students who have profited by one or more full courses of anatomy and midwifery, will have the opportunity of attending upon the cases under the charge of the accoucheur, in connection with his course of practical instructions, in the order in which they enter his class. Vaccine Quarterly and Annual Report.-The Vaccine Physicians of Philadelphia have reported the following number of cases of successful vaccination during the quarter ending December 31, 1838, and also during the year 1838. Dr. Jas. M'Clintock, N. E. district, Dr. Robert Bridges, S. W. do. Total, Fourth quarter of 1838. Year 1838. Medical Society.-At a stated meeting of the Medical Society of Philadelphia, held on the evening of the 2d of January, 1839, the following persons were elected officers for the ensuing year: President-Thos Harris, M. D. Vice Presidents-Samuel Jackson, M. D., Reynell Coates, M. D. Cor. Secretaries-Benj. H. Coates, M. D., Joseph Warrington, M. D. Orator-Henry Bond, M. D. Librarian-William P. Johnston, M. D. Curators-John M. Brewer, M. D., Thos. S. Kirkbride, M. D., Isaac Parrish, M. D., Francis West, M. D., H. S. Patterson, M. D. Methodical Compression in Orchitis.-Some years ago, this plan was suggested by Dr. Fricke, of Hamburg, and since that time it has been employed successfully by many surgeons. Recently, it has been strongly recommended by Dr. Dechange, of Liège,' recently surgeon to the Clinique Chirurgicale at the Hôpital de Bavière. He refers to twelve cases of acute orchitis thus treated; in three, the cure was accomplished in three days, and in the others it occurred before the seventh. Presence of Quinine in the Urine.-M. Quevenne, Pharmacien in Chief of the Hospital La Charité, Paris, has lately detected quinine in the urine of persons who have taken it in a large dose. He infers, from his chemical investigations on this subject, 1. That quinine and its sulphate pass into the urine of those who take it; and 2. That tannin is a good re-agent to separate the vegetable alkalies, as he succeeded in detecting by it a very small quantity of quinine in a fluid of very complex nature. On the Use of Camphor in Certain Affections of the Respiratory Apparatus. By F. V. RASPAIL.-The following-says the editor of the London Lancet-is the substance of a letter which M. Raspail has recently addressed to several of the French medical journals. It is seldom that we pay any attention to the proposal of remedial agents by non-medical men, but the distinguished character of M. Raspail, both as a chemist and as an observer of nature, entitle any remarks which fall from his pen to more than ordinary attention:1 The substance which M. Raspail recommends to the notice of medical practitioners is camphor. It may be used in two forms: a piece of camphor is placed in a small tube of straw, or in a small quill, and this is formed into a little cigar, which the patient may smoke, not in a state of ignition, but cold, by simply inhaling the air through it. The saliva excited by inspiring the camphor should be swallowed. The second form consists in the application of a piece of lint, moistened with a saturated alcoholic solution of camphor, and covered with a piece of oiled silk, caoutchouc, or any other impermeable substance, to the affected part. M. Raspail assures us, as the result of considerable experience, that in all cases of respiratory affections, such as those popularly denominated cold, catarrh, influenza, &c., the constant use of the camphor cigar and lotion will produce speedy amendment, and when the lungs are merely congested, almost instantaneous relief. He has also seen some cases which lead him to believe that the constant use of camphor, in the way just mentioned, is capable of dissipating the incipient symptoms of pulmonary consumption. The pain occasioned by adherence of the two pleuræ, popularly known by the term "stitch in the side," M. Raspail has seen dissipated in a wonderfully short space of time, by the application of the camphorated compress, and the use of the cigar. There are several other affections and diseases in which M. Raspail thinks that camphor might be employed with great advantage; but we think it sufficient, for the present, to direct attention more particularly to those of the respiratory apparatus. At the conclusion of his letter the author assures us that his communication has been made solely from a desire of benefitting his fellow men, and with a hope that medical practitioners will repeat his experiments on an extensive scale, the more especially as the remedy, unlike so many others, can do no harm, if it effect no good.-French Lancet, Nov. 17, 1838. Use of the Nitrate of Silver in Ophthalmia Infantum. By PROF. BUSCH. of Berlin.2-Eighty cases of ophthalmia of new-born children, of various degrees of severity, extent, and obstinacy, came under the care of Dr. B., all of which were cured, with the exception of one case, in which specks remained upon the cornea. In severe cases a leech was applied near the eye in the first instance, and afterwards ablution employed, together with some appropriate eye-water, especially the sublimate in weak solution. Of late years, however, a strong solution of lunar caustic, one to six grains to the ounce, has been employed with such eminent advantage as to refute all theoretical objections. The severest degree of inflammation was relieved without fail in a few days, provided the solution, commenced with one grain to the ounce, was gradually increased to three or four. From two to three drops were carefully introduced into the affected eye, and the greatest cleanliness enjoined, with careful removal of the collected mucus. Lactation in a Woman of Advanced Age. By DR. CARGANICO, of Darkehmen.3-This woman, now nearly 60 years of age, of a dark brown complexion, vigorous make, and sanguineo-choleric temperament, has suckled for nine months a grandchild, born in April 1836; although she nursed the last of her eight children seventeen years since, and has not 1 Lancet, for Dcc. 8, 1838, p. 42. 2 Med. Jahrb. des k. k. osterr. Staat. Bd. 23, St. 2. menstruated for ten years. The mother of the child, the woman's oldest daughter, suckled the infant for five months, but was then compelled to seek a substitute. An attempt was made to put the child to the breast of a woman recently delivered, but it became affected with diarrhea, and the plan was abandoned. The grandmother then undertook to bring it up by hand, and fed it partly with milk and in part with panada and chamomile tea. As might have been expected, the child became restive under this treatment, and, in order to quiet it, the woman applied it to her own breast. When she had repeated this manœuvre for three or four days, she felt sudden pungent pains in both breasts, and at the same time perceived a milky fluid to exude from them. By continued perseverance she obtained, without farther pain or inconvenience, a good supply of milk, and the child, neglecting the unsuitable diet previously offered it, sustained itself solely on this new aliment. It throve well, and regained its animation; while the old lady remained in good health, and performed the duty of a wet nurse with much satisfaction. Two months after, the child began to feed, but still gave the preference to the breast. At present, at the age of fourteen months, it remains in good health, both bone and muscle well developed. The nurse finds the quantity of the secretion gradually diminish, but it is still sufficiently abundant, and the grandmother and grandchild appear still disposed to retain their connection. Solidification of Carbonic Acid. By DR. J. K. MITCHELL.-This accomplished chemist has published his ingenious procedure for liquefying and solidifying carbonic acid,' in the Journal of the Franklin Institute, and in the American Journal of Pharmacy. He will accept our thanks for his pamphlet on this subject. American Institution for the Cultivation of Science. We have been favoured with a letter from a committee of scientific gentlemen in Boston, who propose the establishment of an institution similar to the British Association; and recommend that the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia be invited to undertake its organisation. The American Philosophical Society-as a body-has respectfully declined the recommendation. NECROLOGY. Professor Broussais.-This celebrated individual, whose opinions have made so much noise in the medical world, and in no part of it more than in this country, died recently at his country-seat, near Paris. He had laboured for a considerable time under a painful disease-cancer of the rectum-which was only partially relieved by operation.2 Time has already done ample justice to the opinions of this teacher. The enthusiasm attendant upon the first promulgation of his theories has long since passed away, but the useful results are recorded in the archives of the profession. I See Intelligencer for June 1, 1838, p. 83. 2 London Lancet, Nov. 24, 1838, p. 360. THE AMERICAN MEDICAL INTELLIGENCER. Vol. II. February 1, 1839. No. 21. ART. I.-CLINICAL LECTURE ON A NEW MODE OF TREATING HYPERTROPHY OF THE HEART. BY DR. A. T. THOMPSON, (Delivered at University College Hospital.)1 Hypertrophy of the heart-Symptoms indicative of the disease- Utility of milk diet-Difference between the impulse of the heart in hypertrophy and nervous palpitation-Danger of frequent large blood-lettings in hypertrophy New mode of treating cardiac hypertrophy by elaterium and alcohol-The mode of action of these agents. The subject of the case, Wm. Gardner, aged 40, was admitted on the 1st of September. He is a cowkeeper, a married man, of temperate habits, and had been in the hospital twice before for the same complaint. The symptoms under which he laboured, on his admission, were ascites, with considerable œdema of the legs, attended with great weakness of the knees and ankles, which prevented him from walking even the length of the ward. He suffered also under dyspnoea, which amounted almost to suffocation, when he attempted to lie down, with pain of the chest, cough, and expectoration of muco-purulent sputa. The other symptoms were anorexia; constipation; the urine scanty, turbid, and high-coloured; the pulse sharp and quick, and the skin hot and dry. The physical signs and sounds on percussion and auscultation were, dulness over the region of the heart, and extending beyond it; the impulse of the heart considerable, with a rasping sound, as well as a double bellows sound, loudest over the aortic valves, and at the base of the organ; the respiratory murmur, superiorly, was puerile, with some sonorous râle; and a slight degree of crepitation, inferiorly, both before and behind. He was ordered one grain of elaterium, with twelve grains of the crumbs of bread, to be made into four pills, one of which was to be taken every six hours. He was placed on low diet. This medicine was continued until the 10th, with evident advantage. He was copiously purged, but not weakened; he walked better; the ascites and oedema had disappeared; there was scarcely a trace of crepitant râle inferiorly; and the heart's impulse was greatly lessened. The strength of the pulse, however, still continued. The pills were ordered to be discontinued, and in their stead the following drops were prescribed:-Elaterium, one grain; alcohol, two drams; dissolve. Eight minims to be taken in a wineglassful of water, three times daily. He was placed upon milk diet. On the 17th, having caught cold, he complained that the drops occasioned pain in the abdomen, without purging. His pulse was sharper and quicker than before, and his cough increased in hardness and frequency. Twelve 1 Lancet, Nov. 24, 1838, p. 320. ounces of blood were taken from the arm. The drops were continued, with fifteen minims of tincture of henbane added to each dose, and the following pills were ordered to be taken at bed-time occasionally-One grain of calomel, and three grains of the extract of hyoscyamus. He continued this medicine with the most decided advantage; the impulse of the heart diminished, as well as the rasping sound, and he could ascend the hospital stairs without suffering either from dyspnoea or palpitation. He, however, again caught cold on the 26th of October, when he was again bled, and took a pill, containing three grains of calomel, and one of opium afterwards. When his bowels had been freely opened, he returned to the use of the drops. He was discharged apparently well on the 5th of November. In his clinical lecture, Dr. Thompson remarked-This is a case of hypertrophy of the left ventricle of the heart, accompanied by the deposition of osseous matter on the valves, as indicated by the rasping or saving sound which accompanies the impulse of the heart, and the pain which existed in the region of the heart when the patient was admitted at both times into the hospital. With regard to the last of these symptoms, it is proper to caution you, gentlemen, against adopting an opinion that pain referred to the heart is always indicative, in hypertrophy, of some degree of inflammation of the lining membrane of that organ. On the contrary, it is most frequently owing to the simple defect of the elasticity of the ossified parts preventing them from yielding simultaneously with the other portions of the diseased organ, whilst labouring under palpitation. From such a condition of the heart and the aortic valves, the dyspnea consequent on any exertion, or even lying flat in bed, can be readily explained; there is a transitory pulmonary congestion, which prevents the decarbonisation of the blood, and, consequently, causes a sensation of suffocation, which ceases when the labouring action of the heart is lessened by a cessation of the exertion which excited it, or when a change from the recumbent to the erect position is effected. Cardiac dyspnoea, also, may be excited by derangement of the digestive organs, or by the introduction into the stomach of any thing which can morbidly irritate it, as this condition of the organ is propagated to the heart, and augments its already inordinate action. It is on this account that the dyspnoea, attendant especially on hypertrophy of the left ventricle, often supervenes on a meal, or any circumstance which can produce acidity or flatulence; and is often accompanied, as in our case, with a sensation of weight over the forehead and throbbing of the temples. Nothing is more important, therefore, than the regulation of the diet in such cases; and experience has convinced me that milk is preferable to every other description of food, as it is less stimulant than any other animal diet, and less apt to run into the acetous fermentation than vegetable matter. It may be objected that milk is too nutritive in a disease, the result of increased nutrition in the affected organ; but the general nutrition may be regulated by the quantity allowed; and I suspect that the danger in hypertrophy, arising from improper diet, depends more on its stimulant property than on its nutritive quality. In every case of hypertrophy the capillary congestion, which is the result of the augmented impetus and activity of the arterial circulation, gives rise to dropsy; consequently, as in this case, and in many others, which have appeared in the hospital, when they have been admitted in an advanced stage of the disease, both ascites and anasarca have been present; indeed, these are the symptoms which usually most forcibly attract the attention of the patients, and induce them to apply for relief. This engorgement of the capillaries, and its consequences, depend upon two causes, viz. the impediment of the return of the venous blood to the heart, and the increased energy which that organ, in its hypertrophied state, imparts to the arterial circulation. Whatever, therefore, diminishes the circulating mass must relieve this |