VERY HOT COMPRESSES IN SURGICAL
PRACTICE.
Professor 1.1. Nasiloff, writing in the Vrach, gives account of several cases of inflammation of the lymphatic glands which he treated with marked success by means of very hot compresses. These compresses consisted of a fourfold piece of linen, rather larger than the surface over the aflected glands. It was dipped into water at a temperature nearly or quite equal to 212? F., wrung out, and applied quickly over the glands, its own temperature being then from 140? to 165? a. These applications were made morning and evening, the compress being allowed to remain on, covered over with cotton wool, for about fifteen minutes. As may be supposed, the application produced somewhat severe pain, but this did not last long, though sometimes not only redness, but a blister, was caused. The treatment was continued for about a fortnight. It was found that it very soon began to promote absorption ; this action was always accompanied by a rise of temperature, depending apparently upon the size of the diseased glands, and upon the extent to which absorption was taking place. It was noticed that the earlier the treatment was adopted the more effective it showed itself. Professor Nasilofl' believes that hot compresses are a valuable form of treatment, not only in strumous glands, but in rheumatic osteo-myelitis and in fungoid inflammation of the joints.?Lancet, December 1, 1888. an
Hot water has been used successfully in a severe case of epistaxis by Dr. Alvin, of Mont Dore (France). In this case the blood forced its way through the lachrymal puncta and through the plugs. After removing the latter the author injected water at about, 155? Fahr., and the
bleeding stopped in a couple of minutes. The operation proved painles, notwithstanding the high temperature of the water.
Cocaine has been used in tracheotomy by Dr. Lennox states that since the introduction of that alkaloid neither he nor his colleagues at the Central London Throat and Ear Hospital have employed chloroform in performing in that operation, substituting for that anaesthetic 5 minims of a 10 per cent solution of cocaine on each side of the immediate region at which the trachea is to be opened. Ten or twelve minutes are allowed to elapse before commencing the operation.
Browne, who
i
SCIENCE AND BEEF-TEA.?Baron Liebig saya of beef-tea that as a pleasant and refreshing light diet it has been known for centuries among all civilized nations, and that its object is not to contain any very substantial nourishment, but simply to act as a palatable stimulant on the whole system, more especially on the nerves of the stomach. The celebrated chemist used to say that beeftea or bouillon was really taken to prepare digestion efficiently for a more substantial dinner to follow. The assertion made by puffing advertisements that certain sorts of fluid beef-tea represent the most perfect form of concentrated food is simply absurd. They may contain a little nourishment sufficient to keep an invalid old lady or a little baby alive for a few days : but the qualification of nourishment in the proper sense i3 absolutely wanting. It seems desirable that the public should be aware of these facts.?St. James's Gazette.
Notice.
Papers by are
Drs. Richards Marsh and Moriarty till the March number.
unavoidably postponed
PRACTICE.
Professor 1.1. Nasiloff, writing in the Vrach, gives account of several cases of inflammation of the lymphatic glands which he treated with marked success by means of very hot compresses. These compresses consisted of a fourfold piece of linen, rather larger than the surface over the aflected glands. It was dipped into water at a temperature nearly or quite equal to 212? F., wrung out, and applied quickly over the glands, its own temperature being then from 140? to 165? a. These applications were made morning and evening, the compress being allowed to remain on, covered over with cotton wool, for about fifteen minutes. As may be supposed, the application produced somewhat severe pain, but this did not last long, though sometimes not only redness, but a blister, was caused. The treatment was continued for about a fortnight. It was found that it very soon began to promote absorption ; this action was always accompanied by a rise of temperature, depending apparently upon the size of the diseased glands, and upon the extent to which absorption was taking place. It was noticed that the earlier the treatment was adopted the more effective it showed itself. Professor Nasilofl' believes that hot compresses are a valuable form of treatment, not only in strumous glands, but in rheumatic osteo-myelitis and in fungoid inflammation of the joints.?Lancet, December 1, 1888. an
Hot water has been used successfully in a severe case of epistaxis by Dr. Alvin, of Mont Dore (France). In this case the blood forced its way through the lachrymal puncta and through the plugs. After removing the latter the author injected water at about, 155? Fahr., and the
bleeding stopped in a couple of minutes. The operation proved painles, notwithstanding the high temperature of the water.
Cocaine has been used in tracheotomy by Dr. Lennox states that since the introduction of that alkaloid neither he nor his colleagues at the Central London Throat and Ear Hospital have employed chloroform in performing in that operation, substituting for that anaesthetic 5 minims of a 10 per cent solution of cocaine on each side of the immediate region at which the trachea is to be opened. Ten or twelve minutes are allowed to elapse before commencing the operation.
Browne, who
i
SCIENCE AND BEEF-TEA.?Baron Liebig saya of beef-tea that as a pleasant and refreshing light diet it has been known for centuries among all civilized nations, and that its object is not to contain any very substantial nourishment, but simply to act as a palatable stimulant on the whole system, more especially on the nerves of the stomach. The celebrated chemist used to say that beeftea or bouillon was really taken to prepare digestion efficiently for a more substantial dinner to follow. The assertion made by puffing advertisements that certain sorts of fluid beef-tea represent the most perfect form of concentrated food is simply absurd. They may contain a little nourishment sufficient to keep an invalid old lady or a little baby alive for a few days : but the qualification of nourishment in the proper sense i3 absolutely wanting. It seems desirable that the public should be aware of these facts.?St. James's Gazette.
Notice.
Papers by are
Drs. Richards Marsh and Moriarty till the March number.
unavoidably postponed
