of viscera. Accumulated energies, begotten of long continued pelvic disease, are not controlled by the abdominal brain, but irregular, stormy forces are emitted over the plexuses to the viscera, which unbalances their rhythm and ruins their nutrition. The woman with genital disease becomes an object of wretched despair and a miserable invalid. The days of her life are past between pain and sadness. Our amateur operativ gynecologist has forgotten that all her troubles started from a lacerated cervix or endometritis five years ago. He is sure to extirpate her ovaries, which should not be done, and lo, how disappointed he is if she does not get well in a month. Such a woman will not get well from extirpation of normal organs. The only benefit of extirpating the ovaries was that she was compelled to lie still for a month-a dear method of purchasing a few weeks' rest. The proper method to follow in this numerous class of women is to hunt for the old cause and remove it, and then gradually nourish the woman back to normal. Such women are called hysterical, but there is generally some pelvic pathology, some provocative agent, that precedes hysteria, before the abdominal brain suffers derangement. And so it would disturb the rhythm of the spleen and thus create malnutrition. The spleen goes thru a rhythm just as other viscera do. The spleen is no doubt the chief organ concerned in pigmentation. Jastrowitz, of Russia, first taught that the spleen was concerned in deposit of pigment; for he found that by severing the nerves that pass to the spleen on its vessels, in dogs, irregular pigmentation followed. Every gynecologist knows the pigmentation of the skin is common at the menopause, in pregnancy and at puberty : i. e., where the sympathetic nerves are more or less disturbed. Of course little doubt exists that the liver has something to do with the deposit of pigment, as may be noted in malaria, which exercises its brunt on the liver. Hence, the disturbed rhythm of the spleen in uterin disturbances manifests itself by pigmentary deposit.

In diseases of the uterus it is quite easy to note that the rhythm of the bladder is disturbed. It is not because the fundus of the uterus rests on the fundus of the bladder, but because the automatic vesical plexus is irritated. The neck is dragged or pressed upon and the nervous mechanism suffers.

For years I have observed that women

It

with pelvic disease have disturbed kidney action. In general this kidney disease is renal insufficiency, and it may after long irritation become organic disease. may be well to give a general hint here as to why the kidneys suffer so much when either irritating tumors or inflammatory processes exist in the pelvic organs.

The kidneys, uterus, ovaries and oviducts develop from two very small points in the embryo called the Wolffian bodies. These develop from the mesoblast, as do the muscles, nerves, blood and lymph vessels, and form the genito-urinary organs. Arising from the same source and supplied by the same nerves and blood-vessels, the Wolffian bodies, the kidneys, the genitals have an intimate and close connection. The abdominal brain sends out a chain on each side of the genitals. These and the kidneys are only different spokes in the same wheel, the hub of which is the abdominal brain. Diseases in the genitals, whether tumors or inflammatory processes, produce in the urin not only diminisht solids, but also diminisht fluids. Again, on the other hand, diminisht kidney excretion (renal insufficiency) produces diseased or, at least, disturbed genitals. Any gynecologist of some years experience has doubtless frequently observed that in women with diseased genitals and deficient renal secretion, by giving water, in large and oft repeated doses, the diseased genitals will often improve in direct proportion to the increast renal secretions. Deficiency of renal secretion irritates the genitals as well as all other organs by non-removal of urinary solids. Diseased genitals irritate the kidneys by reflex action. This is all accomplisht thru the abdominal brain as a center. The genitals, kidneys and abdominal brain constitute a very vital triangle. In the middle of its base lies the significant abdominal brain and at the apex the important genitals, while the other two angles are occupied by the kidneys. The uterus and kidneys have the original nerve and blood supply which connected them in fetal life and experience more profoundly than other viscera the forces which are organized and reorganized in the abdominal brain. the sympathetic nervous system the kidneys play a vast and immeasurable role. If by some irritation in the pelvis or abdomen the kidney begins to secrete insufficiently, the whole organism, together with the ganglionic nervous system,

In

creas and ovaries; but I think sufficient has been said to show that each viscus executes a rhythm, and that the diseased generativ organs may disturb the rhythm of any viscus by reflex irritation thru the abdominal brain. BYRON ROBINSON. Chicago.

Opium Poisoning in a Child Fourteen Days Old. Three Drops of Laudanum

Taken. Recovery.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Dr. Gibson's report of a case of opium poisoning in an infant in the July WORLD recalls an almost parallel case that occurred in my practice some years since, in which I was a very much interested observer of a "nip and tuck" race between an overdose of laudanum and the vitality of an infant boy fourteen days old. I have a sure thing on his age, for I was present when he was born, which was on the 4th of April 1892. The tincture of opium was given on the 18th of the same month. At 3 p.m. of this day, the child being fretful and the mother anxious to get thru with a lot of work, gave it three drops of the above. Of course there was no further complaint from the child on that day. In about an hour the mother lookt to see how the baby was doing, and on observing its purplish hue, she snatcht it up, but this failed to awaken it, and after all attempts proved futil, the mother sent for me. On inquiry the messenger said he "believed the baby was sick.'

As the distance was over two miles, more time was added to the advantage of the poison, and to the detriment of the child's chances. As I entered the room the mother was walking the floor, screaming and calling upon God to save her child. From a couple of old ladies who were engaged in rolling and shaking the baby, I learned the above particulars.

An examination showed the critical condition of the child. The pupils were extremely contracted, the pulse 40, the respiration 10 to 12, the skin purple, and the body limp.

The clock showed that two hours and fifteen minutes had past since the dose was given. In order to have a few minutes to consider where I was "at" from a therapeutic standpoint, I ordered a gallon of strong coffee to be made, out of which a bandage was to be wrung and applied around the child's body and covered with a dry one.

This furnisht business for some, and

time for me to take an inventory of what was in my satchel.

As this was before Dr. Moore discovered the antidotal power of the permanganate of potassium, I lost no time in thinking or trying in that direction, but of something to counteract the great depression of the nervous system. I had some fl. ext. of belladonna, as black and almost as thick as tar. The dose was to me the unanswerable question, but as Barthalow had said that a medicinal dose of opium to the mother had proven fatal to her babe, and that one drop had been lethal to a child under six months, I concluded that the terminus by either route was only a question of a few hours, so I added two drops of belladonna to twenty-five teaspoons of boiled water, and had from a third to onehalf teaspoon of this given every twelve to fifteen minutes. It was very difficult to administer, as the muscles of deglutition seemed almost paralyzed, but as I did not have any other as important case on hand, I stayed and watcht for the manifestations of a returning vitality, and as the clock struck for 1.30 a. m., the child threw up its hands and gave a most welcome scream -a victory over one drug and a warning to stop the other. J. P. DILL, M.D. Hale, Mo.

Poor Appetite in Patient "Cured of Tuberculosis."-Penis " 'Developer."

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I come seeking aid thru your most valued and valuable journal. Nearly three years ago I was cured (?) of pulmonary tuberculosis. Before having tuberculosis I suffered with naso-pharyngeal catarrh and loss of appetite-or rather a poor appetite. Since the bacilli have disappeared, cough ceast etc., I still have the poor appetite and catarrh, tho not severely so. I do not cough; but "hack and spit" considerably at times. My tongue is slightly coated all the time, and I suffer from constipation, except when taking a laxative. I also suffer, at times, from muscular rheumatism. Will you and the readers be good enuf to prescribe for my case?

A patient who claims that he suffers from lack of virile power, and possest of an unusually small penis, came to me with a "developer" which he had ordered from some quack. The "developer" consists of a hollow glass cylinder about nine inches long and six inches in circumference. One end is open, the other has a

rubber bulb attacht to it like that of the ordinary bulb atomizer, only much thicker and stronger. The penis is placed in the open end of the "developer," and while the instrument is prest firmly around the base of the penis, the air is exhausted by repeated pressure of the bulb.

The increast amount of blood flowing into the organ causes its erection. This is to be maintained for from three to five minutes, after which the penis and scrotum are to be bathed and then dried with a coarse towel.

Now I have heard something of the vacuum treatment of wasted limbs. Why isn't the vacuum treatment good for a wasted penis? Is this method likely to produce good, or evil? If good, why can't we utilize such methods and obtain the fees? If harmful, how? What must I do for my patient? He is temperate in sexual intercourse, seldom having the desire to indulge. General health fair. Erections are rather feeble and ejaculation premature. We must do something for such patients. C. W. HILLIARD, M.D.

Tarentum, Ala.

Bust and Penil Development.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I have not written you for some time, but have always welcomed THE WORLD. Of the two hundred journals, medical and others, that we receive as exchanges, yours is one of the few which is examined, as Jucklins says, from "kiver to kiver." The letters on the development of the bust interests many, as generous breasts are a woman's wealth and the children's health.

Replying to your request on page 253, July WORLD:-Like some others I have seen good results follow the administration of saw palmetto. Always prohibit tea, coffee and other narcotics and stimulants, and never give medicins containing tannic acid, iron, atropin, belladonna, iodin or iodide of potash; but give plenty of exercise, calisthenics, open air, fresh milk; also attention to bathing and hygiene are essential to perfect health and beauty, both of face and figure. Massage, both manual and mechanical, alternate applications of heat and cold, avoidance of pressure from pads and corsets, are all advisable, and greatly assist; but even then there may be entire absence of bust development.

I recently had a woman patient who was the picture of health, strong and active, and an expert swimmer, muscular

and plump, with large hips, but with no more breasts than a boy. There was an infantil uterus, which quickly developt to normal size under electrical treatment, but with no apparent effect on the mammae. To show the immediate effect, and the close relation between the uterus and breast, one treatment with the electricvacuum-method, with the positive pole in the vagina, and the negative pole on the breast, using an interrupted galvanic current of only five milliamperes' strength, for ten minutes on each breast, developt the breasts an inch in thickness in three days, and the subsequent treatment was highly satisfactory to both patient and doctor, insomuch that her friends, instead of making fun of her for her flat chest, both admire and envy her now.

Fig. 1.

The accompanying cut (see Fig. 1) shows the electrode and its method of application. This electrode combines the excellent treatments of electricity, vacuum and massage, producing a physiological and mechanical effect, all tending to enlarge by stimulating the blood supply, with increase of nutrition and consequent growth.

The electrode can be attacht to any battery and used with galvanic, faradic or static current, with great benefit; or it can be used with good results without a battery. Undevelopt breasts may be made plump and firm, glands flabby and atrophied from sickness, prolonged or too frequent or over lactation, or pressure, can be made large and round by this method.