Louisville Medical Institute.-The Annual Catalogue of this Institution contains the names of 262 students: of whom there were-from Kentucky, 89; Tennessee, 81; Alabama, 30; Mississippi, 20; Ohio, 14; Indiana, 10; Illinois, 4; Missouri, 3; Louisiana, 3; Virginia, 2; Georgia, 2; Pennsylvania, 1; New York, 1; New Jersey, 1, and Texas, 1. The degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred on 53 gentlemen; and the honorary degree on 4. Physiological Temperance Society of the Medical Institute of Louisville. -We learn from the "proceedings" of this new society, with which we have been favoured, that on the 23d of December, 1841, Professor Drake presented to the Medical Class, a Constitution, which was immediately subscribed by seventy students, and subsequently by sixty-seven others, "making six more than half the class." One of the objects of its establishment is to investigate the causes, consequences, and remedies of intemperance in the use of alcoholic drinks and other narcotic stimulants; and every member binds himself to refrain from intoxicating beverages for five years after subscribing the Constitution. The Report of the Committee, appointed to report how far the promotion of temperance should be regarded as a professional duty, is especially commendable for the avoidance of ultra sentiments, which—as we have elsewhere remarked-are apt to defeat the object of their authors. Professor Drake was the chairman of the committee. Amongst the honorary members proposed by Professors Drake and Yandell, we notice Dr. Bell as the representative of Pennsylvania, who has certainly been a most energetic supporter of the great cause. We would refer the members of this society to our observations on the treatment of delirium tremens, by the eclectic method on which we have expatiated elsewhere. It is a subject which falls properly within the province of a society so constituted, and involves not only physical but moral considerations of deep interest. Dr. Bowditch on the Trichina Spiralis. -An interesting account of the Trichina spiralis a parasitic animalculum, (where does Dr. Bowditch get the word animalculæ?) is contained in a recent number of the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, (March 30, 1842,) with drawings of the animalcule in and out of the containing cyst. After detailing the case of the patient, Dr. Bowditch thus refers to the appearances observed on dissection; premising, that this is the first time, so far as he knows, that the animalcule has been noticed in this country. Appearance of the Affected Cellular Membrane.-The muscles and cellular membrane underneath them seemed literally covered with myriads of minute white lines, looking at first sight like the ova of the common fly upon decaying animal matter. The bodies seemed to be attached rather to the cellular membrane running among the fibres, than to the muscular tissue itself. They lay parallel to the course of these fibres. They had no motion, and to the naked eye looked like simple lines. I attempted to approximate to the number which probably existed in the body, supposing the other voluntary muscles were as much affected by them as those mentioned 'Practice of Medicine, p. 342. Philadelphia, 1842. above (vide autopsy.) I and another individual counted the number contained in a superfices of a quarter of an inch square. Both of us counted many more than fifty. Calling, however, this number the mean for every quarter of an inch over the trunk of the body, and allowing ten layers only (which is a very small number, when we consider that not the thinnest lamina could be removed from a muscle without exposing new specimens of the same morbid phenomena) from the surface to the bones of thorax or peritoneum, we shall have as follows: 50X 16-800 number contained in a square inch; 800× 10 8000 number contained in solid mass an inch square and ten layers deep. Supposing the height of the adult trunk to be fifteen inches, and the circumference thirty-two inches, we have as follows: 15x 32×800× 10=3,840,000, contained in the parietes of the trunk of the body. Supposing (what is still a moderate estimate) that the extremities taken together contain as many more, we have at least 7,680,000 of these minute bodies contained within the skin of this patient. Our wonder augments when we find that each of these bodies contains a minute parasitic animal! Microscopic Observations. By the use of one of Chevalier's very excellent achromatic instruments, I observed as follows:-They seemed regular oval-shaped cysts, very translucent in the centre, opaque at both extremities. Upon examining very minutely, something very indefinite and circular was seen lying in the cyst. At first I was disposed to believe that this spiral was an alimentary canal, but subsequent investigation proved otherwise.(Vide figure 1.) Upon using a higher magnifying power, we saw that while most of the bodies contained evidently a regular rounded worm-like body, others seemed opaque and yet very regular, whilst in one case the cyst had been evidently broken, and the creature had escaped from its interior.(Vide figure 2.) In one case I observed two animals in one cyst. Dr. Farre has seen three, but this is very rare. "I attempted to learn the dimensions of the cyst. They were as follows: -Length, about one sixtieth part of an inch; breadth, one hundred and twentieth. Unfortunately I had no micrometer when the figures of the cyst with the animal lying by its side presented themselves. "My examination convinced me that there was a living and moving worm (looking like a lumbricus) contained in a cyst of very delicate texture, and containing besides its living inhabitant a gelatinous mass. It was evidently alive on Saturday evening (patient having died on Tuesday, and the autopsy having been made on Wednesday). Most were very quiet, and but two were seen to move by several observers. At times the whole body stirred, causing an enlargement and diminution of the spiral shape. Usually only one extremity, however, was slightly but very distinctly agitated. When there was most motion, the gelatinous-like substance already mentioned was moved likewise. The length of time that life continued after removal from the body of the patient, seems curious to me. Owen has mentioned' the fact of life having been discovered two weeks after the death of the subject in whom they were found. I watched with great care to see if there was any internal motion of the worm itself, of an intestinal or circulatory nature, but I saw none. One of my assistants thought that he did discover something slight of the kind, but I feared at the time he was in error. deavoured likewise to decide upon the internal structure, but I was baffled in a great measure. I could see evidently parietes of uniform thickness through the whole length of body, and perhaps they were about one-tenth as thick as the whole body, while a mass of some regularity filled the interior."-pp. 121, 122. I en Dr. Bowditch concludes his communication with a history of the researches on the nature of the Trichina that have thus far been made. 'Zoological Transactions, 1835. Todd's Cyclopædia of Anatomy and Physiology, Entozoa. Or Medical Gazette, Vol. XV., p. 125, for analysis of the same paper. On Italy as a residence for the Consumptive, by Dr. Mott of New York. [The following remarks by Dr. Mott in his "Travels" contain but little that is new, but they confirm in some respects the views that are now almost unanimously entertained on the subject, and which we have urged elsewhere, (Elements of Hygiène, and Practice of Medicine.) The influences that are so beneficial in incipient phthisis are certainly not owing to mere equability of climate; for we know, that in countries in which the thermometer range is restricted tuberculosis is by no means uncommon. A climate, which is liable to vicissitudes, provided these are within certain limits, and whose general temperature is such, that the valetudinarian can take exercise in the open air every day during the winter, is the great desideratum. Doubtless, such exercise must not be carried to the extent of inducing fatigue, or undue excitement; but if these results be avoided, the thorough revulsion, caused by a change of every influence surrounding the individual is a revellent agency of the greatest importance, and after all it is to revellents that we have to trust entirely in these interesting cases.] "It is a great error to suppose that Italy, with all its fascinations, is suited to the pulmonary invalid. The constant anxiety he feels to visit and examine the antiquities of a country that are exhaustless in variety and attractive beauty, and the intense excitement they occasion when seen, as well as the exposure and fatigue necessarily incurred in visiting them, are, from my own personal knowledge, often injurious to the health of such patients. It must, upon the slightest reflection, occur to the mind of every medical man, that hemorrhage from the lungs will be frequently brought on in such patients as we have described. A fact which we have positively known in that country, and which has aggravated the malady and expedited the fatal issue. Even where there is only a strong predisposition to an affection of the lungs, and no incipient disease, the symptoms may thereby become more speedily matured, and positive and fatal mischief be induced. But more especially where actual disorganisation exists, the exciting causes before mentioned will be attended with pernicious consequences. "If a pulmonary [?] invalid from a colder country will travel in Italy without incurring exposure to the excitements we have mentioned, he will find its mild climate admirably suited to the mitigation of his malady; far more so, as we have already explained, than to the native Italian afflicted with these complaints. "In the great class of nervous affections, where much debility exists, but unaccompanied with organic mischief, and especially when unconnected with pulmonary disease, the peculiar attractions that are found in Italy are signally remedial and bracing, and invigorating in their influence upon the general health, as we have already remarked, by addressing themselves to the moral and intellectual faculties. Such an invalid may reside for any length of time in any of the delightful cities of Italy, with great profit to his health. But far otherwise with the pulmonary man: he, in our opinion, ought to pursue a very different course. His rule should be, a constant change of place, and very little attention, much less close application to the diversified novelties that present themselves in his travels. The exercise to his body in this climate is far more important to him, than having his mind engaged in fatiguing excitements. Too much care cannot possibly be paid to this advice. "As an illustration of the value of change of place for the pulmonary invalid, we may mention that the inhabitants of Lower Egypt, when threatened with disease of the lungs, resort to Upper Egypt, Nubia and Abyssinia for a change of climate, and we know with decided benefit. The inhabitants of Nubia and Abyssinia, on the other hand, when labouring under the same affections, come down to the lower or alluvial country with equal advantage. "There has been much of romance in the pictures that have been drawn of the climate and advantages of Italy. Whatever may be the malady of the patient, he must be prepared to meet with inconvenience, which will constantly remind him of what he has lost by leaving home. Except in the capital cities, but few houses will be found with any accommodations that merit the name of what we Anglo-Americans understand by the significant word comfort. Most of them, he will find to his sorrow, are not provided even with the necessaries of life. He must, too, often expect to encounter, after a long day's travel, meagre arrangements for fire to counteract the chill of the evening, and a cold stone floor, instead of a cheering carpet to tread upon, before he can reach his not less comfortless bed. "I must here be permitted to protest against what I deem a reprehensible, if not cruel and wicked practice that some professional men fall into, of recommending or sanctioning, and sometimes even themselves urging the poor sufferer from pulmonary disease, after all the resources of our art have failed, to abandon his home, his family and friends, with the vain hope of recovering his health in a foreign land. The moment the disease appears to be confirmed, we have believed it to be our sacred duty to advise every patient to make himself as comfortable as possible in his own country, and within the immediate circle of his own family or relations, that he may partake, to the fullest extent, and up to the last sad moments of his life, of all the rational and soothing enjoyments of their sympathies, and all the luxuries of home, rather than die in a foreign land. "We are aware, that nothing is more common than a fallacious and flattering hope, which a pulmonary invalid is prone to indulge in, and that the future is always painted in his imagination with the warm and glowing tints and rainbow hues of a bright and glorious dawn, even when the night-pall of death is drawing its curtains around, and the unconscious victim has reached even the dark confines of the grave. And however painful to the medical attendant to do or say that which shall chill or dampen the sanguine and delightful anticipations of recovery of his patient, he has but one course to pursue, which is, to do his duty." Ileus cured by a Belladonna Enema. By Dr. Becker.' (Gazette Médicale de Paris, May 8th, 1841.)-A woman, 48 years of age, was suddenly seized with vomiting, pain in the bowels, and constipation. The vomiting became more and more fetid, and at last stercoraceous, and after five days' treatment was worse than ever. M. Becker then gave her an enema made with one drachm of the root of belladonna, which, within a very short time after its administration, put a stop to the pain and vomiting, and in half-anhour brought away a stool containing much blood. After this, the woman gradually recovered. No narcotic effects were observed from the employment of the belladonna. On the occurrence of Nephritis with Albuminous Urine in Infants. By Dr. Charcelay. (Gazette Médicale de Paris, 25th September, 1841.)Dr. Charcelay describes at length sixteen cases of a disease attended with oedema, and occurring in infants shortly after birth, which he attributes to nephritis. No particular symptoms are mentioned diagnostic of this affection, excepting the oedematous state of the body, and the urine being albuminous, as he calls it. The substance, however, which he designates albumen would appear not to be such as he mentions, that though a precipitate was occasioned by nitric acid, it was soluble in an excess of the same. kidneys were found to be the seat of vascular engorgement, and were larger and redder than usual. A cretaceous looking matter, of a reddishyellow colour, which he thought was lithic acid, was found in large quantity in the calices of the kidneys. 'Edinb. Med. and Surg. Jour., Jan., 1842. p- 254, 2 Ibid. p. 255. The ART. I.-CASE OF CATALEPSY IN THE PARTURIENT FEMALE. BY J. L. LUDLOw, M.D., Resident Physician, Philadelphia Hospital. E. E. æt. 20-rather below the ordinary height, of good constitution, and a sanguineo-nervous temperament, was taken in labour with her third child, on the 19th of February. About a month previous to this time, upon experiencing some slight pains, resembling labour pains, a physician was sent for, who-after making the requisite examination per vaginam, and the pains becoming less frequent, and not so severe as when he arrived-ordered an anodyne injection and perfect rest; by which means the patient was soon enabled to go about the wards, although now and then complaining of transient pains, which, however, were not of a character sufficiently severe to require medical attention. In the condition above mentioned, the patient remained until the date previously named, when I was called in. The pains, though slight, were regular in their returns, at intervals of 20 minutes. Upon making an examination per vaginam, the os uteri was very slightly dilated, though flabby and dilatable, and the neck of the womb appeared to the touch rot sufficiently developed for the full time of utero-gestation. The labour advanced slowly though perfectly natural, until about 12 o'clock on the 20th, when I was summoned, in great haste, and found the patient labouring under a fit, in some respects strongly resembling catalepsy. The mouth was widely open, the neck and head thrown back, and the eyes, at first, firmly fixed upwards and backwards in the sockets, but afterwards rolling about in every direction, the patient being unable to fix them upon any object. The respiration and the pulse were perfectly natural, and the skin moist and healthy. The upper extremities, for a short time, could be placed in any position, the patient being unable to govern them. The lower extremities were not in the slightest degree affected. The consciousness of the woman remained perfect throughout, and when requested to exert herself in any manner, she attempted to do it, but in vain. During this interval of the fits she complained of heaviness about her head with tinnitus and giddiness. I immediately opened a vein and took about 10 ozs. of blood, when it ceased flowing; applied sinapisms to the back of the neck and ears, and leeches to the temples; prescribed anodyne injections and foot-bath, and rubbed her throat with a stimulating liniment, deglutition being entirely suspended. Notwithstanding the remedies used, the fits continually recurred |