system to eliminate the poison and resist its influence. The lack of positive electricity in the atmosphere also increases the activity or consuming force of oxygen in cold weather and high latitudes. We will here state what is generally conceded, and which would naturally result from the supposed cause, viz.: that although the system may be charged with malaria, it requires some determining influence to produce chill or fever, as alternations of night and day, heat and cold; any depressing agency, whether from mental influence, excessive exercise, or lack of proper food; also any increased or undue excitement or stimulus, taxing the vital energy. Also, that the induction of chill and fever is an effort to counteract the poison, eliminate it from the system, and restore the equilibrium of health. As a preventive, we would suggest a residence with a view to the avoidance of luxurious vegetation and dense growth, also of decaying vegetable matter, or water saturated with the same, and wet soils. That the prevailing winds be not from a locality thus infected, and that there be free circulation of air. Unslaked lime may be beneficial in absorbing it. Electricity may destroy it. While heat and sunshine hasten its formation, they promote its diffusion and decomposition. Moisture holds it in solution, and at night it is accumulated, and rendered most active on drying up of the dew in the morning. As a prophylactic we would suggest a cup of hot coffee carefully prepared very early in the morning, or a small portion of quinine, and avoidance of exposure to night air. Among remedies, whatever will relieve portal congestion and stimulate the secretions without debilitating the system, may be beneficial, as blue mass, castor oil, hypo-sulphite soda. Chlorate potass. and some other salines lessen fever, and assist in elimination. Quinia increases the irritability of the nervous system, the energy and activity of the circulation, and thus counteracts the effects of the poison. Arsenic acts by establishing a new action which is not well understood. Iron is beneficial by improving nutrition, rendering the blood more stimulating, increasing its capacity for oxygen. But above all cures, removal beyond malarial atmosphere is the surest and most effectual. DISEASES OF COLBERT COUNTY. BY R. T. ABERNETHY, M. D., OF TUSCUMBIA. The By reason of continued bad health, I beg to be excused from making a report on the diseases of Tuscumbia to the medical association of Alabama, but as I have already commenced, will continue the report of my own case from March last. After a short improvement my hæmaturia returned and continued almost without remission for ten months, the blood sometimes small in quantity, sometimes large, but especially large after full meals, not very often in clots, and only two or three times showing the mould of the ureter. The amount of albumen in urine varied from to by volumetric measurement. Tube casts were also the usual concomitants. urine was usually acid and rarely changed except from taking alkalies, of which the citrate of potash made with the bicarbonate and fresh lemon juice acted better than any other. Constipation and eruction have ever been persistent and troublesome. The right side of the head has been the seat of continued pain, at times attended with contraction of the right masseter muscle and accumulation of food between the teeth and upper lip. When the head was free, the pain would be transferred to the spine, which has during the year been tender to pressure in every region. At one time the pain in the head and slight symptoms of paralysis induced the belief that the primary disease was located in the spine, but of late the symptoms point significantly to Bright's disease of the kidneys. During the spring, under the drain of setons and use of hæmostatic remedies, the condition of the spine improved. In the summer I resorted to Bailey's springs. The water diluted the urine so that but little blood and albumen answered to the tests. To discontinue the water two days the hæmaturia would return as before. The water acted on my bowels, improved digestion, and strengthened me so much that I shall return to the Springs this summer, with hopes of decided benefit. In October, while in the act of stooping, I heard an audible snap in the region of my left kidney. Immediately my legs began to tremble and grow numb and useless, yet I was able to walk about three steps to a fence, to which I held on and talked some four or five minutes to a servant. From this I tumbled on the ground with a sort of fit or fainting, which lasted several minutes. Afterwards my legs were paralyzed and I was bedridden with much pain and soreness in the first lumbar vertibra and left kidney for seven or eight weeks. Under cupping, liniments, mustard and blister over the lumbar region, with purgatives and diuretics, the paralysis gradually passed away, and a new trouble, ascites, came on, while under the influence of tonics and sitting up. This yielded to the hydragog action of jalap and cream of tartar, at the same time taking 20 grain doses of the bitartrate to act on the kidneys. After an interval of some two weeks the dropsy returned and the abdomen enlarged sufficient to impede breathing, but again gave way to large doses of podophyllin and bitartrate of potash as a purgative and 20 grains doses of the cream of tartar as a diuretic. This treatment produced a happy effect upon my feelings, black watery discharges and a more copious flow of urine, evidently lessening the quantity of blood and albumen. After the water was dissipated, the bowels were sore and felt as if glued en masse. The urine assumed a brown color, less bloody and more tinted with bile, albumen and tube casts still present, albumen about one-twelfth in volume. The addition of nitric acid precipitated nitrate of urea on standing twenty-four hours. Suspended the cream of tartar after a month's use, and nux vomica and iron now for the first time improved appetite and strengthened my muscle. The muriated tincture of iron proved most beneficial, indeed was the first remedy which had relieved the ever attendant symptom of eructating wind. About the time the ascites began, while walking about, perspiration and a feeling of sinking would compel me to lie down. Frequently at night I would be awakened by a sense of sinking, followed by fluttering of the heart. Having regained strength and flesh these symptoms have in a great degree vanished, and I now look as if I had never any dropsical effusion. It is useless to mention the many remedies I have taken, comprising very many of the most fashionable prescriptions for spinal irritation, hæmaturia and albumenuria, given by standard authors and journals, and by Drs. Kumpé and Desprez, for whose kind attentions I am deeply indebted. However, I can speak well of the virtue of large doses of the citrate of potash, of podophyllin and cream of tartar, and the tincture chloride of iron, and last but not least, of the malic elder. This is made by filling a bottle with the inner or white bark of the sambucus canadensis and adding to it the hard cider or apple vinegar. Eight weeks ago I began to take from one to three ounces of this acetate of sambucus three or four times a day, and was delighted with its effect, viz., an improvement in digestion, a regulation of the quantity of urine, so that I now pass water three or four times a day, and can sleep all night without being called up three, four and five times as heretofore. There is also a marked diminuation of blood and albumen in the urine. To give the malic elder a fair showing I have taken nothing else except chalybeate water, drawn from Winston's spring, which is a better diuretic than Bailey's water, and appeased my ever constant enemy, |