On the 10th of August, 1842, Mr. Schuti called and requested Dr. Donne to examine his mouth, stating that for six months past he had been annoyed by a rough projecting substance, which some person had informed him was a piece of dead bone, but which he believed to be the point of the knife, that had been driven down into the bone by the violence of the blow. On looking into the mouth a small black speck was discernible about one-half inch from the interval between the first and second molar teeth. The parts adjacent were somewhat tumefied and inflamed. Dr. Donne made several attempts to extract this body with a pair of common dissecting forceps, but found it immovably fixed in the substance of the bone. By dissecting around it with a bistoury down to the palate process of the superior maxillary bone, he was enabled to get a firmer hold, and with a pair of curved tooth forceps, succeeded in removing a fragment of the blade, 1 inches in length, and in. wide at the widest part; the extraction was not effected without considerable violence, and was attended with extreme suffering. The fragment came out with an audible snap which induced those present to suppose at first that it had been broken; but on inspecting its surfaces closely, they were found similarly oxidised and wanting the lustre which a recent fracture would have presented. Upon probing the aperture through which the fragment had been extracted, no other piece could be detected. This opening would scarcely admit the curved probe which Dr. Donne passed into the antrum, in order to satisfy himself that the whole of the foreign body was removed. The next day there was a slight discharge from the aperture, though the patient has suffered very little pain since the operation.

August, 1842.

[This case is certainly of a novel character. The rapidity with which the injury was repaired, and the length of time during which the fragment of the blade remained imbedded in the antrum, without causing much if any trouble to the patient, will at once strike the reader. It adds another to the

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many evidences on record of how much a sound constitution can effect, when aided by simple, yet prompt and judicious treatment such as was pursued by Dr. Donne in this instance. We should think it not improbable, however, that the patient may still have some difficulty, as the long sojourn of the broken knife in the antrum must have left the mucous membrane in condition to take on disease from a slight cause.

C.]

Selections from American and Foreign Journals.

Effects of the Times on the Profession. Strange as it may appear to some, those who are most familiar with the professional interests of the country know very well that the existing hard times affect even the profession of medicine. In the first place, fewer books are published, and consequently, one of the avenues, at least, to science, is partially closed. A disposition to curtail individual expenses in order to meet the world as it presents itself, deranged in its affairs, obliges those who always have been the generous patrons of authors and printers, to withhold subscriptions and purchases, and thus this department of industry and labor, connected with medical science, necessarily suffers. New books elicit new ideas in those who read them. Without their multiplication, therefore, there cannot be that mental activity which is produced by the silent, yet cogent stimulus of new treatises, new theories, or the announcement of important discoveries in medicine, surgery and physiology. Thus, in a measure, we are enabled to explain the comparative paucity of original communications in the journals, which are not so generously supplied by correspondents as they have been heretofore. Instead of reading, reflecting and writing as much as formerly, those who were efficient contributors to the scientific periodicals of this country are compelled to bestow much of their attention upon other. objects, which the state of the times renders imperative.

In the course of an extensive tour through an enterprising section of the Union, distinguished alike for the fruitfulness of the soil and the vigor and intellectual energy of the inhabitants, the same complaint was heard that has so long rung in our ears at home. And it was a subject of frequent observation, that no class of men were more desponding, or seemed to feel the pressure more severely, than medical practitioners.

Now at first view it may appear absolutely absurd that the scarcity of money, over the civilized world, should so affect the condition of a physician-as though people could not or would not be sick in adverse as well as in prosperous times. The fact is, the hardness of the times has increased the labors of physicians, but they can get little or nothing for their business. Collections, in the country, cannot be made; and the physi cian, who of all men is dependent on others for the price of his time, finds an increase of fatigue, responsibility and vexa tion, without obtaining, in many instances, a decent support for his family. Thus, the hardness of the times directly af fects the condition of our professional brethren. We are quite sure that this view of the matter is essentially true; and will explain satisfactorily any apparent lack of interest in the advancement of medical science, with those who were formerly distinguished for their activity in promoting its objects and extending its boundaries. The medical practitioner should remember, however, that he may in the end be a loser by retaining the small pecuniary amount which he has been in the habit of paying for medical books and periodicals.-Boston Med. and Surg. Jour.

Scriveners' Spasm cured by Division of Muscles. By Professor STROMEYER.-The disease which may be called scriv eners' spasm, and consists of permanent contraction of the long flexor of the thumb, is not very rare. Several cases have been published in Germany by Albers, Heyfelder, and Kopp; and in France by Cazenave and David. The chief characteristic of this affection is an absolute incapability of using the pen, for writing, although the strength and motions of the hand remain unimpaired for all other purposes. Some authors regard it as a species of spasm; others, as depending on paral ysis; it is generally permanent, but occasionally appears at intervals, and then is commonly brought on by long continued use of the pen. This affection, though apparently slight, is most obstinate, and resists every method of treatment that has hitherto been employed against it. The following cases, which we abridge considerably, had baffled the skill of Professor Stromeyer, until he had recourse to division of the flexor muscle, which was attended with complete success.

CASE I.-J. M., a public writer at Hanover, labored under this disease during two years. A celebrated physician had tried every kind of remedy without avail. Whenever he began

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to write, the muscles of the ball of the thumb were seized with spasm, which compelled him to desist, but the spasms did not appear at any other time. M. Stromeyer also tried a variety of means ineffectually, and then divided the small flexor muscles of the thumb. This likewise failed, and the sensibility of the palmar surface of the thumb was destroyed. It was now clear that the action of writing depended upon the long flexor, but the patient refused to permit any more operations to be performed on him.

CASE II. The subject of this case had suffered under the disease for fifteen years, when first seen by M. Stromeyer. The rigidity of the muscles of the ball of the thumb was not, however, present, but the last phalanx of the thumb became suddenly flexed, whenever the patient attempted to write or play on the piano.

The long flexor was not permanently contracted, nor did it impede any other motions of the hand. From the deep situation of the muscle it was not easy to divide it separately. M. Stromeyer bent the first phalanx strongly to a right angle, and at the same time turned the thumb as much out as possible; he then passed a very small, curved tenotome underneath the tendon, and divided it. The sensibility of the thumb was very considerably diminished after the operation, but was re stored, on the dorsal aspect the next day, and on the palmar aspect within a fortnight. The natural power of moving the thumb, also, returned at the latter period, and the patient was able to write or play on the piano without the slighest return of the spasm.-N. Y. Lancet, from Arch. Gen. de Med.

Complete Prolapsus and Separation of the Vagina.—A woman, 25 years of age, who labored under under some slight disorder occasioned by errors of diet, took an emetic on the fourth day, which produced copious vomiting, and relieved her greatly.

A few days afterwards she began to complain of burning pain during micturition, and had some discharge of blood from the vagina, with severe pain in the external organs of generation. On examination, the external parts were found in a state of gangrene; on the following day the patient complained of an unusual feeling about the parts, and it was found that the whole vagina was prolapsed; as it was impossible to return it, antiseptic remedies were merely applied. The exposed parts now sloughed, and were finally completely re