desired! Who knows not the sear and dried up skin of the opiumeater?

It is these partial and superficial views taken by surgeons and physicians in general, and inconsiderately presented in practical works, that occasion such frequent failures, and even fatal errors. In the cases in question, the general surface is, and has been for a series of years, in a diseased condition, and the system at large is as plainly out of order. Yet opium and mercury are to be prescribed the former being certain, in the end, to lessen the healthy action of the skin and other excreting surfaces; and the latter having a direct tendency, when used as recommended, to derange the liver and stomach, and produce, through its constitutional influence, precisely the same sort of local difficulties we are here contending against. What ulcers are so ill-conditioned and intractable as mercurial ones?

Not in a single instance do I find any application recommended for the general surface,-that most important and most neglected of the health preserving and health restoring organs,-no! not even soap and water! Is it then surprising, I ask again, that in these chronic diseases, under Old School practice, the rule should be failure, and cure the exception? and that, in a large proportion of cases, such doctoring should prove worse than unavailing, positively and grossly mischievous?

First and foremost, then, I enjoin upon you to direct special attention to the general surface. Make your patient take the Alkaline Bath, night and morning, using brisk friction with the bare hand and harsh towel. (See Introduction, p. -.)

At the end of twenty-four or forty-eight hours, after the first application of the roller, the patient will usually experience pain, fullness or some disagreeable sensation in the head, with cough, nausea, or perhaps some aching in the limbs. The practitioner should be on the look-out for these occurrences. They are, of course, attributable to the absorption of the large amount of unhealthy fluids so long detained in the limb,-which, under the unwonted mechanical stimulus of the bandage, we often find to diminish one-third of its size, sometimes even one-half, in the course of the first day. All this matter, which has so suddenly disappeared, must have entered the general circulation, and produced the disturbance of the vital functions, evidenced by the disagreeable symptoms just mentioned. So soon as they are noticed, therefore, or in anticipation of them, the patient should take a large

Hydragogue Cathartic, composed of comp. powder or syrup of senna (Form-) and cream of tartar, sufficient to operate freely from five to ten times. Not the least harm need be apprehended from this purging. On the contrary, it will give immediate relief. It should be repeated, though not to the same extent, as often as once

a week, for three or four weeks, or more frequently if any of the above symptoms reappear. By this means, not unfrequently serous fluid to the amount of from five to ten pounds is thrown out in the course of ten or twelve hours, carrying with it, no doubt, a large amount of diseased matter; while at the same time such a drain from the circulation greatly increases the activity of the absorbents, thus aiding your local treatment. The patient must also be put under an

Alterative course, consisting especially of such articles as have a direct tendency to increase the urinary secretion. For this purpose, I usually prescribe a syrup or strong infusion, composed of equal parts of the roots of the Leonurus Cardiaca, Scrofularia Marylandica, and Aralia Hispida, (dwarf elder,) to be taken, ad libitum, at least three or four times a day. Instead of this, you can give the Alterative Syrup, (Form —,) in combination with some active diuretics.

If the patient has been much debilitated by intemperance or former medication, we substitute at first, for the foregoing, the Restorative Bitters, for awhile, (Form -,) or a Syrup of Prinos Verticillatus and Leonurus Cardiaca aa to be taken three times a day, half an hour before each meal. I also require the patient to take a draught of cold water the first thing after rising in the morning, at least a common tumblerful. This, besides its tonic effect, will generally

Obviate all costiveness. If not, give the Anti-dyspeptic Pills, (Form,) or small doses of podophyllin and leptandrin, or the extract of Enonymus Atropurpureus; or, what is still better, a combination aa of the Hepatic Powder (F. —) and Alkaline powder of Rhubarb, (F. -.)

If your patient be of the scrofulous diathesis, give him our Scrofulous Syrup, (Form.) If he is laboring under the mercurial taint, the same may be used with advantage, but he should then alternate the alkaline with the acid bath. Common cider vinegar answers this purpose best. He should also be encouraged to use acids freely with his food, so long as they produce no derangement of the stomach.

The diet should be plain, but palatable and nourishing. Meat should not be prohibited. I have frequently found that patients restricted to a vegetable regimen sank into an irritable state, which resisted treatment; whereas, on changing their diet, and allowing them more animal food, they were easily cured. All fermented and other alcoholic beverages, however, should be positively forbidden; for, under no treatment, have you reason to expect a cure while your patient's blood continues to be poisoned.

I ought not, perhaps, to conclude this subject without noticing an opinion, almost as extensively prevailing as the one before spoken of, that it is of no use to apply for medical aid in these cases,

because "doctors can't cure fever sores." It is another popular opinion or prejudice, that if these old sores could, they should not be cured! This notable idea is often encouraged, too, by professional men!! Is it to conceal their own want of skill, or because they really have seen bad effects follow the "cure" of such cases under their practice? But, of course, no physician will consider the mere external closure of a chronic ulcer as a cure, while the diseased state of the system which occasioned it, and which perhaps required it, remains uncorrected. Physiology does not enumerate, among the natural emunctories, an artificial anus in the leg. The human mechanism was surely constructed to be kept in order without such a safety-valve as that! Restore the general health, giving due attention to all the functions, particuTarly the excretory, and there will be no danger whatever. Nature will be able to preserve the general system without the sacrifice of any particular part. Nor need there ever be any necessity for reopening the unfortunate ulcer, or setting up a substitute in the shape of an artificial issue in some other part of the body, as is the practice of some surgeons. The drainage and sewerage of the system is better provided for than it can be by our art.

PROF. HILL'S NEW WORK.

Messrs. Editors:

GENTLEMEN:-I was highly pleased on learning that it was the intention of Prof. B. L. Hill to give the medical profession a systematic work on the Principles, Practice, and Operations of Surgery, by the first of June next. This will be a great addition to our list of text-books, and Prof. Hill will do very much in advancing reform by this work. It has been a very unfortunate circumstance with those engaged in the reformation that is being so rapidly carried on in the practice of medicine and surgery, that we have had but few works entitled to any respect. But more especially has this been the case in regard to the subject of surgery. It has ever been considered, by those ignorant of our practice, a subject with which reformers were willing to have but little to do. While attending the lectures of Prof. Pope, in St. Louis, I have often heard him congratulate the members of his class upon the improbability of their ever meeting with much competition, in this branch of their profession, from innovators; and I must confess that I very nearly agreed with him at that time. The means of acquiring the proper amount of knowledge requisite for the successful treatment of this class of diseases, were so inadequate, and the prejudices so strong, that reformers, who had not had the benefit of oral instruction from the experienced, could scarcely be censured if they shrank from the responsibilities.

The task of preparing a systematic work on surgery, where there exists no criterion, but where the plan must be entirely original, and where the larger portion of the practice is new and in a great measure peculiar to the author's private practice, as is the case in this instance, involves a great amount of labor, and Prof. Hill will entitle himself to the lasting regard of his numerous friends and the friends of reform everywhere, for the promptness with which he has surmounted all obstacles. The improvements that have been made in the practice of surgery, by Eclectics, are indeed striking; and we have keenly felt the want of a systematic arrangement of them, suited to the wants of both students and practitioners. It gives me no little pleasure to know that this want is soon to be satisfactorily supplied. Prof. Hill is peculiarly qualified for the duty he has imposed on himself. His critical knowledge of anatomy, long experience in surgical practice, and skill as an expert operator, give decided advantages: while his untiring perseverance in whatever engages his attention, gives assurance that no means will be spared in making his work worthy of the place it is designed to take.

On account of the great amount of expense involved in publishing a work of the above character, Prof. Hill has proposed receiving subscriptions for his work before it is issued from the press. To all who are disposed to assist him in this manner, to meet the heavy expense, he offers a large discount; and it is to be hoped his numerous friends will take early steps to embrace his liberal offer the price being about the cost of publishing. Prof. Hill deserves credit for this moderate course he has determined upon in regard to his Surgery. I was somewhat astonished when I learned he intended to publish so voluminous a work (five hundred large octavo pages, with numerous plates) for the sum of three dollars, or two, if paid prior to June, 1850. It does credit to his moderation, if looked at in connection with the usual charges for such works. I feel, from my long and intimate acquaintance with Prof. Hill, and my appreciation of his distinguished abilities, that I can recommend his work in advance to Eclectics, as well as all others, as one that will possess unusual merit. Prof. Hill's surgical practice has ever been original, bold, and highly successful. His prescriptions are original and peculiar, and if they are (as I suppose they will be) made public, will be of vast importance to less experienced practitioners.

With this work and those which it is understood are in the course of preparation by Professors Morrow, Jones and Buchanan on the subjects of Practice, Materia medica, Thereputics and Physiology, our libraries will be decidedly improved, and our facilities for imparting valuable instructions to students greatly enhanced. Eclectics should embrace the earliest opportunities therefore in forwarding their subscriptions, so as to assure Professor

Hill of their appreciation of his labor, and to encourage others in the prosecution of their difficult tasks. The destiny of Reform must ever rest with the body of general practitioners, and according to the high professional attainments they reach, will the influence of Reform be felt and extended. The responsibility resting on them is great, and there has ever existed a laudable ambition with them to be thoroughly qualified for their responsible duties. But no matter what amount of assiduity and ambition may exist, it would be the hight of folly to expect them to transcend the ordinary standard of our authorities, and hence when the laborious and difficult duty of furnishing necessary books as guides to the physician, has been accomplished with ability, as I feel certain this work of Professor Hill's will be, there should be no hesitation or delay with practitioners in furnishing themselves with it let the cost be what it may. I feel certain that Professor Hill's work needs no recommendation from me or any one else to secure its rapid purchase by Eclectics who know him, and my only objec. has been to call attention to the fact of its early publication. I hope it will be found necessary for the author to isuse the second edition at a very early date from the rapid sale of the first, notwithstanding that may be large.

With respect I remain, Madison, Ind., April 5th, 1850.

C. J. CHILDS, M. D.

ECLECTIC PRACTICE.

T. V. Morrow, M. D.:

DEAR SIR-Striving for the promotion of generous principles and thoughts in medical science, as you and your colleagues have done, I suppose this communication may not be altogether uninteresting, as it adds another proof, to the multitude already given, of the triumph of liberal views.

A young soldier in the "vanguard of the army," I planted my stake in this place sixteen months ago, with but little encouragement. My practice only averaged about sixty dollars a month for the first four months. Every day's experience established more firmly the certainty of an approaching triumph. I mention the following for the purpose of lending an encouraging voice to my young brethren, while engaged in this noble work of toil, self-denial, and benevolence.

About the 1st of May, 1849, I was called to Mrs. Warrenburg, aged about forty years, who had been under the treatment, for four months preceding, of three of the most noted of the Old School. They gave her out to die, with a chronic diarrhoea and spinal inflammation. The diarrhoea, I think, was caused partly by the effects of mercury. After they had operated on her for four