to require her attention) had been for some time afflicted with
uterine trouble. She had been treated by several physicians. Various
pessaries had been worn. The last attendant discovered that it mattered
not what kind of pessary was used, nor in what position it was placed
in order to afford satisfactory relief. Finally an abdominal supporter,
with cup and stem attachment was wanted and obtained. This by far
surpassed any other, until one day it "hurt a little." The patient at
once thought of an improvement. She removed the cup and stem, detached
the cup and reintroduced the stem. It gave perfect satisfaction and
has been worn with comfort for about three months. We sincerely
hope this simple instrument will be able to permanently retain the
displaced--mind--in proper position. We offered it to the profession
as the finest instrument yet discovered for such cases. It is not
patented, no royalty is received by the discoverer, and no extra charge
is made for the thread on the internal end of the stem.
The medical colleges have resumed their regular lectures, the students
having returned from their Christmas visit to their--mothers.
One of the societies inaugurated the new year by a banquet, which was
a most delightful affair. It was given at the Eutaw House, was well
attended, substantial, and well served. The toasts formed no small
part of the enjoyment. Some of the reminiscences of the older members
afforded much merriment.
A very interesting case of the heart displaced to the left side was
exhibited to the Clinical Society by Dr. McSherry at the meeting of
January 8. It is rare, and only a few cases are reported. Displacement
to right side is not of unfrequent occurrence, and a number of cases
are recorded. The apex beat in this case is heard two inches to the
left of a perpendicular line through the left nipple. The first line
of dullness is one inch and a half to the left of the center of the
sternum. Attachment to a contracted lung due to phthisis is the
probable cause of the displacement. At the same meeting there were
reported two cases of laparotomy for intestinal obstruction. Both
terminated in recovery.
A somewhat novel, but said to be successful, treatment for cases of
"wry neck" due to neuralgia or "cold" was mentioned at the Medical and
Surgical Society on the 14th. It is to sit for one half hour or more
near a very hot stove, placing the affected side opposite an open door.
A screen should be placed beyond the patient so as to confine the heat
as much as possible to his immediate locality.
It was suggested by the mention of a case, in a child eleven years old,
which had continued four weeks, in spite of treatment. One physician
thought the Faradic current a specific in such cases.
I have read with pleasure a little work which, if I mistake not, will
be most welcome to the profession. It is a book of nearly seventy
pages, entitled 'Practical Notes on the Treatment of Skin Diseases.' I
am glad to say also, that it is written and published by a Baltimore
physician, Professor Rohé, whose 'Text Book of Hygiene' I took occasion
to mention in my last communication.
I suppose all country practitioners, if not those of the city also,
who are busy from morning till night with hardly two hours a day
for reading, have felt as I have on many occasions, the need of
some concise practical text books not given to speculations and
generalizations! Especially is this needed in "Skin Diseases," because
of the meager knowledge that we common practitioners have of the
subject. There has seemed to me to be a tendency to call most skin
diseases "eczema," just as it undoubtedly is to call all vague pains
throughout the body "rheumatism."
Dr. Rohé very truly remarks that "most text books on dermatology have
as their besetting sins complicated classifications or 'systems,' an
awkward nomenclature, great prolixity and a lack of definiteness in
the description of typical diseases, and an undue multiplication of
morbid processes." No one better understands this than a practical
physician who has spent half an hour hunting through one or two large
text books for light on a case in hand and finally "falls back on" his
'Dunglison.' It seems quite clear that without a fine atlas most of the
large works on dermatology are for the most part unintelligible.
Dr. Rohé's book is one of a series, the others to follow shortly if
this is accorded a hearty reception. This first series is devoted to
the diseases of the perspiratory and sebaceous glands. Their anatomy
and physiology are briefly stated, then follows the descriptions of
the diseases commonly met with, as well as the rarer forms, in terse,
plain language. The last few pages contain formulæ which experience
has shown to be of value. The subjects of "prickly heat" and "acne"
are especially well treated, and either of them is more than worth the
price of the book.
I have dwelt at much length on this subject because I feel that this
little work ought to be in the hands of every busy practitioner who is
not well acquainted with diseases of the skin. It can be had by sending
twenty-five (25) cents to the author, Dr. George H. Rohé, 139 North
Calvert street, Baltimore, Md.
F.