mended-Take of oil of turpentine 2 | unacquainted with the nature of the injury. ounces, lukewarm water half a pint, mix, and inhale the vapour. Having previously found spirits of hartshorn, when applied early, a very effectual application for preventing the irritation caused by musquito bites, I was led to try an alkaline and stimulating lotion, consisting of a solution of bicarbonate of potass, sesquicarbonate of ammonia, and spirit of hartshorn, in these cases, with a most satisfactory result. I do not recollect the exact form of the lotion, but believe it con The following kind of inhalation has been found of great service in some cases of consumption, but it should not be resorted to without the sanction of medical advice, and even then should be used with extreme caution, as it is very apt to disagree with some people, causing unpleasant spasm and cough. Take of tincture of iodine 20 drops, tepid water 4 ounces, mix, and insisted of one drachm of each of the salts, hale the vapour. The annexed engraving represents a modification of DrSiegle's improved patent inhalation apparatus,for the employment by inhalation of medicated sprays (the method of pulverization of fluids) in the treatment of various diseases of throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. There are a great many varied forms of these and half an ounce of spirits of hartshorn, to six ounces of camphor mixture. This application, if freely used soon after the injury, affords almost immediate relief; and although the benefit is more tardy if it be not applied until the effect of the injury has been thoroughly developed, yet even then its use rarely fails speedily to mitigate the suffering and swelling, and to remove them almost entirely in the course of a few hours." LARYNGOSCOPE. - This is an instrument recently invented, and used, as its name indicates, for the purpose of examining the interior of the larynx. Its introduction has added so much to our knowledge of the diseases of the throat and windpipe, that several new affections of these parts are now described in medical works for the first time. A description of these diseases, and of their recognition and treatment, would be unintelligible and uninteresting to the general reader; at the same time it is satisfactory to know that many cases of marvellous success are now liquid pulverizers, but the above will give an idea of the nature of the instrument. JELLY-FISH, STINGS OF THE.-The following interesting and instructive remarks of Dr Greenhow, published in the British Medical Journal, may be of use to those who are fond of bathing, and who happen to be in localities infested by jelly-on record which could neither have been fish the throat generally, and diseases of the nose, mouth, and windpipe. It has also enabled medical men to ascertain the presence of, and to extract foreign bodies, which have accidentally found their way into the larynx, and become lodged there. recognised nor treated without the wonderHaving formerly passed some years on ful instrument, which may truly be said to the sea-coast, it used to happen that I was have enabled the "dumb to speak and the sometimes consulted by persons who had deaf to hear." The instrument has been been stung whilst bathing by some of the of the greatest service in investigating acalephæ, with which the ocean abounds affections of the voice in speaking and at certain seasons. The immediate effect singing, morbid growths, such as cancer, produced by touching the filaments of one warts, &c., of the larynx, as well as all de of these creatures is a sensation of sting-formities of and injuries to that organ and ing, which extends up the affected limb for some distance from the point of contact. Presently the part becomes red, swollen, and tender; and occasionally, especially in young females and children, the entire limb, in the course of an hour or two, becomes much swollen, red, and exceedingly painful. The redness and swelling sometimes terminate in a well defined border, resembling that of a wheal, but in other respects the ailment does not bear any resemblance to urticaria. These symptoms usually subside spontaneously, if allowed to do so, in the course of three or four days, but meanwhile they often cause considerable suffering, render the affected limb more or less useless, and as they have a formidable appearance, often pro duce needless anxiety, especially to persons The first idea of a laryngoscope seems to have emanated from the mind of our countryman, Dr Benjamin Babington, as early as the year 1829, for he then submitted to the Hunterian Medical Society "An ingenious instrument for the examination of parts within the fauces, not admitting of inspection by the unaided sight." It consisted of an oblong piece of looking glass, set in silver wire, with a long shank. Directions for the use of the instrument are given, and further on he says: A strong light is required, and the in strument should be dipped in water so as to have a film of the liquid upon it when used, or the halitus of the breath renders it cloudy." The doctor proposed to call it the "glottiscope." is introduced into the mouth it should be warmed in hot water. Whilst this is em ployed, the throat is at the same time illuminated by means of a round mirror worn upon the forehead, so as to leave the Afterwards the same idea was more or hands of the examiner free. This is arless carried into practice by several medi-ranged with an elastic band, so that it can cal men both in this country and on the be adjusted to any position. continent. For instance, Professor Liston was in the habit of using an instrument of a similar kind to that above mentioned in examining the throat, as was also Dr War den. The chief merit, however, of introducing the laryngoscope in a very complete form into medical practice belongs to Professors Turck, of Vienna, and Czermak, of Prague; and certainly the highest praise is due to the latter of these gentlemen for the untiring perseverance with which he continued his efforts to perfect the instrument, and to make its use generally known and understood throughout Europe. Dr Czermak visited this country in 1860, and was kind enough, personally, to instruct his professional brethren in the manipulation of an instrument to the working of which he had himself devoted so much attention, and which, though now much improved and simplified from the suggestions and experience of others, has since become associated with his name as one of the most valuable aids to medical practitioners in the investigation of disease. The laryngoscope consists of a little mirror fixed into a long handle. Before it B A The patient or person to be examined is seated on a chair at one side of a table on which there is a good lamp. If the latter is furnished with a reflector, so much the better, or if good sunlight can be had, nothing does so well. The little mirror (previously warmed) is then introduced to the back of the throat, while a strong light is thrown upon it from the mirror upon the examiner's forehead. In this way, by a medical man, who has through practice acquired facility and dexterity in the use, of the instrument, the mechanism of the human voice in health or disease may be studied, while, at the same time, disease, if present, can be readily detected, and the fitting remedy applied. For the latter purpose numerous new instruments have been invented for the removal of growths, and the application of medicaments of one sort and another. Of these it may be said that they are unnecessarily complex, and that the simplest, are the best. The above remarks may appear to many quite unsuitable for the general reader; stili it may not be uninteresting even to him to know that medical science is every day pro gressing and bringing many of its practical applications to the relief of human suffering and disease, and that of late years nothing has thrown more light upon matters hitherto obscure than this new instrument has upon diseases of the throat; class of diseases, the importance of which can scarcely be exag gerated, when it is remembered that the loss of voice to many involves a loss not only of the enjoyment but of the means of maintaining existence. As an illustration of the prac tical advantages to be derived from the use of this instrument, the following case, one among many, may be cited. A young man had suffered for several months from gradual loss of voice, hoarseness, and occasional choking fits at night, so severe as even to threaten his life. His medical adviser attributed all these symptoms to chronic inflammation of the larynx, and treated him accordingly, but without the slighest effect in relieving his sufferings, which grew worso day by day. His general health also was much enfeebled, owing to the severe course of treatment to which he had been subjected. At this time he sought the advice of a gentleman, who examined his throat by means of the laryngoscope, and immediately detected a small polypus, or tumour, hang. ing by a narrow neck or pedicle in the air passage, just at the most important point where the mechanism of the voice is situated, or, in medical language, between the vocal cords. This polypus was at once seized with a pair of forceps, and extracted, with immediate relief to all the distressing symptoms of the patient, and the complete restoration of his voice. Many affections of the voice in females are well known to be dependent entirely upon a hysterical condition, and when a medical man has taken this view of any particular case it is very satisfactory to be enabled by means of the laryngoscope to confirm his diagnosis. A careful examination of the patient's larynx shows him the absence of any morbid condition, and he at once concludes that the symptoms are entirely due to derangement of the nervous power governing the movements of the muscles of voice. LARCH, TINCTURE OF, has been prescribed by some in the treatment of hemorrhage from the lungs. It has also been used in cases of chronic bronchitis. The dose of the tincture is from 20 drops to one drachm 3 times a day. LARD. The adulterations of this article are so frequent and so extensive as to require special mention. These are carried on in the most systematic manner, and are thus described by Mr Calvert-The lard is melted, and run into a trough, where it is stirred with cold water; it is then put under revolving wheels with a thick paste made of potato starch, potash, alum, and lime, which latter ingredient enables the lard to take up more of the starch into its composition; alum also is used to increase its whiteness and to preserve the starch used as an adulteration, Mutton suet is also used fraudently to mix with it. In fact, owing to the tricks of our dealers here (for it generally arrives in a condition of comparative purity from America), there is no substance more difficult to be obtained in a genuine state. MAGNESIA, CITRATE OF, is an elegant effervescing aperient, not many years introduced, but now very commonly known and used. It has the advantages of being very agreeable to take, and very gentle in its action as a saline laxative, much more gentle than the old seidlitz powder, which it has largely superseded. The citrate of magnesia is now generally sold in the granular form-that is, made with large grains, by which it is rendered much less liable to undergo decomposition. - See article "Effervescing," Appendix. The dose of the citrate is one, two, three, or even more teaspoonfuls, in a moderate quantity of water. It may be taken at any period of the day, but morning is the best time. MICROSCOPE-RECENT APPLICATION oF, TO MEDICAL PRACTICE.-It may reasonably be doubted if any of the great improvements, or additions to our means of investigating the nature of disease, can take rank with the introduction of the microscope. Many diseases before unknown are now familiar as household words, and many also of which our knowledge was formerly very obscure, are now, by its means, thoroughly understood, and capable of being scientifically treated. Perhaps the relation of a few instances will do more than anything else to illustrate the benefit we have derived from the microscope in various ways. We will suppose an obscure and difficult case, where the patient has repeated attacks of vomiting of blood. A drop of that blood being placed under the microscope is found to contain cancer cells. Now the causes of vomiting of blood are so numerous and complicated that no one but a medical man can have any idea of the satisfaction afforded to his mind by the certain and positive knowledge thus afforded as to the exact nature of the disease. Or take the same case in another light. The patient complains of the same symptoms, and the same test is applied. This time, however, to the patient's dismay, it is ascertained beyond the possibility of doubt, that the blood shown is not human blood but that of some one of the lower animals, and he is at once accused of feigning disease with, perhaps, some object in view. Again, a patient is suffering, perhaps, from indigestion, weakness, with intolerable depression of spirits, and other symptoms, which require to be felt to be described, and which have been treated by ordinary methods in vain. A drop of his urine is placed for examination under the microscope, a new light is immediately thrown upon his case and the appropriate remedy prescribed, with the result of a speedy restoration to health. In no way has the microscope proved of more value to medical men than in enabling them to examine with precision and accuracy into the various conditions of the urine and kidneys, which constitute the affection called Bright's disease. Indeed, so remarkable is the advantage derived in treating the kidneys, from an examination of the urine, that medical men can tell their condition all through the course of the disease, and can foretell before death almost the exact state in which those organs will be found in fatal | can be discovered even by very low mi. cases. In affections of the stomach, or bowels, the microscope is very valuable in enabling us to ascertain the nature of vomited matter, if there be such. Pus and cancer cells and fibres, on being found, enable us to speak with great comparative confidence as to the nature of the disease. Animal, or vegetable parasites, may be discovered, or merely some functional error, or fault of digestion detected. The examination of the nature of the sputum in lung diseases is of the highest importance. In this way cancer, consumption, simple inflammatory disease, or inflammatory disease connected with some special local irritant, as we find in miners, and many other trades, may be successfully discriminated, and treated accordingly. After a patient has had to submit to a dangerous and painful operation, it may be for the removal of a tumour, the question is often anxiously asked of the surgeon-Is there no danger of its recurrence? Now this is a question which, by the aid of the microscope in enabling us to examine the tumour, we are in a much better position than formerly to answer with an approach to certainty, and we can thus give much more definite and valuable information to friends and relations as to the probability of other members of the same family being affected by the same disease. A consideration of these remarks will also show of what importance the microscope may be made in the examination of diseased tissues after death; in fact, it may be said that it is almost mainly to this method that we look for the means of extending our knowledge of disease upon a scientific basis, and that even now such important discoveries are being made as seem likely to introduce a new era into the practice of medicine and pathology. Another way in which the use of the microscope may be said to be of value to all classes of people is in the readiness with which, by means of its aid, the fraudulent tricks of dishonest tradesmen, in adulterating food, can be detected. For instance, arrowroot, which, when genuine, is very expensive, is often adulterated with large quantities of potato starch, the grains of which, when viewed under the microscope, present characteristics which at once, and with the greatest ease, distinguish them from those of any other starch. Numerous other instances might be mentioned, where the tricks of trade are at once exposed by its means. It is comforting also to think that now-a-days, when diseased meat is so common in our markets (aud from all accounts likely to become much more so), many forms of parasitic disease croscopic powers, and in the hands of any tyro; so that it is to be hoped that the legislature will be compelled to do what ought to have been done long ago, viz., provide a proper system of inspection of markets throughout the country. The discovery of the dependence of several hitherto unknown diseases of the human frame upon the presence of animal, or still more frequently of vegetable parasites, has led to an efficiency of treatment consisting in the destruction of the parasite which is followed by an immediate cure of the distressing symptoms. This alone, had we derived no other benefits from its use, would entitle the workers with the microscope to our lasting gratitude. The accompanying figure, from Dr Aitken's Practice of Medicine, shows, as seen under the microscope, a parasite fungus growing upon, and constituting a well-known disease of the hair and hair bulbs, called, Favus, or scald head. The next figure, also from the same work, represents a hair, as seen microscopically, loaded with diseased parasitic growth. This represents the inorbid state of the hair in the disease familiarly known as ringworm of the scalp. From a consideration of the above figures it may easily be conceived how important an agent the microscope may become in determining the nature of a given disease, and in pointing to the nature of the remedies necessary to be used for its cure. MILK, PRESERVED.-The "Medical Recorder" gives the following method of preserving milk for after use on board ship, or in situations where milk cannot be readily obtained. Twenty-eight pounds of white sugar, and a tea spoonful of bicarbonate of soda must be added to 112lbs of fresh milk. The mixture is then evaporated in a water bath, at a moderate temperature, and stirred and agitated all the while, but so moderately as to avoid churning. In three hours it assumes a pasty consistency, and by constant manipulation it is reduced to a rich, cream-looking powder. It is then exposed to the air to cool, weighed into parcels of one pound each, and pressed into a brick-shaped tablet, which is covered with tin-foil. This will keep for any length of time, and may be grated and dissolved in water for use, answering all the purposes of ordinary milk, even to the making of butter." Preserved milk is also sold in the liquid form, as well as in powder and tablets. Nothing could be simpler than the method of so preserving it. Boil the milk, and fill a number of bottles quite full. Cork and seal them well up at once. A little sugar may be added previously, with the effect of aiding the preservation of the milk. Sometimes the butter separates from preserved milk, and it may then be used as ordinary butter, and it will be found like the milk, to be of good quality. As a rule, the preserved liquid milk will keep for many months, but that preserved in the form of powder or tablets, will not remain sound longer than from a week to ten days or a fortnight. NEVUS, or as it is popularly called, "mother's mark," is often very troublesome and obstinate, and it is sometimes a very important and anxious question to settle. whether or not an operation should be had recourse to for its entire removal. According to Professor Zeissl, they may be removed by caustic potash when they are no larger than hemp-seeds; and by vaccination when they do not exceed the size of a bean or hazel-nut. He employs tartarised antimony when the dimensions of the nævus is not too great. Sixteen or eighteen grains of tartarised antimony are mixed with about forty-five or fifty grains of diachylon plaster and laid on the nævus, being secured there by strips of gummed paper. Suppuration is established in five or six days; and a crust is gradually formed, which falls off, leaving a quite superficial cicatrix. NURSES FOR THE SICK.-For many years it has been generally agreed that there was nothing so desirable, and at the same time nothing so difficult to obtain, as efficient and proper nursing. Every one who has had to do with illness, can remember the tiresome, consequential, and often stupid domestic nurse, who, when some member of |