OBSERVATIONS ON THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PROSTATE GLAND IN MAN AND IN THE LOWER ANIMALS.

This paper (by Joseph Griffiths, M. B, C. M., University of Cambridge) contains an account of some very interesting observations by the author on the relation of the prostate gland to the sexual function. His most striking observations are those made on hedgehogs, moles, and other such animals, which have a strongly developed sexual passion, that gradually increases up to a certain season, and then as gradually decreases, until it finally disappears. He divides the state of animal sexual development into three stages, the quiescent, the intermediate and the active. He finds that in the quiescent stage, the prostate is small, and the gland-cells proper form a comparatively small part of the whole; the greater part being long spindle cells, which the author believes to be connective tissue, rather than unstriped muscle.

In the intermediate stage, the gland is much larger; the gland-cells, which in the previous stage were small and cubical, have now become much larger and of columnar form. A scant secretion of mucus is found in lumina of the alveoli, and well defined non-striated muscle cells are formed in the outer alveolar sheath.

In the active stage, the prostate is many times larger than in the quiescent stage. The gland-cells proper are columnar, large and swollen. The lumen is filled with mucus and "corpuscles resembling leucocytes." Between the columnar cells, close to the basement membrane, are found scattered small round granular cells, which the author thinks have the same function as the demilune cells in the salivary glands and pancreas, viz., to replace the columnar secreting cells when these are used up The outer coats of the alveoli have now a strong, well developed coat of unstriped muscle, capable of squeezing out the secretions which had collected in the lumina, In other words, the prostate at this time is an actively secreting gland.

The author has also studied the effect of castration on the prostate, and finds that after removal of the testicles, the gland-cells of the prostate atrophy and the connective tissue closes in on the aveoli of the gland, so that only narrow streaks of shrunken gland tissue remain to mark the once actively secreting lobules, The author has made no observations on man, but quotes several authorities who have found that the prostates of eunuchs very much diminished in size. All these observations tend to show that there is some relation between the secretion of the prostate and the sexual function. Its secretion is said to resemble that of the seminal vesicles, and, it may be, plays a more prominent part than has heretofore been ascribed to it. The enlarged prostate of old age is no exception to this, for it is the connective tissue, not the-gland cells, which proliferates.

All books received by the JOURNAL are deposited permanently in the Library of the Medical Society of the County of Kings.

A MANUAL OF CHEMISTRY FOR THE USE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS. By Brandreth Symonds, A. M., M. D. P. Blakiston, Son & Co., Philadelphia, 1889.

This little manual is intended specially for the student, a sort of "crambook," in which he can quickly look up salient points which may occur to him just before entering the green-room.

Those who have attended Prof. Chandler's lectures will recognize the chapters on Air and Water as familiar pictures. The principal chemical tests are grouped in a single chapter, which is a great convenience, and another short chapter is devoted to the examination of the urine, which, though very much evaporated, will be appreciated by the searcher after much information in the least possible space.

We very much doubt if such books tend to elevate the standard of medical education, on account of the tendency of the student to depend too much upon them, though if such books are necessary this is one of the best of its kind. It is hoped that in future editions the print will be improved.

A HAND-BOOK OF DERMATOLOGY FOR THE USE OF STUDents. By A. H. Ohmann-Dumesnil, A. M., M. D., editor "St. Louis Med. and Surg. Journal," etc. St. Louis Med. and Surg. Journal Publishing Co. St. Louis.

This little manual belongs to the same class as the preceding-in the words of the author, "not written to fill a long-felt want, but rather as a guide to students in their reading, at the request of a number of the students of the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons who desired to possess a short résumé of the lectures."

The author has avoided details, giving nothing but general, broad principles, and left out the acute exanthemata and the syphilodermata, as they do not strictly pertain to the field of dermatology.

The little book is illustrated with 34 cuts, neatly gotten up, and of a convenient size for the pocket. It will, with the medical student, take the place of the lecture-room note-book.

THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS, A TEXT-BOOK FOR VETERINARY AND MEDICAL STUDENTS AND PRACTITIONERS. By Robert Meade Smith, A. M., M.D., Professor of Comparative Physiology in the University of Pennsylvania, etc. With over 400 illustrations. Philadelphia and London: T. A. Davis, publisher, 1889. The number of text-books on physiology which have been published during the past few years is so large that one cannot but wonder that there is any demand for more. It would seem that already all possible wants in this direction had been met and abundantly supplied, and when, therefore, another appears, one is inclined to be critical and prepared to find fault, if such can be found.

Prof. Smith states that up to the present time there has been no book in the English language to which veterinary students could refer to obtain any information on the application of the laws of physiology to the functions of the domestic animals. French and German students have for a long time had the best of text-books, but the English-speaking and English-reading student has had only the notes of his professor. This statement is alone a sufficient raison d'être for the book before us, and we welcome it to our library.

Part I., which discusses General Physiology, we deem worthy of special commendation. The author's explanation of cellular physics and cellular chemistry is most excellent, and is as applicable to human as to comparative physiology. In Part II. Special Physiology is considered, more with reference to the domestic animals than to man.

In preparing a text-book for veterinary students the author has succeeded. It is, we think, better adapted to them than to the medical student, so-called. The only adverse criticism we have to make is as to the size of the book. A volume of 938 pages is too large for the student to read with comfort; for a book of reference this is not too much, but for a text-book which a student is expected to handle for a considerable time each day, such a book is too bulky, and the chances of its being thoroughly read and studied are very much diminished.

A TEXT-BOOK OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY, WITH INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS ON GENERAL BIOLOGY AND A FULL TREATMENT OF REPRODUCTION, FOR STUDENTS OF HUMAN AND COMPARATIVE (Veterinary) MEDICINE AND OF GENERAL BIOLOGY. By Wesley Mills, M. A., M. D., etc., Professor of Physiology in McGill University, Montreal. With over 500 illustrations. N. Y., D. Appleton & Co., 1889.

It is certainly a departure from the usual method of treating physiology to so discuss the subject as to make it adaptable both to medical and veterinary students; yet this has been the author's attempt, and in it he has been remarkably successful. This text-book supplants none which is already in existence, and, so far as we know, no other can take its place. It is decidedly original in every way, and is so full of valuable material that no teacher of physiology can afford to be without it, and all students, whatever other text-books they may possess, will find this one very useful for reference.

NOTES ON THE ELECTRO-MAGNET IN OPHTHALMOLOGY, WITH A REPORT OF NINE CASES. By Wm. Ellery Briggs, M. D., Sacramento, Cal. 8vo pphl. Reprint from Occidental Medical Times, August, 1889.

Dr. Briggs' conclusions are as follows:

1. The electro-magnet is generally a safer instrument for the extraction of fragments of steel trom the anterior chamber, from the iris, or from the anterior portion of the lens, than the forceps

2. It is practically our only resource when the steel has penetrated the vitreous chamber.

3. It is safe to retain quite extensively injured eyes, if the offending body be promptly removed and thorough asepsis observed.

THE

BROOKLYN MEDICAL JOURNAL

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF KINGS.

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE:

JOSEPH H. RAYMOND, M. D.,

ALEX. HUTCHINS, M. D.,

JOSEPH H. HUNT, M. D.,

GLENTWORTH R. BUTLER, M. D., FRED. D. BAILEY, M. D.

VOL. IV No. 3.
WHOLE NO. 27.

BROOKLYN, N. Y., MARCH, 1890.

Single copies 25 cents. $2 a year, in advance.

ORIGINAL ARTICLES.

CASE OF EXCISION OF THE ELBOW JOINT.

Presented by George R. Westbrook, M.D., at a meeting of the Brooklyn Surgical Society, November 7, 1889.

J. D. M., aged thirty-four, an engraver of watch-cases, had, in the early part of August, 1887, an abscess form on his back, between his shoulders, which I opened in two places, establishing good drainage. Repair of the abscess went on satisfactorily. About the middle of September he complained of pain and swelling about the right elbow. I suspected inflammation of the joint. Exploring with a hypodermic syringe, I found pus a little above the external condyle of the humerus. A free opening was made, the pus cavity washed out with an antiseptic solution, and a drainage tube introduced; shortly after pus was found below the joint over the olecranon; this was treated in the same way. I could not find any communication with the joint from either of these cavities.

The arm was kept in a splint and the pus cavities washed out every other day with an antiseptic wash, the patient all the time taking a tonic of iron and quinia; his temperature all the time keeping one and a half to two degrees above normal. Two or three weeks after the last abscess was opened, denuded bone could be detected with a probe in both openings.

Prof. J. S. Wight saw him with me, and advised a continuation of the treatment a while longer. Soon crepitus could be detected on manipulating the joint. Prof. Wight saw him with me again, when it was decided to remove the diseased bone, which I did, December 27, 1887, assisted by Prof. Wight and Drs. Buckmaster and Brewster.

A longitudinal incision was made on the posterior aspect of the arm, from about two inches above the olecranon to about two inches below; the tissues were drawn apart, the ulnar nerve exposed and drawn to one side, when about an inch from the lower end of the humerus, about an inch from the upper end of the ulnar and the head of the radius were removed. The wound was washed out with a bichloride solution, the parts drawn together, an antiseptic dressing applied, and the arm placed in a right angle splint. Convalescence went on slowly, giving the man a good and useful arm.

The bones of the forearm are drawn up in front of the humerus, the radius seems to articulate with it, but I do not think the ulna does. Rotation and flexion of the forearm are good. As the attachment of the triceps to the olecranon is lost, extension is considerably impaired. Flexion and extension of the hand and finger are good; the grasp of the hand is firm. The arm from the shoulder to the tip of the middle finger is two inches shorter than its mate; and there is some atrophy of the hand.

DISCUSSION.

Dr. BURGE.-It speaks for itself as an exceedingly interesting case, and I think its present condition testifies to the excellence of the operation. It does not occur to me to say anything very special upon the subject beyond this, that the use of the fingers seems to be good and the nerve connections well preserved.

Dr. WIGHT.-I only wish to say very briefly that the facts of the clinical history, from what the doctor has said and from what I remember of it, and tracing along the line of the facts all the way up to the present, as they come to my judgment, without going into detail, I arrive at this conclusion: that it is an example, an important example, of conservative surgery, the conservatism that ought to be put in force nowadays from time to time, while we are inclined to amputation. That is one of the greatest triumphs of conservative surgery that I have known, saving a limb that had just a chance to be saved, a useful limb, and saving a man's life and putting a fairly useful limb in the place of no limb at all, with a very good movable joint, so that it can be used to help support his family. It seems to me that such a case as that should be presented to every practical surgeon, to give him at least a strong suggestion in the direction of conservative surgery, especially in the upper limb.