ministered in 24 hours. This quantity may, however, be exceeded to suit the requirements of the case, the gelatinous substance being a perfectly harmless. body. The diseases in which this method of treatment was carried out were summer diarrhoeas, gastro-enteritis, due to improper feeding, dyspepsia, with or without pylorospasm, dysenteric enterocolitis, etc. The treatment is not applicable to severe cases of cholera infantum, and those gastro-intestinal affections which represent true digestive general infections, the disease already involving various important organs, such as the liver, the kidneys, etc. It goes without saying that the gelatine treatment cannot be relied upon in these grave conditions. Newborn. F. R. Thymus Death in the Hedinger (Jahrb. f. Kinderheilk., Vol.63, 1907). The author contributes a series of autopsy findings, which serve to show that a certain number of apparently healthy new-born infants, both full term and premature, die sooner or later after a short normal labor, or after a protracted difficult labor, but under insufficient clinical circumstances, such as birth traumatism to account for the deaths. These infants succumb, as a rule, under the symptoms of asphyxia. The autopsy shows the presence of a more or less wellmarked hyperplasia of the thymus, which may be combined with hyperplasia of the thyroid, as in certain cases observed by the author; the fatal asphyxia being generally referable to pressure upon the respiratory passages, sometimes also to compression of the large vessels. The hyperplasia of the lymphatic system in the newborn is almost exclusively limited to the thymus gland. The compression of the respiratory passages by the enlarged thymus cannot be demonstrated at the autopsy in the majority of the cases, the demonstration requiring the preliminary hardening of the cervical organs. From the forensic point of view it is noteworthy that asphyxia may be caused by thymus glands, which, according to the general scale of weights and dimensions, would be estimated as only slightly or not at all enlarged. Changes of the suprarenal bodies were not observed in the cases studied by the author. F. R. The Causes of Thymus Hotz (Beitr. z. Klin. Based upon a critical review of the theories of thymus death, the author arrives at the following conclusions: The anatomical relations in the body of the child favor a mechanical influence of the hypertrophied thymus gland upon the organs of the upper mediastinum. As shown by autopsy findings, the enlarged thymus often exerts pressure upon the trachea. This tracheal compression occupies the point where the innominate artery, or the common carotid, pass across the trachea. In rare cases, pressure changes are met with in the circulatory organs, the heart as well as the large vessels. Direct pressure upon the nerves has not been positively demonstrated. immediate effect upon the nerves of the thorax, or an indirect reflex action upon the medullary centers for respiration and cardiac function, remain purely hypothetical. Favorable results have always been obtained by surgical interference. In the author's case-abscess in spondylitis of the third and fourth thoracic vertebrathe extirpation of the thymus gland served at least for the relief of the severe dyspnoea. F. R. An Buttermilk as an In- Tugendreich (Berfant Food. liner Klinik, H. 219, 1907). Excellent effects from the em ployment of buttermilk were observed by the author in cases of acute diarrhoea and vomiting (at the end of the fasting period); also in obstinate cases of habitual vomiting; in thrush, which frequently subsides of its own accord after buttermilk feeding, and for the nutrition of cachectic infants (congenital syphilis). The age of the patient is of no importance. As regards the quantity, a little less buttermilk may be given than other foods. The feeding with buttermilk should begin in small quantities, frequently repeated, and the diet should not be changed too abruptly, which is easily done, since buttermilk agrees with any other infant food, both natural and artificial. The gain in weight from relatively small quantities of buttermilk is sometimes remarkable (3050 g. gain in 44 days: infant four months of age; weight at beginning of treatment, 3100 g.) Its use may be continued over a long time; one of the author's cases subsisted for over seven months on buttermilk exclusively. F. R. NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASES. UNDER THE CHARGE OF WILLIAM B. NOYES, M.D., Four Cases of Adipo- Lézary (Revue de sitas Dolorosa (Der- Médecine, 1907-8). cum's Disease.) The author describes four cases of adipositas dolorosa, characterized by local or general obesity, pain, asthenia and psychic disturbances. The first patient, in whose case one segment of the body was affected, also presented sensory disturbances, but there was a possible complication by alcoholic neuritis. While all these cases occurred in women, there was no ætiological reason for assuming a connection of the adipositas dolorosa with changes in the ovaries, the thyroid gland or the hypophysis. In two instances the disease developed after childbirth. Relation to the menopause could not be determined. The first patient was syphilitic, another was tuberculous, and still another suffered from glycosuria. There was a fifth patient, who, in addition to Dercum's disease, prevented aortic insufficiency, and reflex rigidity of the pupils, possibly of syphilitic origin. disease, one or the other may preponderate, or it may be absent or obscured by the other manifestations. The obesity is either diffuse or nodular, or it may affect one segment of the body. Any pressure upon the fatty tissue, which often develops after a period of weakness, is extremely painful and readily produces euchymoses, which are referred to a vasomotor instability. At first the condition frequently represents a more or less œdematous swelling of the tissue, and this is followed by the formation of fat, with fat-deposition and accumulation. Acroneuritis, Due to F. R. Acute Polyneuritic Schtscherbak Ataxia, Combined with (Iratschebuaja Gascta, No. IO-II, 1907. Ztalbltt. f. Inn. Med., No. 7, 1908). The chief symptom in lobster poisoning is an acute affection of the gastro-intestinal tract, suggestive of cholera or dysentery. In the further course of the disease, an acute poly Among the various symptoms of this neuritis develops as the result of auto intoxication. The case observed by the author presented the picture of acute polyneuritic ataxia (acute peripheral (acute peripheral pseudo-tabes), combined with acro-neuritis, or inflammation of the fine nervous ramifications in the hands and feet. The patient recovered after having suffered from partial disturbances of sensation and motion. The toxic agent playing at part in lobster poisoning is not as yet sufficiently known. The intoxication may be produced by fresh lobsters as well as by lobster preserves. With special reference to the latter, it is a noteworthy fact that while recently-opened tins may be non-poisonous, the same preserves may be extremely poisonous by the next day. Evidently a number of anaerobic germs are left behind in the preserve tins, which begin to develop as soon as the tin is opened, giving free access to the air. York (Journal 4. M. A., February 15), remark that while many of the diseases dependent on acute pathologic conditions in the gray matter of the central nervous system have been long known to medical literature, that known as polioencephalitis superior, inferior ophthalmophlega, or superior bulbar paralysis has received recognition only for about a quarter of a century, having been first described by Wernicke in 1881. While his teachings as to its dependence on alcholic intoxication and its fatal termination were at first generally accepted by the profession, it is now commonly believed that the underlying morbid condition is not unlike those constituting the pathologic processes in various other inflammations of the central gray matter, and that the causes that are responsible for such inflammations elsewhere in the central nervous system are responsible for this disease. Alcohol, however, is probably the most important factor, though other intoxications and certain infectious diseases have had a good case made against them. That it is not always fatal has been clearly demonstrated. Mild attacks with complete or partial recovery are not so rare, in the author's opinion, as has been supposed. When the inflammation is confined to the gray matter of the third ventricle, the symptoms are few and as distinctive as in anterior poliomyelitis, but when it extends to the fourth ventricle and beyond, the clinical picture becomes more complex, and a satisfactory diagnosis sometimes can hardly be made. In some cases the structural lesions found on postmortem are slight and entirely out of proportion to the severity of the symptoms observed. These cases are looked on as analogous to those of asthenic bulbar paralysis (bulbar paralysis without anatomic foundation) in which it is supposed that several levels of the different segments of the central nervous system are so overwhelmed by some toxic agent as to partially or wholly render them functionless, though not so as to leave discernible evidence in their cells. There may also be intermediate cases with trifling lesions. The clinical symptoms fall into three groups: Those relating to the eyes (external ophthalmoplegia, the ciliary muscle and iris sphincter being only very exceptionally involved); the mental symptoms, suggesting usually those of alcoholism, and occasionally a typical Korsakoff's syndrome, and the ataxia of speech and gait, also resembling those of inebriation. Six cases are reported, one of them a fatal one, three ending in complete and one in partial recovery, and one, a very chronic case, lasting over 17 years. In one of the cases terminating in recovery, death occurred later from another cause, also occurred in an anatomic sense. The and the autopsy showed that recovery article is illustrated. DERMATOLOGY. UNDER THE CHARGE OF GEORGE HOWARD FOX, M.D., Clinical Assistant, Dermatological Department, College of Physicians and Surgeons. Roentgen, Radium and (Polnische Zeitschr. Photo-Therapy. f. Dermatol. u. Veneriol., 1907, 7-9). The personal experiences of Kozeveski and Gorkiewicz with the X-ray and with radium and phototherapy in a large number of cases is as follows: A. Roentgen therapy. 1. Superficial inflammations. Results Results in 24 cases of acne greatly surpassed in point of rapidity and convenience all other methods, especially in cases of iodide and bromide acne. In three cases of persistent hidradenitis a complete cure was effected in 24 hours after one sitting. In seven cases of vesicular eczema results were good, especially in two obstinate cases. Fifteen cases of sycosis barbæ were successfully treated, relapses occurring in five cases. 2. Infectious granulomata. Seventythree cases of lupus vulgaris were treated. Results teach that Roentgen therapy should be used at first and later followed by radium or Finsen-therapy. Eight cases of scrofuloderma after a decided suppuration healed rapidly. Of two cases of tuberculous ulcer, one was cured by two treatments; the other only improved. In three cases of folliclis the lesions disappeared after seven days, and then relapsed. In two cases of erythematous lupus the improvement was only temporary. Of 10 caces of lymphadenitis tuberculosa the treatment was completed only in seven. These cases showed a favorable result. Two cases of tuberculous epididymitis were not improved. One case was followed by azospermia. One case of rhinoscleroma was improved by treatment. Three cases of syphilitic ulcer that resisted specific treatment were benefited. 3. In one case of mycosis fungoides the tumors began to involute after five days, and after three weeks disappeared. No relapses occurred for several months. 4. Connective tissue new growths. Sarcomata reacted promptly to X-rays. Same disappeared with extreme rapidity, especially those that were superficial. The best results were obtained from idiopathic sarcoma without metastases in internal organs. A case of sarcoma of the mediastinum showed decided improvement. Several cases of angeoma and 12 of rosacea were treated with good results. In eight out of 14 cases of chronic eczema with lichenification the treatment was without any results. The same was true of cases of neuro-fibroma keloid and keloid acne. With re 5. Ringworm and favus. spect to rapidity, painlessness and permanence, the X-ray offers great advantages over other methods. Of 150 cases of ringworm and favus the writers were able to keep track of 140 cases-128 of these remained without relapses. Seven cases of favus and five of ringworm required further treatment. 6. Parakeratoses. In five cases of eczema tyloticum and tylosis the lesions disappeared after one sitting in two to three weeks; in two cases, however, relapses appeared again a month later. In six cases of eczema tyloticum with deep fissures a cure was obtained after two treatments, and three months later no relapses had occurred. In two cases of eczema orbiculare relapses rapidly followed healing. In psoriasis the X-ray has one of the best fields for usefulness, although as in other methods the treatment is often only palliative. The X-ray treatment of four cases of alopecia prematura was without result. In three out of nine cases of obstinate alopecia areata good results were obtained. Two out of five cases of dystrophia unguium were cured after two months' treatment. 7. Epithelioma. Ninety-five cases were treated. Results were best in superficial forms. Improvement noted in some deep forms of carcinomia and even some bone cases showed improvement. lupus tuberosus exulcertus was a complete cure made. Twenty-nine cases of lupus vulgaris and lupus erythematosus were treated with the Finsen-Reyn lamp. Of these, six were cured and remained free from relapses. The best results were obtained from the Kromayer lamp. In 37 cases of lupus vulgaris old obstinate. lesions soon disappeared. The improvement in a case of lupus erythematosus was also rapid. Of 16 cases of alopecia arecta only those refused to heal which were associated with severe disturbances of the central nervous system. One case of lichen of Vidal was completely cured. No effect was produced in cases of vitiligo, psoriasis and eczema orbiculare oris. Transmission of Syphi- (Annales de Dermalis to Third Generation. tol. et Syphil., January, 1908). The question of the transmission of syphilis to the third generation is still a disputed question. Fournier, Boeck, Hallopeau and others maintain that it is possible, while Finger, Hutchinson and others deny that the disease is transmissible to the third generation. Tơ the small number of cases already published the writer contributes an original case, whose history is as follows: B. Radium treatment was used in some cases with good, in others with extremely fine results. Fifty-eight cases of lupus were treated, this method being used, as a rule, to treat individual nodules, which could not be removed by the X-ray. In an apparently hopeless case of tuberculous ulcer of the inner surface of the eyelids, in seven cases of lupus erythematosus, and in many cases of lelangiectasis, nævus vasularis and angio-keratosis, good results were obtained. several cases of verruca corneæ multiplices, epithelioma perlé, ulcus rodens and carcinoma labii oris, the healing was only superficial. In eight cases of nævus pig-tain amount of photophobia. The develmentosus a cure was reached after superficial ulceration. Four cases of keloid showed partial improvement only after severe reaction. In C. Photo-therapy. The dermo, FinsenReyn and Kromayer lamps were employed. The dermo-lamp was used in 14 cases of lupus vulgaris. Its action was superficial and weak. Only in one case of The patient was a girl of five years, who gave a history of interstitial keratitis beginning two years previously, without any apparent cause. The inflammation subsided spontaneously and left a partial opacity of the cornea and a cer opment of the child has been backward. She is pale, poorly nourished, the hair is sparse and the teeth are carious. She has a saddle nose, slight prominence of frontal eminences and slight "sabre tibia" of one side. The patient's father was then thoroughly examined. He gave a straightforward history of tardy hereditary syphilis. On |