urine occasionally contains much albumen, and coagulates by nitric acid and heat: sometimes it is mixed with blood.

As Mr. Field remarks, the disease is seemingly referrible to a morbid condition-characterised chiefly by an increased tenuity-of the circulating fluids. There may indeed be present, at the same time, an unusual laxity and dilatability of the blood-vessels, with a certain degree of obstruction in the capillaries, and an augmented impetus in the heart's action; but certainly the primary and essential feature of Purpura is an alteration in the composition and vital properties of the blood itself. This opinion is confirmed by the circumstance of its usual exciting causes being general debility, poor living, unwholesome diet, and excessive labor.

As to the treatment, bleeding may be occasionally necessary, when vital organs are affected or threatened; "but it rarely (does it ever?) benefits." Turpentine is useful; so are the sulphate of iron, the mineral acids, &c. The cold effusion is "particularly good." The pure air of the country, with grass feeding, is the best restorative.

In a fatal case of Hæmaturia, the peritoneal coat and cortical substance of the kidney (kidneys?) were entirely destroyed. The ureters were filled with blood: the bladder contained about two pints, mixed with urine. The liver was very pale; the intestines healthy. About a pint of blood was found within the pericardium. In another fatal case, where the quantity of blood lost had been enormous, the tubuli uriniferi and pelvis of the left kidney were found ulcerated, and the texture of the right one was soft and flabby.

Lithotomy. The symptoms of calculus in the bladder are, as might be supposed, very much alike to those that are observed in the human subject. We read of the animal "staling blood after work,-continually making attempts to stalestraining violently and voiding only a small quantity at a time -and the urine being turbid and alkalescent." The actual presence of the stone is ascertained by an examination per anum, and by the introduction of a catheter or sound into the bladder. The following account of the mode, in which a horse is cut for the stone, is well worth a perusal: we cannot abridge it without injury.

"The animal was cast in the usual manner, and both hind legs were drawn to the shoulders, as if for castration. Read's new flexible catheter being passed into the bladder, a quantity of warm water was injected, sufficient to distend that organ and the urethra moderately. The catheter being withdrawn,

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and holding the penis with the left hand, a slightly-curved groove staff, two feet long, was introduced, so as for the curved part to come into the sub-anal portion of the urethra, above the posterior edge of the ischium, extending towards the sphicter ani. An assistant kneeling on the left side of the horse, drew the penis forwards with his left hand, and gently pushed the staff backwards with the right, at the same time keeping the groove exactly beneath the raphe; this elevated the portion of the urethra to be incised. I then made an incision, a line from and on the right side of the raphe, through the skin and fascia, extending the length of it from three to four inches; and, pushing the penis a little on one side, I gradually divided the muscular and spongy portion, and exposed the mucous membrane of the urethra, when the finger readily detected the groove of the staff, into which a small incision was made sufficient to admit the bistoire cachée, following which with the index finger of the left hand, the membrane was divided to the rectum. Very little blood flowed, and the water of the urethra gushed out. The staff being removed, I easily introduced the small forceps through the urethra into the bladder, and grasped the stone, a portion of which flaked off. The large forceps were then employed, and, my brother holding the handles, I directed the blades upon the stone, my left hand being in the rectum. Having placed the stone in a proper position, I grasped it with the forceps, and with both hands gave it a half-turn, so as to place its widest axis between the pubis and rectum; and thus, with a moderate force, I gradually and evenly drew it out, the neck of the bladder readily dilating. Two stitches were inserted in that part of the incision nearest the anus, the lower part being left to itself."

9

The calculus consisted entirely of carbonate of lime and animal matter. The animal did well.-Med. Chi. Rev., Jan.

On the Increasing Frequency of Cancerous Diseases.--M. Tanchon remarks, "that there is reason to believe that the frequency of cancer is on the increase, more especially in large towns. Mr. Farr tells us that, in 1838, the number of deaths (in England, we believe) from this cause was 2,448, while in 1839 it rose to 2,691. My own inquiries lead to a

similar conclusion; for, from a registry of cases of cancer of the uterus, I find that there were in

"Cancer, like insanity, is of much more frequent occurrence in civilized than in barbarous countries. Long ago it was remarked in the East, that the disease was much oftener found in the Christian than in the Moslem population there. Fabricius Hildanus was of opinion that it was more frequent in temperate than very warm climates; and this opinion has certainly been confirmed by the experience of some recent observers. M. Hamon, an eminent veterinary surgeon, who has been attached to Mehemet Ali's service for 14 years, informs me that he has never seen a case of genuine cancer in the native or Fellah women, and not many even in the Turkish women of Egypt. M. Clotbey has made a similar remark; and M. Bac, surgeon-major of the second regiment of African Chasseurs, never met with a single case during the six years that he resided at Senegal. Again, M. Baudens, now the head surgeon at the Val de Grace, whose practice at. Algiers was most extensive for a considerable number of years, did not meet with more than two or three instances altogether."

M. Tanchon closes his remarks with the following general conclusions:

"1. The frequency of cancerous diseases appears to be on the increase, and this frequency seems to be proportionate to the degree of civilization to which a people has attained.

2. It is towards the decline of life, and more especially in the female sex, that the development of cancer is most to be dreaded; but early age is not entirely exempt from its attacks.

"3. Glandular organs, and those in particular which are the most susceptible of excitement, are most frequently the seat of the disease.

"4. The proximate cause of the disease appears to exist in every part of the system; but rather in the fluids than in the solids.

"5. When not induced by any external cause, it seems to result from a molecular organic modification or lesion of the part, occasioned by various causes, which as yet are but little known.

"6. In the actual state of our knowledge, the treatment of cancer can be little else but empirical, like that of syphilis, dartres, &c. Still there is reason to hope that we may yet learn how to arrest, if not actually to extirpate, the morbid process. In many cases, we well know that the disease is remarkably stationary for a great number of years, and indeed that its existence seems not much to interfere with the full prolongation of life. What are the circumstances favorable to inducing such an arrest, we indeed are almost wholly ignorant; but much may be expected from a careful watching of such cases by metropolitan surgeons, and others who have the opportunity of seeing many cases of cancerous maladies. The regulation of the diet is unquestionably of primary importance, and hence every means should be adopted to keep the digestive and assimilative organs in a sound healthy condition, in order that there may be a regular supply of wholesome chyle."-Gazette des Hôpitaux.—Med. Chi. Rev.

Veratria in Facial Neuralgia.-An ointment composed of veratria, one part, to eighty parts of lard, has been found very useful as an external application in cases of facial neuralgia. But the preparation is much more efficacious if made with rancid instead of fresh lard, which is probably owing to a salification and greater solubility effected in the veratria by the agency of the free acid in the fat.-Braithwaite's Retrospect.

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Advantage of Medicines in a Liquid Form.-It has been found that fifteen grains of sulphate of quinine, given in infusion of senna, is more efficacious as a tonic, notwithstanding the purgative quality of the mixture, than twenty-four grains of sulphate ef quinine administered in the form of pills. Panizza supposes the causes of this to be that the senna, by promoting the peristaltic action of the alimentary tube, and augmenting the secretion of the bowels, excites the production of a fluid adapted perfectly to dissolve the quinine; and that the quinine, in passing through the intestine in a state of solution, is placed in contact with a much larger extent of surface, and disposed for absorption much more rapidly than if taken in a solid form.-Panizza, in L'Experience-Lancet, November 4.

The Automaton with Articulated Voice. We have had the pleasure of examining privately this chef-d'œuvre of human ingenuity-the result of eighteen years' unceasing labor, by a German, named Faber. It is constructed upon the model of the human organs of voice, the tongue, larynx, &c., being made of caoutchouc. As voice is the sound produced by air driven from the lungs through the larynx, causing a vibration of the chordæ vocales, it is a function of animal life; but this function, in animals inferior to man, as well as in the idiot, is limited to the production of the simple or instinctive voice; while, in intellectual man, it becomes sufficiently complicated for the purpose of articulation. This is regarded as an evidence of man's intellectual superiority. Here, however, we find the same phenomena produced by an apparatus of caoutchouc and a bellows!

The automaton is represented by a bearded Turk, and the articulations are produced by playing upon sixteen keys. We were quite surprised at being addressed by the automaton, in words very distinctly articulated, thus: "Welcome Doc-tor For-ry. Please excuse my slow e-nun-ci-a-tion." After giving various other illustrations of his vocal powers, the automaton sang "Hail Columbia," &c.; as we were about leaving, he said, "Gen-tle-men, I thank you for your vis-it."

But, after all, cui est bono?—New York Jour. Med.

Capsules of Cod-Liver Oil.-We have been shown by Mr. Milhau, at his pharmacy, 183 Broadway, beautiful capsules of cod liver oil, prepared by Mr. W. F. Stone, by means of which the unpleasant taste of this medicine is wholly obviated, Each capsule contains, besides the cod-liver oil, one-twentieth grain of iodine. This oil is a remedy which has recently come into notice, as shown in some of our previous numbers; and, in Germany, it is regarded almost as a panacea.—Ib.

Compliment to the Memory of Sir Charles Bell. Sir Robert Peel has addressed the following letter to Lady Bell: "Whitehall, September 4.

Madam: I have had great pleasure in recommending to Her Majesty, that in consideration of the high attainments of your lamented husband, and the services rendered by him to