pulled it in again; after which the poor fellow the teeth, but in relieving the tension and mounted, and rode away as if nothing had fullness of the part. Surgeons frequently happened. With all due deference to our make incisions in parts which are inflamed, sporting friends, these stories are altogether without any other object, than that of dimin fabrications. A real dislocation of the neck ishing undue tension. Sometimes it is neceswould be immediately fatal. I once told a sary, therefore, to lance the gums of children person so; but he cut me short by saying that when we do not anticipate the immediate prohe had seen the thing himself. "The neck trusion of the teeth. Mothers, however, who was all wrong, but a good pull set it to rights." like to reason about these things, will occasionThere is no reasoning against such philoso-ally tell us that, "they are not advocates for phers, and therefore it is better to attack them the lancing of gums." They will tell us that in print. the parts become harder afterwards, and thus Eyes Washed. The same kind of people the passage of the teeth is impeded instead of will tell you they have been present at surgical being advanced. This idea is probably derivoperations where the eyes have been cut out, ed from seeing the cicatrices of wounds and a skin removed, and then replaced as if noth-burns, which certainly often present very hard ing had happened. It is not always easy for ridges; but the analogy does not seem to hold a professional man to know how to answer such good, for I have never myself felt any similar people. It would be a bore to both parties to ridge in the gums, of children. Besides, howenter into a serious refutation of the subject. ever hard these cicatrices may feel to the I may again state that many of the things touch, they do not seem in reality to be very which I relate as popular notions may seem too capable of resisting the process of ulceration, absurd for any degree of credulity; but most or what is called interstitial absorption. Sir of what I have said I have heard repeated Astley Cooper, in his "Lectures on Surgery,' more than once, and am firmly convinced that makes an interesting allusion to Lord Anson's it was believed to be true. voyage, which has a bearing on this subject. We may be disposed to treat common no-"Lord Anson's book," says he, " is one of the tions as a parcel of silly stories, not deserving most valuable works which has appeared on nauthe troble of a serious consideration; but when tical subjects; nor is it without its use as illuswe find them in practice continually starting trative of a principle in surgery. Lord Anson's up, we are constrained either to join in them expedition to the Pacific Ocean was undertakor deny them. en with a view of destroying the power of Gout. People say that boils are healthy, Spain in the New World. As he was obliged. or that the gout is healthy; but in these to sail sooner than he expected, many of the speeches, if they have any meaning at all, crew which he took out were invalids; there is an elliptical idea. We might say that having cicatrices, and others having previousbleeding was salutary, or rhubarb and magne- ly had fractured bones. In his passage round sia salutary; but then we should presume that Cape Horn, he encountered very severe there was a state of disease to be corrected. weather. Many ships were obliged to return, Now, allowing a certain amount of disorder to some were lost, and the crews of those which be actually present, an attack of the gout may succeeded in getting at last to the Isle of Juan be favorable, not because it is good in itself, Fernandez suffered great hardships.' but because, mischief being actually present, "In doubling Cape Horn, the crew suffered the gout is the means of eliminating the mate- severely from attacks of the scurvy; and it ries morbi. In this view of the subject, in- was remarked by the clergyman, who was an deed, many of our diseases might be called observing man, although he knew nothing of healthy. However, we frequently find people our profession, that the men who had ulcers congratulating themselves on the gout, or a before were invariab'v attacked with ulceration friend will tell you, if you show him a painful in the same parts, and that if their bones had boil, "that you may thank your stars, inas- been formerly fractured, they became disunimuch as it is an indication of full health." ted." "There cannot," continues he, "be a In my own view, neither the gout nor the presence of boils is any proof of good health, but rather a proof of the contrary. - Lancing the Gums. I do not conceive the operation of lancing the gums in children is. desirable merely in facilitating the passage of better example than this for the purpose of showing the readiness with which newly formed parts ulcerate, as compared with the original structures of the body." IMPORTANT LEGAL DECISION, lation he must decline the appointment. This entire regulation is in conflict with the law of the land, and cannot be sustained. It conflicts RELATIVE TO MEMBERSHIP OF AN INCORPOR- with the law and its policy, in relation to con ATED MEDICAL SOCIETY. JOHN D. HILL VS. THE ERIE CO. MEDICAL SOCIETY. The Erie County Society derives its corporate powers from the Legislature of New York, by virtue of a general law of 1813. In his decision, Judge Marvin remarks: tracts and trade. The law permits and encourages great freedom in contracts and in trade, and is constantly inviting competition. The skill of the professional man is his capital in trade, and he has a right to employ it for a compensation, satisfactory to him, and thus obtain a livelihood. In conclusion: "By the 13th section, the societies are authorized to make such by-laws and regulations, relative to the affairs, concerns, and property of 1. The regulation in question was unauthorsaid societies; relative to the admission and ized. 2. It was unreasonable. 3. It was expulsion of members; relative to such dona- against public policy and the law. 4. The tions or contributions as a majority of the disfranchisement of the relator was unauthormembers at their annual meetings shall think ized and illegal. fit and proper; provided that such by-laws, rules, and regulations be not contrary to, nor inconsistent with, the constitution and laws of this State," &c. One of the by-laws of the Society fixed a minimum price at which its members might attend, professionally, the County Alms House. Doctor Hill agreed to render professional attendance at a less rate; for this he was expelled. He then brought an action against the Society, by sueing out a mandamus. Judge Marvin remarks in reference to this by-law: "The regulation was not only unauthorized by the law, but it is in conflict with well settled principles of law. It was the result of a combination to coerce the public authorities of Erie County, and the city of Buffalo, to make a certain compensation for certain medical ser. vices, not less than a minimum sum fixed. Such a combination is, I have no doubt, unlawful at common law. It is in restraint of the right of the public authorities and the individual members of the society. It follows that he must be restored or recognized as a member of the medical society and permitted without molestation to enjoy all the rights and privileges of a member.-Med. Independ. PROFESSORIAL CHANGES. Prof. R. M. Huston has resigned the Chair of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in consequence of ill health, and Prof. Thos. D. Mitchell has been appointed to fill the vacancy. Prof. Mitchell has long been a popular teacher of this important branch of Medical Science, and if he has not the vigor of early manhood, he has the mature experience of age. He will doubtless be an acceptable teacher, and the popularity of the institution will not be diminished by the change. Several changes have taken place in Rush Medical College. Chicago, Prof. J. Evans and Wm. B. Herrick, who have long been con"It is made the duty of the superintend- nected with the school and contributed much ents of the poor to appoint a physician for the to its standing, have resigned, retiring from Poor House. Act of 1851, 532. And yet the profession. Prof. H. A. Johnson has also if the regulation of the Medical Society of resigned the Chair of Materia Medica and Erie County is to prevail, and is to be obeyed Medical Jurisprudence. He has, however, by the members of the Society, the superin- been appointed to the Chair of Physiology and tendents of the poor will not be able to procure Pathology, which Prof. Herrick held, leaving the medical services of any one of the mem- the chair of Materia Medica vacant, as well as bers of the Society without paying the com- that of Obstetrics, formerly occupied by Prof. pensation fixed, and without any regard to the Evans. The latter of these has been filled by state of health of the County poor, or the the appointment of W. H. Byford, M. D., of amount of services that may be required. A Indiana; and the former by John H. Rauch, physician, entirely competent, may be willing M. D., of Iowa. to render the services for half the sum fixed Dr. Byford stands well in his locality as a in the tariff, and yet if he adhere to the regu-man of ability in his profession. Of the T position of Dr. Rauch we have no knowledge, the county of Suffolk, and Auburn, in Worces- county, with 21 inhabitants; Montgomery, in Hampden county, with 413; Boxborough, in Middlesex county, with 413; Halifax, in Plymouth county, with 786; and Rutland, in the county of Worcester, with 1,102 inhabitants, and reporting 27 births and 29 deaths. The towns of Alford, Clarksburg, Mt. Washington and New Ashford, in the county of Berkshire, report two marriages only; as do also Erving, in Franklin county, Holland and Wales, in Hampden county, Prescott, in Hampshire county, North Chelsea, in Suffolk county, and Boylston in Worcester county. Massachusetts Registration. The fourteenth annual report relating to, the registry Preceding reports have shown that the most and return of births, deaths and marriages in usual time for contracting a first marriage by Massachusetts for 1855, has been published. both parties, has been between the ages of 20 It makes a work of 272 pages, and is proba- and 25 for both sexes. The next greatest bly the most complete and extensive publica- number of first marriages have occurred in the tion of the kind ever issued in the country: period of from 25 to 30 among males, and from Abstracts and tables have been condensed 20 to 25 among females; and the third greatfrom the returns, and arranged for convenient est number in the period between the ages of use, by Dr. Edward Strong, and other clerks 20 and 25 among males, and including females employed in the Secietary's office. We cull under 20. By the tables of the present reinteresting facts from its prolific pages. port, the first period remains precisely the same Females..... ...16,785 Sex unknown................................. ..172 .15,947 ..13,709 .... .32,845 Population of the State in 1855.................1,132,369 as heretofore, and included 2,648 first marria- Am. father and for. mother....786 For. father and Am. mother....831 Parentage unknown.........1,573 Whole number of Marriages................................... Nativity: American...................................... ..6,919 ........4,269 Foreign....... Am. male and for. female....... .467 Whole number of deaths..... ..188 ..10,285 Sex unknown... .127 .28,798 No. whose age was reported.20,543 Among the males married for the first time, one under 30 was joined to a maiden over 55. Another maiden over 55 was married to a bachelor between 50 and 55 years of age. One female, also a maiden, and between 70 and 75 years of age, married a widower over 80. Five females and thirty-seven males had arrived at more than 70 years of age before their last marriage; and two of the men were. over 80, and two of the women were over 75 years of age. No marriage is reported as having occurred during the year 1854 or 1855 in the town of Hancock, in the county of Berkshire, a town numbering, by the last census, 848 inhabitants. There were 13 births reported for the year 1855. No other towns within the Common- During the year the youngest, male who wealth show an entire deficiency in this re- was married was a youth of 16 to a bride of spect, except the small town of Winthrop, in 117. Seven grooms of 17 years were united to brides severally, one of 14, 16, 17 and 19 each, that these months are the most sickly in Massand three of 21. The youngest female was a achusetts. During the month of September girl of 13 years to a man of 21. One male of there were 2520 deaths, and in August 2365. 16 of age, seven of 17, fifty-three of 18, one The other months are ranked, in this respect, hundred and forty-seven of 19, and ninety of in the following order: October, March, July, 20, were married for the first time; and ten April, December, January, May, February, females of 14, forty-three of 15, and seventy- November and June. In June, the healthiest three of 16, were married also for the first time. month, as far as can be shown by the registraThe greatest number of deaths occurred in tion of deaths, there were reported, for record the months of September and August, confirm during the year 1855, 1405 deaths throughout ing the opinion based upon former reports, the Commonwealth. MEDICAL HYGIENE IN PULMONARY human life. All parties are too well satisfied DISEASE, THE COMPRESSED AIR-BATH. BY G. H. TAYLOR, M. D. when the senses are deceived by the most temporary, though questionable means of palliation; while the disease progresses in its fatal course without so much as provoking an inquiry on the part of the patient or friends, as regards the cause, with the view of eliciting thence a proper remedial course. THERE is no wider field for indulgence in wanton speculation by the medical theorist, nor one that more richly rewards the arts of the Observation shows, and it will be generally unscrupulous charlatan, than that presented by conceded that particular pursuits and habits of the various forms of pulmonary disease. The life tend powerfully to fix pulmonary disease most obvious inference is, that in the ardor of on certain subjects, thus constitutionally preseeking for some new medical specific, the disposed, or having a pulmonic diathesis. pathology of this class of diseases has not These constitutional traits are well marked, been considered in that plain and common sense, and therefore philosophical, light of which it is capable. Hence it is no wonder that the empiricism that prevails has become the opprobrium of the medical art, or that the treatment of this class of diseases is so often consigned to the most graceless speculators in and are such, generally, as deny, under the peculiar straits into which the system may be placed, as full and complete access of air to the blood, as those enjoy who are not liable to this form of disease. On the contrary, persons whose capacities were originally quite perfect, but whose habits of life permit but a limited access of air, suffer a similar liability to ratio. But this cannot last long. The system ease. It is quite unnecessary to the present pur pose to enter upon a discussion of the chemical or morphological nature of tubercle, though we might, in this connection, make some inciden tal inferences as to its mode of formation. as riding on horseback, or a journey.to some part whose climate seduces people from their dwellings, and many other different methods of carrying out the same idea. But it transcends my capacity to understand why, in a disease which in the incipient state requires more air should, in a more advanced stage, in which this need is the more pressing, now require drugs instead. The new irritability induced by them can only result in additional exhaustion. Some of the most popular modes of palliating the symptoms of this form of disease by drugs, require attention. That old deceiver, alcohol, whose conjurations are now so much In ordinary constitutions and states of the system, whenever causes of disease of sufficient force occur, then immediately supervenes a general fever, or an inflammation, or both. The fever is the means whereby there is ultimately attained the oxydation of all those constituents of the blood that are amenable to the process, while inflammation is a local demand for arterialization. But in persons disposed to consumption the case is different. The quick-in vogue, is capable of provoking a new imened arterial action that is well known to be a concomitant of this disease, is manifestly an ineffectual endeavor to accomplish the same purpose; but the limited capacity for air in the lungs, and the weakened vital force that attends an insufficient supply of this indispensable agent for evoking it, renders the accomplishment of the endeavor incomplete. Tuber culous matter being nitrogenized substance, and therefore least liable to be disturbed by oxygen, is therefore allowed to accumulate. pulsion in the circulation and respiration, which for the instant seems to be auxiliary to the natural effort; but since the complement of air received is still at the expense of inadequate powers, nothing real has been gained, even though the feelings may have been repeatedly gratified by its administration. The supply of an extraordinary amount of hydrocarbon in the shape of oil, even though the irritability of the system be expended on it in order to effect its exclusion as carbonic acid and water, and The preternatural activity of the arterial though saving, as alleged, the vital structures vessels is the result of the exigency into which thereby, yet fails to bring what the system the system is thrown, and has evidently for its most needs, air, and so can be of no permanent object the bringing of the blood more rapidly benefit, as experience abundantly proves. The into relation with air, that great principle em- deep fires may be temporarily smothered by a ployed at all times to maintain and to restore combustible covering, but are certain to break the health. It is not oxygen merely that is out with new fury. The reputed cures by required, for this alone would produce un- either of these profanations of hygiene are wholesome effects, but air. cases, I apprehend, either of faulty diagnosis, As the congested or diseased aerating mem- or such as had also the advantages of other brane, or the accumulation of foreign substance better influences, of which these stole the rein the lungs, cuts short its efficiency, the putes. The treatment by compounds of Iodine urgency of symptoms increase in the same! and Chlorine has a more philosophical basis, |