for concerts, entertainments, etc., for these will be published; at Christmas-time give books and other presents largely, and if you happen to publish a medical journal, give copies of it to your male and female friends, the act is amusing and queer, but it is said to be very profitable in money, if not in character. If one will study this satire of Dr. Jackson, and avoiding all the arts so well satirized, pursue the course tacitly or constructively indicated, he will become a wiser, purer, and better man, a more efficient, trustworthy, and accomplished physician. This is exalted commendation for so small a publication, but the praise bestowed is well deserved.

MISCELLANEOUS.

"Non omnes eadem mirantur amantque."

The Cholagogue Action of Mercury.-It will be remembered that Dr. J. Hughes Bennett, in the report of the Edinburgh Comittee to the British Medical Association, denied the specific action of mercury upon the liver; one of the conclusions, from a carefully performed series of experiments, being: "There is not one single fact in the history of medicine which shows that mercury stimulates the liver or increases the flow of bile." In a recent paper in the "British Medical Journal," he states that objection has been made to the report on the ground "that mercurials possess some specific power of exciting the biliary secretion by acting on the orifice of the common bileduct, and so stimulating the secretion through the nerves which connect it with the liver, just as pyrethrum or vinegar stimulates the salivary glands when they are applied to the orifices of the salivary ducts." With the view of testing this idea he has performed a series of experiments, from which he deduces the following conclusions:

"1. That mercurial preparations digested in the stomach do

not irritate the orifice of the common duct in the duodenum, or induce any flow of bile into it.

"2. That no other kind of local irritation causes increased secretion or flow of bile into the duodenum.

"3. That the gall-bladder is not contractile, and that, consequently, no irritation, direct or indirect, nor any kinds of reflex action, influence it.

"4. That pressure upon the gall-bladder or liver in consequence of extensive contractions of the muscles surrounding these organs, causes a copious flow of bile into the duodenum.

"In consequence of the demonstration of the non-contractility of the gall-bladder made in these experiments, I carefully examined the structure of the viscus, in the rabbit, dog, and man; and, contrary to what is generally supposed and taught (see 'Quain's Anatomy,' seventh edition, p. 878), satisfied myself that it has no muscular coat.

"These facts thus arrived at, it seems to me, completely set at rest the speculations which have been put forth as to the possible action of mercurials by local irritation of the extremity of the gall-duct in the duodenum. They further show that, whilst neither mercurials nor irritations of any kind induce a flow of bile from the duct into the bowel, neighboring muscular contraction has that effect-a circumstance which confirms the well-known benefficial influence of exercise and muscular exertion in certain bilious disorders.

"The experiments now detailed conclude the inquiry into the action of mercury on the liver, and demonstrate that the opinions of those who cling to the employment of the drug, on the ground of its local action, are in no way better founded than such as have prevailed with regard to its constitutional effects."

Double Ovariotomy.-In the journal of the Gynecological Society of Boston, for February, is a communication from Dr. A. Reeves Jackson, of Chicago, reporting a case of double ovariotomy in a woman who had menstruated regularly from the age of seventeen to time of operation. The interesting fact in

her case is, that subsequent to the operation she continued to menstruate just as regularly (with a single excep

tion) as before."

Dr. Jackson has "communicated the details of the case to Drs. Atlee, Spencer Wells, Baker Brown, Charles Clay (of Manchester, England), and other ovariotomists. *

ilar cases have occurred to each one of them."

Sim

Dr. Storer had seen "" two cases of apparent menstruation after double ovariotomy, and one after removal, with the ovaries, of the uterus also." No satisfactory explanation has been suggested.-Baltimore Medical Journal.

Dr. Cox, of South Hadley Falls, Mass., relates in the journal of the Gynecological Society a case of uterine fibroid which had been about "the size of a small child, eighteen months previously, but under the steady employment of bromide of potassium, at Dr. Storer's suggestion, had now almost entirely disappeared."-Ibid.

MEDICAL NEWS.
'Nulla dies sine linea."

The American Medical Association meets in San Francisco, California, May 2, 1871, at 10 o'clock A. M. Secretaries of all medical organizations are requested to forward lists of their delegates, as soon as elected, to the permanent secretary, Dr. W. B. Atkinson, of Philadelphia. Any respectable physician who may desire to attend, but cannot do so as a delegate, may be made a member by invitation, upon the recommendation of the Committee of Arrangements. Twenty committees on special subjects are expected to report, and with these the committees (33) on epidemics are also announced as being expected to do something. How many committees will report, it is easy to de

termine. Most will be continued, and the chairmen will, of course, be allowed to protract the period of their interesting gestation until the actual force of gravidity brings them to parturition; when again will there be written, in spirit if not in fact, upon these reports the just, familiar, and melancholy commentary "montes parturiunt et nascitur ridiculus mus." These cases, however, will not be prejudged; the womb of the future contains in this connection most interesting offspring; the scientific world awaits the period of labor, and is ready to weigh and measure the progeny.

The Kentucky State Medical Society meets at Covington, Ky., April 4th, 1871. This anouncement is again made, and it is hoped that the physicians of the State will remember the necessity of general attendance to prevent a disaster that must otherwise ensue, the disruption of the most important medical organization of the State. There are but five counties in this State in which medical societies have been formed-Jefferson, Boyle, Fayette, Nelson, and Lincoln counties. Cannot the physicians of the different counties hold meetings and organize societies to be represented at Covington?

The Alabama Medical Society meets at Mobile during this month (the 21st). This will be an important meeting, as it is well known that matters of grave import will be brought forward for efficient disposition.

The following proceedings will be read with interest:

BELLEVUE HOSPITAL MEDICAL COLLEGE.

At a meeting of the Faculty of this college it was

Resolved, That in the death of Dr. George T. Elliot the Faculty have to deplore the loss of one of the founders of the institution, one who has been connected with it from its inception, and who, by the brilliancy and variety of his talents and attainments, was a main agent in promoting its success and usefulness.

Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathies to the family of our late colleague for the loss of one who was endeared to all by his kindly nature and social qualities as much as he

was respected for his spotless integrity and his high professional skill and acquirements.

R. W. MCCREADY,

At the regular meeting of the Covington and Newport Medical Society, held on the 14th of February, 1871, the following resolutions, offered by Dr. D. H. Jessup, were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That it is with feelings of regret that we have learned of the recent death of one of our members (Dr. Samuel Hunter) of this city.

Resolved, That in his untimely death, having been cut down in the very morning of his professional life, this Society and the profession have lost a member who gave bright promise of professional distinction.

Resolved, That we tender our sympathies to the family of the deceased, with expressions of esteem for his exemplary private as well as professional character.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the bereaved family, and also furnished to the Cincinnati and Louisville Medical Journals. W. W. HENDERSON, President.

A. G. Drury, Secretary.

EDITORIAL.

"Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri.”—Hox.

EDITORIAL BREVITIES.

-The

Want of space compels the adoption of brevities.editor regrets that as no type with French accents was procured with the new type for this journal, many words appear in this number incorrectly presented. The readers of this journal must have noticed the increased and increasing amount of entirely original matter published in its pages. The editor is striving to make inapplicable to this work the charge made so justly by foreign journals against American medical periodicals, viz: that they have no original support of value, and are edited chiefly with "the scissors."