Care in Catheterization. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-In reply to your "Why was not," page 66, Feb. WORLD, I might say that I hardly think that the consultant knew of this, and I knew it to occur so frequently in the practice of the attendant that I did not consider it worth while to give it a second thought. He was one of the kind that would not be beat by such a little thing as that, no matter what the patient might suffer. "Nothing succeeds like success," you know. I had a man come to me who had been catheterized by this same doctor, and he told me that the doctor set a pail to catch the blood that came away from him, and he began to fear that he would bleed to death. In a case of retention in a lake captain who had a stricture which nothing larger than a No. 6 would pass, the doctor had nothing smaller than a No. 8. With the patient under ether he worked two hours or more, and finally forced the catheter thru. When he withdrew the instrument a stream of blood followed the full size of the catheter. This doctor calls himself a surgeon! So you see why I do not attach any importance to trying to find where this hemorrhage came from. I catheterized a man a number of times, finally he was taken sick and sent to the Almshouse. The physician who attended receives $900. per annum. He made one visit a day. The patient told me that it would take the doctor over an hour sometimes to draw his water, and that the young man studying could do better than the doctor. When the patient next came into my hands I found a false passage of 22 inches. I have known of many doctors who were incompetent to use a metallic catheter. I am satisfied that as a rule they use too small an instrument and so cause injury and perhaps fail when a larger instrument would pass. Dr. B. K. Polk's remarks, page 67, are O. K. I was surprised that any one would make such statements and that they should get into print without com Is it Scarlet Fever? Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I was much interested in the article in the February WORLD, page 67, by Dr. C. M. Smith, on catarrhal fever, more especially from the fact that there has been a similar epidemic in this locality. The majority of the cases have been exactly analagous to those described in that article, but several of them have been undoubted cases of scarlet fever. In four cases occurring in one house, where all the children remained in the same room and subject to similar conditions, two of them were typical scarlet fever, there being the vivid rash and throat symptoms, followed by complete desquamation; while the other two were simply troubled by persistent vomiting and diarrhea, but no sign of rash could be detected, altho it was carefully looked for; nor was there anything simulating scarlet fever except the strawberry tongue. Is it not likely that the epidemic described by Dr. Smith may have been mild scarlet fever? Rockfish, Va. A. MICKLEM, M.D. Dissolve the guaiac. and balsam in onehalf of the spirit, and the corosive sublimate in the other. limate in the other. Let the guaiac and balsam digest sever days, then pour off the clear quor. Mix with the sublimate and add the o. Dose, 10 to 20 drops morning and night in a glass of wine or water p. n. Fenner directs to begin a day or two before the expected period, and take 25 drops in sage tea or sweetened water morning and night till the discharge is fully established, then cease till the next period. J. D. EGGLESTON. Hampden Sidney, Va. Three Tape Worms from One Patient. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Dr. Grey in Feb. WORLD asks if any other doctor has removed three tape worms from one patient. I removed three perfect ones from a man at one time, and about the same time one from each of his two boys. G. S. ALBEE, M.D. Hopkinton, Mass. DR. J. B. THOMPSON, of Prospect, Pa., writes a rather long article condemning the patent medicine business, but offers no remedy except that all the 100,000 physicians stop taking papers that carry their advertisements of patent nostrums. He also condemns the druggists who sell them. Skin Disease.—Rheumatism. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-If Dr. E. Quiz Department. Questions are solicited for this column. Communications not accompanied by the proper name and address of the writer (not necessarily for publication) will not be noticed. The great number of requests for private answers, for the information and benefit of the writer, makes it necessary for us to charge a fee for the time required. This fee will be from one to five dollars, according to the amount of research and writing required. IN February WORLD, page 55, middle of second column, strychnia arsen. 4 should be 13. IN Dr. Geyser's article on page 75, Feb. WORLD, the May issue, 1897, page 139 is referred to; it should be page 193. Paralysis. Editor MEDICAL World:-Can I call thru your valuable paper for a remedy which has been successfully used for J. Richards (Feb. WORLD, page 77) will general paralysis? I have used a num use the following: B-Chrysophanic acid. Vaseline. Mix. Rab three times dr. iss dr. ss oz. j ber of remedies without success. Washington, D. C. J. T. NEELY, M.D. [The remedy will depend on the cause. Study the pathology of the subject in general, then study each case specially; remedies will be suggested accordingly when remedial aid is possible. On the whole, perhaps scientific massage, steaming and vacuum treatment, Swedish and other "movements," promise better results than medicines. —Ed. ] Morphia as an Antipyretic. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-In treating a case of multiple abscess of the liver, when I used morphia sulph. hypodermically there would always be a reduction of the temperature. I noticed it a number of times. Once when the temperature registered 106° a reduction occured in one hour to 102°, and from 104° to 99% in two hours. Has any one had a similar experience? J. W. HUDDLESON, M.D. Peculiar Spasmodic Contractions. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:—J. D. C., farmer, aged 73; exemplary habits all his life; health always good until six years ago, at which time he had la grippe, followed by some mental derangement for some weeks. Recovered and attended to farm work for three years. July 8, 1896, was taken with prostra tion accompanied by nervous manifesta tions for want of a better name called "jerks.' For a year and a half there has hardly been a twenty-four hours without some jerks, altho he has had reasonable health during the past summer and fall. These jerks appear to be a sudden spasmodic movement of the muscles of the trunk and neck; rarely of the arms or legs. The movement somewhat resembles that produced by hiccup, but no sound is made. When lying upon his back the jerk is often sufficient to throw him over upon the face; sometimes it will set him up in bed suddenly for a moment and then he falls back upon the pillow again. Always attended by great pain which can not be well localized by patient. In the last year and a half has had a few attacks of heart failure, tho no organic lesion is present. Has been examined and prescribed for by many physicians. Diagnosis always in doubt; presenility, cerebro-spinal sclerosis and chronic chorea predominating. Treatment has been empirical-systemic tonics innumerable; bromide of gold and arsenic, strychnia, narcotics, etc. Jerks can be controlled for a short time by heroic doses of chloral hydrate. Any thing bearing upon the case will be greatly appreciated. Avalon, Mo. R. E. CHAFFIN, M.D. ing ladies broadcast over the eastern part of Pennsylvania, who act as their agents, some of them representing themselves as graduates of medical schools. DALTON TRUMBAUER, M.D. Coopersburg, Pa. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I would be very glad to know the formula for "Dr Witt's Diarrhea and Cholera Mixture," and "Witch Hazel Salve" for piles. They are good, but too high for The South would hail every day use. free silver with great pleasure, as we have only five cent cotton and no pensioners to bring money into our midst. I am not complaining against just pensions, but want more money. Shaw's Store, Va. T. B. SMITH. FORMULA for "Guardian Angel," put up by Swamp Angel Medicine Company, Baltimore, is requested. It is advertised as a "cure-all." CAN you give formula for Sloan's liniment? It is made in Boston and used more for horses than anything. Hurleyville, N. Y. W. H. DE KAY, M.D. IN the formula for a "blood purifier," page 87, February WORLD, middle of first column, the amount of podophyllin is given as 24 oz.; it should be 24 grains. Mark the correction now while you have the matter in mind. FORMULAS asked for: Thacher's Cholera Mixture. Dr. Miles' New Heart Cure. Formulas. [As is well known we are republishing the formulas of widely advertised nostrums. This month we give special attention to liniments, as it is at this season that they are most in demand. We began the republication of these formulas in December issue, 1897. Back numbers can be supplied.-Ed.] BAUNSCHEIDT'S OIL. This preparation is sold to accompany the instrument used for counter-irritation. It sells in the surgical instrument stores for $1.35 per vial. 2 troy oz. 11⁄2 fl oz. 4 pints –Kilner. GREAT LONDON LINIMENT. 10 gr. I OZ. I OZ. -Secret Nostrums and Systems. GUNN'S RHEUMATIC LINIMENT. Oil cedar Oil amber ! OZ. Take gum camphor 1⁄2 ounce; rub in a mortar Total parts (by measure). 1448 -New Idea. HARTLEY'S SOUTH AMERICAN CURE. During the summer of the present year a man calling himself Prof. Hartley occupied a vacant lot in Detroit, with a large tent lighted by electric light wherein he had immense audiences every evening during his stay, which lasted some two months The professor gave a short lecture upon a South American cure, which he stated to be composed of roots, herbs, seeds, barks, and flowers growing exclusively in South America, and used for centuries by the Araucanians, a tribe of people who inhabit the western slope of the Andes, in the southern part of Chili. During his lecture the professor managed to give the audience to understand that this wonderful medicine performed more cures of indigestion, dyspepsia, catarrh, rheumatism, liver complaints, and kidney diseases than any other medicine on the face of the earth. Being curious to know something more concerning the internal constitution of this South American Cure, we purchased a bottle, and subjected it to an analysis, according to which we find that it consists of fluid extract of rhubarb, 8 parts; fluid licorice and anise, each 2 parts; fluid capsicum, part; fluid aloes, part; alcohol, 6 parts; water enough to make 32 parts, to which a small percentage of sodium bicarbonate is added, about ten grains to the ounce. How is this for a South American Cure, which country does not furnish to commerce one ingredient in the nostrum? It is asserted that nearly 60,000 bottles were sold in Detroit in the few weeks that this so-called professor held forth.-New Idea. any case, reasonable care should be observed, and this is true in adding more water, which should be quite warm, until the full pint is made. If the oils do not emulsify readily, it is necessary to begin over again, as either too much oil was added at first, or the water was not warm enough. Strict attention must be paid to both of these considerations in order to insure success. -New Idea. CARTER'S Liniment. Take of- Tinct. capsicum 77 gr. Cinchonine 9.3 gr. Colocynthin. 3 8 gr. Mix. 7.6 gr. 4.6 gr. 3% fl. dr. 1234.0 fl. dr. -National Druggist. GRAVE'S GOUT PREVENTIVE is a mixture made by steeping for one week, dried orange peel and hiera picra, of each one ounce, nd rhubarb, half an ounce, in brandy one pint. -Secret Nostrums and Systems. Take of JOHNSON'S LINIMENT. Chloroform . -Secret Nostrums and Systems. 4 dr. 6 dr. 4 dr. 21⁄2 dr. 21⁄2 dr. Spirits camphor Oil origanum 5 dr. Chloroform 4 dr. I OZ. Mix. 2 Oz. I OZ. I OZ. Tinct. capsicum Tinct. arnica Aqua ammonia Alcohol Mix. I OZ. 2 OZ. 32 OZ. Secret Nostrums and Systems. Kerosene -Kilner's Modern Pharmacy. Current Medical Thought. Acute and Subacute Articular Rheumatism. Acute articular rheumatism is a general febrile disease with local manifestations. Numerous hypotheses have been advanced from time to time to explain the true cause or nature of the disease. The theory that it is due to the accumulation of lactic acid in the blood finds but little favor at the present time. Its origin in a like accumulation of uric acid has been also advanced, but on very flimsy ground. Dr. Wilde, in a recent paper, attributes the disease to a change in metabolism brought about by the depressing influence of cold, or of excessive muscular or nervous fatigue. This change, he contends, leads to that acid state of the tissues and secretions characteristic of |