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Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I desire to report thru the columns of THE WORLD, what I consider a most remarkable case of morphin-cocain addiction. I have never before had to deal with just such a case.

November 1, Dr. B. P. S., age 31, applied for treatment, giving the following history of his case: Some three years since, while making a night call some twenty miles across the prairies of west Texas, his horse stepped into a prairie-dog hole, which are exceedingly numerous in that section of the State, and the doctor was thrown violently to the ground, sustaining a fracture of the tibia. This was set in a bunglesome way, and he was confined to his bed for quite a time. While in this condition, he unfortunately contracted the morphia habit, and later on added cocain.

This man would take a quantity of morphin and cocain and envelop them in a pledget of absorbent cotton. He would chew it for quite a while, and then replace the old chew with a new one, keeping this up the entire day and far into the night. At the time treatment was begun, he was taking not less than 60 grains of morphin and from 60 to 100 grains of cocain during the twenty-four hours.

I deprived him completely of all his morphin and cocain, and placed him on treatment at 9.30 p. m., November 1. After 48 hours he was entirely free from all desire for the drugs, and at no time did he complain of any pain, nor did he suffer from any collapse.

At the time treatment was begun, he weighed 122 pounds. It has now been more than thirty days since his treatment, and I am just in receipt of a letter from him stating that at no time since taking treatment has he had any desire for the drugs, and that he has gained 19 pounds in weight, and is attending to his professional duties.

The remarkable features about this case are the great quantities of the drugs used, for a man who had been in the habit such a short time, the unique way in which he used the drugs, and the rapid gain in health and weight after treatment.

HARVEY M. MATTHEWS, M. D.

Corsicana, Texas,

How to get Rid of Warts.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-In the December number of THE WORLD, page 537, Dr. Mitchell wishes a cure for warts. About fifteen years ago a gentleman in this section, in good financial circumstances, had two very large warts, one on the back of each hand. He said he had

tried everything he could hear of in the way of applications to get rid of the disgusting excrescences, but had failed to accomplish his desire. I told him I thought I could remove them if he would follow out strictly my instructions. He said he would and would give me five dollars if I cured them without the use of the knife.

Accordingly, I cut two round pieces of thick felt, about the size of a silver halfdollar, and in the center of each cut a hole large enough to easily admit each wart. I also fitted a cork into an ounce bottle, and in the end of the cork which went into the bottle I inserted a small feather tip, about two inches long, so that when the cork was withdrawn the little feather came out with it, charged with the contents of the bottle. His instructions were to paint the warts every night when going to bed, place the pieces of felt over them and bandage lightly, or draw on an old pair of loose gloves. The felt is to keep the bed clothes or bandage from absorbing the stuff put on. He followed my directions, and in a month there was not even a scar nor sign of a wart to be seen; neither has he had any since.

Now, what do you suppose the bottle was filled with? Simply castor oil colored with a few drops of tr. cochineal and a few drops of oil of citronella to give it an agreeable smell. I always use castor-oil, but I presume some other oil would answer the same purpose. It seems to soften the little horny tumors, and they apparently become absorbed if the treatment is only persevered in for a sufficient length of

time.

I think there is a dryness of the skin that is partially the cause of their appearance, for those females who are accustomed to dish-washing and to having their hands in greasy water don't have warts on their hands. My plan of treatment may not succeed in every case, but I have banisht quite a number of warts by the same means during the past twenty years. I received the five dollars without scruple or diffidence.

I have been a constant reader of THE MEDICAL WORLD for twelve years and

would not like to be without it now, for it contains a lot of useful information.

Wingham, Ont. J. E. TAMLYN, M.D. How to Cure Warts.-Burns and Scalds.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Replying to the query for a cure for warts, would say that success may attend the use of one grain of magnesia sulfate, given four times daily. In addition, saturate each wart night and morning with the strongest acetic acid, rubbing freely with castor oil when this dries off. This has never failed with

me.

The best domestic remedy for burns and scalds, always obtainable in emergencies, is the application of the white of an egg beaten to a foam and mixt with a tablepoonful of lard. If it is at hand, add five drops of carbolic acid to this. This is the best thing possible for immediate use.

If you want the best thing possible for general treatment, a dressing which will prevent scarring and give immediate relief, use one dram of bismuth subnitrate to an ounce of vaselin, with five drops of Icarbolic acid. First wash the surface with a solution of one dram of either soda bicarbonate, powdered borax or boric acid, to one pint of tepid water. This adds to the cleansing and comforting part of the treatment. Squeeze this liquid from either a sponge or a cloth upon the burn as you E. B. SILVERS, M. D.

elect.

Rahway, N. J.

Warts Treated Homeopathically. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Dr. C. F. Mitchell, in the December number of THE WORLD, asks for a cure for warts. Where they come in large crops, ferrum picricum, 3 x trituration, in two or three grain doses, will prove to be the best remedy. This peculiar action of the drug was discovered by Dr. Robert T. Cooper, of London, Eng land, and has been repeatedly verified. It does not seem of much use, save where the warts come in large crops. E. P. A. Philadelphia.

How to Cure Warts.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD-I notice in the quiz column of THE WORLD a request for a cure for warts, by Dr. C. F. Mitchell. I have found the sodium ethylate solution the most efficient and least painful, and that it leaves the least scar. It should be applied with a glass rod.

W. L. CAPELL, M. D.

That Thirtieth Dilution Again. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-The articles on the "Thirtieth Dilution" in the November issue of your excellent journal are very amusing. The writers seem as much puzzled as was a friend of mine, who was a graduate of a State university, on being told by his medical preceptor to take half drop doses of a certain acid. The order was unintelligible to him, and he asked how in the name of Satan he could do it. "Put one drop in two spoonfuls of water and take one of them," was the very curt answer. And so with these much puzzled physicians, who are wondering where the water comes from to make the thirtieth dilution. Please leave the lakes and the oceans alone as there is an international law against diverting water-courses. We will make the thirtieth dilution of nux vomica tincture, for example. The drug power of this tincture is one-tenth to begin with. Take twenty-nine half dram vials with nine drops of distilled water or alcohol in each one: sum total of vehicle 261 drops, or about one-half an ounce. One drop of the tincture makes the whole set of potencies, without any waste, and you can have your choice from the second to the thirtieth, without yelling for water. Are these potencies efficacious? Ask the thousands of sincere, earnest, intelligent physicians who have used them.

HORACE P. HOLMES, M. D.

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Omaha, Neb.

Conklin, Mich.

THE MEDICAL WORLD.

Quiz Department.

Questions are solicited for this column. Communications not accompanied by the proper name and address of the

33

180 drops three times a day of the saturated solution of potassium iodid.

The patient came to me one month ago,

writer (not necessarily for publication) will not be complaining of ulcers upon and around his

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.

Neuralgia in the Eyes.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Permit me for the first time to seek the assistance of the

WORLD family. Mr. C., forty-five years old, has attacks of excruciating neuralgia, starting in one or the other of the eyes, and extending to the other sympathetically. He has been affected thus for the past twenty years. The spasms can be controlled by morphia, but I have been able to discover no remedial agent, altho I have tried almost the entire materia medica. The health seems otherwise good, with the exception of the presence of intes

tinal catarrh.

Waukomis, O. T.

S. F. SCOTT, M. D.

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tongue, also one in the roof of the mouth. He says, "the ulcers would heal under the large doses of potassium iodid, to return as soon as the medicine was reduced." He cannot eat well, owing to the salt in food causing smarting. He wants to commit suicide. I put him on oleate of merdrams, to rub one dram every night on cury, ten per cent., the proverbial forty different parts of the body. By mistake he rubbed eight drams one night. I felt alarmed, but it did him no harm.

After finding it did no harm, I ordered him to rub two drams every night, and also proto-iodid of mercury. I tried to salivate take two grains three times a day of the him slightly, but did not succeed. He gained fourteen pounds in weight; the ulcers looked better, and some healed, when a new crop around the tongue broke out. The ulcers in the roof of the mouth look better, but not healed. He looks healthy and is so every other way. Would be glad to secure help in this case.

East St. Louis, Ill.

H. HANSON, M. D.

Potassium Permanganate and Opium Poisoning.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I would be glad if some brother who has used potassium permanganate to antidote opium and its derivatives, would state the dose required for the purpose, and how often repeated. I have seen many articles on this subject, but do not remember that any of them told the quantity used. D. C. MCCAMPBELL, M. D. Mt. Pleasant, Miss.

Save your

Don't send subscriptions on a postal card. card and save us trouble. When you want THE MEDICAL WORLD badly enough to pay for it, send the price and your order will be promptly filled. There is only one right way to subscribe-do it in the right way. The postal card fraternity have been increasing of late, and they are a nuisance in an office conducted in a business way. The humanitarian question is a different thing. If you can't pay full price, send what you can and write in full, and you will not be overlookt.

Doctor, have you any points of interest in regard to pneumonia? If so, let us have them for the next issue.

La Grippe is prevalent in many sections, and all points in regard to treatment are of value. Don't neglect sending your conclusions and experiences at once.

Can you have better value for your money than Dr. Waugh's book on Treatment and WORLD until 1900 for $5? Do not forget special offer of WORLD for four years for $3. Hope you will join our large and happy "family." It is a family of mutual helpers.

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KASKINE

Is a preparation sold in small, flat, green-glass vials, each containing about 20 grains of a white, granular powder, freely soluble in water, of a sweet taste and without any odor. Claimed by its manufacturers to stand "unequaled and unrivaled in the world of science as the only medicine that can destroy the germs that cause each particnlar disease and restore perfect health.” Dr. Fr. Hoffman says:

"The chemical examination by the writer, of several vials of Kaskine bought from different leading drug firms in New York City, proves the fact that Kaskine is nothing more nor less than granular sugar of the fine grain and grade as used in homeopathic pharmacy, without even any infinitesimal medication of flavoring whatsoever.-Secret Nostrums and Systems.

LAVARRE'S SURE CURE.

Upon examination we find that it is in a white glass, oblong, square-panel bottle, holding 2 fluid ounces of a rather turbid, deep pinkish-red liquid, with a sweetish, saline, aromatic taste, the composition of which is as follows:

Fl. ext. poke berries....
Fl. ext. sassafras...
Liquid ammonia, caustic
Sodium bromide

Alcohol

Oil of peppermint

5.16 gr.

Powdered cochineal

1.13 gr.

Chevalier's Life for the Hair

0.22 gr. .0.80 gr.

White sugar.....

Water (enough to make)

.80 minims

.40 minims

5 minims

.20 gr.

fl. oz.
1 minim

4 gr.

3 dr. troy ... 4 fl. oz.

The bottle is enclosed in a straw-board pipe, and wrapped in a thick, light-blue wrapper, upon which is stated "Health is Wealth," with the

portrait of an old gentleman with clerical tie, high forehead, and sparse white locks. The wrapper states it is a sure cure for neuralgia, rheumatism, toothache, headache, backache, and all diseases produced by derangement of the nervous system. A special guarantee is printed on the wrapper that it contains no morphine, opium, chloral hydrate or other poisonous drugs. Another paragraph states that the contents of the bottle contain all the virtues of two pounds of the choicest barks and herbs.-New Idea.

Book Reviews.

"History of Prostitution." Publisht by The Medical Publishing Company, 17 Ann Street, New York, N. Y. This is the celebrated work of Dr. W. W. Sanger, re-publisht, with an appendix concerning the evil in New York at the present time. The original work of Dr. Sanger was publisht in 1858, but as his work was thoro concerning the subject up to that time, no revision is necessary. Dr. Sanger was a student, observer and philosopher, and treats his subject, tho a difficult and a disagreeable one, in a dignified, scientific and elevating style. The book is a monument in its way. The history of prostitution is given from earliest times and in all countries. It is a large octavo, 709 pages, good paper and type. Price, in silk cloth binding, $2.00.

It would be difficult to find a more compact little volume than Gould's Pocket Medical Dictionary, nor one that more fully fulfills its raison d'etre. It is neatly bound in flexible leather, printed in clear type on thin, tough paper, and contains 21,000 medical words, pronounced and defined, besides a large number of useful tables, etc. It is publisht by P. Blakiston, Son & Co., of this city; at the moderate price of $1.

George R. Pilling & Son, of this city, are putting out the American edition of Prof. Aurelio Bianchi's lectures on "The Phonendoscope and Its Practical Application." This is a neat clothbound volume of 77 pages, well illustrated, in large clear type on heavy calendered paper. The price, 50 cents, by mail 55 cents, places it within the reach of all.

The elegant little volume on "Suggestion," by George C. Pitzer, M. D., published by the St. Louis School of Suggestive Therapeutics at the moderate price of $1, takes a position occupied by no other hand-book in the field, and is well worth study by those interested in this large and growing art. It can be obtained by addressing the author at St. Louis, Mo., and is a neat clothbound volume of handy pocket size.

The second edition, revised and enlarged, of Morris's Human Anatomy, is to hand from P. Blakiston's Sons & Co., and like all the works from their press, is a marvel of typographic excellence and completeness. The illustrations for the most part have been engraved from drawings made by special artists, and are generally from original sources. The department of osteology was compiled by J. Bland Sutton, that on joints by the editor, Henry Morris, on muscles by J. N. C. Davies-Colley, on the circulatory system by W. J. Walsham, on the nervous system by H. St. John Brooks. The eye is treated of by R. Mar

cus Gunn; Frederick Treves writes of the organs of digestion, and other authors are Arthur Hensman, William Anderson, W. H. A. Jacobson and Arthur Robinson, all of them recognized authorities in the special branches of which they treat. The volume has a large proportion of colored plates, is cloth bound, an imperial octavo of 1274 pages, and is priced at $6.

Dr. Milton P. Creel of Central City, Ky., in his capacity of railway surgeon and general surgical consultant, finds that the most intractable forms of secondary anemia are those which follow upon severe injury where amputation is necesssary. In these cases he has failed altogether with the usual iron preparations, which produce biliousness and often severe constipation. To obtain the best results he has now accustomed

himself to the employment of Henry's three pes

chlorids, in doses of one to two teaspoonfuls three times daily after eating. He holds that the

small amounts of mercuric bichlorid and arsenic chlorid add to the efficiency of the iron protochlorid, and besides is most grateful to the palates of both children and adults.

Current Medical Thought. ll.

Earache-Its Importance. Na

Hinkel (Buffalo Med. Jour.) summarizes a good article in the following valuable points: 1. Earache, however slight, may signify disease, that, neglected, may terminate in loss of hearing, even of life itself. 2. Recurring earache in children is almost always associated with lymphoid hypertrophy of the pharynx, depends on it, and permanent impairment of the function of the ear is prevented only by early surgical treatment of the "adenoids.' 3. Acute inflammation of the middle ear may be frequently aborted if proper treatmentmostly of a general sedative characterbe administered early and with precision. 4. If relief be not obtained by the second day, an expert examination of the ear should be made, and proper surgical treatment applied to relieve intra-tympanic pressure and possible involvement of the mastoid cells or intra-cranial structures. Failure at this stage to obtain as exact knowledge as possible of the condition of the middle ear is criminal neglect.

The Tongue as a Clinical Guide in Disease.

A broad, pallid tongue, with a loaded base, says atony, and refers you to a want of action of the entire viscera below. The remedial agents would be cathartics and tonics, especially those mild but effectual in character.

A shrunken tongue, pincht in expression, indicates functional inactivity of digestion, and requires great care in choice

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