therefore, in all cases, to withhold the trephine because there are no symptoms of compression. The secondary symptoms which occur after some days, are those of irritation and inflammation, and then the operation is too late. Secondary Abscesses resulting from Surgical Operations.-In the French Hospitals the attention of the profession has recently been called to inflammations and suppurations, occurring in parts remote from the seat of disease, following operations or injuries, and produced by them. They occur with astonishing suddenness in the pleura, peritoneum, arachnoid, pericardium, after amputations, &c. when there has followed copious or unhealthy suppuration. They also occur in those cases in which a specific poison, as from wounds in dissecting, has produced peculiar action in a part, and illconditioned pus. These cases are ascribed to the absorption of peccant secretions in the part, which being conveyed into the circulation, assimilate to themselves some part of the fluids, which are then precipitated on the parts named above. Symptoms are, shivering, followed by fever; shrunk features; impeded respiration; pulse small and irregular, but not very quick; tongue moist and not coated; often severe pain in the part primarily diseased. Treatment. Bleeding hurtful; purgation salutary; also blisters and other counterirritants; opium, pro re nata; soliciting suppuration in the first disease. Nearly all of these cases, however, are fatal. Obliteration of the Aorta has been observed complete by Dr. Monro, of Edinburgh. It was Diffuse Inflammation of the Cellular Membrane, according to Mr. Earl, of Bartholomew's Hospital, has been heretofore improperly termed phlegmonous and edematous erysipelas. It is an acute and rapidly spreading phlogosis of the cellular tissue, terminating in suppuration and sloughing; the whole integuments of an extremity being often involved in one We have witsloughing abscess. nessed the same form of disease, in which large portions of the dead tissue together with great quantities of dark pus were discharged from beneath the skin, excavating the parts. Mr. Earl, in addition to the usual treatment, recommends in the onset of the disease to incise the parts freely This is down to the muscles. undoubtedly correct. Operation for relief of Compressed Medulla, occasioned by fracture of the spine.-Mr. Tyrrell, of St. Thomas's, in a case requiring this bold operation, proceeded in the following manner;-The muscles having been dissected from over the vertebræ, and being kept apart by flat hooks, Mr. T. discovered that the inferior articular processes of the twelfth dorsal were thrown forwards beyond those of the first lumbar. The arch of the twelfth dorsal comthis pressed the spinal marrow; he removed with great caution, using alternately the Hey's saw and strong curved forceps. No injury was done to the spinal marrow by the operation; but it had previously sustained so much as that the operation availed nothing, and the patient died. MATERIA MEDICA. On the Diuretic Properties of the Equisetum. The various species of Equisetum have been recommended by Professor LENHOSSEK, of Vienna, as a very powerful and specific diuretic, which neither oppresses the digestive organs, nor induces any bad consequences in the vascular or nervous system, and is therefore preferable to squill, digitalis, colchicum, and other diuretic remedies, whose unpleasant consequences are so well known. It is particularly serviceable in serous accumulations from debility, or after exanthematic fevers, and is contraindicated in inflammatory states of the system. All the species of Equisetum possess a directly diuretic virtue; the Arvense, Variegatum, Ramosum, and Palustra, act more mildly; but the Hyemale and Limosum act more powerfully, and are more apt to induce bloody urine. The dry plant is also preferable to the recent, which is more active. It has been sometimes given in powder, but the decoction answers well in every case, as it is not offensive either in smell or taste, and children take it readily sweetened. Two or three drachms of the dried herb are to be boiled in a pint of spring or river water for a quarter of an hour, and of the decoction a spoonful or two may be given to children, according to their age, and adults may take half a cupful, or a whole cupful, every two hours, till the flow of urine be increased.-Edin. Med. and Surg. Journ. What Dr. Bigelow, in his Flora Bostoniensis, 2d edition, describes five species of the equisetum, hippuris, or horsetail, which are found in this neighborhood. A physician, now in New York, informed us last autumn, that this plant was a safe and effectual diuretic; we tried it in one instance, and found it to be so. species was then used, we cannot at this moment determine. Dr. R. Hooper, in his medical dictionary, says that this plant "possesses astringent qualities, and is frequently used by the common people as tea in diarrhoeas and hemorrhages. The same virtues are also attributed to all the species, which are directed indiscriminately. Carbonate of Iron maintains its reputation in the treatment of neuralgic affections. Two cases are reported in the Lancet, in which it was successful. Digitalis has recently been employed with marked success in cases of epilepsy, we presume those in which there was vascular excitement with determination to the head. In one case it was given to a boy nine years of age, who had been rendered almost idiotic by the disease. By the long continued use of tinct. digitalis his fits become more mild and less frequent. It was used in another case of a young man of 18, who had hourly attacks of swimmings in the head, with violent palpitations, and bloated countenance. From being confined almost constantly to his bed, from danger of falling when up, he was MINOR ARTICLES. Mr. J. TOGNO, of this city, has favored us with the perusal of a few pages translated from the Pathological Anatomy of Xavier Bichat. This was the last labor of that lamented anatomist, and though it was not prepared for the press by his own hand, it having been recorded by one of his pupils, as delivered in his lectures, nevertheless it has on it the seal of his genius, which cannot be counterfeited. It will be highly valued by the profession. An interesting biographical memoir by M. Boisseau is prefixed. In relation to the character of the work, he observes, that a sketch from the hand of a Raphael is not without its value. The following beautiful allusion to the premature death of Bichat we cannot forbear to quote ;-"But Nature, sometimes, seems to take pleasure in putting boundaries to the progress of human intellect, and condemns to premature death the inquisi tive minds of those who follow her steps too closely." We are happy to announce that Mr. Togno will complete the translation for the press. His critical knowledge of the English and French, and his sufficient acquaintance with medical phraseology, assure us that it will be well done.-Phil. Monthly Journ. of Medicine and Surgery. Extract of a letter from Miss FRANCES WRIGHT to a friend in New England, dated Nashoba, West Tennessee, May 11, 1827. "A LONG and severe illness has involved me in debt to all my Correspondents. I have lately returned from an excursion up the river; my health continues feeble, and I am on the eve of a voyage to Europe with a view to Europe leave this place its recovery. I leave this place in charge of my associate Trus tees, with full confidence in the similarity of their views to my own, and of their perseverance and integrity. I remark with pleasure the progress of liberal opinions throughout the United States. In this reform NewEngland appears the most prominent. Receive my best wishes for the success of your labors and of those of all the friends of human improvement. May the contemplated voyage restore this interesting woman to health, and may the benevolent anticipations and generous efforts of herself and associates be fully realized and rewarded. At Richmond, Virginia, on the 1st of May, there were "delicious strawberries" and "sweet cherries" in the market,-on the same day there was a light fall of snow, and fires were agreeable. he is up to tell him how to keep so, BOSTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1827. To hold themselves in readiness to The Boston Medical Intelligencer, devoted to the cause of physical education, and to the means of preventing and curing diseases. SUCH is our Title, such our objects. The Editor of the American Farmer in a late favorable notice of this paper, makes one remark which requires a little explanation. He observes, "We are at some loss to know how this journal can be useful to a town practitioner." In the first place, in order to lessen the doubt in the intelligent editor's mind, we remark that this paper will contain annually 3 or 400 pages of strictly medical matter, the most interesting and practically useful which can be gathered and selected in this country and in Europe. This ought to be worth something. The other 432 pages, for the volume contains 832, will treat of physical education and the means of preserving health and preventing diseases. Different individuals will estimate the value of this part of the volume differently. Mr. Skinner may not know how little physicians attend to these departments of their professional acquirements and duties. How little they do in regard to the right management of infants and children, and to the means of preserving and improving health in the subsequent periods of life. Most medical men think they discharge their functions sufficiently well if they take the patient from his bed and place him on his feet; they do not deem it incumbent on them when raise him again after the next fall, they are willing to suppose is all that belongs to them. In the meantime nobody doubts, that prevention, so far as it goes, is better than cure, where is the harm then of attempting to make it go further than it has yet done? Besides, sickness when curable, which is far from being always the case, is attended with suffering and danger, loss of time and of money; while prevention is not commonly or necessarily attended with either of these evils. Prevention and preservation, though far the most valuable part of medical science for the public, are, among physicians, comparatively new and neglected and undervalued subjects of thought and occupation. This will continue to be the case till parents and the people generally, better understand their own wants and what constitutes a good physician. Parents, teachers and intelligent individuals must take a part in this work of improvement, before the physical wellbeing of the community can be greatly meliorated. The medical Faculty itself will never become what it is capable of being made, till the public are prepared to judge of professional character and qualifications,-till the people are sufficiently well informed, on these subjects, to discriminate between the medical friend who deserves their confidence and cooperation, and those ignorant and unprincipled pretenders who deserve only to be driven from society. For the want of this information, these pre tenders are every where triumphing, clusively to the people,-cure, in truth, belongs to both, in common," the one to devise and direct, the other to assist and administer. over the health, property and lives of their deluded followers. It is so in all the professions, the clergyman and lawyer will never be faithful and pure so long as they can prosper equally well without these qualities which it costs so much to earn and to preserve. General society, with the aid of government, make all the professions what they are. In what region of the earth, in what period of time have the minority been unwilling to assume and exercise for their own advantage, that portion of authority which a sluggish and degenerate majority have been careless about retaining? What church has done this? what state? what class of men? It is for these reasons that we have chosen, as an experiment, to address ourselves to the public, to families and individuals, as well as to physicians. We are desirous that both bodies should understand themselves and each other better than they have done, and be prepared and disposed to meet and cooperate for the preservation, improvement and restoration of health, with more information, mutual confidence and cordiality. We would gladly too persuade the individual who is so far advanced as to believe that health like other blessings can by neglect and abuse be lost, or preserved by the proper use of proper means,— that he can much more profitably employ himself in keeping himself well when he is well, than in attempting to cure himself when he is sick. If prevention has been thought to belong somewhat ex It is not pleasant to say so much of one's own affairs, but in this case we were disposed to introduce one or two new ideas into a mind too well filled to admit many, and also to lay open and vindicate the plan of this paper to a few of our medical subscribers who have not been quite pleased with our pages, because they thought them not sufficiently.medical; and to a few more nonprofessional subscribers who have thought us too medical for common readers. Perhaps the two classes of readers when they reflect how useful they may be to each other, and how essential their joint efforts must be to accomplish the good work of improving their own and the public health, they will better understand our plan and be more fully inclined to cooperate in its execution. We presume our readers will be pleased to see one more "Medical Essay." These essays have so far been exceedingly well written; they give evidence of much observation and good sense; and are besides of general application and utility. NOTICE. Subscribers are desired to address all orders and communications for this paper to the Editor, conformably to the terms at the end of each number. Dictionary omitted till next week. |