WEEKLY REPORT OF DEATHS IN BOSTON. Bilious Fever, 1-Childbed, -Consumption, 7-Dropsy, 1-Drowned, IFits, 3-Infantile, 1-Intemperance, 2Measles, 1-Old Age, 1-Phthisis, 1— Typhus Fever, 1-Scarlet Fever, 1-Putrid Fever, 1-Unknown, 3-Stillborn, 1. Materia Medica. HE following are the general outlines To the Materia Medica of the United States, which has been written by WILLIAM ZOLLICKOFFER, M, D. &c. &c. and which will, without any farther delay, be published in the month of September. The cause of its not having emanated from the press last fall, may be attributed to the intention that the author had in view, of enlarging it, in order, if posssible, to render it more useful and acceptable. The work alluded to will contain 240 pages, octavo, instead of 180, as was formerly contemplated. It will, there fore, be perceived, that the matter contained therein has been increased in consequence of the delay. CHAPTER 1. Treats of the improvements of the Materia Medica.-2. Modus Operandi of Medicines.—3. Classification. of Medicines. DIVISION 1-Chapter 4. Treats of Narcotics.-5. Antispasmodics.-6. Tonics. -7. Astringents. The four last chapters are included in the first division of gene ral stimulants. DIVISION 2-Chapter 8. Treats of Emetics.---9. Cathartics.--10. Emmenagogues.-11. Diuretics.-12. Diaphoretics.--13. Expectorants.-14. Sialagogues.-15. Errhines.-16. Epispastics. -17. Escharotics. The chapters included in the second division are such as treat of local stimulants. DIVISION 3-Chapter 18. Treats of Refrigerents. The articles that are introduced in this division belong to the chemical remedies, DIVISION 4-Chapter1 9. Treats of Demulcents--20. Anthelmintics. These two last belong to the mechanical remedies. The classes of Antacids, Lithontriptics, Diluents, and Emollients, have been omitted, from the circumstance of their not being materials that properly belong to these classes. The price of the work will be two dollars. Vaccination. genuine vaccine matter for the use of others. Physicians will be regularly supplied with matter for any period of time they may agree for, not less than six years, for an annual fee of 5 dollars payable in ad vance. Tickets will also be issued from this Institution that will entitle any Physician or other citizen of the United States, to vaccine matter, on the following terms, Vic. Private Tickets at len dollars each, that will entitle the holders of the same to fresh matter as often as they may have occasion to use it for three years; and Public Tickets at thirty dollars each, that will entitle all persons residing in the neighbourhood of any particular Post Office (large towns and cities excepted) to the same privilege for a like period of time. Private Tickets are to be held by the purchasers themselves and for their own use; and Public Tickets by the Post Masters through whose particular offices all applications for matter forwarded must be made.-Surgeons of the Army and Navy of the U. S. will be furnished with genuine vaccine matter at all times, free of any expense. All the privileges of this Institution and advantages heretofore offered to Physicians and others, will be secured, to them agreeably to their respective engagements with the undersigned. No letter addressed to the undersigned will be received at any time unless the Postage thereon is paid. Vaccine Institution, Baltimore, 16th Sept. 1825. JAMES SMITH. The introduction of the Small-Pox into North Carolina about four years since, and which occasioned the repeal of the Law "to encourage Vaccination," was not the result of any mistake made by Dr Smith, as he was at first induced to believe. It has since been discovered and shown that this fatal occurrence is to be attributed entirely to a wicked trick, that was unsuspected at the time, and could not have been guarded against by any person. For a more full account of it, however, the reader who feels interested is referred to a letter addressed by Dr Smith, 3d February, 1824, to Mr Clay, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to a subsequent report of a Committee in Congress to whom it was referred. This report exculpates Dr Smith from all THE undersigned devotes his profes- blame, and recommends the adoption of sional time chiefly to the business of Vaccination, and to the preservation of the his entire plan for the general distribution of the vaccine matter. Sept. 27. Published weekly, by John Cotton, Proprietor, at 184, Washington-St. corner of FranklinSt. to whom all communications must be addressed (post-paid). Price two dollars per annum, if paid in advance, but, if not paid within three months, two dollars and a half will be required, and this will, in no case, he deviated from. MEDICAL INTELLIGENCER. "NON EST VIVERE, SED VALERE VITA." VOL. IV. TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1826. 1ODINE IN MALIGNANT CANCER. BY G. N. HILL, SURGEON, CHESTER, ENG. The subsequent detail has no higher claims on the public attention, than that of affording another proof of the powerful effects of iodine on the human glandular system, and that it is a new remedy from the poisonous class meriting farther and closer attention than it appears yet to have received. Three or four notices have appeared in the periodical publications from respectable writers on the subject, of the very powerful effects of iodine on the female breast. By a free and constant use of the remedy, complete absorption of the whole organ has ensued, so as to leave scarcely the vestige even of a nipple. The last account I have seen of this kind, will be found in the Med. and Phys. Journal for May last, p. 437, by Hufeland. Subsequently one of the foreign journals reports, that Dr Edward Graafe prescribed an ungt. containing 3i. of the hydroid. potass. to 3ij. of pure Jard, from which the like effects foi lowed. December 20, 1822.-1 was requested to examine the right breast af a widow, aged 62, of a shattered constitution, having led a laborious life, and been the mother of ten children, exclusive of abortions. The breast presented a large, hollow, fetid ulcer,with ragged, thickened, hard edges; the subjacent ribs bare, but not denuded of their periosteum. Her general health was deranged, appetite bad, with frequent cough; her situation in life in every respect unfavourable. I directed a carrot poultice to be applied, and renewed eve NO. 10. ry five or six hours: medicines to be taken to regulate the bowels; and when the evacuations assumed a tol A erably healthy appearance, the Fowlerian solution was commenced; and happening to agree with the stomach (by which expression I mean to be understood that this organ admitted of its use being pushed to 15 drops twice and thrice per diem,) in two months, amendment was visible. Her general health was improved. The ulcer became less offensive. weak mixture of the solution and pure water was applied with lint, and over that the carrot cataplasm. In short, at the end of eight months, the general health was so improved, and the appearance of the ulcer such as to justify the trial of Mr Young's mode of cure by compression. Just at this juncture, an accidental visitor from London was at my house, who had been successfully treated by this method. She spoke highly of it, said her breast had been condemned to be removed by some eminent surgeon; but as she was unwilling to suffer the operation, she applied to Mr Y., and was now free from every vestige of the disease. Having procured the apparatus recommended by Mr Y., it was applied conformably to the rules laid down by that gentleman, with steady diligence, and borne with equal patience, until, in the course of three months, the edges of the sore assumed the appearance of cicatrization; but the whole surrounding parts, and particularly the axillary glands, became so painful, and a provoking discoloration in the centre of the ulcer (from which spot she described the pain as all emanating.) compelled us to lay aside the pressure apparatus as incompatible in this case. The unhealthy spot at the fundus of the ulcer now rapidly enlarged, and threw out a large tubercle of a livid appearance. This diminished and looked better under the use of the sul phas cupri. The surrounding parts were dressed with the pulv. crete ppt. according to Mr Kentish's mode; the cinchona and opium were administered; and, at the close of the first year of my attendance, the ulcer had assumed a favourable aspect. Spots of new cicatrization were once more visible, but their next door neighbours were the hard ill-looking tubercles, soon accompanied by incurvated edges, and a general tendency to bleed from small nipple-like eminences of the fungoid kind. Dry lint imbued with flour and sp. tereb. gen. erally succeeded in stopping the blood. The bolar earth with alum never failed. The longest diameter of the ulcer now measured six inches; the general health still good, a little cough excepted. Thus we went on to the end of a second year, without gaining or losing much ground, except that the insulated spots of cicatrization which had appeared under the use of the chalk were no longer visible; the discharge from the whole corroded surface was copious and gleety. At this juncture, having put to the test every local application and internal remedy I could think of, the powerful effects of iodine were suggest ed to me by a very ingenious friend and chemical artist of this city, as worthy of trial in all desperate cases of tumor and vitiated ulcer; I gladly caught at the hint, and applied an unguent consisting of i. of the hydroidate to 3i. of the purest axung. porcin.; this was the dressing twice a day; it not only gave no pain, but, as my patient observed, "felt comfortable." In a few days, the quantity of discharge was diminished, and its quality improved, the whole sur face of the sore assuming a kindlier aspect; the ill-coloured tubercles softened and gradually sloughed away, recalling to mind the applications of our forefathers, designated detergents. In a few weeks, the whole surface wore the most flattering appearance possible. Any surgeon whose eye had then been directed to this poor sufferer's breast, would have said, "Here we have a state of fine healthy granulation;" in truth nothing could look better, or afford a more healthy discharge; all the surrounding hardness was softened and ultimately removed, as though there never had existed any breast. The left breast underwent a similar process; there is not the vestige of a nipple even to be found, (more than a minute brown spot) on the closest inspection. Soon after commencing the use of the ungt. hydroid. the solution was administered in the proportion of 36 grains to the ounce of aq. distil. Her stomach bore thirty drops easily, but beyond this she could not advance without nausea; the lancinating pains and occasional bleeding of the breast entirely ceased; the evening dose of opium was dismissed. After pursuing this plan for four months, all the inferior portion of the ulcer was entirely cicatrized. This process taking place from below upwards, in the course of another month a patch of lint the size of a sixpence would cover the uncicatrized part. Above this, at the top, there remained a hard ridge, not half an inch long, resembling the edge of a child's little finger, quite dry, painless, and of a bright red colour. I directed this to be rubbed with the ungt. hydroid. twice daily, the solution to be continued; and so sanguine were my hopes now become that my poor patient would ultimately obtain a perfect cure! (cure of cancer!) that I cannot find language to express my feelings; but these feelings will be well comprehended by all who are enthusiasts in their profession, by all who love their species, and by all who are daily witnesses of the sufferings of human nature under all the varied forms of cancer. I now saw Mrs S. only once a week, and expected to find the remaining hard edge of the old ulcer becoming softer, and yielding to the fate of all its predecessors, viz. to soften, to ulcerate, to slough away, and, like them, leave a smooth shining surface adherent to the costæ; but this anticipated happiness was destined to share the common fate. The little stubborn ridge did not yield to the rubbing with the ointment, now increased threefold in strength, but enlarged; became of a purple hue, divided into tubercles, contaminated a gland or two in the axilla; fretted edges, incurvation, gleety discharge and re-opening of the fixed cicatrix soon followed, so that in two little months the size and general appearance of the ulcer had resumed its original greatest dimensions, the emaciation recommenced its career, the countenance betrayed the existence of cancerous diathesis, and in short, nothing now can be expected but that termination to dreadful suffering which so many thousands have experienced. This narration, só cal culated to exercise the reader's patience, is given with a view to exhibit the effects of iodine in a case hopeless, when it was first employed. What it is capable of effecting when called into service in the earliest stages of foul, malignant, or cancerous ulcer, remains to be proved by successive trials. That it is an agent of great power and manageable qualities, I think think cannot be doubted. CHEMICAL EXPERIMENTS ON MORPHINE. Chemists have not hitherto been able to obtain morphine in the state in which it exists in opium, since opiamis entirely dissolved in water, while pure morphine is nearly insoluble. For this reason morphine has been introduced into the materia medica in a state of combination with an acid, such as the acetic, sulphuric acid, &c; hence the names of acetate of morphine, sulphate of morphine, &c. It would be very important, therefore, to succeed in separating morphine from opium, without completely isolating it-without depriving it of the power of being dissolved, which it possesses in the natural state of the medicine. A memoir, lately published by M. Robinet, seemed to have solved the difficulty. This chemist, knowing the property which solutions of the neutral salts possess of dissolving certain substances, to the exclusion of other matter more or less solid, in pure water, employed a solution of the hydrochlorate of soda, and after many experiments thought he had obtained the natural salt of morphine. After having ascertained that the morphine was not combined, in this case, either with the meconic, hydrocyanic, or gallic acid, he suffered it to be salified by a particular acid, which he designated the codeic acid. Ress, Orfila, Ollivier, and d'Angers, have made experiments on this supposed codeate of morphine, tending to prove, that in a large dose it poisons in the same way as the acetate, and that in a small dose it is some what more sedative. Fresh experiments, however, and a more accurate chemical analysis, have shown that the saline combination is nothing but a muriate produced by the muriatic acid employed in its preparation. The experiments of M. Robinet, though the direct object of them has not been accomplished, have been attended with some curious and important results. He has discoverd that morphine, and the salts of morphine, with the muriate of iron highly oxidated, produce a deep blue colour, exactly resembling that produ ced by a hydrocyanate, and, what is very singular, this effect is owing exclusively to the morphine. Some particles of morphine, wetted with a drop of the solution of peroxidized iron, produce immediately this blue colour; but if a few drops of any acid, though greatly diluted, be added, the colour disappears. Acetic æther and alcohol produce the same effect; but not sulphuric æther, unless some portion of alcohol remains. The presence of the alkali seems to favour the production of the blue colour. Powdered morphine, mixed in a very weak solution of muriate of iron, gives it a blue colour, is dissolved, and at the end of some days, precipitates a certain quantity of yellow oxide of iron. These characters prove sufficiently that the colour produced by the morphine is not to be confounded with that produced by the hydrocyanates under the same circumstances. Quinine, cinchonine, strichnine, and brucine, exhibit no such phenomena. The memoir of M. Robinet contains many other details, interesting in a chemical point of view, but less immediately connected with the objects of this journal. The results of the above experiments are not only curious, as exhibiting a new property of morphine, but may be of practical importance in medical jurisprudence. Gazette de Santé. COLLECTIONS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE MEDICAL SOCIETY. Case of Paralysis of the Facial Nerve, by R. D. MUSSEY, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in Dartmouth College. The experiments and discoveries of Messrs Magendie, Bell, and Shaw, have given a new interest to the study of the nerves and their diseases. The portio dura, or facial nerve, is well known to be freely distributed upon those muscles of the face, which are concerned in the expres sion of the emotions and passions. With great propriety this nerve may be denominated the nerve of expression; for when its function is arrested, the muscles of expression cease to obey the will. The property of sensibility belonging to these muscles, seems to be conferred on them by branches from the fifth nerve. If the facial nerve has any share of sensibility, it is probably derived from that branch of the fifth, which is associated with it before it emerges from the cavity of the cranium. The properties of sensibility, however, must be very small, as there is no apparent diminution of this property in parts to which it is distributed, when this nerve is divided or paralyzed. The following case, like some others which have occurred, serves to illustrate the function of this interesting nerve. Two years ago, Mr K. æt. 40, con. sulted me for a singular affection on one side of his face, which he said, had existed about two weeks, and which he imagined to have been caused by heat reflected upon his face while at work on the roof of a house in a very hot day; the disorder having made its appearance immediately after. All the muscles of expression upon one side of the face, except those which move the eye-ball, were beyond the reach of the will, not the slightest motion being given them by an exertion of the power of volition so strong as to throw the other half of the face into the most ludicrous or frightful distortions. The skin of the forehead could not be gathered into wrinkles, the eye was permanently open, the nostril was collapsed, and the mouth drawn a little towards the sound side. The patient closed the eye at night, and opened it in the morning with his thumb and finger. He could not whistle with his mouth, nor articulate labials well, and when excited to |