Physiological Observations on Double Uterus.-M. DUMAS relates in the Journal de la Soc. de la Méd. Pratique de Montpelier, a case of double uterus observed by himself, and refers to a number of similar cases, from a comparison of which he draws the following conclusions.

1. The menstrual discharge may continue from the empty uterus, whilst the other contains an embryo.

2. The two uteri do not influence each other to such a degree, as that the empty one should be always under the immediate influence of the other which is fecundated.

3. The woman may be a virgin as regards the left one, and with child in the right, and vice versa. She may be at the full time with the one, and in labor, while with the other she is not near her period.

4. Superfœtation may take place in cases of double uterus with double neck and os uteri, and also in cases of double uterus with single neck and os uteri.

5. Notwithstanding the absence of anatomical proof of the existence of superfotation in cases of double uterus, its possibility ought to be admitted in legal medicine.

6. In well marked cases of double uterus, there will be an inclination to the same side that the fertile womb is on; and all the symptoms will be slightly different from those observed in a case of single uterus.

7. Although it cannot be laid down as a principle, that each cavity of the double uterus can become so developed, as to be able to contain a fœtus at the full period; yet we can believe in frequent abortions.

8. The double uterus, when enlarged, renders labor and the expulsion of the after-birth difficult, and facilitates the laceration of the soft parts.

9. Thanks to the form observed by M. Martin St. Ange, (in which the cavity of the neck of the uterus communicated with that of the body, by a narrow canal thirteen millimetres in length,) we can explain the retention of the secundines, and the difficulty experienced in their extraction, when the canal which retains them has not been sufficiently dilated.Amer. Jour. Med. Sci., from Gazette Méd. de Paris, 4 Feb. 1842.

Mode of Preserving Nitrate of Silver.-M. DUMERIL has for a long while employed a very simple process for preserving the nitrate of silver from the injurious effects of exposure to

the air, when run into sticks. It consists in merely coating the caustic with engraver's sealing-wax, which contains a large quantity of shellac. This wax adheres very well, and forms a strong and smooth varnish, as it were, which remains unaf fected by the atmosphere. Thus protected the nitrate no lon ger stains the fingers, injures the caustic-case, nor is in any way changed by the moisture in the air, possesses a greater degree of solidity, and, at the same time, the process is of exceeding service in practice, inasmuch as when wanted for use a small part only of the caustic need be uncovered by means of a penknife, so that its application can be restricted to the part where it is required. This is of peculiar utility in ulceration of the throat, aphthæ, fissures, &c.--Prov. Med. Journ. July 2, from Bull. de Thérap.

External Application of Croton Oil.-Whenever it is requi red to use this method of counter-irritation, M. Bouchardat strongly recommends a plaster which has been much used by M. Chomel at the Hotel Dieu, and which is thus prepared: Four parts of diachylon-plaster are melted at a very gentle heat, and while it is half liquid one part of croton oil is mixed with it, and the mixture is then spread in a thick layer on cal ico. Pieces cut from this may be applied to the skin, like or dinary sticking-plaster, and quickly produce an active irrita tion.-B. & F. Med. Rev. July 1842, from Bull. Gén. de Thérapeutique, March 1842.

Nature and Treatment of Scrofula.-After enumerating the different forms of scrofulous cachexia, Dr. ROESCH arrives at the conclusion that scrofulous affections are produced by an excess of acid matters in the fluids of the body. Agreeing with the ancient physicians in his theory of the disease, he recommends their plan, viz. absorbents, alkalies, and fat or oily matters. He says he has observed that, in those countries where the children get a quantity of lard and other fat mat ters with their food, scrofula is extremely rare. Cod-liver oil, is therefore, according to him, one of the most suitable remedies to administer in this disease, seeing it possesses the rare properties of being at once a stimulant, a roborant, an antacid and a nutrient. He considers that the iodine in it will have a very secondary effect, the other properties of the oil being considered the most valuable.-Ed. Med. and Surg. Journ., July, 1842, from Haeser's Archiv., Oct. 1841.

State of the Blood in Hydrophobia. The last number of the Austrian Yahrbücher contains an interesting case of hydrophobia, with an account of some experiments performed by Professor BERRES on the patient's blood.

The blood was dark red in color, and of an oily feel; with the exception of the portion examined in the heart, it furnished very little fibrin and did not coagulate. When examined under the microscope, the globules appeared as perfectly round corpuscules of a dull white color, without any nucleus, and with a few dentated red rays along the edges.

The bicarbonate of potass developed the red colored rays on the corpuscles: the same effect was produced more evidently by a concentrated solution of sulphate of copper, and the nuclei now appeared.

On washing the corpuscles with water, they became of a dull white color, and seemed to pass gradually into a gelatinous, granular mass of molecules.

Concentrated acetic acid turned the corpuscles into molecules. At first, each globule changed into a cluster of smallgranules, which soon separated, thus showing the difference between them and the globules of healthy blood.

Under a solution of chlorine the globules remained transparent, but soon changed into a granular mass. When concentrated muriatic acid was mixed with a few drops of the blood, a considerable quantity of the gas was disengaged, and the corpuscles were converted as before into molecules, with a few opaque, contracted globules mixed amongst them.

Treated with concentrated nitric acid the globules became small, round, and opaque; some few were oblong; some pointed at both ends.

Sulphuric ether, iodine, and corrosive sublimate, were also employed with analogous effects. The action of water, chlo rine, acetic and muriatic acids, was altogether different from that produced on healthy blood; the three first substances rapidly changing the corpuscles into molecules, and the latter disengaging a remarkable quantity of gas. The peculiarities then observed in the blood in this case may be stated to be— dull white globules, without nuclei; no appearance of the crenated margin; a very quick transition of the corpuscles into molecules, and a tendency to lose their individual character. -Prov. Med. Jour., July 2, 1842.

Asylum Journal.-A quarto sheet is hereafter to be published weekly at the Insane Asylum in Brattleboro', Vt., by the inmates of the institution. This is indeed an extraordi nary age, when lunatics write for the amusement and instruc tion of the rest of mankind! Who can say, however, but that a large part of those who are outside the walls of insane hos pitals are quite as crazy as those within? The contents of the first No. are creditable to the literary taste and morals of those who prepared it for the press. All the profits are to be ap plied to the support of the indigent residents of the asylum, of whatever name or denomination. The price is only one dol lar a year, and those who profess to be the friends of unfortu nate humanity cannot better appropriate that pittance than by forwarding it to Brattleboro' for the sustenance of this novel enterprise. Boston Med. and Surg. Jour.

Case of Rupture of the Diaphragm in a Horse.-On the 8th of January last, Mr. Cope, whose pupil I have the honor to be, was desired to look at a black mare, the property of a farmer in this county, who said that, in coming up one of the steep hills that are so plentiful in the county, she stopped suddenly and breathed very laboriously, so that he could hear her at a great distance off. She was unable to proceed for full fifteen minutes, and then she slowly journeyed on with her load, which was upwards of a ton. On coming under our care the following symptoms were presented:

She was constantly lying down and getting up again; while down she would frequently turn her head to her side; she perspired very much; the pulse was 80, and hard; the extremities moderately warm.

Venesection was had recourse to immediately, and copi ously; and opium, combined with ol. lini, was administered; but in spite of our efforts she died in about six hours after the first appearance of illness.

It would be useless to occupy much time in describing the post-mortem appearances: suffice it to say, that on examining the chest the diaphragm was found to be ruptured. The rupture extended about seven inches, and a large portion of the intestines had protruded through the opening. They were very considerably inflamed, and this rupture was doubtless the cause of death.-Mr. Osborne, in Veterinarian.

THE WESTERN JOURNAL.

Vol. VI.-No. VI.

LOUISVILLE, DECEMBER 1, 1842.

OURSELVES AND OUR ENTERPRISE.

This number completes the sixth volume of our Journal. It is with no ordinary feelings of regret, that, in looking back, we are compelled to admit that we have not made it equal, in variety and richness, to the expectations which its title, and the number of its editors, may have raised in the minds of its readers. But while making this confession, justice requires that we should remind them, and our brethren generally in the west, of their own delinquencies as writers; that in establishing a special department for their contributions, we had a right to expect their co-operation; and that one source of the barrenness to which we are confessing, is their own remissness. As we hope in future to do better ourselves, so we anticipate that they will display greater activity as contributors.

Our seventh volume will open with an elaborate experimental paper, by our indefatigable collaborator, Prof. GRoss, on wounds of the intestines, illustrated with engravings. It will occupy a considerable portion of the original department of the first three numbers; and must, we think, be found acceptable to all who have a taste for patient and accurate inquiry.