TENTH INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS, TO BE HELD IN BERLIN AUGUST 4-9. At the request of Dr. A. Jacobi, of New York, we publish the following: The Committee of Organization of the Tenth International Medical Congress, R. Virchow, President; E. von Bergmann, E. Leyden, W. Waldeyer, Vice-Presidents; O. Lassar, Secretary General, have appointed the undersigned members of an American Committee for the purpose of enlisting the sympathy and co-operation of the American profession. We are assured that the medical men of our country will receive a hearty welcome in Berlin. The Congress promises to prove of inestimable value in its educational results, and in securing the ties of international professional brotherhood. It is most important that the American profession should participate both in its labors and its fruits. Delegates of American Medical Societies and Institutions, and individual members of the profession, will be admitted on equal terms. The undersigned, therefore, beg to express their hope that a large number of the distinguished men of our country will appreciate both the honor conferred by this cordial invitation and the opportunity afforded us to fitly represent American medicine. The Congress will be held at Berlin, from the fourth to the ninth of August. The arrangements in regard to a few general meetings and the main scientific work, which is delegated to the sections, are the same as in former sessions. A medico-scientific exhibition, the programme of which has been published a few weeks ago, is to form an ingredient part. It is to the latter that the Berlin Committee is very anxious that both the scientific and the secular press should be requested to give the greatest possible publicity. The office of the Secretary General is Karistrasse 19, N. W., Berlin, Germany. S. C. BUSEY, Washington, D. C. WM. T. LUSK, New York. CURRENT NOTES. LOEFLER has found the bacillus of diphtheria in the mouth of a child who was not ill, which suggests that the bacillus is not offensive under all circumstances.-Archives of Pediatrics. FLUORESCEÏN, A COLOR TISSUE TEST FOR LESIONS OF THE CORNEA. Dr. Randolph, Johns Hopkins Hospital, expresses entire satisfaction with the use of fluorescein-a red soluble powder, one of the coal-tar products-to detect lesions of the cornea. A water solution is made, dropped in the suspected eye, and if there be only slight lesions they are detectable by the staining left at the seat of the injury, and it remains from a half hour to several hours. MR. JOHN HUNTER'S HOUSEHOLD IN 1792.-James Finlayson, M.D. (British Medical Journal, March 29th, 1880), reproduces from a MS. volume by Mr. Clift, the faithful curator of Hunter's Museum, which is very interesting at this date, Mr. John Hunter's household in 1792. Among those of his household are mentioned Mr. Hunter, his wife, son and daughter. The eighth on the list we find "Mr. Francis Kinloch Huger, N. Carolina (House Pupil) 1 year." This entry is probably a mistake, as the Hugers are South Carolinians, but some of our Charleston readers may be able to say. Tenth on the list is "Mr. Henry Jenner, Nephew of Dr. Jenner, Berkeley, 1 y'r." Mr. Hunter's family never consisted of fewer than 50 persons provided for at his expense, "exclusive of House Pupils, who paid for their Board." ATTEMPTED SUICIDE WITH ANTIPYRIN.-A person took for severe headache, either to kill or cure, 120 grains antipyrin in tea. He vomited copiously an hour after. Passed a quart of urine which gave reaction for antipyrin-reddish-brown reaction with ferric chloride, disappearing on addition of sulphuric acid. Symptoms were flushed face, swollen conjunctivæ, face and brow hot, extremities cold, no cyanosis, pulse 108. [Temperature not given.] Respiration 38, heart's action violent, precordial pain, skin and tendon reflexes greatly increased, pupils large, sensitive. After two hours of intoxication came a sudden chill lasting five minutes, pulse then scarcely perceptible. Hypodermic morphia did not relieve him, but camphor and ether were injected with good results. Patient recovered in two days. REVUE INTERNATIONALE DE BIBLIOGRAPHIE MEDICALE, PHARMACEUTIQUE ET VETERINARE, under the direction of Dr. Jules Rouvier, made its first appearance for April, 1890. It is a faithful bibliography of current literature, extending in this number as far back as November, 1889. The work is admirably arranged for consultation, alphabetically as to general topics, also in the subdivisions, entailing an immense amount of work on the editor. We will be pleased to welcome its quarterly visits in the future, and shall place the volume side by side with Index Medicus, Index Catalogue and Neill's Digest. MORPHINE SALTS AND CHERRY LAUREL WATER NOT INCOMPATIBLE. A statement has been going the rounds that morphine was incompatible in cherry laurel water and the product dangerous. Prof. John M. Maisch (American Journal Pharmacy) shows that this must be an error. There is not, as alleged, precipitation of cyanide of morphine, the salt having been mistaken for the alkaloid morphine. Its appearance in a solution of morphine in cherry laurel water is probably due to the fact that the water was prepared with magnesia. This is an important correction, as the combination of cherry laurel water and morphine is a very valuable basis for cough mixture. WARNING ABOUT EXALGINE.-In common with anilid preparations, exalgine causes cyanosis and other grave symptoms occasionally. It seems as though we hardly settle down upon the very safest and best" of all these preparations, until we get a shock. The experience of this writer is worth narrating. A patient with pleurodynia was ordered a dose consisting of exalgine 3 grs. and 2 grs. quinine in three successive doses. It answered very well, apparently demonstrating the safety of the new drug. The next day exalgine was ordered by itself in 5-grain doses. produced alarming symptoms-cyanosis tingling hands, dyspnoea hemianopsia, but no sweating. Depression lasted many hours. So much for the "entirely safe" exalgine. Excellent remedy, doubtless, but should be used with discretion. The first dose sensation in the WHAT WILL THE DRUGGISTS DO ABOUT IT.-A Wilmington druggist has been making some observations on the habits of the negroes in burying their dead. He says a custom now prevails here of planting the empty bottles on the grave-mounds. This is quite a distinction, as it has all the force of an epitaph without making any positive declaration as to the cause of the death-the passer-by can draw his own inference by reading the labels. We advise our druggist friends to have their names blown in the bottles, with such moral lessons on them as they wish to inculcate, and, to make more sure the value of the advertisement, be choice in the selection of their glassware. Let none be deluded by the thought that the fewer the bottles ornamenting the grave the safer their reputation, the inference will be quite the contrary. The statement that copaba and black-wash labels have been found near these graves lacks confirmation, but as the matter will be investigated the Smithsonian Institution had better be looking after the results. THE USE OF ALCOHOL IN HOSPITALS COMPARED WITH MILK.A very interesting report has been presented to the British Medical Temperance Association by Drs. Morton Moir and Pearce, on the administration of alcohol in hospitals. The Committee have drawn up a series of tables full of instructing figures, instituting a comparison between the amount expended under this head in 1863 and in 1888. The remarkable fact is noted that in these twenty-five years there has been, from the returns made by 113 hospitals, an increase of 300 per cent. in the charge for milk and a decrease of 47 per cent. in the charge for alcohol. A second table gives returns from 60 hospitals of which no previous record could be found. On the basis adopted by Dr. Fleetwood Buckle, in his report on 1863, these 60 hospitals showed a decrease of 39 per cent. in the expenditure for alcohol per bed. A third table shows the comparative alcoholic charges per bed in 1863 and 1888, respectively. In 73 hospitals there had been an increase of 2,108 beds, and a decrease of total average cost per bed of £78 3s. 5d. Beds have thus increased at the rate of 25 per cent., while the amount expended on alcohol has decreased at the rate of 47 per cent. Only eight of this group of hospitals showed an increase in the quantity of alcohol consumed. In the remaining 65 the decrease ranged from 30 to 83 per cent. In the London Fever Hospital, while milk has risen from £650 per annum the disbursements for alcohol were at the rate of only 15s. 24d. per bed in 1888, as compared with £3 5s. per bed in 1863. In St. Bartholomew's Hospital the milk bill had gone up from £600 to over £2,000, while the alcohol bill had gone down from £1,446 to £953. These statistics prove that there has been a gradually decreasing rational medical administration of alcohol, the credit of which must be awarded to the medical staffs of the hospitals, a fact which affords yet another proof of the lively interest in the promotion of temperance taken by the medical profession.-British Medical Journal. : TEST FOR IRON.-A solution of neutral sulphide of soda containing a little pyrogallic acid has been proposed as a test for copper. A few drops of it mixed with a dilute solution of a salt of copper produces a red color similar to that which is developed by the addition of sulphocyanide of potash to a solution of a persalt of iron. The test is much more delicate for iron, as the following experiment will show Dissolve 0.7 gram ammonia-ferrous sulphate (=0.1 gram iron) in a liter of water; it will be 1 part in 10,000. To 10 c. cm of this solution add water to make 100 c. cm, this will be 1 to 100,000. Dilute some of this by adding four times its bulk of water, it will then be 1 in 500,000. Make a saturated solution of sodium sulphide, and separately a solution of pyrogallic acid 0.5 gram in 50 c. cm in water. Put some of the iron solution in a wine-glass, add 4 drops of the solution of sodium sulphite and afterward 2 drops of the pyrogallic solution and a purple color will be developed. This test with distilled water alone develops a light pink shade, which, however, soon fades. This is due to the trace of free ammonia which it usually contains. Iron produces a purple tint. The test is so delicate that it will detect iron in 100 c. cm of water, in which a bright cambric needle has been immersed for an hour.-By Samuel J. Hinsdale, Fayetteville, N. C.-Pharmaceutical Record. PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF MODERATE CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY AND DILATATION.-Dr. Charles Sheard (Canadian Practitioner) says: 1. A diseased valve may be restored to functional activity and leave no ill effects. 2. The diseases of the heart most liable to cause sudden death are, aortic regurgitation and fatty |