consequence of a bad attack from lead, different means had failed to relieve the malady; the ergot completely triumphed over it.

From these three cases M. Payan not only infers the efficacy, but, moreover, the complete innocence of this medicine, which has been ordered for six weeks without any accident, which this year has been given for forty consecutive days, in doses of forty to eighty centi-grammes, to a young girl five years old, without her being the least injured by it.-Dub. Jour. Med. Sci., from Journ. de Pharm.

The employment of Strychnia in Amaurosis.-A laboring boy, 12 years old, received a blow in the right supra-orbital region, by the falling of a pewter vessel which he was endeavoring to remove from a high shelf. At the moment of receiv ing the blow he perceived a flash of light in the eye, but could see nothing with it afterwards. In three hours he came under the care of Dr. Dusterberg, of Lippstadt. Immediately above the right eye-lid was visible a small blue spot, of the size of a horse-bean. In the eyeball itself nothing abnormal could be detected, no trace of opacity or extravasation of blood. The pupil acted naturally, as in the sound organ, but the power of vision was entirely lost in the right eye; so that he was unconscious when it was directed toward the full glare of the sun. He was treated for two months with bleeding, cold applications, mercurial frictions, blisters, drastics, emetics, electricity, and even the frontal nerve was divided; but all in vain; the amaurosis did not in any degree yield. Subsequently a solution of a grain of nitrate of strychnia in half an ounce of rectified spirit of wine was dropped into the eye four or five times daily: the result of which was, that, in fourteen days, sensations of light were experienced in the affected eye, which, under the continued use of the remedy, increased so that he was enabled to distinguish colored objects. After a period of three months, the power of vision had so far returned that he could recognize bodies at a distance of three feet. At this point the improvement stopped, notwithstanding that the dose of strychnia was increased, and its endemic application had recourse to. The case, however, may be fairly adduced to show the beneficial influence of strychnia on torpid amaurosis.-Lond. Med. Gaz., Aug, 5, 1842, from Schmidt's Jahrbücher.

THE WESTERN JOURNAL.

Vol. VI.-No. V.

LOUISVILLE, NOVEMBER 1, 1842.

KANE'S ELEMENTS OF CHEMISTRY.

Professor Draper has rendered an acceptable service to American students of Chemistry, by giving them this edition of Dr. Kane's admirable work, with alterations, adapting it better to the system of instruction pursued in this country. We have no hesitation in agreeing with the editor, that, as a text-book, it is the best work extant in the English language. It represents the present condition of chemical science, and exhibits its applications to pharmacy, medicine, and the useful arts. In a work of so great detail much is given in which the student can feel but little interest. Dr. Draper has had the details printed in a smaller type, by which the learner will be able to distin. guish the parts embracing the leading principles upon which he will bestow his first attention. The mechanical execution of the work is excellent. It contains a great number of wood cuts, which will ma terially aid the student in comprehending processes. So rapid is the march of chemical science, especially of organic chemistry, that it must be posted up at short intervals. New publications are demand. ed every year to bring up the improvements. Kane's Elements em. brace an account of many which are not to be met with in previous

works on chemistry, and it will be found that he has adapted his work admirably to the wants of medical men, by pointing out the connexion, where any existed, between his subject and pharmacy, physiology, or pathology.

Y.

PHRENOLOGY AND NAPOLEON.

Napoleon's bust, as it is to be seen in phrenological cabinets, must have struck every one as very unlike the head of a great warrior. In fact, it is a very mediocre thing, and we have always felt, that, if it represented faithfully the size and form of the emperor's head, it was exceedingly out of place in a phrenological cabinet, since it set fairly at defiance every principle of organology. We have heard various attempts at explaining the discrepancy. It has been said, that, after Napoleon's exile to St. Helena, his brain shrunk from inaction, and that, consequently, the bust taken after his death does not give the proportions of his head as it was in the prime of his life. Another explanation is, that Antomarchi was an anti-phrenologist, and published a false bust of his illustrious patient. The true account of the matter is probably given in the following anecdote, which we lately met with in a biographical sketch of Dr. Graves, of Dublin, and for which we are sure he will receive the thanks of all phrenologists.

"When Napoleon died, there was no plaster of Paris in St. Helena, and no one who knew how to take a plaster bust of the emperor, which he had never allowed any one to do during his life (why, it is difficult to say). The emperor's suite expressed great regret at this circumstance, in the presence of Doctor Burton of the 66th regiment, a relative of Dr. Graves (who had all the particulars from him). Doctor Burton had assisted in the post-mortem examination of Napoleon-his name is to the attested certificate of that investigation—and when he heard these expressions of regret, he offered to make all possible ef forts to form a bust, on the condition, that if he succeeded he should have the original, and the emperor's attendants a copy. He had in so hot a climate, to hasten his operations, and was out all night in a boat seeking sulphate of lime (gypsum), which he had previously observed in veins on the rocks near the shore. He collected a sufficient quantity, prepared it, and after much labor succeeded in taking an excellent cast of Napoleon's bust. Next evening he went to town, having labored all day, to take some refreshment in his quarters, leaving the mould at Longwood. Some of the officers, hearing from him what he had done, said he would never see the mould again. To this he

answered, that he did not believe any effort would be made to rob him of his rights, which he had taken care to verify by a written contract; but when he returned to Longwood, he found the mask or face part of the mould had been stolen. The rest was left-its use either being not understood, or being too heavy to get away privately. No entreaties of Dr. Burton were availing to recover the mask. Mad ame Bertrand said she would never permit an "Englishman to publish the emperor. This mask was published by Antomarchi, Napoleon's physician, and not only the mask but the whole bust. Except the mask, every other part was fictitious, as Doctor Burton secured the rest, and yet throughout Europe, the imaginary bumps, in this supposed cast of Napoleon's cranium, have proved quite satisfactory to phrenologists as affording undoubted proofs of the accuracy and truth of their science. Doctor Burton died suddenly on parade, at Canter. bury, while doing duty with a regiment of hussars to which he had been appointed surgeon; and the mould, there is too much reason to believe, was destroyed in his quarters; his servants being ignorant of its value."

ART. I.-The Northern Lakes, a Summer Resort for Invalids of the South. By DANIEL DRAKE, M. D., Professor in the Medical Institute of Louisville.

Much having been written on the comparative fitness of different places in the South, as winter residences for the invalids of the North, we propose to say something for the benefit of the valetudinarians of the former. Their present places of resort are chiefly the following-1. The Virginia Springs, where they can drink mineral waters of different kinds, and must breathe a mountain air which, although not in a high latitude, is invigorating. 2. The New York Springs, in a higher latitude, but on a lower level. 3. The Harrodsburg Springs of Kentucky, where art has contributed munificently to the comfort of inva