restored the bronchial capillaries to their normal condition. The second I hope to accomplish by judicious regimen, by sponging and friction of the chest, combined with the constant use of flannel, and by having recourse to cuticular irritation upon the slightest occurrence of catarrhal symptoms. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Allen's Essay on the Connection of Mental Philosophy with Medicine.1 The subject, chosen by Dr. Allen for his inaugural essay, is excellent. It cannot be too strongly pressed upon the attention of the student who is desirous of excelling in his profession-that success, satisfactory to himself, can only be attained by a rigid study of the connection between cause and effect; and on this account we have been in the habit of recommending to the tyro, as well as to the farther advanced student, the perusal and reperusal of Abercrombie's interesting work on the Intellectual Powers, and the adoption of the excellent precepts inculcated by him. Dr. Allen's design, in the Essay before us, appears to be twofold: first, to show the importance of the connection between mental philosophy and medicine; and secondly, to bring prominently forward the subject of which he has been, for some time, the able advocate in the pages of the Phrenological Journal. On the importance of the connection of this subject with medicine, he and ourselves may entertain very different opinions; but we doubt not, that when a few years have passed over our heads, our sentiments will not be so widely apart. Be this, however, as it may, we can commend Dr. Allen's Essay for its style; and likewise for its freedom from that morbid excitement, which appears to exist in the writings of many amiable persons, when they touch upon a subject that is even remotely controversial. Graves's Clinical Lectures.2 It has been not a little gratifying to us to find, that some of the works originally published in this Library have been considered to warrant a second edition, and that one of them has reached a third. The volume before us is not one of the least worthy of those; and its value has been enhanced by the additional lectures added by Dr. Gerhard. They are the republication of "a few of the Clinical Lectures given by him at the Philadelphia Medical Institute and at the Philadelphia Hospital, as a part of the Clinical Course of the University of Pennsylvania." The main subjects of these additional lectures are-Acute articular rheumatism, Pleurisy, Tubercular peritonitis, 1 An Essay on the Connection of Mental Philosophy with Medicine. By Nathan Allen, A. M., M. D., Editor of the American Phrenological Journal and Miscellany. 2 Clinical Lectures by Robert J. Graves, M. D., M. R. I. A., Professor of the Institutes of Medicine in the School of Physic, Trinity College, Dublin, &c. Second American edition, with Notes and a Series of Lectures. By W. W. Gerhard, M. D., Lecturer on Clinical Medicine to the University of Pennsylvania, &c. &c. Pericarditis, Endocarditis, Tubercular meningitis, Chronic meningitis, apoplexy, Paralysis of the insane, Delirium tremens, Dysentery, Phthisis pulmonalis, Pneumonia, Laryngitis, Typhus and Typhoid fever-all subjects of great interest. Hamilton's Table of Chemical Tests.1 We commend this table to our readers. It is prepared by a gentleman devoted to his subject, and amply informed on its details. "In this arrangement, the chemical agents (alphabetically arranged) have their tests on the next column, in alphabetical order and without reference to their delicacy, followed in the next column by the colour of the precipitate and delicacy of test; in the fourth, by the composition and nature of the precipitate; in the fifth, containing the author; and in the last, the remarks necessary in their employment. The whole arranged for the use of the physician, chemist, or apothecary, in a simple form, and embracing every information that the present advanced state of the science furnishes to the chemist." MISCELLANEOUS NOTICE. On the frequency of the Pulse in Infants. In a recent work by M. Jacquemier, it is stated that the minimum of frequency in the pulse of new-born infants is about 97, and the maximum about 156. Haller fixed it at 140, and Soemmering at 130. Every physician is well aware how easily the pulse of infants is rapidly quickened by restlessness, crying, &c., and that the only accurate way to determine it is to feel it during sleep. In the act of sucking, the breathing is hurried, and the circulation is therefore necessarily quickened at the same time. Valleiz, whe seems to have used the greatest precautions to avoid all sources of mistake, states, as the results of his examinations, that in infants from two to twenty days old, the minimum of frequency is about 76, and the maximum about 104. We may therefore consider the medium 87 as the average frequency of the pulse at this period of life. It has been generally believed that the frequency of the pulse diminishes as the age of the infant advances. The very reverse, however, seems to be the case, according to the experience of this author; for he found that, at seven months, the pulse is much more frequent than during the first week after birth, and that from that period it progressively diminishes in rapidity to about the sixth year.- Clinique des Maladies des nouveaux nés, par F. Valleiz, 1833; and Edinburgh Monthly Journal of Medical Science. 1 Table of Chemical Tests. By James Hamilton, M. D., of Baltimore, prepared for the Maryland Medical and Surgical Journal. 2 London Medical Gazette, August, 1841, p. 767. ART. I.-ON OPHTHALMIA. BY EDWARD JENner Coxe, M. D., of New Orleans. Dr. Dunglison, No. 5. Dear Sir,-Than ophthalmia, as generally observed, few diseases are more common, or, at times, prove more harassing and vexatious, as well to the patient as the physician. From the speedy and complete success attending the very simple mode of treatment adopted in two cases, lately presented to my notice, I am induced to send you a report of them, in the belief that this mode of applying many remedies will prove more serviceable in many cases of ophthalmia than that generally adopted. Whether correct or not, I feel disposed to attribute the success of this plan of treatment, almost entirely, to the absolute rest imposed upon the eyes, preventing any motion of the lids, and allowing nature full opportunity to exert her well known and powerful curative influence over disease. Last winter, a man employed in the gas works of this city received an injury on the side of the face, which resulted in a very severe inflammation of the right eye, extending over the conjunctiva of the ball and lids. Supposing it would prove but temporary, he confined himself to bathing the eye frequently with cold water; so painful, however, did it become by the end of the second day, that he requested me to order something for it, stating at the same time his inability to absent himself from work. I ordered a dose of salts, and directed him to prepare an infusion of the pith of sassafras, when cold, to be mixed with an equal quantity of rose water, and to be used as follows: Envelope in linen a piece of stale bread, crust removed, of the size of the palm of the hand, saturate this with the above, apply it over the eye, and keep it on moderately tight with a bandage or handkerchief, which was on no account to be removed before seeing me again. The compress to be kept moist by pouring occasionally upon it from above a few table spoonfuls of the liquid. The next evening he reported that the eye had been very comfortable, pain much diminished, the bandage had not been removed, and he had been at work all day. Upon examining the eye, I found the inflammation materially lessened, and directed a continuance of the same local treatment. In two days from this time the eye was perfectly well. Case Second. A black man, labouring under a severe attack of ophthalmia in both eyes, had been taking various medicines, and applying different washes for about a week without benefit. The inflammation had been gradually increasing, attended with considerable pain and discharge, and when I saw him, the conjunctiva of both eyes was in a high state of inflammation. This case occurring shortly shortly after the above, I determined upon trying the same means, substituting for the infusion of sassafras and rose water, a weak solution of the acetate of zinc in rose water, directing him to keep perfectly quiet, and to apply the compress as above directed. Considering it unnecessary to detail the daily progress, it is sufficient to state, that in the space of one week a perfect cure was effected. While upon this subject, I will further trespass upon your time by giving the result of plan of treatment in an exceedingly violent case of ophthalmia for which all the usual remedies had been ineffectually tried. At the time I tried the plan about to be mentioned, I was not aware of its ever having been recommended: I have lately, however, seen it spoken of in terms of commendation by M. Velpeau, of Paris. In the year 1824, I attended a healthy negress, aged about eighteen years, for an inflammation of both eyes, which continued to increase in severity, notwithstanding the most active treatment, consisting of frequent and copious general and local bleeding, emetics, nauseants, purgatives, a variety of local applications, confinement to a dark room, and the most rigid diet. Finding the ordinary treatment of no avail, and feeling uneasy as to the result, I decided upon applying a blister over both eyes, with a soft compress of old linen over them, and retained by a bandage. At the expiration of eight hours, I removed the blisters, which had drawn very well, and discharged copiously, but not being able to procure a sight of the eyes, I directed a tepid bread and milk poultice to be applied, and renewed every four hours. The pain had become much less, and at the expiration of two days, when enabled to examine the eyes, I was much gratified to find the inflammation considerably reduced, and by continuing the poultice a few days longer, and then substituting the mildest washes, a perfect cure was accomplished in about ten days. It may not be amiss to state, that, notwithstanding the apparent severity of the remedy, my patient did not complain of its causing any pain, but, on the contrary, that caused by the disease, which had previously been very great, was soon sensibly diminished by the action of the blisters, and was no longer the subject of complaint. In reference to the proper period for applying blisters over the eyes, in violent and obstinate cases of ophthalmia, it appears to me, that, after a very decided impression has been made upon the general system, by the usual depletory remedies, and not till then, they may be applied with the most decided advantage. As regards the modus operandi of blisters in these cases, it is unnecessary to dwell upon it, great discrepancy of opinion existing upon that point; I am, however, disposed to believe, that to the simultaneous discharge and excitant effect produced by them, we may reasonably attribute the positive curative effects displayed in this case. With respect, I remain Yours sincerely, EDWARD JENNER COXE, M. D. ART. II.-ON SOME DISEASES IN WHICH ALBUMINOUS URINE OCCURS. BY THOMAS WILLIAMSON, M. D.' One of the Physicians to the Leith Dispensary, &c. &c. Since the promulgation of the views entertained by Dr. Bright and others, in reference to the urine containing albumen in certain diseased conditions of the kidney, members of the profession in general have willingly given their assent to this doctrine. But whilst, on the one hand, it cannot be denied that Dr. Bright, by his researches, threw light upon much that was formerly obscure, on the other, it may fairly be questioned whether the medical profession are not disposed to attach too much importance to the simple appearance of an adventitious principle in the renal secretion, as pathognomonic of structural change in the kidney. It is my object, then, in the present communication, to inquire whether there are diseases, apart from change in the renal structure, in connection with which albumen is contained in the urine, and by this means attempt to show that this phenomenon is not of such rare occurrence as is perhaps generally believed. 66 Although Dr. Bright, doubtless, is entitled to the merit of being the first to proclaim to the medical world, the fact of renal disease, coexisting with an altered constitution of the urine and dropsy, as mere symptoms of the primary renal change of structure, yet the existence of albumen in the urine of certain patients labouring under dropsy was made known in the year 1764, by Cotunnius, who, adverting to this phenomenon, as occurring in a young man affected with anasarca, to whom he gave cream of tartar, and increased by this means the flow of urine, says, nam daubus libris ejus urinæ ad ignem admotis cum pene dimidium evaporasset, reliquum facessit albam in massam, jam coacto ovi albumine persimilem." Again, in the year 1770, we find Dr. Fordyce stating, that, "if the kidneys are relaxed or stimulated, chyle, serum, coagulable lymph, and even the red part of the blood may be thrown out."3 Dr. Darwin, in 1794, states, "there is a third species of diabetes, in which the urine is mucilaginous, and appears ropy when pouring it from one vessel into another, and will sometimes coagulate over the fire." In 1798, Rollo thus writes, "nitrous acid added to healthy urine produces slight effervescence, and gives it more or less of a reddish colour, but produces no precipitation. In some diseases, however, particularly general dropsy, or anasarca, this reagent, when dropped into the urine, produces a milkiness, and in some instances, a coagulation similar to what would take place if added to the serum of the blood;" and again, “in morbid states of the urine, the coagulable part of the serum is detected both by the nitrous acid and even by heat." In 1811, Blackall, Cruickshanks,7 and Nysten detected the same phenomenon. The latter says that he examined the urine of a young man labouring under acute peritonitis, under which he died; and among the other substances discovered, he states that it contained "a large amount of albuminous matter, which the urine does not contain in a state of health." Talking of the urine belonging to dropsical patients, he states that he procured some from a young man, eighteen years of age, who had been affected with ascites for several months, to all Edinburgh Med. and Surg. Journal, Oct. 1, 1841, p. 364. 2 Cotunnius de Ischiade Nervosa Neapoli, 1764, republished in Thesaur. Sandifort, page 417. 3 Fordyce's Elements of Practice of Physic, 1770, p. 18. 4 Darwin's Zoonomia, 1794, vol. i. p. 316. 5 Rollo on Diabetes, 1798, pp. 443-446. 6 Blackall on Dropsies, 1811. 7 Ibidem, (see Appendix.) |