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907 has already granted this concession, it is felt that the Senate of the Royal University may very fittingly agree to the prayer of the memorialists. From the fifth report, which bas just been presented to Parliament, I learn that during the past year the total number of persons who presented themselves for examination at the Royal University was 2933, or an increase of 43 over the previous year. Lady students obtained various distinctions, 9 taking degrees and 4 honours. The Senate draw attention to the subject of the maintenance of the buildings which have been partly pur- chased and partly erected by the State, and which they consider ought not to be chargeable from the endowments which are for certain academic purposes. Owing to failure of revenues, the " Dr. Hutchinson Stewart" Scholarships cannot be awarded this year. ACADEMY OF MEDICINE IN IRELAND. A meeting of the Fellows was held on Tuesday last, Dr. McDonnell in the chair. It was resolved, by a majority of fifty-four to three, that the title of the Academy should in future be "The Royal Irish Academy of Medicine"; and it was decided to present an address to Her Majesty con- gratulating her upon the celebration of her Jubilee. FRACTURE OF THE SPINE. At a meeting of the Surgical Section of the Academy of Medicine in Ireland last week, Mr. Edward Hamilton exhi- bited two cervical vertebrae which presented peculiar characters. A young man had fallen over a wall of about twelve feet into the soft mud of the river Liffey, and died twenty-one hours after removal to hospital. On post- mortem examination the fourth and fifth cervical spines were found fractured, and also the bodies of the same vertebrae in a vertical direction. That such extensive injuries should have occurred by a fall from such a trifling height on to soft, muddy ground appears unaccountable. At the same meeting Sir William Stokes showed a girl who had been operated on by lateral thryoidectomy. Dublin, April 26th. PARIS. (From our own Correspondent.) ANTIPYRIN AS AN ANODYNE. AT a recent meeting of the Academy of Sciences, Pro- fessor Germain See made a communication upon "The Treatment of Pain by Antipyrin." This substance, which was discovered by Knorr in 1884, was first employed, as its name implies, for lowering the temperature, and it was expected that it would prove useful in typhoid fever, articular rheumatism, and other acute affections. It has not, however, been as satisfactory in its action as was antici- pated, and if the temperature can be by its use lowered at will, it does not seem to exercise much effect upon the process of disease. But according to M. Germain Sée, antipyrin is the remedy, par excellence, for pain, and far superior in every way to antifebrine. In fifteen cases of subacute rheumatism, or hydrarthrosis, treated unsuccessfully by salicylate of soda and ignipuncture, the pain and swelling disappeared in a few days, and, the medicine being con- tinued, there was no relapse. The same effect was observed in cases of acute gout, both primary and secondary to chronic gout with chalky deposits. Antipyrin, to the extent of from 60 grs. to 90 grs. a day, removed both pain and swelling in from two to four days without any bad effect either on the heart or kidneys. But it is, above all, in nervous pain that its action is most remarkable. A first group comprises four cases of facial neuralgia, one of which was inveterate, six of migraine, with one failure, and four headaches. 1n a second series are classed five cases of sciatica, one of simple neuritis, two of diabetic neuritis, and two of neuritis with zona (one failure). Cases of lumbago and muscular rheumatism make up a total of eighteen. The third category relates to five cases of locomotor ataxia, in four of which the pains were removed by antipyrin. In the fifth instance it failed, as did also antifebrine. The last group comprehends those affections of the heart, aorta, and coronary arteries in which angina is a most painful symptom. In six patients with cardio-aortic disease, and in three others with aneurysm, the painful manifestations disappeared en- tirely, without any evil effect being caused by the medicine on the strength or regularity of the cardiac pulsadons. The dose given by M. See is from three to six grammes daily. If too much is given at one time, nausea and giddiness may supervene, but when the whole amount is divided into small repeated doses of half a gramme, no disagreeable effects are observed. Antipyrin may be given and con- tinued for a length of time with but little risk. Antifebrine, on the other hand, is dangerous when administered in doses exceeding one gramme. It causes hsemoglobin to pass into the condition known as metabsemoglobin, and the blood losing part of its oxygen becomes of a chocolate colour, cyanosis and collapse being the consequences. From labora- tory experiments it is found that reflex excitability to electricity is diminished by antipyrin, and the sensory perceptivity of the cord is lessened. TREATMENT OF DIABETES. A few weeks back M. Martineau created a sensation in the. medical world by the publication of the results obtained by him with his "specific" for diabetes, and since then we have all been prescribing arsenicated lithia water. Dr. Le Blond now makes known a rival treatment, which, if not precisely new, is novel in its mode of application, and from which he. has obtained some remarkable results. The administration of oxygen in the form of peroxide of hydrogen has often been tried, but, although it would seem theoretically to be the ideal treatment for glycosuria, results have not been sufficiently constant to popularise it. M. Le Blond has reopened the question, and advises the administration of an aerated water which has been manufactured in Paris for the last few years, and which only differs from the familiar siphon in that it is gaseous from oxygen instead of carbonic acid. Three cases are reported, in which the treatment caused the total disappearance of sugar from the urine; in a fourth the partial failure was due to imperfect oxidation from chronic bronchial catarrh. M. PASTEUR’S TREATMENT. M. Pasteur has returned to Paris in good health, and was: warmly welcomed by his colleagues at the last meeting of the Academy of Sciences. On this occasion a communica- tion was made concerning two stablemen in the employ of M. Charles de Lessepp, one of whom had been licked by a mad dog, and cured by anti-rabic inoculation. His fellow- servant was bitten, and having neglected this precaution, died of rabies. In my account of the case of Hamyau the dose of pilocarpine given daily is reported to be fifteen grains. This is a misprint for one-fifth of a grain. MORPHINOMANIA IN MONKEYS. Experiments have hitherto tended to show that animals did not acquire the so-called morphia habit. Rabbits to which morphia is administered for months in enormous doses, as much as eight grains per day, bear the sudden sup- pression without any evidence of discomfort. But it would appear from a memoir sent by Dr. Jammes of Cambodge to the Academy of Sciences that this is not the case with monkeys. When these live with opium-smokers, and have become accustomed to a medicated atmosphere, they acquire- a taste for the poison. One monkey, for instance, would wait until its master had laid aside his pipe, and would then take it up and smoke what remained. It not allowed to do so for several days, it would fall into a state of depression and stupor, which disappeared as soon as the stimulant was. supplied. I dare say some of your readers will remember a monkey at the Zoological Gardens which had been taught by the keeper to smoke tobacco. TREATMENT OF GRAVE EPISTAXIS. M. Verneuil, who, although one of our most eminent surgeons, makes frequent incursions into the domain of pure medicine, read a communication at the Academy of Medicine upon the treatment of certain forms of epistaxis by counter-irritation over the region of the liver. M. Verneuil began by stating that he had at first thought that the method was entirely his own, but from bibliographical re- search it turned out that he had been anticipated to a certain extent by Galen, who says that large cupping glasses applied to the hypochondria arrest nasal haemorrhage. In the first case related by M. Verneuil, the epistaxis was probably symptomatic of cirrhosis of the liver. Quinine, ergotine, and digitalis bad all been tried in vain. The haemorrhage continued to recur at intervals. The second patient had suffered from nasal haemorrhage, which seemed to have been caused by the shock of a kick from a horse. In this
Transcript
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907

has already granted this concession, it is felt that the Senateof the Royal University may very fittingly agree to theprayer of the memorialists. From the fifth report, whichbas just been presented to Parliament, I learn that duringthe past year the total number of persons who presentedthemselves for examination at the Royal University was2933, or an increase of 43 over the previous year. Ladystudents obtained various distinctions, 9 taking degrees and4 honours. The Senate draw attention to the subject of themaintenance of the buildings which have been partly pur-chased and partly erected by the State, and which theyconsider ought not to be chargeable from the endowmentswhich are for certain academic purposes. Owing to failureof revenues, the " Dr. Hutchinson Stewart" Scholarshipscannot be awarded this year.

ACADEMY OF MEDICINE IN IRELAND.

A meeting of the Fellows was held on Tuesday last, Dr.McDonnell in the chair. It was resolved, by a majority offifty-four to three, that the title of the Academy should infuture be "The Royal Irish Academy of Medicine"; and itwas decided to present an address to Her Majesty con-gratulating her upon the celebration of her Jubilee.

FRACTURE OF THE SPINE.

At a meeting of the Surgical Section of the Academy ofMedicine in Ireland last week, Mr. Edward Hamilton exhi-bited two cervical vertebrae which presented peculiarcharacters. A young man had fallen over a wall of abouttwelve feet into the soft mud of the river Liffey, and diedtwenty-one hours after removal to hospital. On post-mortem examination the fourth and fifth cervical spineswere found fractured, and also the bodies of the samevertebrae in a vertical direction. That such extensiveinjuries should have occurred by a fall from such a triflingheight on to soft, muddy ground appears unaccountable.At the same meeting Sir William Stokes showed a girl whohad been operated on by lateral thryoidectomy.Dublin, April 26th.

PARIS.(From our own Correspondent.)

ANTIPYRIN AS AN ANODYNE.

AT a recent meeting of the Academy of Sciences, Pro-fessor Germain See made a communication upon "TheTreatment of Pain by Antipyrin." This substance, whichwas discovered by Knorr in 1884, was first employed, as itsname implies, for lowering the temperature, and it was

expected that it would prove useful in typhoid fever,articular rheumatism, and other acute affections. It has

not, however, been as satisfactory in its action as was antici-pated, and if the temperature can be by its use lowered atwill, it does not seem to exercise much effect upon the processof disease. But according to M. Germain Sée, antipyrinis the remedy, par excellence, for pain, and far superior inevery way to antifebrine. In fifteen cases of subacuterheumatism, or hydrarthrosis, treated unsuccessfully bysalicylate of soda and ignipuncture, the pain and swellingdisappeared in a few days, and, the medicine being con-tinued, there was no relapse. The same effect was

observed in cases of acute gout, both primary and

secondary to chronic gout with chalky deposits. Antipyrin,to the extent of from 60 grs. to 90 grs. a day, removedboth pain and swelling in from two to four days withoutany bad effect either on the heart or kidneys. But it is,above all, in nervous pain that its action is most remarkable.A first group comprises four cases of facial neuralgia, one ofwhich was inveterate, six of migraine, with one failure, andfour headaches. 1n a second series are classed five cases ofsciatica, one of simple neuritis, two of diabetic neuritis, andtwo of neuritis with zona (one failure). Cases of lumbago andmuscular rheumatism make up a total of eighteen. Thethird category relates to five cases of locomotor ataxia, infour of which the pains were removed by antipyrin. Inthe fifth instance it failed, as did also antifebrine. The lastgroup comprehends those affections of the heart, aorta, andcoronary arteries in which angina is a most painful symptom.In six patients with cardio-aortic disease, and in three otherswith aneurysm, the painful manifestations disappeared en-tirely, without any evil effect being caused by the medicine

on the strength or regularity of the cardiac pulsadons.The dose given by M. See is from three to six grammes daily.If too much is given at one time, nausea and giddiness maysupervene, but when the whole amount is divided intosmall repeated doses of half a gramme, no disagreeableeffects are observed. Antipyrin may be given and con-tinued for a length of time with but little risk. Antifebrine,on the other hand, is dangerous when administered in dosesexceeding one gramme. It causes hsemoglobin to pass intothe condition known as metabsemoglobin, and the bloodlosing part of its oxygen becomes of a chocolate colour,cyanosis and collapse being the consequences. From labora-tory experiments it is found that reflex excitability toelectricity is diminished by antipyrin, and the sensoryperceptivity of the cord is lessened.

TREATMENT OF DIABETES.

A few weeks back M. Martineau created a sensation in the.medical world by the publication of the results obtained byhim with his "specific" for diabetes, and since then we haveall been prescribing arsenicated lithia water. Dr. Le Blondnow makes known a rival treatment, which, if not preciselynew, is novel in its mode of application, and from which he.has obtained some remarkable results. The administrationof oxygen in the form of peroxide of hydrogen has oftenbeen tried, but, although it would seem theoretically to bethe ideal treatment for glycosuria, results have not beensufficiently constant to popularise it. M. Le Blond hasreopened the question, and advises the administration of anaerated water which has been manufactured in Paris for thelast few years, and which only differs from the familiarsiphon in that it is gaseous from oxygen instead of carbonicacid. Three cases are reported, in which the treatmentcaused the total disappearance of sugar from the urine; ina fourth the partial failure was due to imperfect oxidationfrom chronic bronchial catarrh.

M. PASTEUR’S TREATMENT.M. Pasteur has returned to Paris in good health, and was:

warmly welcomed by his colleagues at the last meeting ofthe Academy of Sciences. On this occasion a communica-tion was made concerning two stablemen in the employ ofM. Charles de Lessepp, one of whom had been licked by amad dog, and cured by anti-rabic inoculation. His fellow-servant was bitten, and having neglected this precaution,died of rabies. In my account of the case of Hamyau thedose of pilocarpine given daily is reported to be fifteengrains. This is a misprint for one-fifth of a grain.

MORPHINOMANIA IN MONKEYS.

Experiments have hitherto tended to show that animalsdid not acquire the so-called morphia habit. Rabbits towhich morphia is administered for months in enormousdoses, as much as eight grains per day, bear the sudden sup-pression without any evidence of discomfort. But it wouldappear from a memoir sent by Dr. Jammes of Cambodge tothe Academy of Sciences that this is not the case withmonkeys. When these live with opium-smokers, and havebecome accustomed to a medicated atmosphere, they acquire-a taste for the poison. One monkey, for instance, wouldwait until its master had laid aside his pipe, and would thentake it up and smoke what remained. It not allowed to doso for several days, it would fall into a state of depressionand stupor, which disappeared as soon as the stimulant was.supplied. I dare say some of your readers will remember amonkey at the Zoological Gardens which had been taughtby the keeper to smoke tobacco.

TREATMENT OF GRAVE EPISTAXIS.

M. Verneuil, who, although one of our most eminentsurgeons, makes frequent incursions into the domain ofpure medicine, read a communication at the Academy ofMedicine upon the treatment of certain forms of epistaxisby counter-irritation over the region of the liver. M. Verneuilbegan by stating that he had at first thought that themethod was entirely his own, but from bibliographical re-search it turned out that he had been anticipated to a certainextent by Galen, who says that large cupping glasses appliedto the hypochondria arrest nasal haemorrhage. In the firstcase related by M. Verneuil, the epistaxis was probablysymptomatic of cirrhosis of the liver. Quinine, ergotine,and digitalis bad all been tried in vain. The haemorrhagecontinued to recur at intervals. The second patient hadsuffered from nasal haemorrhage, which seemed to havebeen caused by the shock of a kick from a horse. In this

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case plugging had failed. The third was the subject ofchronic nephritis, with secondary affections of the heartand liver, and the cavity of the nose had been pluggedwithout effect both with ergotine and perchloride of iron.11. Verneuil’s treatment, which was immediately and per-manently efficacious, consisted of the application over theregion of the liver of a large blister.

Paris, April 27th. _________________

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.

A CoMiTiA of the College was held on Thursday last, the28th inst., the President, Sir W. Jenner, Bart., in the chair.The chief business was the election of new Fellows. The

following were chosen:-George Oliver, M.D. Lond., Harro-gate; Robert Cory, M.D. Cantab., Lambeth Palace-road, S.E.;Henry Radcliffe Crocker, M.D. Lond, Welbeek-street, W.;Frank Buszard, M.D. Lond., Northampton ; Robert Saundby,M.D. Edin., Birmingham; Charles James CLillingwortb,M.D. Durh., Manchester ; Wm. Julius Micule, M.D. Toronto,Bow, E; George Allan Heron, M.D. Glasgow, Harley-street, W.; James Anderson, M.D Aberdeen, Wimpole-street, W.

There were also admitted as Members-D. Burgess, M.B.,Jas. Calvert, M.D., Thos. Johnstone, M.D., and T. F.Pearse, M.D.

Licences were granted to the ninety-two candidates whohad passed the recent examination.

Communications were read from students of the West-minster Hospital, of Charing-cross Hospital, and the LondonHospital, containing resolutions in support of the grantingof degrees by the Royal Colleges. These were referred to the- Committee of Delegates.

The text of the address to Her Majesty on the occasion ofher Jubilee was read and approved.The Quarterly Finance Committee submitted their report,

which contained a recommendation that the stipend of theRegistrar be raised to the sum of 500 guineas. The proposal,moved by Sir E. Sieveking, seconded by Dr. Hare, andsupported by Dr. Quain and the President, was receivedwith much applause; and the President expressed the senseof the College in stating that neither money nor thankscould repay the debt which the College owes to Sir HenryPitman. Sir Henry acknowledged the vote in feeling terms,and took occasion to present the College with a volumewhich he bad compiled, to replace the only volume of theCollege annals (viz., 1771 to 1781) that is missing from thelong series.

Obituary.ALFRED ilIEADOWS, M.D., F.R.C.P.

WE briefly adverted last week to the death of this well-known obstetrician, which took place at the early age offifty-five, after a short illness. A familiar figure will bemissing from our midst. A name which designated aphysician especially esteemed by the public drops fromthe roll of contemporary practitioners.

Dr. Meadows was born at Ipswich, and received hismedical education in King’s College, London, where his

energy and zeal in the study of his profession were earlyrecognised. He speedily took an advanced place amongstthe students of his year, and filled the office of residentobstetrician at the hospital with distinction. He earlyshowed considerable literary ability, and as a studentedited the Transactions of the King’s College MedicalSociety. He took the M.B. Lond. in 1857, the M.D. in 1858,and became F.R.C.P. in 1873. The appointments which heheld at various periods of his career were numerous, in-cluding that of physician-accoucheur to the St. George’s and’St. James’s Dispensary, assistant-physician for diseases ofwomen and children at King’s College, physician to theHospital for Women, Soho-square, and physician-accoucheurto the General Lying-in Hospital. At the time of hisdecease he held the appointment of physician-accoucheur toSt. Mary’s Hospital, an office to which he had been electedwithout competition on the resignation of the late Dr. TylerSmith. His death has occasioned a profound feeling of

regret amongst his colleagues at the hospital, who fullyappreciated his ability, and have received a great shockfrom his sudden and untimely end. Besides being anhonorary member of numerous foreign societies, Dr. Meadowsobtained a Commandership in the Order of Wasa of Sweden,and in his own country was made a justice of the peace forthe county in which he possessed a country house-PoyleManor, Colnbrook, Bucks.

Dr. Meadows was distinctly a man of exceptional ability.Not only did he achieve a great success in the departmentof practice which he had chosen whilst yet a student, butin various directions he evinced power of no ordinary kind.Early in his career he published a "Manual of Midwifery,"which has been widely read. This was followed by the"Prescriber’s Pharmacopoeia," a pocket companion of a

handy kind. About the year 1860 or 1861 he commenced toedit a monthly journal of medicine called the LondonMedical Review, which enjoyed a considerable success for afew years. It was characterised by a great spirit of fairnese,and the articles, which were contributed by many oldfriends and fellow-students of the editor, were in advanceof the more usual examples of critical composition.

Besides enjoying a lucrative practice, Dr. Meadows wasalso, at least in the more recent part of his career, possessedof good private means. This circumstance, far from inter-fering with his energy, appeared to intensify his zeal forthe profession to which he was passionately attached. With

a strong religious bias, he lost no opportunity of endeavouring,

to forward the interests of the Guild of St. Luke, in theformation of which he took the most prominent part. Dr.

. Meadows was also well known as an energetic Freemason.

l He was a past officer of the Grand Lodge of England, and, was connected with several private lodges. He took one of: the most active parts in founding the University of LondonLodge, and it was largely due to his influence that so many

members of our profession joined it. After serving in theWardens’ chairs he became the Master of the Lodge, whichpost he held at the time of his death. At his country househe showed great artistic taste in the .decorations and fur-niture, whilst the completeness which distinguished all hisarrangements for comfort and elegance proved the untiringenergy which he was accustomed to throw into everysubject which engaged his attention.

Dr. Meadows had a good address. He was of kindlynature, hospitable, strongly Conservative in politics, andmuch attached to his patients. He was a good operator andan ingenious mechanician. Unlike so many members of hisprofession he was an excellent man of business, and aschairman of a meeting he was unsurpassed by any of hiscontemporaries in our ranks.

Dr. Meadows leaves a widow and a daughter. He wasburied on Saturday last at Colnbrook, his funeral beingattended by a very large concourse of friends.

CHARLES JAMES BRACEY, M.B.WB record with regret the decease of Mr. C. J. Bracey, of

Birmingham, which occurred on April 21st at the residenceof a relative near London, in the forty-ninth year of hisage. Mr. Bracey was the son of an esteemed Birminghamsurgeon. He pursued his studies at the Queen’s College andGeneral Hospital, Birmingham, and subsequently at King’sCollege, London, and in Paris. He took the M.B. of theLondon University in 1861, and carried off the UniversityExhibition and Gold Medal in Surgery, taking in additionhigh honours in Medicine and Midwifery. Returning toBirmingham, he was medical tutor at the school for twoyears, and afterwards house-surgeon at the General Hospital.He subsequently became Professor of Anatomy in Queen’sCollege, surgeon to the Children’s Hospital, and surgeon tothe Hospital for Women. At this time no surgeon in Bir-mingham stood so well for attaining the first position as aconsultant, for which by education, by experience, and byaddress Mr. Bracey was so eminently fitted. But the stateof his health, never very robust, warned him about tenyears ago that he must give up public work and theanxieties and responsibilities of operative and consultingpractice. Mr. Bracey then devoted himself to his practice,which was of the highest class, and even then he had torecuperate by rest and frequent sea voyages.The deceased gentleman had for the last eighteen months

suffered from retention of urine, due to prostatic disease,and a few weeks ago he decided to go up to London toplace himself under the care of his friend Mr. Page of


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