The Indian Annals of Medical Science

SURGEON TO THE EUROPEAN GENERAL HOSPITAL; AND PROFESSOR OF PHYSIOLOGY IN THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE.

THE number opens with an excellent essay by Dr. McConnell on "The Treatment of Liver Abscess," a subject which, here in India,' we are most of us, unfortunately, compelled to be more or less interested in. The paper contains a full-page woodcut and several compact temperature charts, neatly lithographed by Black, and, what we consider a great convenience, not occupying more space than a single page. Were our official Report-writers to take a lesson from these diagrams, their productions would not be disfigured by clumsy, folded charts, rarely consulted, and the Stationery Department would be no inconsiderable gainer. This essay is followed by an address delivered by Professor Pettenköfer at Munich on Typhoid Fever, translated by Dr. Douglas Cunningham. Another and still more valuable paper by Pettenköfer is also brought within the reach of English readers, on Cholera on Boardships and the Aim of Quarantines. Not only the profession, but all interested in the subject of public health and quarantine, are under great obligation to Dr. Cunningham for the trouble he has taken in translating such importaint papers as these. We would specially draw the attention of the authorities concerned in framing quarantine rules to the very valuable translations here referred to.

Dr. Moore supplies a very readable article on matters medical in Rajputána. He tells us that in Marwár cholera is supposed to be a devil, who, for his evil deeds, was imprisoned by a Bráhman in a temple on Mount Girnai. In 1810 a Jaunpur pandit persisted, against the prayers and entreaties of the people, in ascending the mountain, and opening the doors of the temple. In a moment the devil escaped as a sheet of flame, and cholera immediately spread through the country. This is quite as logical as many of the theories advanced by some of our doctors as to the origin of this malady. The Editor himself contributes several papers on various subjects, and Dr. Lawrie gives an interesting resume of observations made by him at the General Hospital. The paper by Dr. Lyons on Cholera in Alipur, though excellent in many respects, betrays such unmistakable evidence of having been written with preconceived views regarding the relation of cause and effect as greatly to diminish its value. Dr. Richards narrates, among other matters, his experience of the value of some half-a-dozen much-vaunted snake-bite remedies which had been forwarded to him for experiment. They proved useless-every one. This writer has also communicated some statistical notes on Leprosy in Northern Orissa, which are excellent. Besides all these contributions, the very eloquent introductory address delivered by Dr. Cutcliffe at the Medical College is also reproduced; so we think that enough has been said to show how deservedly the Indian Annals appeals to the support of the medical profession.—Englishman, 15th July 1873.

CALCUTTA THACKER, SPINK AND CO.

BOMBAY THACKER, VINING & Co.

LONDON: W. THACKER & Co.

[See Contents on next page.

ARTICLE I.-Remarks on Pneumatic Aspiration, with cases of Abscess of the

Liver treated by this method. By J. F. P. McConnel, M.B.

II.-Typhoid Fever: its relation to Soil-water. By Professor Max v.

Pettenkofer. Translated by D. D. Cunningham, M.B.