matter of economy; but the removal of the hospital to an extreme part of the island, as is proposed, would greatly impair, if not destroy its usefulness. Just such a hospital is required in the very heart of the city, where it will be accessible in all cases of emergency. We hope this valuable humane institution will not be taken out of the city."

This hospital was chartered as long ago as the year 1771. Contributions were made towards it from London and other places in Great Britain, chiefly at the solicitations and through the efforts of Drs. Fothergill and Duncan. Unfortunately, in February, 1775, when nearly completed, it was almost totally destroyed by fire. Owing to this mishap, and the revolutionary war, the hospital was not re-built and ready for the admission of patients until January 3d, 1791. Since that time, many additions and improvements have been made, such as the South Hospital, erected in 1806, and subsequently demolished and re-built in 1853-55, and the North Hospital, erected in 1841. The grounds are handsomely laid out, and the site high, and well adapted for free ventilation. The main hospital is built of gray stone, in the simple Doric style, and has three stories with a basement. In the third story is the operating theater. This, the principal building, has accommodations for one hundred and fifty patients. From its cupola can be obtained a fine view of New York City, harbor, and surrounding country. The South Hospital will accommodate some two hundred and fifty patients, affording each patient one thousand cubic feet of space. The North Hospital will accommodate about one hundred and fifteen patients. The hospital is under the management of a board of twenty-six governors, elected each year at the annual meeting. There are two surgical divisions, each of which has a resident surgeon, with a senior and junior assistant. There is one house physician who has charge of the medical wards, who also has under him two assistants. For its visiting physicians and surgeons, it has some of the best talent in the city, as for instance, Drs. Willard Parker, W. H. Van Buren, Thomas M. Markoe, Gurdon Buck, &c. The New York Hospital has been principally devoted to the reception of those patients whose diseases were considered curable-with the exception of cases of accidents, which are received at all hours. "The following three classes only are received: First-Those without means of payment, who are admitted according to the judgment of a committee on their several cases. patients constitute about forty per cent. of the whole number under treatment. Second-Seamen, paid for at the rate of seven dollars a week from the "hospital money" collected under the laws of the United

States; and, Third-Pay-patients"-male patients pay six dollars per week board, and female patients five dollars. Strangers in the city, suddenly attacked with sickness, avail themselves of the advantages of this hospital. Clinical instruction is given regularly throughout the wards.

In 1796, a library was founded, and now contains between seven thousand and eight thousand volumes, and in 1840, a pathological cabinet was commenced, which has grown to immense proportions.

The two operating theaters, the one already spoken of, in the main building, and the other in the South Hospital, will accommodate three hundred students. "It is thus that this great charity becomes not merely a hospital for the relief of the sick and infirm, but is now recognized as a centre from which is derived a large share of that practical knowledge for which the American physician has become so famous." In this description, and in others that are to follow, we wish to acknowledge our indebtedness for many of our facts, to a valuable work not long since published, entitled "The Charities of New York." This work is a most interesting one, and contains much useful information. But, Mr. Editor, space will not allow us to proceed further, and therefore, wishing you and every reader of the Western Journal-especially our fair lady readers-a very merry christmas and happy new year, we will bid yon an affectionate farewell.

Yours, very truly,

JAMES B. BURNET, M. D.

CASTLETON, INDIANA, DECEMBER 21, 1868.

DR. PARVIN-Sir: I have been interested in reading a report of A Singular Case," by Dr. Wm. Mason Turner, of Philadelphia, in the December No. of your Journal. Inasmuch as I was once called to treat a similar case-one that not only baffled me, but a number of other physicians and as Dr. T. asks "what was it?" I will state that the conclusion I came to in my case was, Cardiac Neurosis. Had I time I might bring forward quite an array of evidence upon which I predicate this opinion; but like a certain Indiana Quarter-Master once did, I will content myself by simply referring to some of the evidence, leaving Dr. T. and the reader to "straiten it out for themselves."

C. Handfield Jones, on Functional Nervous Diseases, (Cardiac Neurosis,) pages 218, 219, 220, cases 102, 103, 104, &c., &c. In the his.

tory of these cases he will find a striking similarity to his. In this connection, I think, had he examined the "old man's" urine, he might have found some assistance, for be it remembered, the "oldest inhabitant" said the "old man" once had "rheumatiz."

I suppose if the Doctor has not pretty thoroughly tonicised the "old man," he will have, if he has not already had, an opportunity of looking over his morning paper at him, in another "hullaballoo."

Respectfully,

COUNTRY DOCTOR.

THE HYPODERMIC SYRINGE IN GENERAL PRACTICE.

MY DEAR PROF. PARVIN: When a student of medicine, an anecdote was related from one of the professional desks in the University of Pennsylvania, to the effect that Dr. Physick was once called to reduce a luxation of the lower jaw of a woman who was a common scold; luxated in one of her fits of scolding. Chloroform being then unknown, and the patient very irritable, his efforts at reduction failed; so, prescribing a pint of gin, to be taken in half tumbler full doses every half hour until she was tipsy, he left her, to return again in two hours. Upon his return at the specified time, he found the gin all gone and the woman sober! Trying again to reduce her jaw, a second failure was made. Taking a cigar from his pocket he lit it, and commenced smoking, puffing the smoke in her face, requesting her to take very full breaths. In ten or fifteen minutes she became sick at the stomach. was relaxed, and then he found no difficulty in re-placing the jaw.

The moral of the story was, that it required a good deal more gin to make a regular gin tippler, though a woman, drunk, than a teetotaler, man or woman. But not having added smoking to her other accomplishments, this brought about the necessary relaxation. This was re-called to my mind by reading Dr. Catlin's letter, published in your most excellent Journal for the month of December.

From a somewhat extended experience with the hypodermic syringe, in general practice, having used it perhaps, not less than five hundred times during the last five years, I am positively prepared to assert that people who are not habitual opium eaters, in central Ohio, will not tolerate such doses of morphia as Dr. Catlin uses, without the occurrence of the most distressing sequelæ, in a majority of cases.

If Dr. C.'s patients are not regular opium eaters, or he is not mistaken about the doses used, or the quality of morphia different from that supplied to physicians in this city, then the people among whom his lot is cast, bear larger doses of morphia by hypodermic injection, than those among whom the writer resides; for, if he used such doses in central Ohio, he would speedily reduce them, or there would soon be some proceedings before a coroner in which he would have some personal interest.

Dr. C., in his letter, states that he treated cholera morbus in 1825; therefore, he has been in practice forty-three years certainly, possibly more, and must have attained that period of life when enthusiasm on most subjects has been very much toned down, and all statements contributed for publication and for the instruction of his peers in the profession, should partake of the gravity becoming to advancing life; and yet, though the writer is just a little enthusiastic on the subject of hypodermic medication. When the results of Dr. C.'s experience is contrasted with his own, they are found to differ so widely, as to make it absolutely needful to conclude that Dr. C. is mistaken in some way. And the purpose of his letter is to caution any of your readers, inexperienced in the use of morphia hypodermically, from using the doses he names. They are not only unnecessary, but positively hazardous. It is seldom that the same dose as would be proper and requisite by the mouth, can be used by the hypodermic syringe, without the most unpleasant sequelæ, as great prostration, alarm at the abrupt change of feeling, and prolonged and distressingly sick stomach. My own experience teaches me that one-half the dose by mouth need seldom be exceeded by the hypodermic syringe, unless utterly regardless of consequences.

A very carefully prepared article by the writer, on the subject, was read to the Muskingum County Ohio Medical Society, at its meeting in September last, and published in the St. Louis Medical Reporter, for the first October following, which may doubtless be had by any desirous of knowing the results of a somewhat extended experience.

A small monograph, entitled "On the dynamics, principles and philosophy of organic life-an effort to obtain definite conceptions of 'How do medicines produce their effects?"" will be published by Mr. P. M. Pinckard, No. 510 Pine street, St. Louis; and by Messrs. Balliere Brothers, New York; and by Messrs. Balliere, London and Paris, about the first of January, 1869, written by your present correspond

ent, which, among other things, traces morphia by hypodermic injection into, through aud out of the human system, trying to show what it does and how it does it, a copy of which will soon reach you, for criticism and review. Z. C. MCELROY.

ZANESVILLE, OHIO, DECEMBER 22, 1868.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSO

CIATION.

Instituted 1847. Vol. XIX. Philadelphia: Printed for the Association, 1868. Pp. 497.

The National Medical Congress met in Washington last May, and had an interesting and instructive meeting. The next meeting is to be held in New Orleans, beginning on Tuesday, the 4th day of May. No session of the Association has ever been held in New Orleans; and for that and other reasons we may expect a large attendance, notwithstanding the remoteness of that city from the residences of those who have been the most constant attendants in past years.

President Gross' address is the first paper in the volume. The President very properly regarded himself as bound to look over the interests of the Association, and make such recommendations as, in his judgment, might tend to increase its usefulness, and add to its dignity. and importance,

His first recommendation was, that more care be exercised in the admission of members. Personally he would be very liberal in this behalf, but the habit of admitting almost anybody that applied had been complained of, and, it was thought, had kept some old and influential members of the profession at a distance.

He recommended a more critical editing of the volume of Transactions, so as to keep out papers that had no substantial merit of origin. ality.

He reviewed the subject of Medical Education, urging concert of action on the part of all the schools in amending the present course of study.