I am inclined to adopt the latter opinion, although we were unable, on the minutest examination, to detect that condition of the surface which such a process would indicate.

In contemplating the curious phenomenon of conception in this case, I find on the very outset of the inquiry, the physiological views I had long entertained on the subject are subverted, and not feeling prepared to attempt an elucidation of that wonderful and mysterious function of organic life-conceptionon any other principle than that of the actual presence of the semen masculinum within the cavity of the uterus, I will submit the rationale of this singular case to those who are deeper read in nature's laws, and whose province it is to demonstrate the occult mysteries in physiological science.

Saint Louis, Mo., January 2d, 1847.

Extraction of a large stone by the lateral operation. By R. HAYWOOD, M. D. of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, (communicated in a letter to Professor Pancoast.)

DEAR SIR:-I take pleasure in reporting to you another operation of Lithotomy which I have performed successfully. ***

I was consulted by Mr. Armstead, of Tuscaloosa county, thirteen miles from this place, in a case of stone in his son, that had manifested unequivocal signs of its existence from birth. I sounded him and found a calculus of large size. I prepared him for an operation as soon as the condition of his case would permit, his health having suffered greatly from the presence of this foreign body in the bladder, until he was in his thirteenth year. As soon as the necessary preparation was made I performed the lateral operation, and extracted a stone weighing 1 oz. 5 dr. 16 grs.

I should have completed the whole operation in six minutes, had it not been that the shape of the stone was oblong, and I seized it first in its longitudinal diameter. I changed the forceps, and then seized it by its transverse diameter and extracted it.

In five weeks from the operation I sent the boy home, perfectly well. His health is now good, and he is daily improving in strength. I send you enclosed an analysis of the stone and its weight, shape, size, appearance, &c., by Professor Brumby of the University of Alabama, (a gentleman highly distinguished in our state,) which you will be much gratified to examine.

Dr. R. Haywood.

University of Alabama, September 23d, 1846.

DEAR SIR:-I have made a careful chemical examination of the calculus, which you gave me for the purpose on the 21st inst.

It was the largest I ever saw; weighed 653.70 grs., Troy, though three small fragments had been detached from it, while in your possession; was oblong-oval in form, slightly flattened; in colour yellowish-brown externally, white, with a tinge of yellow internally; its surface presented very distinct tubercles, and was coated with small, white, shining crystals. It was solid, compact, brittle, and easily cut or scraped with a knife; and when divided by a very fine saw, in the direction of the larger diagonal, its structure was beautifully displayed, showing a series of concentric coats, that diminished in hardness to the small, pulverulent, central nucleus.

Though only partially soluble in cold, it softened readily in hot water, and formed a white gelatinous mass, which subsided as the water cooled. In a solution, cold or hot, of pure potassa, it was insoluble; but it dissolved readily in dilute nitric, sulphuric, hydrochloric, and acetic acids. From these acid solutions, it was readily precipitated by excess of pure potassa or soda with the evolution of a urinous, ammoniacal odour. A few drops of ammoniacal nitrate of silver being added to a neutral solution of it in nitric acid, the peculiar colour of phosphate of silver instantly appeared. A fragment heated to redness in a small platinum crucible first turned black, then became white, and was neither consumed nor fused; and, even before the blowpipe, the white residue was fused without difficulty. I was unable, by the most careful experiments, to detect the presence of uric acid, in any sensible quantity.

You will perceive, from these results, that it must belong to the species denominated by chemists ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate or triple calculus. This species is rarely pure, but generally contains a mixture of phosphate of lime. I did not deem it necessary to investigate this point, as its determination would not have any influence on your treatment of your patient. Yours most respectfully, R. T. BRUMBY.

Report of HENRY T. CHILD, M. D., Vaccine Physician for the Northern District of the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia.

To the Board of Commissioners of the Northern Liberties.

GENTLEMEN :-During the quarter ending on the first inst., I vaccinated eighty-one persons, twenty-nine of whom were males, and fifty two were females, which, together with four hundred and forty cases previously reported, makes a total of five hundred and twenty-one cases for the year 1846.

During the last three months I have found that a large number

of persons were insusceptible to the vaccine disease, when vaccinated under the most favourable circumstances, probably owing to the fact that we have no epidemic small pox influence in our midst.

In a former report, I remarked that previous to the existence of the epidemic, which was then prevailing, the failures among the first vaccinations were about ten per cent, but at that time they were not more than two per cent. After the disappearance of the epidemic the proportion of failures began to increase, and at present they are over thirty per cent, although the insertion of the virus, (known by its effect on others to be good,) has been repeated several times. I believe it is a fact that in those countries where small pox has never prevailed, vaccination can not be successfully performed, and I am inclined to the opinion that when there is no epidemic small pox existing, many persons will not receive the genuine vaccine disease; hence they will not be properly protected, and when exposed to the influence of smallpox, may be infected with varioloidor the disease in a modified form, and therefore I repeat my conviction as expressed in a former report, "that re-vaccination is necessary, during the existence of epidemic small pox, as a test of the protection of the system." All of which is respectfully submitted. HENRY T. CHILD. No. 132 Green street, N. L., 1st mo. 4th, 1847..

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

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An Address to the Class of the Medical College of Georgia, at the opening of the Session of 1846-7. Containing a sketch of the improvements in Medicine during the present century. By L. A. DUGAS, M. D., Professor of Physiology and Pathological Anatomy. 8vo. pp. 16. Augusta, 1846. A Lecture on Practical Education in Medicine and on the course of Instruction at the New York Hospital; delivered at the Hospital, Nov. 3, 1846. By JOHN WATSON, M. D., one of the Surgeons of that Institution. 8vo. pp. 19: New York, 1846.

Introductory Lecture delivered before the Class of the Medical Department of the Saint Louis University. Session of 1846-7. By HENRY M. BULLITT, M. D. Professor of Physiology and Pathology. 8vo. pp. 19. Saint Louis, 1846.

An Introductory Lecture on the Reciprocal Obligations of the Medical Profession and Society. By JOHN P. HARRISON, M. D. Professor of Materia Medica in the Medical College of Ohio. Delivered November 2, 1846. Svo. pp. 28. Cincinnati, 1846.

Lecture Introductory to the Course of Materia Medica and Pharmacy in the Medical Department of Pennsylvania College. Session of 1846-47. By HENRY S. PATTERSON, M. D. (With a motto from Weinhart.) 8vo. pp. 20. Philadelphia, 1846.

An Introductory Lecture delivered before the Class of Jefferson Medical College, November 5, 1846. By ROBERT M. HUSTON, M. D. Professor of Materia Medica and General Therapeutics. Svo. pp. 24. Philadelphia, 1846.

Introductory Lecture. By CHARLES D. MEIGS, M. D. Professor

of Midwifery and the Diseases of Women and Children in Jefferson Medical College. Svo. pp. 24. Philadelphia,

1846.

Lecture Introductory to a Course on Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children. Delivered October 30, 1846. By GUNNING S. BEDFORD, M. D. Professor of Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children in the University of New York. 8vo. pp. 26. New York, 1846.

Introductory Lecture to the Course on the Principles and Practice of Surgery in the Medical Department of Pennsyl vania College. Session of 1846-47. By DAVID GILBERT, M. D. 8vo. pp. 18. Philadelphia, 1846.

An Introductory Lecture delivered before the Class of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, at the Session of 1846-47. By A. WESTCOTT, A. M., M. D. Professor of Operative and Mechanical Dentistry. 8vo. pp. 32. Baltimore, 1846.

Lectures introductory to courses on the various departments of medicine are often "abstracts and brief chronicles of the time." The professor does not feel himself necessarily restricted to the subject which he has to illustrate during the course. Common custom permits him to digress, and occasionally it happens, that he leaves the domain of medicine and wanders into other departments of science. We have heard of an introductory lecture to a course of Institutes of Medicine on 'Hunting,' which might, however, be regarded hygienically; and we have ourselves listened to a learned but somewhat imaginative discourse on the Natural History of the Seventeen year Locust'-Cicada septendecim-the prolegomenon to a course of lectures on the Theory and Practice of Medicine.

The lectures before us are somewhat discursive. A few are strictly introductory to the departments taught by their respective authors. Others touch more or less directly on the agitating question of medical reform-as it is commonly designated; and as few but reformers have much zeal in the cause, most of the writers are on that side of the question. Moral courage is demanded of any one who feels satisfied with the things that be,' and declares so openly; and it is too much the habit with the over-zealous-and therefore, too often intemperate, hasty, and injudicious-to consider those who do not belong to the move