by supposing that the activity of such substances depends in great part upon a series of molecular changes which they produce in the system, and that the elements liberated in the nascent form in the system produce a series of combinations and decompositions; but the fact remains, that these bodies are closely related, and as cod-liver oil contains more chlorides than bromides or iodides, the activity of it may just as well be attributed to the first class as to the others. But omne ignotum est pro magnifico. In the Archives Generales d'Anatomie,' for 1846, there is a paper which would seem to controvert some of these views: but for the present I shall content myself with stating that I adhere to them.

The late Mr. West, of Leeds, in an analysis of the mineral water at Shotley Bridge, in the county of Durham,—which, if his statement be correct, has wrongly fallen into desuetude,-states that there are traces of bromine, and attributes great probable powers to it.

Now, as the proportion of bromides-for of course the bromine must exist in combination-is in infinitesimal proportion to the chlorides, this idea is another illustration of the hallucination which many men appear to entertain with regard to these bodies.

As a further illustration of the relationship between all the properties of the chlorides, bromides, and iodides, I may give an extract from the recent letter of Dr. Cogswell on the 'Employment of the Chlorate of Potass in Cholera,' published in the 'Lancet' of October 22nd. He found the endosmotic properties of the chloride, bromide, and iodide of potassium to be as follows:—

"Elevation in inches-1st hour: chloride, 15; bromide, 5; iodide,

3. 2nd hour: chloride, 4; bromide, 2; iodide, 1." Always the chloride occupies the first position, the bromide the second, and the iodide the third. As the extraordinary confirmation which these results afforded to my conclusions was unknown at the time, and not thought of by Dr. Cogswell, they are the more valuable.

In conclusion, in my work on Scrofula, I say that the merits of codliver oil are in all probability "as a tonic, from the resinous principle it contains; by stimulating animal heat; occasionally by acting as an aperient; and also as a deobstruent, more particularly by increasing the quantity of urine."-Lancet, Nov. 12, 1853, p. 459.

40.-On Expectoration as a Means of Diagnosis. By DR. THEOPHILUS THOMPSON, F.R.S., &c.-The most characteristic appearances attending the series of changes of the expectoration in the different stages of pulmonary consumption may be conveniently described under four divisions, namely,

First. The salivary or frothy.

Secondly. The mucous.

Thirdly. The flocculent.

Fourthly. The purulent or porraceous.

The first is what you would expect from irritation; the result either of pulmonary congestion, or of slight tubercular deposit.

The second would indicate a more confirmed affection of the bronchial tubes.

The third is peculiarly characteristic of secretion from a vomica, modified by the absorption of its thinner constituents.

The fourth is indicative of phthisis far advanced, and (if unmixed with froth) usually involving both lungs.-Med. Times and Gazette, Feb. 25, 1854, p. 190.

41.-On the Appearance of the Gums in Consumption.-DR. THOMPSON remarks, "Considerable attention to this inquiry has impressed me with a conviction of the frequent existence, in consumptive subjects, of a mark at the reflected edge of the gums, usually deeper in colour than the adjoining surface, and producing a festooned appearance, by the accuracy with which it corresponds with gingwal boder; this mark is in some persons a mere streak; in others, a margin, sometimes more than a line in breadth. In the most decided cases, this margin is of a vermilion tint, inclining to lake."

[This streak on the gums, Dr. Thompson states, is often among the earliest signs of pulmonary consumption. In reference to the value of this sign as an aid to diagnosis, Dr. Thompson observes :]

"When in either sex it coincides with a pulse not materially altered in frequency by change from the sitting to the standing posture, the presence of phthisis may with high probability be assumed, even before having recourse to auscultation."-Ibid, p. 190,

42.-On Cocoa-nut Oil as a Substitute for Cod-liver Oil.-DR THOMPSON says, "Among the patients to whom cocoa-nut oil was given, there were some instances of arrested phthisis, as decided as any I have been accustomed to attribute to the use of cod-liver oil, over which it possesses advantages in reference to economy and palatableness; and it is interesting to remark that its efficacy was experienced by some who had previously taken cod oil uselessly, and by others who had discontinued it on account of nausea."-Ibid, p. 190.

43.-Treatment of the Diarrhoea of Phthisis.-In the diarrhoea of phthisis, DR. THOMPSON employs trisnitrate of bismuth in doses of five grains, combined with three grains of gum arabic and two of magnesia, every four or six hours.-Ibid, p. 190.

44.-On Hemoptysis.-DR. T. THOMPSON "doubts if hemoptysis ever precedes the deposit of tubercle in the lung, and thinks that, in many cases, the local loss of blood may be advantageous to the patient by relieving congestion. He deprecates 'undue haste' in arresting the hemoptysis, and adds, 'as a general rule, it is better to moderate this symptom by producing determination to other organs than to employ direct astringents.'

Should the hemorrhage be passive, and direct astringents be required in consequence of the loss of blood being excessive, alum is, according to our author, one of the best that can be employed; this remedy acts, he says, 'more efficiently when allowed to dissolve in the mouth, than when taken in mixture." The following is the prescription Dr. Thompson recommends:

'Take of powdered gum arabic, and of white sugar, each three drachms; powdered tragacanth a drachm and a-half; alum two drachms; catechu three drachms; rose water as much as sufficient for a mass to be formed into sixty lozenges.'

Acetate of lead is preferred to gallic acid, while turpentine is said to be 'one of the most certain and suitable remedies, in a majority of instances.” ”—Ibid, p. 190.

45.-On the Treatment of Colliquative Sweating in Phthisis. [DR. T. THOMPSON says he has given the following preparation in this affection "with the most satisfactory results," viz., oxide of zinc and extract of hyosciamus, of each four grains, to be made into two pills, and taken at bed time.

The following cases by DR. W. MILLER, of Liverpool, illustrate the value of this treatment:]

Sophia, aged 27, married, ill about eight months; has all the symptoms of phthisis well marked, particularly the night perspirations. I directed the above pills, and on the third day the perspirations had entirely ceased, and have not since returned.

Catherine, aged 33, married, ill a long time; complains of profuse night perspirations, which entirely ceased in a few days after commencing the pills, and have not returned.

Fanny, aged 20, unmarried; first seen March 18, 1854; has all the usual symptoms of phthisis. Profuse night perspirations. I prescribed cod-liver oil, half an ounce, three times a day, and zinc and hyosciamus pills at bed time.

March 21st. Is much more comfortable; had very little perspiration last night.

I have given these pills in several other cases; and I think they have the great advantage over other remedies of allaying the night perspirations, and, at the same time, not giving rise to the violent attacks of diarrhoea, which so often come on when the perspirations are subdued.-Lancet, April 1, 1854, p. 377.

46.-Use of Lobelia in Asthma.-The lobelia inflata, a drug much praised and abused by quacks, and somewhat slighted by the profession, is, we observe, in constant use among the out-patients at the City Hospital for Diseases of the Chest. In doses of ten minims three times a day, it appears frequently to produce most admirable effects in cases of chronic bronchitis complicated with tendency to paroxysmal asthma. It is commonly given in conjunction with sedatives, expectorants, or stomachics, often agreeing remarkably well with the latter. Patients taking it frequently complain of much nausea and sense of depression during the half-hour or so following each dose; but it seems, on the whole, to decidedly improve the appetite and digestion. If the nausea be excessive, combination with a few drops of dilute hydrocyanic acid is often useful.-Med. Times and Gazette, Nov. 12, 1853, p. 502.

47.-Nervous Asthma.-M. MORPAIN, a French physician, has found that by burning brown paper soaked in a solution of saltpetre in the room of an asthmatic patient, the latter will obtain instantaneous relief. M. Carrie, working out this fact, has had the following polypharmaceutical paper prepared for the same purpose:— -Pasteboard broken down with hot water, four ounces; nitrate of potash, two ounces; belladonna, stramonium, digitalis, lobelia inflata, all in powder, each twenty grains; myrrh and olibanum, of each two drachms and a half. Incorporate all these with the paste, divide the mass in sheets of the thickness of three lines; dry, and divide in little square pieces. Burn them in little saucers in a well-shut-up room.-Lancet, Dec. 31, 1853, p. 625.

48.-New Respirator.-MR. STENHOUSE, the Professor of Chemistry at St. Bartholomew's, has invented a new form of respirator, which it is believed will be competent to purify the air breathed through it from all noxious gases. It consists of a layer of charcoal enclosed in fine gause. Should it be found efficient and of convenient use, it will be a great boon to all engaged in occupations which involve exposure to malarious or miasmatic influences.-Medical Times and Gazette, March 4, 1854, p. 226.

DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF DIGESTION.

49.-ON DEFICIENT SECRETION OF GASTRIC JUICESLOW AND IMPERFECT DIGESTION.

By DR. GEORGE BUDD, F.R.S., Professor of Medicine, King's College. [It must be borne in mind that when the stomach is empty of food, it contains no gastric juice. The secretion takes place when food is brought in contact with its walls.]

The outpouring of the juice when food touches the mucous membrane, like the outpouring of saliva from the presence of food in the mouth, is excited by reflex nervous influence; that is the impression of the food on the surface is transmitted by the nerves to some central part of the nervous system, and thence reflected to excite the action of the secreting apparatus.

This reflex nervous influence, which causes the outpouring of gastric acid on the contact of food with the mucous membrane of the stomach, may be excessive; or it may be excited by other impressions on the mucous membrane of the stomach than those arising from the presence of food; or, lastly, it may be excited by irritation in other organs.

And, on the contrary, when there is food in the stomach and gastric juice is required, the nervous influence exciting the secretion may be deficient in energy, and the juice may be poured out in too small quantity for complete and easy digestion.

Dr. Wilson Philip showed, by various experiments on rabbits and other animals, that if the eighth pair of nerves be divided in the neck, any food which the creatures may afterwards eat usually remains in the stomach undigested; and, after death, the coats are not dissolved by the gastric juice, however long the animal may have lain dead.

The experiments did not warrant the conclusion that Dr. W. Philip drew from them, that the secretion of gastric juice is entirely dependent on an influence transmitted through these nerves; but they proved that the division of the nerves, and the injury and shock of operation, arrested the secretion for a time.

It is well known that long-continued watchfulness, or excessive fatigue, or great mental excitement, will prevent or take away the feeling of hunger, and destroy for a time the power of digestion.

A man in the wild excitement of delirium tremens has a repugnance for food of every kind. When the delirium subsides, and the nervous system has been refreshed by a few hours' sleep, the appetite and the power of digestion return.

[The depressing passions, fear and anger, lessen the secretion of gastric juice. Sedentary and indolent habits, and the habitual consumption of more food than the system with such habits requires, also produces the same effect.]

It has been clearly shown by the experiments of Spallanzani and Dr. Beaumont, that the quantity of juice required for digestion is proportioned to the quantity of food. When gastric juice has dissolved a certain quantity of food, it is saturated and can dissolve no more. The digestive power may, indeed, be restored, in a certain degree, by the addition of water, or by the addition of muriatic or lactic acid; but to carry digestion much further there must be a fresh quantity of the juice. If, then, a man eats too frequently or too much, the gastric juice may be inadequate for the proper and easy digestion of the food, without any fault fairly attributable to the stomach. The organ is.