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THE BROOKLYN MEDICAL JOURNAL.

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All other Communications, Articles for Publication, Books for Review, and Exchanges should be addressed BROOKLYN MEDICAL JOURNAL, 356 Bridge Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.

EDITORIAL.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL HOSPITAL.

The Second Annual Report of this, one of the most creditable of Brooklyn's institutions, is exceedingly interesting and satisfactory. We have already had occasion to speak of the good work which is being done in this hospital, not only in the cause of humanity, but also in the cause of progressive medicine. We doubt if there is a hospital in Brooklyn in which the methods are more in accord with the most advanced ideas of modern surgeons and physicians than they are at the Methodist Episcopal Hospital. If any of our local medical institutions is superior in this respect, it is certainly unknown to the profession. We have already deplored the absence of published reports of the work of many of our hospitals, the effect of which is to largely cut off these institutions from both lay and professional sympathy, and, if the medical men connected with these institutions desire that their method be known to the profession at large, they should emulate the example of the staff of the Methodist Episcopal Hospital, and publish the work done by them. In the absence of any other channel for this communication, we freely offer the pages of the JOURNAL.

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ST. PETER'S HOSPITAL.

The New St. Peter's" was completed during the past year, and is now occupied by a considerable number of patients. Its formal opening took place January 11th. In a coming issue we shall give an account of this important addition to Brooklyn's charitable institutions, and a brief sketch of the Order of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, under whose auspices it was built and is now maintained.

EXPERT TESTIMONY.

As announced, a special meeting for the consideration of the resolutions touching this subject was held at the Society Rooms on January 14th. The number of members present was small, owing to the prevalence of the "grip," which, being no respecter of persons, seized upon physicians as well as the laity. The subject was discussed freely and candidly by those present, and much that was of value was elicited. The presence of Justices Bartlett and Cullen added much to the interest of the meeting, and their contribution to the discussion was of great worth and was highly appreciated. Wisely, we think, no action was taken on the resolutions, but their further consideration was deferred until a fuller representation of the Society could pass upon the questions involved. After the publication of the stenographer's minutes of the meeting, the members will be better prepared to dispose of the resolutions finally.

THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Medical Society of the County of Kings was never more ably represented at Albany than at the recent annual meeting. The following papers, by members of the Society, were presented: "The Time Element in saving the Perinæum," by Robert L. Dickinson; "Remarks on the Use of the Uterine Curette," by Walter B. Chase; "An Original, Simple, and Effective Method for Treatment of Scabies,” by Samuel Sherwell; "A Case of Uræmic Convulsion in a New-Born, with Recovery," by Alex. Hutchins; "Isolation of Consumptives," by Paul H. Kretzschmar; "The Prevention of Tubercular Laryngitis," by Benjamin F. Westbrook; "A Case of Papilloma of the Vocal Cords," by Chas. N. Cox; and "Naso-Pharyngeal Epithelioma," by Sidney Allan Fox. A. N. Bell was a member of the Committee on Hygiene, and A. Mathewson a member of the Committee on Ethics. The members present other than those who read papers, were A. Ross Matheson, F. E. West, L. S. Pilcher, Wm. Maddren, G. R. Fowler, G. A. Evans, C. E. De La Vergne, E. Palmer, and F. D. Bailey.

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.

BROOKLYN MEDICAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.

The thirtieth regular meeting of this Society was held on February 5, 1890, at the Hoagland Laboratory, the President, Dr. C. Heitzmann, occupying the chair. Dr. L. F. Criado was proposed for membership and his name referred to the committee. A committee consisting of Drs. Fearn, Bates and Eccles was appointed by the President to nominate officers for the ensuing year. Dr. L. Heitzmann then read an interesting paper on "Bacteriological Examination as an Aid to Diagnosis," which was discussed by Drs. Kemp,Van Cott, Eccles, Fearn, Wilson, C. Heitzmann and the author.

At the next meeting on March 5, 1890, the annual election of

officers will be held.

By order of the committee,

RICHMOND LENNOX, Sec.

PROGRESS IN MEDICINE.

SURGERY.

BY GEORGE R. FOWLER, M. D.,

Surgeon to St. Mary's Hospital, and to the Methodist Episcopal Hospital, Brooklyn.

LIGATURE OF THE FEMORAL VEIN BELOW POUPART'S LIGAMENT. Koretzky, St. Petersburg (Archiv. f. klinische Chirurg., Bd. 36). During an operation for the removal of glands the seat of carcinomatous infiltration, the femoral vein was wounded close to Poupart's ligament, and above the point of junction of the saphenous and internal circumflex veins at which point it was ligated. This patient recovered with no untoward symptoms. In another case, in which a ligature was applied at the same point, gangrene and death followed. In examining into the question, K. came to the conclusion that ligation. at this point is not devoid of danger. His studies in a general way corroborate the well-known work of W. Braune. In addition, however, to the two venous circulations described by the latter, K. describes a third, which he denominates the sub-ischial.

In summing up, the author advises, in old persons, to resort to ligation of the external iliac vein, and in younger subjects, to close stab and gunshot wounds of the femoral vein below Poupart's ligament by means of an accurately applied suture to the vein.

THE AMERICAN METHOD OF OPERATION FOR CLUB-FOOT.

J. Noyon (Inaug. -Diss., Amsterdam). The results of twenty cases of pes varus by Tilanus, as reported from the Amsterdam clinic are given. This surgeon fearing that the invasion of the tarsal bones in the period of growth would disturb the process of development, performs excision of the cuboid only in the severest cases. Two cases are given, and show that this fear is well founded. A boy of about four years suffered from a right pes equinovarus in a high degree. The head of the talus had grown to such an extent, reposition was impossible; therefore it was removed. Reposition was now easily accomplished, and the little patient was discharged from the clinic, wearing Roser's apparatus. At the end of one and a half years the head of the talus had grown in such a manner that straightening of the foot was impossible. In a similar case, a boy of twelve years, the head of the talus and the anterior process of the os calcis were removed, which was followed by a return of the trouble in 1887. (Total extirpation of the talus would have prevented a relapse) The great difficulties of the redressement force in older and severe cases led Tilanus to adopt Phelp's method, some points of which he modified. When necessary a large gaping wound is made; the plantar fascia was never divided subcutaneously, but the skin wound was lengthened from 11⁄2 to 6 ctm. The plantar nerves and arteries were spared; the lateral interior ligament was partly cut through. The operation-wound remained open and was covered with a thin aseptic bandage; a plasterof-Paris bandage applied to the foot. In from four to eight weeks the wounds in almost all of the cases were found to be healed by granulation. For the after-treatment Roser's apparatus, with or without a pelvic belt, was used. The twenty cases operated upon, including one of pes valgus, occurred in patients from sixteen months to twelve years. Most of the patients had already undergone either tenotomy or excision of the cuboid, with very little or no relief. From previous statistics it was found that usually a simple separation of the soft parts was sufficient for straightening the feet, and, after from 1 to 11⁄2 years, position and function of the feet were quite restored. In three cases an osteotomy was necessary. The opinion that the American method is quite liable to be followed by a relapse, was not corroborated, if care was taken in the orthopedic after-treatment.

THE OPERATIVE TREATMENT OF RECURVED OR HAMMER TOE.

F. Petersen, Kiel (Archiv. f. klinische Chirg., Bd. 37, Heft 3). Amputation is quite generally advised and practised for this class of cases. P. has devised an operation similar in principle to Phelps' open incision for talipes. A transverse incision is made upon the concave side, corresponding to the first interphalangeal joint, if necessary, opening the joint capsule. The toe is then straightened, the wound gaping to the extent of 2 ctm., and a Schede dressing applied; healing is obtained by this means under a moist scab. The dressings, if all goes well, may be removed in about three weeks, when the toe is found to be in perfect position.

OBSTETRICS.

BY CHARLES JEWETT, M.D.,

Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Children and Visiting Obstetrician, Long Island College Hospital; Physician-in-Chief of the Department of Diseases of Children, St. Mary's Hospital, Brooklyn.

PUERPERAL INFECTION.

Hegar (Sammlung Klin. Vorträge, No. 351) thinks the doctrine of so-called self-infection has not been proven. There is no conclusive evidence that puerperal infection may arise from micro-organisms having their habitat in the genital tract.

The genital germs are in general only putrefactive germs. Improvements upon the best results thus far attained by antiseptic practice in natural labors are to be reached only by less frequent vaginal examinations or by omitting them altogether.

ERGOT AS AN EXCITOR AND REGULATOR OF UTERINE CONTRACTIONS.

Schatz (Nouv. Arch. d'ostet et de gyn., Nov., 1889). For establishing, regulating or sustaining uterine contractions, S. holds that ergot is superior to massage, electricity and all other agents which have been used for that purpose. From an experimental study of ergot as an oxytocic he submits the following conclusions:

1. The pains produced by ergot have the normal character. The belief that they are cramp-like is erroneous.

2. Ergot increases the frequency not the violence of the pains. Its administration should be managed with a view to obtain pains of normal frequency.

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