The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-08
MEDICAL NOTES.
prepared for the Sunday journal by
an Old Practitionerl

that all animals experimentally inoculated
with the plague. as well as those that
have been made immune to IL, shall be
killed, and all cultures of the plague bacili
in Vienna have been destroyed. even the
study of the disease In cultures or i'm ami
NAL experiments having been forbidden.
In an exhaustive article in re Wiener
klinische wochenschift three authors nave
written interestingly and instructively on
this disease. The plague virus enters
through the skin and the mucous men,
brane of the respiratory organs, but not
through the stomach or in~testines. Even
a slight abrasion of the skin opens a way
for the entrance of these germs. Cultures
of the bacillus contain a toxin which in
creases in virulence with age, and the
bodies of dead bacteria are also toxic. Rats
and mice are most susceptible, and during
the prevalence of the plague one of the
most important elements of prevention is
the determination of rats and mice, and
even cats came under the ban, since they
prey upon these rodents.
One of the most frequently used instru-
ments in the diagnosis and treatment of
disorders Of the stomach is the stomach
tube. One of it's uses is to obtain samples
of the gastric juices for analysis. a little sill
yer bucket being sometimes used for this
purpose. This bucket, attached to a stout
thread, is swallowed by the patient, and
then pulled out by the physician. Another
apparatus is the gastrograph, a hollow
metal ball so constructed that at every
motion of the stomach 1t completes an
electric circuit and thus records the move
ments on a chronograph. Photographs are
now taken with a diminutive camera which
is swallowed. and for treatment one of
the new instruments is the intragastric
blower used for sprinkling powders over
the surface of the stomach.
For measuring sight and hearing there
are many exact methods, but the measure
of the acuteness of the sense of smell has
been very inexact. Various strong-smell-
ing substances have been used, but Toul-
ouse believes that camphor is the best test.
because solutions may be made of constant
strength and subjects to be tested do not
notice the odor of camphor when entering
the room where 1t is kept bottled. 1t is
easily washed from the hands, leaving no
odor, and its vapor is not poisonous. He
uses solutions Of various strengths, con-
tanned in TASKS. of which the patient
smells, beginning with the weakest until
he reaches a strength which he recognizes.
He claims that the odor of camphor should
be readily perceived in a solution of one
part in LOCO.
DR.. Blincoe. referring to eye strain, to
which the majority of mankind is subject,
,.-1. - l,c.o.1 xrLinA 0Crtlf from
the constant strain, causing a continual
loss of nerve force, headache, swimming of
the head, sleeplessness, neuralgia. nervous
prostration, sick stomach, dyspepsia, con-
stipation, bilious spells, epilepsy, insanity
and various obscure nervous troubles. In
any such cases not accounted for by other
causes the eye should be examined by a
competent oculist having the necessary APP
paratus. Glasses accurately fitted, by en-
abling the wearer TO use his eyes without
straining them, stop the leakage of nerve
force and in this way effect cures or greatly
benefit the patient.
Contrary to the widely prevalent opinion,
Aufrecht believes that alcohol may be sud-
denly discontinued without any evil effects
by persons who nave been in the habit of,
consuming large quantities of it. In de-
nrium tremens, especially when accompa-
MED by pneumonia, erysipelas or injury,
the sudden withdrawal of alcohol leads to
good results. AS an experiment a physi-
clan and merchant, both of whom had
habituaIly consumed large quantities of
beer every day. abstained absolutely from
all alcoholic liquors during a period of one
month without any symptoms of any dis
turbance-
According to Pers observations infam-
nation of the kidneys is hereditary, and
as a proof of this he records an extremely
interesting family history. in which, in
three generations, in one family, there
were consecutive cases of chronic kidney
disease. Where the father was affected 1t
appeared TO be limited to the sons, and
where the mother was affected it was limit
ed to the daughters. The author does not
believe that this is a series of exceptional
coincidence, but thinks there is a heredi-
tary predisposition of the kidneys to dis
ease.
Virchow. a authority, has
recently expostulated against the tendency
to coin new words in pathology. He claims
that the only excuse for the introduction
of a new name is the discovery of a new
disease, not necessarily a newly developed
one. but one dimly known in earlier times
and more carefully studied and compre-
hended in our own day. AS an example
he refers TO ricketts,, and calls attention
to the popular fallacy that ricketts, is a
disease of the bones, whereas it is in reali-
~ the carriages that are affected.
A new remedy for whooping cough has
been named antitussin. 1t is composed Of
five parts of difuordiphenyl, ten parts of
vaseline, and eighty-ive parts of chem
| ically pure wool-fat. After the neck, chest
and back nave been well scrubbed with
soap and warm water and dried with a
coarse towel a quantity of this ointment.
| about he size of a walnut, is rubbed into
the skin. This has been found useful in
| the treatment of whooping cough. and also
acts. favorably in cases of catarrhal dis
| eases of the throat
DIR. Osler, writing upon the now popular
| subject of consumption, emphasizes the
| question of nutrition. which he believes is
the all-important one in the arrest or cure