The Physician's Pocket Dose and Symptom Book: containing the Doses and Uses of all the principal articles of the Materia Medica and chief officinal preparations, etc., etc. By JOSEPH H. WYTHES, A. M., M. D., author of The Microscopist," "Curiosities in the Microscope," etc., etc. 2d edition. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. 1857. Pp. 230, 18mo. (For sale by T. Richards & Son, Augusta.)

This is a valuable little pocket manual of medicines and their doses, modes of preparation, action, etc. Its author has done good service in an elementary way to American science. His two other works, "The Microscopist," and "The Curiosities of the Microscope," are the best of their kind, and we see by the North American Medico-Chirurgical Review, June number, that one of them is highly appreciated in England, (thoroughly plagiarized.) The present work we recommend, especially to young practitioners. There is much labor in getting up such a work, and the reward is mostly in the patronage it gains. We hope the profession will let it have its reward.

A Sketch of the Geology of Tennessee: embracing a description of its Minerals and Ores, their variety and quality, modes of assaying and value: with a description of its Soils and productiveness, and Paleontology. By RICHARD O. CURREY, A.M., M.D., late Professor of Chemistry and Geology in East Tennessee University. Knoxville, Tenn.: Kinsloe & Rice. 1857. Pp. 128, 8vo.

This is an excellent work on the subjects indicated on title page, prepared with great labor, research, and ability, by our confrere of the Southern Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences. It is accompanied by a very complete geological map of the State of Tennessee, by James M. Safford, A.M., State Geologist. The work of Dr. Currey is well calculated to excite an interest in the development of the mineral resources of his State, and her citizens owe him much for his labors. Similar scientific investigations in our own State of Georgia would enhance the value of our lands, and develop our mineral resources, more than a hundred fold. We thank the author for our copy of his valuable work.

DR. J. S. COLEMAN, OF AUGUSTA.-We are pleased to see the name of our young friend among those who are spoken of in terms of high commendation, in reference to the late resignations at Blockley Hospital. We are not perhaps sufficiently posted as to all the merits of the case between Dr.

and the Faculty, but it ever speaks well for a young member, to sce him acting in concert with the body of the Profession in all questions of Medical Ethics. It is a safe course, because most apt to be right, and we congratulate our promising young friend in having adopted it, at whatever hazard or sacrifice. It was wise to act on the responsibility of the conservative body of the Profession, they discountenanced the new appointee on ethical grounds, and for the sake of right, the younger gentle. men did well to act with them.

TRAUMATIC TETANUS.-In a review of a clinical lecture on Traumatic Tetanus, recently delivered at Jackson Street Hospital, Prof. D. F. Wright, of Memphis, Tennessee, thus embodies our views, and reports a highly corroborative case, which occurred in his own practice:

"The first of the two works is a lecture before the Medical Students of his College upon the pathology of traumatic tetanus. His explanation of its phenomena is grounded upon the doctrines of reflex nervous action as now established in nervous physiology. Assuming that the ganglia of the spinal column are chiefly concerned in those motions which have become habitual, and are performed with but little attention or mental cognizance, and that the brain exercises but little influence over them, except when any unusual circumstances so affect the occasions which call them forth as to demand the corrective and controlling influence of the ganglia of the cerebral hemispheres, he suggests that the phenomena of tetanus are occasioned by these cerebral ganglia losing the power of controlling these ordinarily automatic motions; the peripheral irritant having produced a morbid excitement in the inferior centres which at once places them beyond the control of the superior ganglia, and producess in excess the motions which it is the function of the various spinal ganglia to effect. In other words, (to use an elegant illustration of our author,) the spinal column_rebels against the brain, and in its agitation dethrones its proper sovereign, and then in the tumultuous and spasmodic motions which ensue, manifests its own abnormal condition of excitement.

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"We could wish that . . . . . Dr. Campbell had discussed the relations of tetanus and hydrophobia, especially with reference to the existence of a specific virus in the latter disease, a question in relation to which we have long entertained serious doubts. Giving, as we do, a free assent to his rational explanation of the phenomena of tetanus, we can neither see any point in which this explanation fails to apply to hydrophobia, nor do we know of any symptom attending the one which is not also incidental to the other. Both seen to arise from an irritant applied to some portion of a nerve trunk, both to be attended with the production of those automatic motions which are ordinarily attributed to excitement of the spinal ganglia, and in both the customary controlling influence of the cerebral centres seems to be suspended. We have seen even the peculiar spasms of the muscles concerned in deglutition, from which hydrophobia has derived its name, excited in traumatic tetanus exactly as is described in hydrophobia, (of which we have never seen a case) as may be illustrated by the following case:

In the summer of 1855, we were called upon to visit an Irish boy, aged about 12, who was suffering as follows: He had, about four or five days before, received a lacerated wound by stepping, barefoot, on a rusty nail-this was situated in front of and a little below the internal malleolus; in short, immediately upon the track of the posterior tibial nerve. When we first saw him, the wound was inflamed and ulcerated, presenting a jagged and excavated centre, with periphery of inflamed surface, of dark, livid, red colour. The lower extremities were occasionally convulsed with a slight jerking movement, the extensor muscles seeming to be principally concerned. No affection of the upper extremities, or of the maxillary muscles, except that slight trismus was occasionally observed. The con

vulsions of the lower extremities seemed to be rythmically repeated at the rate of about four times in the minute, but were hastened and intensified by the sudden contact of any substance, especially cold water. So much was this the case that, although we at first ordered water dressings to the wound, we found it necessary to replace them by a poultice of slippery elm. This, with a saline cathartic, was followed by full doses of morphine as soon as the bowels had been well evacuated. The morphine for a while seeemed to control the nervous symptoms, but the morning of the second day they were suddenly aggravated to an alarming extent. Their repetitions first became much more rapid, and shortly were replaced by a con tinued spasm, which affected all the muscles of the lower extremities, as well as those of the back and abdomen, but especially the former, the position of the patient being that of opisthotonos. Excitability from external contact was much increased, so much so that even the contact of clothing was the source of intense irritation, and we assented to the mother's proposal, as the weather was intensely hot, of divesting him entirely of clothing, and from this time until his death, he continued entirely intolerant of any covering, except, for a few minutes, that of a light sheet. We now (about 8, A. M., of our second day's attendance,) had recourse to the influence of chloroform. We at first ordered m. xv., to be administered internally every quarter of an hour, and the pillow, etc., around his head, to be occasionally sprinkled with ether, and staid to watch the effect of our prescription. Very considerable reduction of all the symptoms followed the second dose, and then ordering it to be repeated, in doses of m. xx., every half hour, we left him, and made our next visit at 12 M. We then found that all the symptoms had returned, the irritability being even aggravatedthe slightest touch producing the most violent convulsions. We determined now, as a dernier resort, to put him completely under the influence of chloroform as might be found possible, and without limiting the quantity used, kept him inhaling it till, to the astonishment of all his friends, (ourself included) he sank into a tranquil sleep, every muscle previously strained to a degree which threatened spontaneous rupture, being now relaxed and flexible. Having indispensable avocations in another part of the city, we now gave instructions, that if on awaking the patient should exhibit any convulsive symptoms, the chloroform should be administered in the same manner. We relinquished our attendance till 5 P. M. On our arrival we found every thing changed for the worse; the opisthotonos was so great that, as he refused to lie any other way but face upwards, a pile of pillows had to be placed beneath his back; not only contacts, but the approach of a person to the bed excited the most violent spasins, accompanied with intense suffering, the jaws were now firmly clenched, and the muscular con traction of the features gave the countenance a singularly weird appearance. Nevertherless, the mind seemed untouched. On inquiry we found that he had waked about half an hour after we left him, that convulsions, at first slight, had commenced almost immediately; that, contrary to our instructions chloroform had not been administered, the people having a sort of half superstitious dread of the drug, but that when things had got to their worst, the attempts had been made to administer some by the mouth, which the patient was unable to swallow. We had now very slight hopes of the case, but determined that if anything could be done it would be with chloroform. The father of the boy told us it could not be administered, and he was right this time. A teaspoonful being held to the lips, such

spasms were excited in the throat and fauces that instant suffocation was apprehended, even the sound of pouring the medicine into the glass excited these spasms, which were accompanied by a rattle in the throat, and the forcing of some frothy mucus through the clenched teeth. Attempts at administering the drug by inhalation were equally unsuccessful, and we had to leave our patient to the inevitable termination of his calamity which occurred about 8 P. M.

Our object in stating this case was twofold. First, to supply Dr. Campbell with an instance confirming the benefits of chloroform in this affection, the recommendation of this agent being one of the purposes of his lecture, and secondly, to show the great similarity of some of the symptoms to those of Hydrophobia," had the wound been given by a dog's tooth instead of a rusty nail, the cry of mad-dog would have been raised, and a regular dog killing organized on the spot, and if hydrophobia be a disease distinct from tetanus, who could blame the proceedings? It is our own belief, however, that there is nothing peculiar in the bite of a dog as the exciting cause of these symptoms, nothing specific, nothing more efficient than a lacerated wound from any other cause. To return to the subject of the chloroform, we think no phyician will read this statement without coming to the conclusion, that if the chloroform had been administered, during our absence, according to our directions, the life of the patient, already prolonged by its agency, might have been saved altogether."

We think, with the reporter, that had his directions been fully carried out, perhaps, the life of the patient would have been saved. In our opin ion, a primary object in the treatment of an acute attack of tetanus is, not so much to cure the disease immediately, (this we cannot often expect.) but by the obtunding influence of remedies, addressed to the nervous system, of which chloroform is the principal one, so far to keep the devastating effects of the disease in abeyance, as to allow the case to become what is usually termed chronic tetanus. It is the general opinion, that where the patient survives the tenth day, his chances of ultimate recovery are greatly increased. This object of supporting the patient through the acute stage has not, it appears to us, been sufficiently kept in view by most writers on this fearful disease, the idea most prominent ever seems to be, that this is a disease which must terminate fatally very shortly, if not speedily cured, and consequently, the most active, and oftentimes the most exhausting remedies, are successively and rapidly crowded upon the patient, which, as they do not abate the violence of the paroxysms, only hasten the fatal issue. Beyond gentle purgation in the beginning of the attack, with a free evacuation of the bowels once in two or three days after, we are opposed to any measure which savors of a depleting course. Bleeding, while it depresses the vascular system and exhausts the strength of the patient, according to our observation, exalts the irritability of the nervous system, and thus favors the frequency of the paroxysms. We cannot conceive of a case in which it would be indicated as a remedy for tetanus.

Ohio State Medical Society.-The twelfth annual session of the Ohio State Medical Society was held on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th of June, at Sandusky. The number of delegates in attendance was 130. Dr. Isaac J. Hays, of Philadelphia, and Dr. J. C. Blackburn, of Kentucky, who were present, were elected honorary members of the Society. Dr. D. Tilden was chosen President. Many interesting reports were presented, and were referred to the Committee on Publication. Dr. Holston related a case of death which he thought could be traced to the action of veratrum, and expressed his doubts of the safety of using this article as a remedial agent. The only effect produced by it in his practice was the reduction of the pulse. Dr. Harmon had found it beneficial; but Dr. Brennan considered a general prostration the only result.-[Boston Med. and Snrg. Jour.

SPIRITUALISM IN BOSTON-CONCLUSIONS OF THE HARVARD College FaCULTY.-Professors Agassiz, Pierce, and Horsford, of Harvard College, and Dr. Gould, (says the South Carolinian,) the committee selected to pass upon the controversy between the Boston Courier and Dr. H. F. Gardner, respecting the alleged phenomena of spiritualism, after a week's investigation, made the following report:

"The committee award that Dr. Gardner having failed to produce before them an agent or medium who 'communicated a word imparted to the spirits in an adjoining room,' who read a word in English written inside a book, or folded sheet of paper,' who answered any question which the superior intelligence must be able to answer,' who tilted a piano without touching it, or caused a chair to move a foot;' and having failed to exhibit to the committee any phenomenon, which, under the widest latitude of interpretation, could be regarded as equivalent to either of these proposed tests; or any phenomenon which required for its production, or in any manner indicated a force which could technically be denominated spritual, or which was hitherto unknown to science, or a phenomenon of which the cause was not palpable to the committee, is, therefore, not entitled to claim from the Boston Courier the proposed premium of five hundred dollars.

"It is the opinion of the committee, derived from observation, that any connection with Spiritualistic Circles, so called, corrupts the morals and degrades the intellect. They, therefore, deem it their solemn duty to warn the community against this contaminating influence, which surely tends to lessen the truth of inan, and the purity of woman.

"The committee will publish a report of their proceedings, together with the results of additional investigations, and other evidence independent of the special case submitted to them, but bearing upon the subject of this stupendous delusion."

BENJAMIN PIERCE, Chairman.
LS. AGASSIZ,

B. A. GOULD, Jr.

E. N. HORSFORD.

Cambridge, June 29, 1857.