[There would be a great difference of opinion, Doctor, if a vote of the profession were taken to what constitutes "the very best remedy for infantil colic." Some would consider that treatment "best which would quickest bring quietness and sleep; i. e., opiates; others would insist upon a treatment which would embody an attempt at removal of the cause, in order that subsequent attacks would not occur repeatedly. We confess, personally, to a preference to the latter method, altho some very successful men use the former, and many others a combination of the two. That is, they give the opiates, and then attempt to locate the cause and prevent a return of the trouble. If immediate relief, only, is demanded, probably the remedy most widely used is a tablet triturate after a formula original with Dr. Waugh, of Chicago, and known as "Waugh's Anodyne for Infants:" it is not a proprietary, and may be purchast from any tablet manufacturer. It is inexpensiv, and effectiv in bringing speedy relief. Any opiate or anodyne may be employed in suitable dose. Colic, in an infant, is the result of improper food or improper methods of administering food. It may be given too frequently, it may be given in excessiv quantity, even when the food, in itself, is proper and suitable. The hygiene of the infant cannot be discust in the space at our disposal, but any of the modern text-books on pediatrics give it a full discussion. It is certain that few mothers understand even the elementary principles of feeding an infant and every physician ought to hold himself in competent readiness to instil an idea of the care needed in this matter. The old plan of giving a dose of castor oil to sweep fermenting and decomposing material out of the bowel brings relief, but it leaves the child constipated, and if constipation was a part of the trouble before, it aggravates that condition. Mild carminativs, something after the castoria formula, are often useful. The spice plaster, applied on the abdomen is an adjuvant of any form of treatment. Holding the infant against the breast so that his head will droop slightly over the nurse's shoulder sometimes causes free belching and consequent relief. Any of the aromatic waters may be freely employed. Perhaps one of the best Perhaps one of the best medicaments to employ, while time is being gained, is a few drops of pure whiskey in a teaspoonful of warm water. A short course of fractional doses of calomel and soda, well tri [In 1903, Cavazanni, in Therap. d. Gegenw., for September, called attention to the favorable effect of garlic upon tuberculosis, and cited the results of his experiments upon guinea pigs. He fed the guinea pigs on garlic, and afterwards administered to them the dried and powdered sputa of tuberculous patients. Comparing the cases thus treated with "control pigs," he believes they showed very slight lesions, and no distinct evidence of tuberculosis. Soon after this, articles appeared advocating the employment of the juice of assorted vegetables in human tuberculosis. We read these articles at the time, but they did not make any profound impression upon us. Now, we are unable to find them, and they are not referred to in any of the late text-books. We have had no experience in the treatment of tuberculosis by this "method," and we frankly confess our incompetence to give you the article askt for. We will keep the matter in mind, and if we locate the literature on the subject, will gladly give you the salient points contained therein. If any of the family have preserved such articles, will they favor Dr. Russell with the journal containing same?— Ed.] Fly-blisters.-Cracking of Joints. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-What is the physiological action and therapeutic uses of fly-blisters, applied on different parts of the body? I was told that a flyblister applied on the fourth dorsal vertebra would control vomiting of pregnancy every time; and when applied over the lungs, very useful in pneumonia ; and on the head, useful in most all brain troubles. What is the physiology and pathology of the cracking sound that occasionally takes place in the joints when moving or by a certain twist, pressure, or pulling? JOHN ALBERT BURNETT. Cecil, Arkansas. [It is true that a fly-blister applied over the cervical vertebrae will stop some cases of vomiting of pregnancy, but it is not true that it will do it " every time." If the latter statement were true, there would be no necessity for emptying the uterus, as must be done occasionally; nor for death of the prospectiv mother thru exhaustion, as happens in rare instances of pernicious vomiting of pregnancy. The fly-blister applied in the iliac region has served a useful purpose in some cases. In pneumonia, the fly-blister does good, in selected cases, by increasing the peripheral circulation on account of its counter-irritant action, and thus decreasing the congestion in the lung beneath its site. This effect has been proven by post-mortem examination. The theory, in brain inflammation, is the same; i. e., that counter-irritation will attract blood and serum from other parts which are congested and hyperemic. There is nothing distinctiv in the fly-blister, especially. Any other blister might be substituted. The dry, and perhaps the wet cupping process have the same effect. We are not able to explain the cracking sound produced by pulling on a joint, as, for instance, noted in the finger; and it is this to which we presume that you refer. Possibly it is due to the sudden separation of the layer of viscid synovial fluid. Often, in the knee and larger joints, the creaking sound is pathological, and is due to changes brought about by the uric acid diathesis.-ED.] Oxygen. DEAR EDITOR:-Can you inform me where I can [Oxygen is marketed in strong steel cylinders, from which it is liberated as wanted for use, by loosening a valve attacht to the end of the container. It is manufactured by mixing manganese dioxid with potassium chlorate, heating, collecting the resulting gas, and then pass ing it thru wash bottles containing an alkali. It is administered to the patient by, inhalation in such cases of respiratory and circulatory disease as require an increase in the oxygen furnisht the tissues. The value of such inhalations is questionable. You will find the matter discust in the modern text books on medicin and therapeutics, and two pages are devoted to it in the National Standard Dispensatory, publisht by Lea Brothers & Company, of this city. These gas filled steel cylinders may be obtained thru any supply house catering to physicians, and perhaps thru wholesale druggists. It is likely that the various manufacturers may attach their names to the containers, and it is possible that in this manner you have been prompted to ask for "Avery's Oxygen." The oxygen manufactured by the various houses is all practically the same. If, on the other hand, this is a nostrum, we know nothing of it.-ED.] Ammonium bromid Fluid extract of grindelia Peppermint water, enuf to make. 4 ounces Mix, and direct dessertspoonful in water every hour or two during attacks, and less frequently in the intervals. To abort an attack of asthma, use a hypodermic of morphin sulfate, 4 grain, with atropin sulfate, o grain, and crush a pearl of amy! nitrite under the nose. In the absence of amyl nitrite, chloroform may be used cautiously. Whiskey acts well in most cases, especially if given in strong, black, hot coffee, but the danger of acquiring the habit must be remembered. The brown mixture lozenges sold by all dealers, with or without the addition of ammonium chlorid, are the least expensiv and most generally convenient and useful form in which a "routine" cough treatment applicable to A strong infusion of the roots of alfalfa relieves pros- nearly all ages and conditions, can be carried tatic irritation and is a mild but efficient diuretic in dropsical cases. by the country doctor in his winter rounds. Notes on Treatment of Pruritus Ani. A saturated solution of boric acid, employed as a wash in pruritus ani, is both a cleansing agent of value, and in many cases a curativ power as well. An ointment prepared by thoroly blending 1 ounce of lard and I dram of calomel is a good application in cases of pruritus ani (Hare). The internal use of calcium chlorid should not be forgotten in cases of pruritus ani. It should be given in doses of 20 grains three times a day, and may be prescribed as follows: Ꭱ Calcium chlorid. Tincture orange flowers. Chloroform water, enuf to make. 2 drams . 6 drams . 6 ounces Mix, and direct one or two tablespoonfuls three times a day. Smaller doses may have to be ordered if the stomach prove irritable. These doses often cause an increast thirst. It is best given one hour after meals. Cocain, incorporated in ointments, often fails utterly in pruritus ani, as the fats prevent its exerting its power. Sodium thiosulfate, 1⁄2 dram to the ounce of water, is of service in certain cases of pruritus ani. Ringer commends the use of the following ointment in cases of pruritus ani: 1898 1899 1900 1901. 1902 676 514 .718 727 764 Kopp's Baby's Friend. 716 546 584 289 606 OMAHA, Aug. 22, 1905. To the Editor:-What is the composition of the compound prepared by Mrs. J. A. and C. Robert Kopp, at York, Pa., and sold under the shop name of "Baby's Friend"? A patient of mine gave her three-days'-old baby four drops-of the stuff, and the child went into a stupor at once. The pupils were pin-pointed, skin cool, and the heart beat and the respirations were slow. I treated this case as one of opium poisoning, but it was twelve hours before my little patient was out of danger. R. E. ESKILDSON, M.D. ANSWER.-A bottle of this preparation was purchast and the contents analyzed. According to the analysis, Kopp's Baby's Friend" contains, in 100 cc., 0.0719 gm. morphin sulfate; approximately of a grain in one fluid ounce.-Jour. A. M. A. 44 Bull's Cough Syrup. MOROCCO, Ind., Sept. 6, 1905. To the Editor:-Can you give me the formula for "Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup"? Recently I was called to see a child twenty-three months' old who had drunk about an ounce of it. In an hour, when first seen, the symptoms were those of opium poisoning. In about twelve hours the child had several convulsions and spasms followed at intervals for twelve hours longer. The child then sank into a coma and died in the seventy-second hour with cardiac failure. Respirations were labored. The dose of the mixture as labeled is five drops for a child of two years. J. W. SHAFER, M.D. ANSWER.-A bottle of this preparation was purchast in the open market and the contents analyzed. According to this analysis, "Bull's Cough Syrup" contains, in 100 cc., 0.0534 gm. morphin sulfate; approximately of a grain in one fluidounce.-Jour. A. M. A. Classes I and II.-States that are members of the American Confederation of Reciprocating and Licensing Medical Boards. Class III.-States not yet in the Confederation. The above maps are from a very concise little pamphlet entitled: State Laws Governing Medical Practise. Condenst and revised to November, 1905. Tells which States require both an Examination and a Diploma, which demand only an Examination, and which grant license upon Diploma. Names and addresses of the several State Board Secretaries; Interstate reciprocity; Fees; two illustrativ maps. Price 25c. Arthur J. Cramp, Box 378, Milwaukee, Wis. We have it confidentially that Mr. Cramp is now in his senior year in medical college, and the sale of this pamphlet (which he keeps up to date) helps to defray his college expenses. Treatment of Pruritus Ani. Dr. Lewis H. Adler, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pa., a specialist in the treatment of rectal diseases, gives the following as his method of treatment of this condition, and states that it has "in over ten years' experience proven uniformly successful." "It is important to see that the patient has a daily evacuation of the bowels, and, if necessary, medicin should be used for this purpose. The patient should be seen daily for a time, and an injection into the cavity of the rectum of from 1 to 22 drams of the following prescription should be employed: black wash, or, what is better, in some cases, calomel ointment. Should the skin about the anus become tender or sore from the use of the citrin ointment at any time during the treatment, the calomel ointment should be employed until all tenderness has disappeared. In some instances, in addition to the application, the anal surface, when it is very sensitiv, should be painted with the compound tincture of benzoin. "For the first two or three weeks the patient should be seen every day; then every other day for a like period or longer, frequently for six weeks, after which once or twice a week will suffice until the disease is cured. Usually this treatment takes in its entirety about six months. "Patients should be warned that at any time during the course of the treatment the itching may return suddenly and be as severe as that experienced at any time prior to their coming under observation, but that this must not be deemed a bad omen, as such occurrences are not unusual, and have no special significance. In typical cases of pruritus ani the itching prior to treatment is usually most markt towards the perineum, but after the medication has been instituted for about a month or six weeks, its location changes and is described by the majority of the patients as existing within or at the very verge of the anus. When patients are not being treated daily, the wearing of the pledget of cotton into which has soakt the excess of the citrin ointment, until a fresh application and a new dressing are applied, serves to prevent an intermediate attack of pruritus and is, therefore, a procedure to be recommended. "I have yet to experience a failure to effect what thus far has seemed a radical cure except in three cases. Some of the patients were treated as long ago as ten years, but in no instance, so far, to my knowledge, has there been any markt return of the trouble." "Upon the first visit, if the skin has a very rough and dry appearance, the entire surface. around the anus should be painted for several inches outwards with a concentrated solution of silver nitrate (960 grains per fluid ounce). If any break in the continuity of the skin exists as a result of previous scratching, a little of a 5 percent cocain or eucain solution applied to the abrasions will prevent the suffering incident to the use of the silver salt. In the class of cases under consideration the use of a strong silver solution is not nearly so painful as that of the weaker solutions. The application of the silver may require repeating two or three times before the desired effect is obtained; not oftener, however, than every fourth day. By its use the skin becomes supple and healthy looking. On the day after the silver has been applied and thereafter, except the day when a fresh application of silver is employed, the anus and the cutaneous surface of the parts for a distance of about two inches around the orifice should be liberally coated with the officinal citrin ointment. This ointment I use in its full strength. Over the salve a wad of absorbent cotton should be placed. The dressing is held in place by a T bandage. If the itching Iodol should prove annoying at any time, the anus should be bathed with hot water, as hot as can be borne with comfort, but under no circumstances should the parts be rubbed. application of the hot water will momentarily increase the itching, but the patient should be forbidden to scratch the affected region. After the water has been applied, the patient should be directed to use either the official The The following synthetic patented drugs have been incorporated in the new revision of the pharmacopeia; in each instance the patent has expired, or will expire at an early date: Antipyrine Aristol Chloralamid. Duotal Phenacetin Antipyrina Thymolis iodidum Chloralformamidum Guaiacolis carbonas Iodolum Acetphenetidium Benzosulphinidum Sulphonmethanum Sulphonethylmethanum Aethylis carabamas Hexamethylenamina . . . Vanillinum Some cases of chronic bronchitis with excessiv seère tion are benefited greatly by the internal administration of sulfur, 5 to 10 grains being given three times a day. |