Mr. J. F. Deck, St. Thomas’s.-.Members of Council: Mr. E. A. Browne, Charing-cross ; Mr. J.H. Galton, Mr. T. Stevenson, Guy’s; Mr. T. Morton, King’s;Mr. J. Dyte, Mr. G. Weller, London; Mr. T. Murray, St.George’s; Mr. F. H. Gervis, St. Thomas’s; Mr. J. T. Jones,Mr. W. H. F. Power, University; Mr. Firth, Mr. CaudellClarke, Westminster.

Reviews and Notices of Books.Recherches Cliniques et Exp&eacute;rimentales gui- la Syphilis, l

Chancr’e Simple, et let l3leranorr-laagic; et Principes Nouveauxd’ Hygi&egrave;ne et de Meclecine L&eacute;gale Appliquees a ces Maladies.Par J. ROLLET, Chirurgien en Chef de l’Hospice de l’Anti-quaille de Lyon (H6pital des Veueriens). pp. 605. Parisand Lyons: Bailli&egrave;re and Savy.

Clinical and Experimental Investigatio-ns on Syphilis, SimpleChancre, and Gonorrh&oelig;a ; and New Views of Hygiene andForensic Medicine bearing upon these Diseases.

THE reaction since the downfall of Ricord’s school has been

violent; and now that the leader has wrapped himself up inhis mantle, wearied by warfare and strife, the shafts aimed atthe once powerful chief are not wanting. This, unfortunately, ishuman nature. It has ever been so. Look at the schools of

Brown, Broussais, and others; the march of events was prettyanalogous. It may even be suspected that, at a period noteasily fixed, the iatro-chemistry of our days and the strictlypathological school will totter and lose their present import-ance. Is this the result of the onward march of science, or arewe moving in a circle ? We are inclined to uphold the formerproposition, and would therefore warn all those who ambitiouslyaim at founding schools that it is too much for one individual,however gifted, to say, " I have enacted upon due investigationand consideration a set of laws, which had better be obeyedwithout cavilling." Such things are possible in physical science;but will not stand in natural science, least of all in medicine.

It would, however, be a strange mistake to suppose that, ofthe edifice erected by Ricord, not a pillar is left standing ; itsruins may, on the contrary, be compared to some of the noblepiles to be seen at Nimes: both require close observation be-fore the effects of all-destroying time are perceived. Amongstthe proud remains, we shall merely allude to the accurate dis-tinction between gonorrhcea and chancre; the line drawn be-tween the simple and infecting chancre; the exact nature ofvirulent bubo; the invariable enlargement of inguinal and otherglands, short of suppuration, in infecting chancre; the advan.tages of early cauterization of sores; the descriminate use of