1129

Notes, Short Comments, and Answers toCorrespondents.

It is especially requested that early intelligence of local eventshaving a medical interest, or which it is desirable to bringunder the notice of the profession, may be sent direct to thisOffice.

All communications relating to the editorial business of thejournal must be addressed "To the Editor."

Lectures, original articles, and reports should be written onone side only of the paper.

Letters, whether intended for publication or private informa-tion, must be authenticated by the names and addresses oftheir writers, not necessarily for publication.

We cannot prescribe, or recommend practitioners.Local papers containing reports or news-paragraphs should

be marked.Letters relating to the publication, sale, and advertisingdepartments of THE LANCET to be addressed "To thePublisher."

THE GROWTH OF "THE LANCET."THE LANCET of the present week consists of 104 pages. In

1874 the corresponding number contained 64 pages, thusshowing an increase in size of 40 pages in tzn years.

TARTAR ON THE TEETH.

A.W.S., M.B., C.M. Ed.—There can be no doubt that "tartar," or

salivary calculus, is chiefly due to inefficient brushing of the teeth.People do not half brush their teeth. They take great care to polishthe fronts of the upper and lower incisors, but they seldom attend tothe inside of the lower incisors or the outside and grinding surfacesof the molars; and the majority of people use tooth-brushes whichare too soft. On the other hand, it is not to be understood that evenefficient brushing will remove all tartar ; for in certain conditions thenormal saline constituents of the saliva are much increased, andwhere an alkaline reaction exists there tartar is most deposited. This

contraindicates the use of soda, whilst the use of any active acidwould be injurious to the teeth. The rational treatment of tartarseems to be: (1) its complete removal by suitable instruments, leavingno nuclei for fresh deposits; (2) the use of twenty drops each ofglycerine, carbolic acid, and tannin in the water when brushing theteeth, adding a few drops of eau-de-Cologne ; (3) the systematicand careful brushing of the insides as well as the outsides of theteeth, and (4) the occasional use of a carbolic tooth-powder, beingcareful to use plenty of water afterwards, to prevent accumulation ofthe powder between and around the teeth.

" IRRITATION OF THE SKIN FOLLOWING THE APPLICATIONOF VASELINE AS A SURGICAL DRESSING."

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Will you Nnttty allow me space to enaeavour to remove an

unpleasant impression which has spread rather widely in consequenceof a letter which appeared in THE LANCET of the 22nd ult. from theChesebrough Manufacturing Company respecting the vaseline suppliedby them to the Leeds Infirmary.Passing over the very strong language used by them, for which they

have since expressed to me their regret, I have to say that when theirrepresentative called upon me for an order he submitted three sampletins of vaseline, the prices being, I think, 9d., 6d., and 4d. per lb. Herecommended the quality at 6d., saying that they were selling tons of ita week to the large hospitals in London and the provinces, at the sametime naming several of the larger ones in London which were using it.But he did not then, nor at any time, say that it was "sold foruse on animals only," and I never heard the word veterinary" used inconnexion with vaseline of any description until I saw it used by theChesebrough Manufacturing Company in their letter referred to above.Their representative assured me that the "red was equally as pure asthe higher priced vaseline, and to demonstrate the fact he ate some of itin my presence. Besides, the material has always been invoiced to usas "red" vaseline, and not "veterinary." Further, it is a fact thatthe firm received our orders and executed them without ever onceinforming me that we were being supplied with a material which theysay is " only made to be used on beasts."

I have already communicated these facts to the Chesebrough Manu-facturing Company, and now leave them with the numerous readers ofyour journal. I would only add that to me the experience gained bythis transaction will be of the highest service. Thanking you in antici-pation of your valuable assistance.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Leeds Infirmary, Dec. 8th, 1881. THOS. BLAIR, General Manager.

THE CANINE PATIENT AT THE CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.

WE learn that nothing has been seen of the dog since the morning ofWednesday the 10th inst., when he attended at the hospital at anearly hour, with his bandage still on, walked round the place, andthen strolled out. As to whose property he is, or where he resides,the hospital authorities appear to have no information whatever.

C. 11. A. M.-The law does not attach a penalty to attendance, but tothe assumption of a name or title implying legal qualification.

ADULTERATION OF DRUGS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—As a constant reader of THE LANCET I am sensible of belongingto a class which through various reasons frequently affords you theopportunity of comment, implying both censure and mistrust ; andseeing that in your last issue you have given prominence to matterswhich vitally affect the reputation of every practising chemist anddruggist, and have expressed your opinion thereupon without qualifica-tion, I must appeal to your sense of justice to allow a voice to be raisedon the other side.In your annotation on the adulteration of drugs you have deduced

certain arguments from a report issued by the Local Government Board,under exceptionally misleading conditions. According to the analysts’returns, the total number of samples (of all kinds) examined was19,648 ; of these 252 only were submitted to the analysts by privatepurchasers, or about 1.5 per cent. of the whole. The analyses of" drugs " were 304 ; and as it is fair to presume that the proportion ofprivate purchasers of drugs would not greatly exceed those in otherdepartments, probably no more than six samples from this source werereported upon. From such incomplete testimony it can scarcely be acorrect assumption that " once in four times, upon an average, a pre-scription made up at a chemist’s shop is not compounded of pure drugsprepared in strict accordance with the directions of the British Phar-macopoeia." Again, where is the evidence to prove that these samples ofdrugs, or even the majority of them, were purchased from registeredchemists ? It is well known that drugs and pharmaceutical preparationsof all kinds are sold by grocers, drapers, oilmen, and general dealers.I myself have seen some of these which were certainly not preparedstrictly in accordance with the British Pharmacopoeia. Is it at allunlikely that some portion of the samples examined were derived fromsources of this description?To that portion of the article which imparts to every chemist a know-

ledge of the existence of a state of affairs which, if true, would entitlehim to eminence in the ranks of assassins, I, as a chemist in actualbusiness, most strongly protest; and, with your permission, I wouldearnestly appeal to your readers as to whether they have found thesubstitution of cheap for expensive drugs a matter of common occur-rence. With the Pharmaceutical Society on the one hand, and theBritish Pharmaceutical Conference on the other, coupled with a host ofminor institutions, all working more or less in conjunction for theelevation of pharmacy, and for the advancement of every interest con-nected with it, whose members consist principally of pharmacistspractising in every part of the United Kingdom, it is scarcely possible thatsuch disgraceful practices could occur without frequent exposure. Suchcases have, happily, been most uncommon, and I cannot remember asingle recent instance where substitution has been proved.

It is easy, perhaps, to say that such an article as the one in questionis of a general character, and that individuals must not be too prone toreduce it to the unit of effect ; but what is the position of the phar-macist when confronted witti accusations in a medical publicationwhich to those technically unacquainted with his business he has butfeeble opportunities of proving untrue? Debarred from the deviceswhich are common to ordinary traders, excluded from the considerationwhich falls to the share of strictly professional men, there are hundredsof pharmacists working with one common aim to the advancement ofall things pharmaceutical, with instinct as purely professional, andacknowledgements as distinctly ethereal, as many of those whose privi-lege it is to work in wider and higher spheres. I could wish for no

, better judges than those who are your ordinary readers, and to these Ifearlessly appeal. If they are prepared to endorse your testimony, the

. labour of many years has been a wasted effort, and medicine owesnothing to pharmacy or the pharmacist.

I am, Sir, most respectfully yours,

Kilburn, N.W., Dec. 15th, 1881.UHARLES B. ALLEN,

Pharmaceutical Chemist.

Idem.-Our correspondent’s letter seems to have been mislaid. Weshould be glad if he would repeat his question.

AN APPEAL.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-I am anxious to get some books and old periodicals for mypatients in an infectious diseases hospital, as during convalescence timehangs very heavy on their hands ; also for the workmen in a large sugarfactory here, where a library and reading-room has been formed in theworks. My own resources being now exhausted, if any of your readerswill kindly forward me any old surplus stock of a readable, instructive.and amusing kind, for which they have no further use themselves, Ishall be only too pleased to acknowledge their receipt, and distribute

them to the two places I have mentioned. -Yours respectfully,Hack-road, Victoria-docks, E., Dec. 15th, 1881. JOHN tvtma,

1130

EXAMINATION OF ARMY SURGEONS.

Q,UESrIONS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF SURGEONS-MAJOR.

First Day.1. State, as briefly as you can, the principal objects aimed at by the

present system of medical organisation and field hospital service.2. Describe the lines of medical assistance in the field, traced from

the front to the base of operations.3. State the powers of an officer commanding a detachment of the

Medical Staff Corps who deals summarily with a soldier’s offence.4. How are courts-martial on men of the Medical Staff Corps con-

stituted, and by what authority are they convened ?6. What branches of the Service are responsible for the maintenance

of buildings, and for the equipment and supply of hospitals in peaceand way ?

6. What are the principal points to be attended to in the medicalexamination of recruits ?

7. What are the chief points to which attention should be paid inmaking a medical inspection of a ship taken up by the Admiralty forthe conveyance of troops ?

8. Briefly enumerate some of the more common and dangerous defectsto be met with in an insanitary house.

Second Day.9. How would you proceed to establish the insanity of a soldier, and

fulfil the requirements of the law, previous to his admission to a lunaticasylum ?

10. If called upon as a sanitary officer to advise as to the occupationot any given locality as a standing camp for a division of all arms of theservice, what limit would you lay down as to density of population peracre ?

11. State how long you think a camp, whether of huts or tents, maybe continuously occupied; why its sanitary condition should graduallydeteriorate, and in what way this deterioration might be expected tomanifest itself as regards the camp population.

12. A force is going up the Nile in boats, ten to twelve men in a boat,and is required to carry provisions to last for 100 days, say ; such pro-visions must be in the most compressed and portable form, and as variedas practicable; you cannot depend on any regular local supplies gM route.State what articles of diet, &c. you would advise to be taken in eachboat. You are not required to give the quantities.

13. What is your opinion of the utility of filters on active service in atropical or semi-tropical climate? To what extent do you think a forcecould be supplied with filtered water under such circumstances? Areyou in favour of having a filter as part of a soldier’s water-bottle, or of

giving a separate pocket filter to each soldier; and, if so, how would

you propose to cleansa or renew the filtering medium ?14. You have a number of wounded men and amputation cates ; the

buildings available are, in your opinion, not at all adapted for theaccommodation of such cases, and your tentige is deficient, but youhave sufficient transport, partly wheeled, partly dhoolies, and bearers.What will you du with the wounded ? H,)w will you dress the wounds ?What step3 will you take to secure propjr attention to them and to theother requirements of your patients ? lt is tine weather.

15. If called upon to report as to the wter-supply of any givenlocality in which it is proposed to encamp a force of auy given strength,how would you proceed to estimate approximately the quality and suf-’ficiency of the available sources of supply ?

16. You are sent to investigate into the causes of an outbreak ofenteric fever in a small garrison or institution ; briefly indicate theheads and steps of your inquiry.

THE ORAL EXAMINATIONS AT CAMBRIDGE.

To the Editor of THE LANCET,

SIR,—May I trespass on your space in order to mention a grievanceto which examinees at Cambridge are subjected 1

It is the custom here to allow anybody to hear the oral examinations,and it is this which I write to protest against. Of course, it does notmatter in the least to men whose robur et æs triplex shield them fromnervousness. But I have no doubt that many of your readers will beconscious of the state they were in when they had to undergo the ordealof their oral examination; and to a man who is inclined to be nervousit is a terrible thing to see men he knows giggling and laughing aboutthe mistakes he or others who want in before him may have made.I will venture to assert that this nervousness his been instrumental in

.ploughing men, and that not infrequently. The only possible reason forthis public examination is that it is intended to show future examineeswhat sort of thing they are to prepare for. Against this I submit

(1) that the examination is for those who are extininect at the time,not for those who are to be examined in the future ; (2) that the

majority of men, at all events, of those who were present at the oralexamination for the 2nd M.B. were those who had already passed theexamination, and therefore came with much the same feelings as thepeople who crowd together to see the judge putting on the black cap ;(3) that even future examinees would not be greatty benefited bylistening to an examination in which they have no present share. Ihope that this new form of torture will be presently abolished. It issurely bad enough to hive the nightmare of an oral examinationbanging over one, without this fiendish concomitant !

I am, Sir yours truly,Dec. 15th, 1884. NERVOUS.

THE DISCUSSION ON INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION INLIVERPOOL.

To the Editor of THE LANCIET.

SIR,—I was unable to take part in the above discussion at the Liver-pool Medical Institution ; but your faithful report of it has given me anopportunity of drawing attention to a point which I should not haveallowed to pass unnoticed had I qualified myself to speak by sendingnotice.Mr. Mitchell Banks, in adverting to the difficulties in connexion with

the question of operation, mentioned as one the fact of spontaneousrecovery under opium and starvation treatment, "which," he said," had for many years been the recognised practice." I need hardly saythat the latter remark took me greatly by surprise. Although I am ayoung member of the profession, I can recall the fact that so far fromthis form of treatment being recognised in my student days the few whoprofessed to appreciate the value of opium neutralised its benefits bygiving milk, while others taught that calomel, enemata, inflation, &c.,were the means and methods to which to look for success; and thewords of Dr. Waters, who immediately preceded Mr. Banks ia the dis-cussion, could not have reminded him more forcibly that the doctrineto which he alluded had yet to be received by his fellow professor.Nor was his the only opinion in the same direction. The opium treat.ment was even condemned by some, enemata, &c. advocated by others,and the number of those who adhered to the principles as laid down bythe originator of this plan of treatment were very few. The explanationis evident. The opium and starvation treatment, properly so-called, isnot even known or understood by those who have not made themselvesacquainted with its originator through his work on the subject. Thetreatment of intestinal obstruction by rest, opium, and starvation was un-doubtedly originated by Mr. H. 0. Thomas, and we require no furtherproof of its non-recognition generally, even at the present day, than thefact that it is not even alluded to by Mr. Treves in his newand exhaustivework. Nor do I think Mr. Banks can refer us to any writings that willjustify his statement, although I am quite prepared to apologise andretract if he will.

I enter this protest against Mr. Banks’s attitude with all friendliness,feeling sure that upon reflection he will agree with me that his veryable remarks were deprived of a finish which would have better adornedthem had he but rendered honour to whom honour was due.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,tam

Liverpool, Dec. 8th, 1884. CHARLES E. STEELE.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-In your report of the recent discussion which took place atthe Liverpool Medical Institution, on Intestinal Obstruction, I wasvery much astonished to read the following in Mr. Banks’s speech:"The second difficulty consisted in the fact of spontaneous recoveryunder the opium, rest, and starvation treatment, which had now formany years been the recognised treatment " It would enlighten myselfand others of your readers if Mr. Banks would favour us with hisauthority for this assertion. I have read the Jacksonian Prize E!say onthis subject, and find no reference to the trinitarian treatment by opium,rest, and starvation, or, to speak more correctly, by opium and starva-tion, as th8 other two include rest to the bowel.

I am, Sir, yours, faithfully,Dec. 8th, 1884. A PROVINCIAL MAN.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Last week’s issue of your journal contains an account of ameeting held at the Liverpool Medical Institution, and the subject underdiscussion was, "The Treatment of Intestinal Obstruction." Duringthe discussion Mr. Banks is reported to have stated that the recognisedtreatment of this ailment for many yeara was opium, rest, and starva-tion. Being interested in this subject, I am desirous of knowing uponwhat authority Mr. Banks claims antiquity for this mode of treatment!

I am, Sir, yours obediently,Birkenhead, Dec. 9th, 1834. ARTHUR HERBERT BUTCHER.

CARLISLE MEDICAL SOCIETY.

THE name of Dr. Stewart Lockie, vice-president to this newly-formedSociety, was omitted from the list of officers given in our issue of the6th inst.

MEDICAL ETHICS AND THE IRISH DISPENSARY SYSTEM.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Will you kindly have inserted in your next issue the followingquestions :-1. A and B, both being dispensary doctors of different dis.tricts and equally qualified, may a coroner legally call B to an inquestin A’s district ? 2. Suppose a case of post-mortem in A’s district. Cana coroner legally give B precedence by assigning to A the position ofassistant, A having the advantage, moreover, of B in qualification andage ? 3. Would there be a breach of professional etiquette on B’s partin accepting such precedency And could A in such case legally refuseto assist ? 4. A dispensary doctor being unwilling to attend a coroner’scourt held in his own district, can he legally refuse attendance?- - -.. - -- .

I am, Sir, yours truly,Dec. 15th, 1884. ENQUIRENS.

*<.* We must trust to some correspondent learned in Irish medicalI ethics to give an answer to these knotty questions.&mdash;ED. L.

1131

"TRACHEOTOMY IN CROUP."

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR, -An annotation in your issue of Dec. 6th under the aboveheading brings to notice a paper read by Dr. George W. Gay at theannual meeting of the American Surgical Society in May last. Oneextract is as follows: " It is a physical impossibility to suck anythingout of the trachea unless air has a free ingress to supply the vacuum ; "

and against this want Dr. Gay recommends the forcible inflation of thelungs by means of blowing air through a catheter which had beenpassed down the trachea. If blood has escaped during the operation oftracheotomy down the windpipe, Dr. Gay states that this inflation isfollowed by the expulsion of a large quantity of blood.May I ask, has the paper by Dr. Gay any number of cases in which he

has practised the method ? It would be interesting and very useful tohave the minutest facts before us, and, if possible, not only the experi-ence of Dr. Gay, but also of other American surgeons, especially thoseof Boston, amongst whom this practice of inflation seems in vogue.This plan of inflation has never occurred to me as a means of removing

foreign bodies, and my experience would not lead me to expect ahopeful result in an extreme case of blood obstruction, where thesmaller bronchi must be filled with blood. I can, however, readilyunderstand that with a catheter passed beyond an obstruction forcibleinflation is a valuable means of procuring relief.Let me instance the worst case of blood obstruction I have met with.

A strong, well-made man, about twenty-five years of age, was ill withthat erysipelatous, brawny condition of the neck known as "cervicalcellulitis of Ludovici," which later on was complicated with oedemaof the larynx. The night after the oedema had set in the man wasseized with a very violent attack of dyapnoea, and it appeared, thenurse having left the room for a short time, that he fell off the sofa hewas lying on, and was found on the floor, with his face black," andbreathing convulsively, with long distances between the respirations.Two neighbouring practitioners were immediately called in, and veryshortly afterwards I arrived. Expecting that the man would be in thecondition I have described, I had on going into the room a knife andtracheotomy tube ready in my hands. I found one of the medicalgentlemen about to perform tracheotomy; but on my entering he askedme to operate, and as there was no time to be lost I cut into thetrachea with one incision, and as quickly inserted the tube. It seemedthat there were volumes of dark blood running down the windpipe, aswell as pouring out externally, with no effort on the part of the patientto cough the blood up, or even the slightest attempt at any respiratorymovement. He appeared, as he did when I entered the room, dead,and it was only the feeling that it was our duty to do all that could bedone that made us think of trying to save the patient’s life. To shortenthe account : for about an hour we had to persevere in our efforts, mycolleagues performing Silvester’s method of respiration, whilst I ateach expiratory movement sucked the blood through the tube ; andwhen I had removed a good quantity, finding that there was no effort atnatural inspiration, I occasionally, with an inspiratory phase, blewthrough the tube. The patient recovered fully, and was able in sixweeks’ time to return to his employment.By this case it is proved that it is not "a physical impossibility to

suck anything out of the trachea, unless air has a free ingress to supplythe vacuum," and that forcible inflation would probably not alwaysanswer, but in this instance would have driven a large quantity of theblood, which must have been choking up the medium-sized bronchi,further into the lungs, and prevented its removal even by suction withthe mouth. Doubtless inflation by the catheter would have a splendideffect in many instances of obstruction in the air-passages, and woulddo away with the inclination for the dangerous practice of using one’smouth to remove a tracheal obstruction.

I am, Sir, yours obediently,Dec. 15th, 1884. A GENERAL PRACTITIONER.

COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,&mdash;I enclose circulars which have recently reached me. Theyexplain themselves, and are good specimens of a great nuisance andevil-a terrible evil if my wife either did or was inclined to tipple !

I am, Sir, yours truly,Dec. 9th, 1884. CHIRURGUS.

"59, Mark.lane, and 1, Seething-lane, London, E.C."Dear Madam,-On hearing just now of the birth of your son, we

tender our best wishes for his health and for your speedy recovery. Ifyou would kindly allow us, we should have much pleasure in forwardingto you free per parcels post a sample bottle of our champagne, which,strongly recommended by medical men for convalescents, and especiallyfor ladies, would, we trust, be agreeable to you, and induce you tofavour us with your esteemed orders.-Yours obediently, I"Nov. 25th, 1884." "F. PIOT, DE FOREST, AND CO.

"59, Mark-lane, and 1, Seething-lane, London, E.C."Dear Madam,-In writing to you last week on the occasion of the

birth of your son, who we hope is progressing favourably, as also your-self, we took the opportunity of offering you our champagne. We begto apologise for having omitted to enclose you our price list (thisprobably having prevented you from asking for a sample). Our pricefor this special ’ladies’ wine’ is 36s. per doz. quart bottles, delivered,or 40s. per twenty-four half bottles ; and in order to enable you to judgeof the quality, we shall be glad to send you a sample free on receipt ofyour demand.&mdash;Yours obediently,

" uec. ecn, 1884.’

F. PIOT, LE OREST, AND UO.

Paterfamilias.&mdash;There is not, we fear, any law to prevent the diffusionof such trash.

Enquirer.&mdash;Forcible introduction of the hand is not necessary. Dilata-tion by means of a tent will suffice.

Inquest and M.D. Aberd. have not enclosed their cards.

"MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS."

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-As the following case is somewhat similar to that in your lastissue under the above heading, I think it will prove of interest to yourcorrespondent, and I shall be much obliged if you will be kind enough toinsert it.On the 5th inst. I attended Mrs. P- in her eighth confinement, and

delivered her of a male child, using instruments, as the case was some-what complicated. Growing from the child’s neck on the left aide wasa large tumour. All her previous children were free from any deformity,and there was no history of it in the family. The following is theaccount in her own words :&mdash;" In my second month of pregnancy I was

standing at the front door, and saw a man pass who had a very largetumour hanging from his neck. On seeing it I felt a shudder go throughme, but bad not the slightest idea that it would affect my child, andnever gave it one thought afterwards."

I have found that the tumour in the man whom the patient saw isalso on the left side, and that there is no doubt about the facts of thecase. I am, Sir, yours truly,

W. WATERFIELD, L.K.Q.C.P.I., L.R.C.S.Irf.), 1884.asonenouse, .Devon, uec. msn, isat.

Enquirer.&mdash;The late Canon Miller was the originauor oi vne Birmingham

Hospital Sunday.X. Y. Z.-We prefer the style I’D. Deronda, M.B."

"UNSOUND MEAT."

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,&mdash;In connexion with the discussion on this subject I submit thatthe proper authority on the fitness of flesh for the food of man is themedical officer of health, and not the veterinary surgeon. The diagnosisof disease made by the latter, as an expert on the diseases of quad.rupeds, should be accepted by the former as the basis on which toarrive at a conclusion, but nothing more. That a veterinary surgeon isno judge of what is proper food for human beings will to most minds beevident from the curious, but by no means rare, off ar of the one atTiverton, who, in support of his views, proposed lately to eat the ques-tionable flesh-a line of argument only paralleled in absurdity by theproverbial backing of an opinion by a wager. Whatever ideas may be heldwith regard to the wholesomeness of flesh meat affected with the diseasefrom which the animal in the Tiverton case was ailing, a disease on thenature of which veterinary surgeons hold contradictory ideas, somecalling it a fever" and others an " apoplexy," it will be admitted thatno one would willingly eat such for food.

I am, Sir, yours truly,Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Dec. 15th, 1884. HENRY E. ARMSTRONG.

REMARKABLE COLOURATION OF THE SKIN.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,&mdash;As I believe the following to be a rare case, I should be glad if

you would kindly insert it in THE LANCET.A boy aged twelve was brought to me by his father in July last, suf-

fering from psoriasis guttata. The patient was perfectly healthy inother respects. My treatment consisted of warm batha, with a quarterof a pound of carbonate of soda in each, every other evening, vaseline tobe used locally by day, and an ointment of oxide of zinc, with sevenminims of carbolic acid to the ounce, by night. After six weeks of thistreatment (with five minim doses of liq. arsen. and five grains ofpot. chlor. in a tablespoonful of water twice a day) I was surprised tofind the patient’s skin, from the neck to the knees and elbows, of adeep copper colour, which has remained so, the above treatment beingstill persevered with.

I should be happy to show the patient to any member of the pro-fession interested in such cases, or to receive any suggestion as to treat-ment. I am, Sir, yours truly,Dec. 8th, 1884. PHYSICIAN.

THE CASSAN FUND.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,&mdash;Will you kindly acknowledge the donation of .61 Is. to thisfund from Dr. Mackender, Gainsborough.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,H. F. LANCASTER.

Lewisnam High-road, St. jonns, S.E., uec. 17th, 1884.

Mr. T. Jones.&mdash;We do not prescribe.Kentigern.-J. B. Lippincott and Co., Philadelphia.

COMMUNICATIONS not noticed in out present number will receiveattention in our next.

COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &c., have been received from-Sir AndrewClark ; Dr. Moxon, London; Mr. Butlin, London ; Mr. A. Dodson,London; Mr. Clouting, Thetford; Mr. Dobbin, Banbridge ; Mr. D.

Moffat, Glasgow; Dr. Goodhart, London; Mr. Blomfield, Paris;

1132

Mr. C. B. Allen, London; Mr. C. E. Jennings, London ; Dr. Heinrich

Weiss, Vienna; Mr. Custance, London ; Rev. R. C. Acland, Col.

chester; Dr. Madden-Medlicott, Eastbourne; Mr. Waterfield, Stone-house ; Mr. H. E. Armstrong, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Mr. C. F. Langdale,London; Mr. Pugin Thornton, London; Mr. Vacher, Birkenhead;Mr. Walsham, London; Messrs. Burroughs and Wellcome; Mr. A. E.Roberts, Yeovil; Dr. Tomkins, Monsall; Mr. Nield Cook; Mr. Storry,Stroud; Dr. C. S. Taylor, London ; Mr. E. H. Saunders, Devonport;Mr. A. J. Harvey ; Miss F. M. Gallaber; Mr. W. Peacey ; Mr. A.

Howie, London; Mr. Pollard ; Mr. Carter, Leeds ; Mr. Gordon Black,Harrogate; Mr. Robinson, Darlington; Dr. Jas. Murphy, Sunder-land ; Mr. S. Osborn, London; Mr. Bickerton, Liverpool; Mr. T. F.Gardner, Bournemouth; Mr. J. R. Whitley, London; Mr. Watson;Mr. J. F. Pink (W.C.); Mr. Poole, Dudley; Messrs. Pollard, Edin-burgh ; Mr. Moss, Frankfort; Mr. Harness; Mrs. Christy, Bourne-mouth ; Mr. Walter, Midhurst ; Dr. Robinson, Stanhope; Mr. Renton,Shotley-bridge ; Mr. Alican, Paris ; Mr Pyra; Mr. Curtice, London ;Mrs. Norris, Weston-super-Mare ; Messrs. Stevenson and Travis,Liverpool; Messrs. Lee and Nightingale ; Mr. Richardson, Birken-head ; Mr. Gamgee, Birmingham ; Mr. Dalmas, Leicester ; Mr. Orr,Wellingboro’; Mr. Saunders, Camden-town ; Dr. Macnaughton Jones,London ; Mr. Hammett, Taunton ;’ Messrs. F. J. May and Co.,London ; Messrs. Street and Co., London ; Messrs. Down Bros.,London ; Mr. Grayson, Manchester; Mr. Webb, Bury; Dr. Rice,Derby; Dr. Woodman, Exeter; Mr. Diggens, Lancaster ; Mr. Jesse,Hanbury; Mr. Hill Hill, London ; Mrs. Pratt, Cardiff; Dr. Gail Guila;Dr. Jeeyarooswanayya, Dj.ngalor ; Dr. Hicks, Hendon ; Mr. Keeting,Manchester; Dr. Goodhart; Mr. Unsworth, Liverpool; Mr. Elliott,Carlisle; Mr. McDonald, Hillside; Mr. Taylor, Buxton; Mr. Ker,Halesowen; Messrs. Blackwood and Co., London; Mr. McDonald,Inverness ; Mr. De Coste, St. John’s-wood; Mr. Marrack, Truro;Mr. Day, Lancashire; Mrs. Goff. Birkenhead ; Mr. Lever, Stratford-on-Avon; Mr. Ashford, Halstead; Mr. Eberle, Thirsk; Mr. Orrock;Dr. Hunter; Dr. Lewin; A Neapolitan Surgeon; X. Y. Z.; Medicus,Bristol; M.D. Aberd.; M.B.; A. D., Brighton; Les Compliments duSaison; Partially Open Doors ; Leeds ; Paterfamilias; Archippus ; IT. M. L. C., New York; Idem; Nervous. I

LETTERS, each tdth enclosure, are also acknowledged from-Mr. Hughes,Birmingham; Mr. Barrett, Huddersfield; Mr. Smith, Folkestone;Dr. Lagrade, Lyons; Dr. Aliden, Southampton ; Mr. Sott, Edin-burgh ; Mr. Sergeant, Camden-town; Mr. Rony, Hyeres; Dr. Evans, ,,

Cardiff ; Dr. McCallan; Dr. Whitla, Belfast; Messrs. Boake and Co., ’’.

Stratford ; Mr. Buttle, London ; Mr. Abbs, Dewsbury ; Dr. Bower,Bedford; Mr. Howlett, Hull ; Mr. Moore, Dublin ; Mr. White, Bays-water ; Mr. Bayliss, Southport; Mrs. Moon, London; Mr. Southwell,Cardiff ; Mr. Bird, Liverpool; Messrs. Lee and Martin, Birmingham;Messrs. Mackay, Edinburgh; Mr. Coomb, Castle Carey ; Mr. Price,Crickhowell ; Mr. Noorse ; Mr. Wardell ; Mr. D’Orsey ; Mr. Steward,Sheffield; Mr. Brown, Pimlico ; Mrs. Loy, Northampton; Mrs. Mus-thorp ; Mr. Robinson, Sheffield ; Mr. Galloway, Glasgow; Mr. Har-

wood, Manchester; Mr. Anderson, Kirkwall; Mrs. Christie, Bourne-mouth ; Mr. Smailes, Honley; Mr. Robinson, Bedford ; Mr. London,Myroe; Dr. Stanley; Mr. Mellons, Leicester; Ilex; M.B., Liverpool;K.; A. W., Liverpool; R. J., London; Surgeon L.R.C.P., Brierley-hill ; Medicus, Dowlais; A. B., Bristol; Veritas; F. W.; H. P. A.;Omicron, Liverpool; Medicus, Wellington.

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METEOROLOGICAL READINGS.(Taken daily at 8.30 a.m. by Steward’s Instruments. )

THE LANCET OFFICE, December 18th, 18M.

Medical Diary for the ensuing Week.Monday, December 22.

ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, MOORFIELDS.&mdash;Operations,10 A.M. each day, and at the same hour.

ROYAL WESTMINSTER OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 1&frac12; P.M. eachday, and at the same hour.

HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN, SOHO-SQUARE.&mdash;Operations, 2 P.M., and onThursday at the same hour.

ROYAL ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 2 P.MMEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-No meeting.

Tuesday, December 23.GUY’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, H P.M., and on Friday at the same hour

Ophthalmic Operations on Mondays at 1.30 P.M., and Thursdays at2 P.M.

ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL. - Ophthalmic Operations, 4 P.M., and onFridays at 2 P.M.

WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 2 P.M.WEST LONDON HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations. 2.30 P.M.CLINICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-8.30 P.M. Adjourned Discussion on

Charcot’s Joint Disease.

Wednesday, December 24.NATIONAL ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL.-Operations, 10 A.M.MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 1 P.M.ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M., and on Saturday

at the same hour.-Ophthalmic Operations on Tuesdays and Thurs.days, at 1.30 P.M.

ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 1 P.M.&mdash;Skin Department:9.30 A.M., on Tuesdays and Fridays.

ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M., and on Saturday at thesame hour.

LONDON HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M., and on Thursday and Saturdayat the same hour.

GREAT NORTHERN CENTRAL HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 2 P.M.SAMARITAN FREE HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.&mdash;Operations

2! P.M.UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 2 P.M., and on Saturday

at the same hour.-Skin Department: 1.45 P.M., and on Saturday at9.15 A M.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.Thursday, December 25.

ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 1 P.M.ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.-1! P.M. Surgical Consultations.CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.MCENTRAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M., and On

Friday at the same hour.NORTII-WEST LONDON HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 2&frac12; P.M.

Friday. December 26.ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.&mdash;Ophthalmic Operations, 1&frac12; F.K.ROYAL SOUTH LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.

Saturday, December 27.KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 1 P.M.ROY’L FREE HOSPITAL.&mdash;Operations, 2 P.M

’

ROYAL INSTITUTION.-3 P.M. Prof. Tyndall : The Sources of Electricity.

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