this was ironed with a hot iron for half an hour at a time. If the first course failed to unlock the jaws, the same was repeated. Seldom the third trial was necessary. When the jaws unlocked, the treatment was kept up as the wisdom of the doctor felt was necessary to prevent a recurrence of the terrible disease. The lobelia, which relaxed the convulsed muscles, the hot water dip, and the ironing of the spine (the seat of reflexes), go to teach that if a better treatment, and sure one, has ever been found, I would like to know it. From the time this secret was made known to this physician up to the time of his death, it never failed in his hands. Seventy-five years ago he brought the secret from the "West," and for the first time it is now public property. 545 N. Carey Street.

I enjoy the BRIEF very much, so please send it another year. Enclosed I send one dollar.-GEO. H. GRIMMELL, M. D., Jefferson, Iowa.

[Written for the MEDICAL BRIEF.] Specific Treatment of Dropsy; or Anasarcin in Dropsy.

BY R. R. STOCKARD, A. M., M. D., Columbus, Miss.

Impelled by philanthropic motives and a sense of obligation to the profession for practical hints and clinical observations I direct (or invite) the attention of your readers to a new preparation called anasarcin, in the treatment of all forms of dropsy.

For the past three years I have been prescribing this combination of cardiac tonics, diuretics and eliminants in the treatment of that pathological complexity of morbific conditions (anatomical lesions and histological changes) which may cause edemas, ascites and general anasarca, with results very gratifying and well-nigh miraculous when compared with results under other plans.

My first experiment was made with a sample sent me by the manufacturers, in Case 1.-Lucinda B., aged forty years, the wife of a negro farmer, the mother of fourteen children, became suddenly and

enormously bloated three weeks after the birth of a child. Her husband said: "She could not walk or lie down and that she looked a sight all over." I could not see her and did not think it mattered much, as I supposed she had either acute Bright's or some form of septicemia which would kill her in a few days, but I gave him a half box (thirty-five) anasarcin tablets with directions for one tablet every three hours beginning each day at noon (twelve, three, six and nine P. M.), followed by a drachm of magnesium sulph. in a tablespoonful of water next morning. Two weeks later she surprised me by a visit to my office, and when asked what had gone with her dropsy, replied: "Them brown buttons you sent me took it out of me." The completeness of her cure seems established by the birth of her fifteenth child during the next year.

Case 2-Celia S., aged forty years, seamstress, gave history of what she called rheumatic grip in February, 1904, and before she got over that began to bloat all over, growing steadily worse under a doctor's treatment until the 10th of June, when her family lost faith in her attendant and had me called to see her. Found her propped bolt upright in bed breathing in a jerky, gasping way, much exhausted by loss of sleep and anorexia. Analysis showed only a trace of albumen. I gave them a favorable prognosis and began treatment with elaterium and comp. jalap powder followed by anasarcin tablets in the usual way; which latter was continued uninterruptedly for six weeks, when she had so far recovered as to return to her regular work. She has since taken pomegranate for tape worm, bringing away the head, and is now apparently in good health.

Case 3.-W. L., a merchant, aged fiftyfour years. Family history good, his health and habits had been good up to two years ago, when he began to drink, at first moderately, later to great excess. After a protracted debauch in February he complained of blindness, vertigo, acute pains in back and stomach, nausea and vomiting, and soon after began having convulsions, which recurred at short intervals throughout the night; his tongue was terribly bitten, his face was purple

and puffed, eyes injected and lips swollen. His heart's action was a tumultuous commotion. The liver and spleen hypertrophied and hardened, the abdomen tense and fluctuating, full of water, the legs pitting deeply on pressure. He was given five grains of calomel, one-quarter grain podophyllin, one grain elaterium, ten grains ipecac and opium pulvis in ten doses at intervals of two hours, followed by salts and seidlitz, after free catharsis, began anasarcin tablets, one every three hours, for three days, then reduced to three per diem for three weeks, by the end of which time he was able to resume business; he has continued well since with the exception of a slight edema, which disappeared promptly upon repetition of the anasarcin.

Case 4-John H., a farmer, aged about sixty years, patient of a country physician, had been sick for several months, rheumatism, heart complications and general anasarca; had not been able to lie down for many weeks and had not been benefited by the ordinary remedies. On my advice he was given anasarcin treatment. The doctor reported to me that after three or four days he was sleeping comfortably, and two weeks later attended a barbecue, including heartily in Brunswick stew, pig and mutton.

This list might be extended to double the number reported, but the histories would be repetitions of the foregoing; those given are fairly typical and illustrative. The questions of scientific orthodoxy, officinal regularity and ethical propriety do not interest the poor people who in the extremity of desperate disease pray for relief, but they grasp at "the straw" of hope offered by any new remedy, whether out of the "books" or not. The peculiar effect of this combination, for it has effects which none of its constituents alone might be expected to produce, suggests a synergistic or correlative action between the parts producing a very potential whole. My only apology for the length and tedium of this article is my faith in anasarcin, and the hope that others may find in it a boon and blessing for a large class of unfortunate sufferers.

Fig. 3. Static insulation, patient seated on an insulated platform, one side of machine being connected to platform by means of the shepherd's "crook." The other side is grounded, or brought to zero by direct ground connection: the sliding poles are pulled out beyond sparking distance.

Many of the writers on static electricity lay great stress on the polarity, in other words, positive or negative. I do not lay claim to authority further than that gained by experience, and, after all, experience is what counts. I claim that for everyday use the physician need pay but little attention to which pole is used.

The Static Induced Current.-I claim that the Leyden jars are an important attachment to any static machine, some "authors" to the contrary notwithstanding. A Leyden jar is a glass bottle, nothing more or less, with a brass bottom for a base, a hard rubber or other insulated material stopper lined with tinfoil. The top of the jar is attached to the machine by a spiral wire passing from the insulated top of the jar. The base of the jar is attached to the base of the machine by an insulated wire to the binding posts. The jars are attached, the machine started, the sliding rods separated slightly, and with patient seated in a chair, not necessarily on the insulated platform, attached to each side of the machine. (See Fig. 4.)

We separate the poles of the machine one-sixteenth to one-half inch, and our patient is getting the static induced current, a current that has all the physiological effects of the Faradic coil. Hence, in

static insulation, the patient is treated on an insulated platform, which is essential, and the current accumulates on the platform.

In the induced current the patient is not insulated, and the current accumulates or is condensed in the Leyden jars. By increase or decrease in the speed of the plates of the machine we can get all the gradations of a fine or coarse wire interruption.

The static induced current is a twopole current, that is, both poles of the machine are attached to the patient by means of the electrodes covered with felt, sponges or wash leather, or the electrodes may be metal without coverings.

FIG. 4. Morton's "wave current." the patient is insulated to one side of the machine, attach a "Leyden jar." From the binding post of this jar running a wire to the ground, grounding that side. To the other side of the machine attach the "crook," and let patient hold other end. or attach an insulated cord to machine and to patient by means of a metallic electrode, stationary over the part to be treated, separate the rods until the patient gets all the current he can bear.

by static insulation, the induced current, and Snow's wave current.

We know that static electricity is extremely deficient in volume, but that it is endowed with very high potential.

Electrolytic alterations do not take place, but the physiological effects are chiefly modifications of the ordinary vital processes. Suppose we compare electricity with some of the forces with which we think we are familiar, viz., heat, light and sound, and see how closely they are related.

We are taught by scientists that electricity is a mode of motion or other manifestations of a very exceptional form of matter called the ether. In Neiswanger's "Electro-Therapeutic Practice," he refers to some of the properties of this ether: (1) "It permeates all bodies and pervades all known space, even to the most distant star. (2) It is affected by the matter of bodies of which it is." Neiswanger continues-but let us stop; if electricity is everywhere it must be in the human body.

It is by having this ether disturbed, slower for sounds than for light, that we are enabled to see an object, and hear sounds. If sound and light traveled with the same velocity, what a mixup, what a jumble, yet this ether has been disturbed. Now, we know that electricity travels much faster than light, hence, if we interrupt this invisible, unknown something that permeates all bodies, even the most distant star, do we not affect the human body that is brought near the source of the electrical supply?

All students of static electricity know that the great writers on this subject, Snow, Monell, Morton, Neiswanger and others do not fully explain to us how it is that static electricity benefits a patient further than to say that it is a great tonic, and the electro-static current with any of its modalities causes, first, a contraction, then a relaxing of the muscular and circulatory system, hence inflammatory products are carried away, and repair is hastened.

Hence, if I fail to explain its "modus operandi," I am in a measure excused. I have come to this opinion, also, as to how static electricity benefits a patient: if electricity permeates all bodies, it must be one of the vital forces; hence, if the human body is in a low state of nutrition, if it is retrograding from any cause, if there is a local or constitutional disturbance, why not stimulate this vital force

by bringing the body under the influence of a body heavily charged with electricity, and this is what we do when we treat our patients with static electricity by its various modalities.

Monell says: "Static electricity may increase, diminish, arrest, or otherwise modify the functional process of the body." It affects secretion, excretion, absorption, reflex action, sleep, respiration, circulation, and nutrition."

All of which any operator of an electrostatic machine can verify. Hence, is not electricity a vital element of the body?

Now, as to the therapeutical indications of static electricity: The list of diseases in which it can be beneficially employed is a very long one. Its great fields are nervous and functional conditions. It is a great tonic in cases of malnutrition, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, paresis, chronic synovitis, muscular pain, stiff and inflamed joints, and, in fact, in almost all cases where the nutrition of the body is below par, we have no known tonic of greater benefit than a current from a wellbuilt and skillfully operated electro-static machine.

In the beginning of this paper I intended to report a few cases, but space will not permit, but will promise in paper No. 3 to report a number of interesting

cases.

Enclosed find one dollar for the good old BRIEF for 1905.-J. A. BANDY, M. D., Mingus, Mich.

[Written for the MEDICAL BRIEF.] Fracture Box for Infant.

BY DRS. PENNEBAKER AND TRIPP. Pleasant Hill, Ky.

Fracture of the femur is always a fracture of gravity; occurring in the infant, it presents unusual difficulty in treatment. Our case occurred during the birth of a breech presentation, through the use of the blunt hook to expedite delivery, fearing asphyxiation of the child.

Dr. Edward L. Keyes, Jr., in the Reference Handbook of the Medical Sciences, says about this fracture: "For infants the best treatment is vertical suspension of both limbs, by adhesive plaster, etc., in

such manner that the hips rest but lightly on the bed. The position is not uncomfortable, the child can be kept clean, and satisfactory immobilization can be maintained."

Our device consists first of sole leather splints, moulded to the thigh and leg; plaster strips are first placed on the limb for purposes of extension. Chloroform is required to reduce the diastasis and properly adjust the splints, etc.

The fracture box is made of a piece of sole leather, with the sides turned up, of a width sufficient to receive the body of

Sole leather fracture box for fracture of femur in new born infant.

the infant, the same extending to the axilla; these should be sufficient length to allow for extension. The foot piece is made of a strip of wood, perforated for the rubber bands that make extension. The side pieces may be strengthened to prevent buckling, by riveting on wooden strips. These side parts are perforated for the necessary tapes and bands that make counter-extension, bind the fractured member, and join the two strips together by a restraining and retaining support.

The

The box is padded with cotton batting, the infant placed therein (the fracture being reduced and in the leather splints); plain rubber bands are passed through the stirrup of adhesive plaster, through the holes in the foot strip, and twisted to make extension. The perineal bands are well padded as they pass between the thighs, and fastened through the top perforations to make counter-extension. fractured member in the splints is confined to the side of the box with suitable tapes; and the infant held in position by the bands that pass across laterally. The clothing is then placed over the infant and box, nothing being visible after the infant is dressed. The mother can soon make the adjustments, removing the infant, wholly or in part, to change or wash and dress it. After three weeks we put our infant in a spica plaster bandage.

This fracture box fulfills the indications as nearly as possible in the treatment of this fracture, viz., reduction, immobilization, extension and counter-extension, and is accessible at any time. It is difficult to prevent some irritation of the skin from the discharges.

[Written for the MEDICAL BRIEF.] Marriage.

BY J. A. BURNETT, M. D.,

Pauline, Ark.

In adult life, marriage is a normal condition, and anyone who has fully reached the age of maturity and is not married, is not living a normal life.

"Star, registrar general of vital statistics for Scotland, declares his opinion that bachelor life was more destructive to males than the most unwholesome trade or the most unsanitary surroundings."

We find in Hebrews, thirteenth chapter and fourth verse: "Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."

No one can live a normal married life without issue, and no man or woman who does not desire children is a normal human being, and often the desire is not only for a child, but a child of a certain sex, and by obeying Nature's laws, both objects can be accomplished. In most instances, when a man and woman have