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glazed brought the edges of the wound to-gether, by means of three sutures and slipsof isinglass-plaster. To have an anodyne.

4. Passed a very good night; stllmp lookswell, and appears inclined to unite by thefirst intention.

5. Going on well; suppurative discharge Ifrom the ankle occupied by the suture,especially the outer one.

31. Going on favourably since the lastreport; general health excellent; woundentirely healed, with the exception of asmall part of the cyst which remained.Went on well from this date, and left

the hospital, cured, in a very short timeafter.

ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.

STRANGULATED FEMORAL HERNIA.

A WOMAN was admitted October 13th, at5, P.M., with symptoms of strangulatedhernia. The taxis was diligently employedfor her relief for some time, but withoutavail, and, at seven o’clock, summonses weresent to all the surgical pupils residing with-in a mile of the hospital, stating that theoperation for hernia would he performed.This was done in the usual manner by Mr.Hawkins, assisted by Mr. Babington.After the patient had been carried out of thetheatre into the ward, Mr. Hawkins madethe following observations on the case to thepupils who were present :-« This woman, Gentlemen, has had, fromher account, a femoral hernia of the rightside for some time past, but the symptomshave greatly increased since last Sunday,on which day it appears that the bowelswere acted upon freely for the last time.Within the preceding 48 hours stercorace-ous vomiting has supervened. She has hadbut little done for her previous to her admis-sion here, but I understand that she hastaken a very large quantity of purgativemedicine, which, of course, as you can wellunderstand, has not been of any service toher. On her admission it was found thatshe had none of the more urgent symptomsof strangulation ; her countenance was freefrom anxiety, her mind calm and placid, andshe has not vomited since she has been inthe hospital. But I found, also, that therewere symptoms which warranted me in

performing the operation,—I allude particu-larly to there being some slight tendernessof the belly present, a tongue which wasdry and turning brown, and a pulse at 116.With respect to the operation itself, youmust have noticed the difficulty which I hadin releasing the stricture. I was unable tointroduce my nail between the inner edge ofthe stricture and the outer edge of the in-

testine, and if I had used force in in1:rolluc-ing the director, I might have perforated theintestine. The cause of this arises from the

acute angle at which the stricture occurs infemoral hernia. I found that the protrudedintestine was gorged with blood, and it rea-dily returned into the cavity of the abdomenwhen tli-e stricture was divided."

" With respect to the prognosis of this case,we have to look for peritoneal inflamma-tion, which, however, in this case I do notthink will occur. The action of the bowelswill return, and I hope that the protrudedportion of intestine will recover its properpropulsive function. Should not the bowelsact in a short time, I shall feel disposed togive her some calomel and opium, whichwill most probably have the desiredeffect."These agreeable anticipations were not,

however, realised. On the following dayher countenance was anxious, the pulse up.wards of 100, and the abdomen tumid andswollen. These symptoms continued on theincrease for several days; her strength sunk,and the neighbouring parts around thewound sloughed ; delirium soon set in, anddeath rapidly followed.On examining the body after death the pe-

ritoneum was found in a low state of inflam-mation, without any adhesions between theintestines. The peritoneal cavity containedsome serous fi uid, with flakes of coagulablelymph. The wound and contiguous tex-tures were in a slonghins state.

CLINICAL REMARKS BY MR. HAWKINS

ON MORBID AFFECTIONS OF THE INTERNAL

.

STRUCTURE OF THE NOSE.

The first and most common of these is in.fiammatioa of the Schneiderian membrane.Kow, there is some disposition to this incommon catarrh, in which, where the secre-tion of fluid and mucus is great, there is afoundation laid for other diseases of a moresevere and permanent character. Scrofu-lous children are very liable to chronic in-flammation of the Schneiderian membrane,which resembles in its symptoms a polypusof the nose ; but you may easily distinguishthe one from the other, by remembering thatin polypus the swelling is on the outside,from the spongy bones ; whereas, in chronicinflammation of the Schneiderian membrane,the swelling arises internally from the sep-tum. On looking into the nostril yon findthe lining membrane red, swollen, and ge-nerally excoriated ; there is a discharge ofmucus and pus, causing obstruction of thenostrils, and affecting the respiration, andthe first thing which draws the attention ofthe patient’s friends to the affection, is fromthe child snoring at night. The little pa-tient lies with his mouth wide open, whichcauses great thirst and chapped lips. Youwill generally find that, combined with thisaffection, there may be swelled glands in theneclc, and the upper lip sometimes swollento three times its natural size. Such anaffection as this is very easily cured, Give

679

your patient alteratives, tonics, and purga- the soft palate. If the anterior and cartila-

tives, such as equal parts of powdered rhu- ginous part of the septum be affected thebarb and mercury with chalk, or rhubarb nose becomes flattened. There is but littleand tartrate of potash; or you may join this constitutional disturbance in this affection.latter salt with Columba powder and steel; Local applications are most useful in theseyou may give also one drachm and a half of cases, and, of these, alterative stimulants aresteel wine daily, or you may unite one grain the most useful, such as the ointment ofof oxymuriate of mercury with two ounces nitrate of mercury, or the same preparationof the compound tincture of bark, and give of the white or red mercurial precipitates,one teaspoonful three times daily. Local or a solution of lunar caustic or sulphate ofapplications may be very appropriately con- copper. Internally you may administerjoined with this constitutional plan of treat- bitter E nd alkaline tonics.ment. The nitrate of mercury ointment, di- Ulceration of the lining mucous mem-Inted, may be applied by means of a camel’s brane of the nose, or the ozaena of somehair brush to the nostrils. If the aflection writers, is also an affection which willbe situated at the superior part of the nostril sometimes be found very troublesome. Itthis ointment may be applied to it, smeared may either affect the septum or the cartila-on a piece of lint, fastened on a bougie ; or ginous circumference of the nostril. Therethe precipitated mercurial ointment may be is much pain in the nose and forehead, withused in the proportion of one part to three some considerable disturbance of the con-of spermaceti ointment ; or the lunar caustic stitution ; the pulse ranges from 120 to 140,may be applied in solution. If this affec- and the patient becomes weak and ema-tion be neglected it may go on to form com- ciated. These symptoms are not surprising,plete obliteration of the nostril, and it then considering the anatomy of the parts affect-becomes necessary to keep the nostrils open ed, situated, too, so near as they are to theand wide apart, by introducing a metallic brain. Anything which tends to debilitatetube into the nose. Where this obliteration the co-nstitution will bring on this disease,of the nostril is combined with much exco- such as syphilis, or a cachectic or scrofu-riation and ulceration, it will frequently re- !ous state of constitution. Where it arisessemble, in some degree, a congenital affec- from the application of the poison of glan-tion. Where this obliteration exists the ders to the part, it is, of course, more severe.best means of remedying it is to make an Where ozæna is present, you find the mu-incision through the closing membrane, and cous membrane dotted with small ulcerated

keep the parts pervious by a bougie, cover- patches, containing a yellowish substratum,ed with lint, and smeared with ointment. around these the mucous membrane is redIf the obstruction be very great, much cau- and injected, but not raised above the sur-tion will be required in dividing it, and if rounding surface. These ulcers in time

only one nostril be impervious it will still crust over, and the scabs fall off, leavingbe necessary to divide it. Sometimes the fresh ulcerated surfaces, the pain and incon-nostrils will secrete a substance resembling venience of which are extremely distress-imperfectly.formed cartilage, which some- ing to the patient. When this affection istimes takes the form and shape of the severe, there are symptoms connected withspongy bones, and at other times calcareous it which may closely resemble syphilis,formations will occur in the nostril. such as pustular eruptions forming on theThis affection of the nose is best treated face, accompanied with sore throat; or there

by stimulants and tonics, such as sarsapa- may be ulcerative tubercles on the skin,rilla, arsenic, and the solution of potash, rupial spots, &c. It is very rare, however,and stimulants should also be injected up that you will find mercury agree with thesethe nostril. symptoms. Tonics are generally the veryThe Schneiderian membrane is liable to a best medicines that can be given. If the

breach of surface. There may be an ulcer- patient is very much weakened and debili-ation in the septum of the nose, forming an tated by the disease, yon will find it neces-opening between each nostril, and this may sary to give him large doses of sarsaparillaoccur without the patient being aware of it, for a considerable length of time, in theexcept from his being troubled with symp- proportions oftoms which he refers to a common cold. Extract of sansaparilla, one drachm andThis ulcerated opening may be very easily a half;cicatrised, especially in its early stages. It Compound decoction of sarsaparilla, twelveis generally- situated at the upper part of ounces.

the nose, at the junction of the septum na- After giving him this for some time, yourium with the vomer, and causes intense will find the violence of the disease subside.pain in the nose and forehead. Abscesses You may also give a small dose of bluesometimes form in this part, leaving an pill occasionally. Next to these remedies,opening between the nostrils large enough the best that can be given are cinchona andto admit the point of the finger. These nitric acid ; or, if you please, you mayaffections of ulceration and abscess are combine the sarsaparilla with some arseni-almost analogous with those occurring in cal liquor. The nostrils may be injected

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with the black-wash or lime-water, or a

solution of the sulphate of zinc and alum ;or, if the disease be low down in the nose,it may be touched with lunar caustic, orsulphate of copper, or verdigris, or withany of the stimulating ointments of the

Pharmacopœia. This affection becomesexpecially severe where the nasal bonesare affected, as they do not fall off as incommon necrosis, but remain in an attachedand carious state for some time. This diseasegenerally and frequently attacks the poor.

HALF-DRACHM DOSES OF THESALTS OF MORPHIA.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR :—I regret I have so long neglected

to respond to your expressed wish, by com-municating the following case, which, fromthe unusual degree of suffering and the quan-tity of anodyne tolerated, was notorious inthe medical world here at the time :-About twelve months since I attended

Mrs. Yates, at. 26, as a patient of our Dis-pensary, with a painful affection of theuterus, which proved, on examination afterdeath, to be due to the extensive growth andpressure of melicerous deposit. At the first,full doses of acetate or muriate of morphinewere required to afford temporary relief;but, in the course of a few months, she bore,with impunity, scmcple doses in the form ofpills ; and, according to her own report, hasat times taken half a drachm; but, as I neversaw her take more than eleven pills at atime (each containing two grains), I will notvouch for the truth of the statement, though tI believe it. The effect of these enormous doses was rarely to induce lieadach, but, at

limes, some delirium, with nervous excita.bility, and sleeplessness. It did not appearto ititerfoi-e with her digestive functions, norwith the function of the lower bowels, ex-cepting, occasionally, to induce diarrhoea.At the acme of her excruciating torment

(such I never have before witnessed), shebore the largest doses, repeated sometimestmice in the twenty-four hours, with hardlya symptom on the morrow which was trace-able to the remedy, so entirely did the painseem to neutralise the influence of the drug;but, as the powers of her system sank be-neath her disease, she could not bear thelarger doses, and smaller ones sufliced torelieve her to a degree.

In vain I urged her to abstain from suchdestructive doses, and tried other narcotics.Nothing but this remedy, in the fullest quan-tity, could render life other than a protractedagony.

I am confident that the drug was good, asI took the pains to give her specimens pro-cured from different shops. I am, Sir, yourobedient servant,

Gos. LINGEN, Surgeon.Hereford, Jan. 16, 1839.

CHS. LINGEN, Surgeon.

COMMUNICATION OF RABIES.

To the Editor of Tiir LANCET.Srls :-In THE LANCET of the 22nd of last

month is a letter from Dr. Silvester, con-taining quotations from Archseus and otherancient authors, to the effect that hydropho-bia may be communicated by the saliva of arabid dog falling on the sound skin, andthat even the breath of such a dog is su0i-cient to communicate it ; and Dr. Silvestertells us he believes the moderns have ac.

quired a different opinion from the writingsof Fracastorius and others, who came totheir conclusion from an imaginary relationin size between the particles of the poisonand those of the blood.That a terrific disease may not be render-

ed doubly terrific, and to free the modernsfrom this opprobrium, I wish to state, thatI believe the whole of medical literaturedoes not contain the particulars of one well-authenticated case of true hydrophobia,where the poison had not been inserted by abite, or placed in contact with the skin,where there was some wound or slight abra-sion (of course a scratch would be suffi-

cient) and that the best modern authors onthis subject have arrived at their opinionfrom a careful examination of the history ofcases ; I may allude in particular to the arti-cle Ruge, by MM. Villerme and Trolliet, in-the 11 Diet. des Sciences Medic."

I have great veneration for the ancientfathers of medicine, but they would beliable to error on this point from the circum-stance, that they had not learned that dreadof water may occur in several diseases, andthat there are nervous diseases which some-what resemble in symptoms, and occasion-ally in their fatal result, the one communi-cated by rabid animals ; and that these ner-vous diseases may be caused by dread of

hydrophobia. I remain, Sir, 3 our obedientservant,

CANDIDUS.Jan. 1, 1839.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The INVALID BED which has recently ob.tained the sanction of so many publicauthorities, may be obtained of Mr. Knox,Upholsterer, Jermyn-street, St. James’s.square.M. TV. A. should send his name and ad-

dress, to be attached to his commnnication,which, otherwise, possesses no authority.

Letters have been received from lllr. H.

Gney, Dr. Wilmot, An Old Satbscriber, AMediccal Student, and J. DT.M.R.C.S., Bath. Other plans for "re-

forming the profession" must have preced.ence, as they have taken it, of the schemeforwarded by our correspondent, whose in-tent is equally excellent.