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takes place in the cells, but that rose red in the organs. They are present in the cellular tissue sap and yellow in the protoplasm, found to in such a state that they can unite without such gether in scarlet flowers, present just such a com- aid. bination to our eyes, as when we set a red glass and a yellow one side by side, we see before us a mixture of the two colors.

By diminishing exposure to light, a complete alteration can be produced in the relative amount of coloring matter, although no invariable rule can be laid down as to its influence, since some flowers retain their color in darkness, whilst others lose it. Indeed, it has been affirmed that flowers produce their intensest colors in the dark, even if the whole plant is kept in the dark, but in such cases there can be no production of chlorophyll green. It may be mentioned that chlorophyll green is always accompanied by chlorophyll yellow, which is much less sensitive to light, and remains after the disappearance of the green.

It is well-known that soil has an immense influence on color, insomuch that many variations can be produced at will, and the mere transplantation of a plant will alter its color. Much care has to be taken as to the material in which tulips and other florist's flowers are grown, since if they should be too highly nourished they are apt to lose their distinctive stripes to which they owe their marketable value. These brilliant stripes are due to bad variation, and it may be noticed incidentally that when branches become variegated by bad variation, and the variety is attempted to be propagated by seed, the seedlings are rarely variegated. Bad variation is much surer and more powerful than any change that can be effected by the crossing of flowers. Even a leaf inserted by its footstall into the bark of the stock, is sufficient to communicate variation to it, although the leaf soon perishes. Gärbner relates that branches of white and dark-fruited vines, which were split longitudinally and then joined, produced distinct bunches of grapes of the two colors, and other bunches with berries either striped or of an intermediate or new tint. Darwin alludes to this and observes, "These facts are the more remarkable because Andrew Knight never succeeded in raising variegated grapes by fertilizing white kinds by pollen of dark kinds." He also draws from this and similar cases, the highly important physiological fact that the elements which go to the production of a new being are not necessarily formed by the male and female

That insects, attracted by conspicuous petals, or from a distance by scent, always presupposing that they are possessed of similar organs to our own, may have influence in the maintenance of colored species is not denied, for that would be to impair the rational doctrine of the survival of the fittest.

The cultivator who carries out a like selection corroborates its wisdom, but he does not depend alone on choice, and is well aware that he must make use of the many other means to attain his end. It is quite admitted that to the horticulturist the value of intercrossing is great. He may obtain finer flowers, to fetch a higher price, but it is much more than doubtful if in the bare struggle for existence, the help of insects is indispensable; on the contrary, such absolute dependence on external agency must naturally be as much a source of hindrance as a want of self reliance is to a man who desires to get on in his struggle for life.

The question is this, Is cross-fertilization actually necessary for the perpetuation of plants, or is it even so desirable as we are told that it is, and is color in flowers a mere expedient for getting themselves cross-fertilized? We know that brilliant hues undoubtedly exist, when, so far as we can see, they confer no benefit on their possessor; that some flowers are at their brightest when fertilization is over, and that there are large families which are wholly independent of insects, and yet show no signs of degeneration or extinction.

There is still another question, Is the development of beauty of no account in the plan of the universe? It is now distinctly stated that gay colors in fruit and flowers serve solely as guides to birds and beasts, in order that the fruit may be devoured and the seeds disseminated, and that it is a fallacious opinion that mere beauty and variety are objects in nature; but if such be the case, we must also give a reason for the rich attire of clouds, the harmonies of woodland shades, the sparkle of the streams, no less than for "the flower inwoven mantle of the earth."

These utilitarian theorists, however, have not yet taken all the world by storm; there still exist careful observers who do not hesitate to believe in

"Uselessness divinest Of a use the finest,"

1

who see that the veil is not yet lifted, and who acknowledge that the greatest wizard is the man who best knows the secrets of the vegetable world.

PHARYNGEAL MALADIES.

BY WILLIAM R. D. BLACKWOOD, M.D.,
Neurologist Presbyterian Hospital.

THE

HE result of my experience, which covers now many years, is that pharyngeal disorders are almost always only skin deep. With a fondness for music, I have been thrown into contact with musical people very closely, and many good, bad, and indifferent singers are found amongst my patients. As might be expected, a good many "sore throats" come under my notice, and I have found the treatment of these to be not nearly so difficult as might be inferred from the lucubrations of specialists in like affections, who see diphtheria or some equally malign disorder in too many really trivial affections of the throat.

The first result of "a cold" in many people is a relaxed state of the pharyngeal mucous coat, and this is more or less associated with congestion, which, running on un

checked, eventu

ates in an inflam

ethers do sensibly vaporize in a respirator, but a few compounds alone are serviceable, whereas atomization is always efficient. My favorite instrument is Snowden's "perfected" atomizer, and lately he has greatly improved the article by substituting a set of small tubes, in lieu of one bottle, each of which may contain a distinct medicament.* The range of topical remedies is thus enlarged to simplify office treatment especially, and the set of remedies is quite portable for out-door work. The illustration explains itself, the atomizing tube being adjustable to either vial, and the others being firmly secured by rubber corks.

In acute congestion, I don't like potassic chlorate, now so freely used-I prefer cold wraps externally and aconite internally in minute doses. Neither has guaiac done much for me. If the case threatens quinsy or extensive local swell

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ing I add hot water gargles, acidulated with vinegar, and the aconite is pushed. If tonsillitis is established, I give iron and cinchonidia or quinia in full doses, and keep up cold externally. Spraying forcibly with hot

water is generally happy in its results, and sometimes a few good hungry leeches will modify matters if consulted early.

The galvanocautery has lately been much vaunt

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do know, however, that a mild galvanic current applied under the angle of the jaw will, if continued long enough, greatly relieve the pain of any throat trouble. Barrett's chloride of silver battery is a good instrument to use in such cases, as the work must be left largely to the nurse, who can readily manipulate this apparatus from its simplicity, and it is always in order, unless gross carelessness be shown. The battery can be seen at Mr. Snowden's establishment, and it is worth the consideration particularly of general practitioners, who require something not eternally breaking down.

matory attack-it may be pharyngitis, tonsil- ed in denuding the pharynx in diphtheria, but litis, or, running downward, laryngitis. Two I have as yet no experience in that line. I things I here find good, a cinchona tonic and a local astringent. The first may be elixir of calisaya or tinct. cinchona comp.; the latter is varied according to circumstances. In mere relaxation, I use alum and gallic acid, twenty grains of the first to ten of the latter, in water, applied by spraying. If the throat is dry, I then use fluid extract jaborandi, two fluid drachms to an ounce of camphor water similarly applied. The routine use of silver salts in such cases is, to my mind, bad, perpetuating chronic pharyngitis instead of curing it. I do not take much stock in inhalations, that is by breathing from a teapot of hot water with a little balsam or tincture of this, that, or the other in it, most of which vaporize enough to be odoriferous only. The Street, Philadelphia.

Electricity is also serviceable in aphonia, following acute pharyngitis, which is more or less *William Snowden, Surgical Instruments, 7 South Eleventh

Air Compressor for office work. I rarely use the douche or syringe now, the dull curette answering to remove excessive granulations, and the atomizer doing the rest.

pronounced, or laryngitis. In all cases gal- of treatment goes, except to admit the value of vanism has acted well, but in severe instances these atomizers, and to commend the Burgess the secondary current from the Queen's* Toepler-Holtz machine is just what we want, and the voice has returned after a few applications in some of my cases, where other means, persistently employed, had failed. I shall have more to say on this point shortly.

If the trouble extends down to the larynx, I generally give a few doses of calomel along with the aconite and external cold. Here, particularly, the spray is needed, for, by ordinary inspiration on the part of the patient, the

Bromide of sodium or of lithium are favorites with me in irritable pharynx, and to the solution I frequently add belladonna or morphia. A hot infusion of lobelia also acts nicely in spasmodic affections, and the atomization of the latter has aborted more than one attack of asthma in my hands.

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remedy can be drawn without discomfort into the trachea. Although the downward jet is, of course, preferable, the ordinary straightforward one will answer on a pinch. It is better to have the three tubes-upward, downward, and forward-all of which are adjustable to the old and new styles made by the gentleman named.

In post-nasal catarrh the atomizer is very efficient. I have seen no reason to change the views expressed in a paper on this disorder published some years ago,† so far as simplicity

928 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. †The Treatment of Post-Nasal Catarrh, Proceedings Philadelphia County Medical Society, vol. ii.

My object is to urge the value of spraying over gargles, which do not reach the vault of the pharynx, and to note the value of atomization early in disorders of the throat. I do not use many drugs, and my readers, no doubt, have their favorites. Try these topically and save the stomach. The whole tract, nasal and pharyngeal, can be reached through spraying by any one, whilst an expert only can successfully employ the array of instruments presumably required.

246 NORTH TWENTIETH STREET,

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

WE advise our patrons to watch the advertising pages of each issue of THE BULLETIN, and thus keep posted on the new things in medicine as they appear.

WE are continually adding new names to our subscription list, and our advertising pages are well patronized without solicitation. What better recommendation than this is wanted?

SELECTED ARTICLE.

LANOLIN: ITS USE IN THE
TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF

THE SKIN.

BY JOHN V. SHOEMAKER, A.M., M D.

MY

tegument and in not irritating it. Liebreich has therefore succeeded by his investigations in producing an agent as a basis for ointments, which not only possesses this absorptive action that is so necessary, and that he can justly claim for lanolin, but by its neutrality its own decomposition is out of the question, and conse

Lan

Y attention was attracted not long since quently it will not irritate the skin. It is a substance, which, from these valuable qualities, to an able and exhaustive address deI regard as even superior to lard, the hitherto livered by Professor Oscar Liebreich, on lanolin as a new basis for ointments. The investi- olin, Liebreich states, has its origin in keratinmost acceptable basis for all ointments. gations of this eminent chemist and physician olin, Liebreich states, has its origin in keratinclearly showed that he had produced a choles-ous tissue, and is manufactured chiefly from terine fat far superior in its action on the skin wool, by "transforming the wool fat into a milk, and then subjecting it to a centrifugal to either glycerine fats or mineral oils. In the action." course of his investigations with this substance, in showing its great absorptive action when applied to the skin and in contrasting its utility especially with mineral fats or petroleum products, he claims well-founded, as he terms them, objections to the employment of the latter as a basis for ointments. Let me in this connection quote these objections side by side

with my own, which were made after careful

investigation some years ago, especially upon vaseline and cosmoline as basis for oint

ments:

ON

thin milk and cream are obtained, just as when By this process, he further adds, “a milk is subjected to centrifugal action, and the cream contains lanolin in a pure condition. More than one hundred per cent. of water can be kneaded with it, the result being a yellow, Co., of Philadelphia, I obtained by importavery plastic ointment." Through Baker & tion a quantity of lanolin, with which I have now conducted very many experiments, with good results and the greatest satisfaction. It is an ointment having a yellowish color and a very slight woolly smell, or an odor similar to that of new cloth, which is barely noticeable, and is not the least unpleasant. It is neutral in reaction, and has the consistency of ordinary citrine ointment, which it has very much the appearance of, and is soft, smooth, and slightly tenacious. On applying it to the skin with slight friction, it rapidly disappears. as to almost cause them to be It is only decomposed, as it is claimed, with ments of veratria and other sub-great difficulty, and it readily combines with other fats, oils, and glycerine, forming many most excellent ointments and liniments.

LIEBREICH'S INVESTIGATIONS MY OWN INVESTIGATIONS ON
THE ACTION OF MIN- THE ACTION OF MINERAL
ERAL FATS.*
FATS, REPORTED IN 1882, t
1884, and 1885. §

"Quite apart from the fact that the absorption of medica

ments when mixed with pure fat is but imperfectly effected, fat-ointments are subjected to decomposition which may lead

to irritation of the skin. It is true that vaseline does not de

compose, but it prevents the en

trance of medicaments into the

skin, so that even poisonous sub

stances when mixed with vase

line and rubbed into the skin produced neither local nor constitutional symptoms of poisoning."

"Petroleum products, vaseline, cosmoline, etc., possess feebler power to penetrate the skin, if any at all, than animal fats, which have more affinity for the integument. Their absorptive power for penetrating

action into the skin is so feeble

excluded as such. Irritant oint

stances which I had made re-
spectively of vaseline, cosmo-
line, and of simple cerate, mani-
fested themselves in the former
two preparations as almost inert,
while the activity of that made

Therapeutic experiments with it, more parwith simple cerate very soon be- ticularly in my clinic at the Hospital for Skin Diseases, have demonstrated the rapidity with which it is absorbed and well borne by the skin.

came evident. Further, the pe-
troleum products retain some
stimulating constituent left after
their manufacture.

Cases having eruptions on various parts of the body had lanolin ointment used on one portion, lard ointment on another, and petro

It will be seen both from Liebreich's experiments and conclusions as well as my own, that the substance employed as a basis for ointments should possess the power of penetrating the in-leum ointment on still another. The effects of

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the application of these bases were strikingly different upon the same subject and in the majority of cases. The lanolin was found to be rubbed in with ease, the absorption being rapid and the medicament held in suspension, and in contrast with the drug in the other ointments to be more decided in its impression upon the

parts. For example, the employment on the skin of a five per cent. carbolic lanolin ointment, and the same quantity in lard and in cosmoline, produced rapidly in the former a numb sensation, less marked in the lard ointment and even less so, or almost an absence of effect in that of the cosmoline ointment. The experiments so far conducted show that lanolin requires much less for an application for an effect, and, therefore, it is particularly economical as a basis for ointments. Again, the slight tenaciousness of the ointment fulfils a most valuable purpose in keeping it in contact with the skin. This property prevents it from greasing up the surrounding parts, or from running off, which it rarely may, even when the integument is most highly inflamed.

The following formulæ are appended as instances of the use of lanolin in my experience of the diseases named :

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R. Acidi boracici

Lanolini.

āā 3ss.-M.

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For seborrhoea, subacute eczema, and hyperidrosis.

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B. Naphtholi

Lanolini

gr. x.

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For scabies, lousiness, and chronic eczema.

For acne rosacea and sycosis.

B. Plumbi carbonatis

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For psoriasis, tinea versicolor, and acne vul

garis.

For acute eczema, erysipelas, and herpes.

R. Olei cadini

Lanolini

For chronic eczema and psoriasis.

B. Cupri oleatis

Lanolini

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For ringworm, favus, and tinea versicolor.

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gtt. ij. 3j.-M.

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For syphilitic affections, lupus, and alopecia.

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For paræsthesia and all irritable conditions of the integument.-Med. and Surg. Reporter, April 3, 1886.

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