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was decided to puncture it, which Mr. Lawrence did, andmost healthy laudable pus was evacuated, with great relief tothe poor girl, whose age might be twenty-three. Its growthhad been upwards of a year, and no doubt, from her history,had in the first instance been a sebaceous cyst of the scalp,which, like the first case, had suppurated. Both patients aredoing well.

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EXCISION OF THE ELBOW.

THis operation was performed by Mr. Curling upon theright arm of a girl, aged seventeen years, at the London

Hospital, on the 21st of January. She has had disease of theelbow since she was seven years of age, from an injury sns-tained at that early period. It has gone through the variousphases of disease, with suppuration, and ending in partialanchylosis. She was admitted with some fresh inflammationof the joint, accompanied with swelling. Removal of thearticulation was contemplated. This had to be deferred, as

erysipelas attacked the arm, with great tension, and the for-mation of abscess, which had to be relieved by incisions. Herhealth, all along very bad, was now getting worse, the diseaseevinced a disposition to progress, the entire articulation wasinvolved, and it was thought advisable to perform resection atonce, which was accordingly done two weeks after the attackof erysipelas. The operator employed a single longitudinalincision, through which he was enabled to remove the jointwith facility. The bones were all diseased, the cartilagesgone, and much thickened matter deposited around the arti-culation. The great principle in the operation was not over-looked, of taking away a sufficiency of the bones, so that agood flexible arm could be obtained by ligamentous union.This is the second instance in which the elbow has been ex-cised at this hospital; and although the girl looks very deli-cate, we think there is a prospect of a good result. Since theoperation she has gone on perfectly well, and the greater partof the wound has healed.

Reviews and Notices of Books.Medico-C7tirurgical Transactions. Second Series, Vol. XXII.

London: Longman and Co.Proceedings of the Royal Medico-ChÍ1-urgical Society of London.

(SECOND NOTICE.)THE " Proceedings" contain a short record of each meeting,

the annual address and reports, abstracts of certain paperswhich the authors intended for insertion in the " Transactions,"and, lastly, short papers which are published entire in the" Proceedings." As we have already analyzed the papers pub-lished in the "Transactions," we have only now to notice

those which belong to the latter class. These are eleven innumber.Mr. Richard Quain relates a case of unusually large nasvus

successfully treated by the introduction of fine threads on tendifferent occasions; and another in which he describes the stateof the knee-joint on dissection, in which, without previous dis-ease, there had been lateral dislocation outwards; and refers totwo similar cases which recovered.Dr. Toogood narrates a case which somewhat resembled ele-

phantiasis.Mr. Henry Lee describes the condition of the femoral veins

in a case of phlegmasia dolens, complicating phthisis, which,with another case referred to by him, owed its origin, in hisopinion, to morbid matter which had contaminated the blood.A remarkably large myeloid tumour of the thumb is de-

scribed and illustrated by Mr. Curling, and shown to haveseveral points of interest.Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson gives an account of a lithotomy-

staff which has a rectangular bend, and being hollow may beused as a catheter. There is also an unusually deep side groove,and a long, blunt extremity beyond the groove. It is a modi-fication of instruments used by Messrs. Buchanan and Fer-suaaon.

A case of hysterical tetanus, by Mr. Furley, is described,and the post-mortem appearances (which, however, were notremarkable) are narrated.

Dr. Bence Jones gives an interesting account of a method todetermine the presence, direction, depth, length, and motionof a needle imbedded in the flesh, by the aid of a magnet, anda test magnetic-needle.

Dr. Isaac Pidduck recommends the administration of bone-earth phosphate from ivory-turning, mixed with a fourth-partof saccharine carbonate of iron, and made into gingerbread-nuts, in cases of deformity of the bones, with " the design ofsupplying the vital principle with the materials to strengthen,and, as a consequence, to strccig7eten the bones."

Mr. Curling has communicated, for Mr. Giles, some cases inillustration of a method for arresting the haemorrhage in woundsof the palmar arch-viz., the forcible flexure of the forearmupon the arm, whereby the artery is compressed in probably amajority of persons.We cannot forbear asking two or three questions which have

suggested themselves to our minds during the perusal of theseworks. And first, What advantages have accrued, or are

likely to accrue, from the publication of the " Proceedings"? ’l

Does the number of papers read before the Society require it ? ’l

Only thirty-four papers have been read during this session;and in former sessions, from 1850, there have been only forty-three, thirty-eight, forty-four, thirty-six, thirty, and thirty-twopapers per year. Moreover, the "Transactions" extend butto 233 pages, and the professional matter in the " Proceedings"to 100 pages,-an amount of matter certainly not too great forsuch a Society to issue yearly in one volume. Is it that the

proceedings of the Society apart from the record of papers re-quire it? The account is most meagre, and occupies but a fewlines for each meeting, with the exception of the annual reportsand addresses. Is it thought desirable that the fellows shouldhave an early account of the valuable papers read before theSociety ? The account does not reach them until months have

elapsed after the fellows have read the report in the medicaljournals. Is it that papers may be inserted in the " Proceed-

ings " which are not worthy of a place in the " Transactions" ?If they have not a certain amount of merit they should notappear anywhere; and if they have sufficient merit, at whatpoint in the scale is the line to be drawn in reference to thisdistinction 2 Single cases of ascertained, or even supposed.maladies, and those the record of which does not much add toour knowledge; historical réSU1nés of papers previously pub-published ; long dissertations which might have been com-pressed into a nut-shell; papers which, however truthful, leavethe subject where they found it; plans of treatment of greatimportance, but insufficiently supported by practical tests: allthese are admitted into the " Transactions;" and how muchlower can we descend in the scale to fit a paper for insertionin the " Proceedings"? Is it that the authors themselves selectthe mode of publication ? This is so, we believe, with referenceto the " Proceedings ;" but it is indefensible; for the papermay be as worthy as others of the higher honour, or it may beunworthy of any honour. We recommend these thoughts tothe fellows with the single observation, that if the " Proceed-

, ings" are not necessary they are expensive.Then, again, on what principle do the referees act in framing

their report of the merits of a paper ? There are thirty-sixreferees, all gentlemen of great talent and high position (writersof four out of the fifteen published papers); but they must differ

! widely in their views of this question, unless some defined re-gulations have been issued by the council. Some will admit

only practical subjects; others, only original scientific ones.! Some will be content with authority and probabilities; others,

only with mathematical demonstration. Some will be verypainstaking, and others more or less careless; and all will beinfluenced in some degree by schools and personal predilectionsand dislikes. Tn "l"111PR arp. wf believe. laid down for thplr

242

guidance; and when their report is received the council knownot their names, and pay a blind deference to their opinions.Why all this hap-hazard, and why all this secrecy ? The ruleshould be to insert all papers which in any degree advancescience, and exclusion should be the exception, and guardedagainst somewhat by previous inquiry. If a referee find such

objections as would undoubtedly satisfy unprejudiced men, andif he is capable, by knowledge and a careful perusal of thepaper, to give good reasons for his opinions, why are not’the names and reasons published? Such a course would have

great weight with the profession, would advance inquiry byassuring all inquirers that they shall have an intelligent andfair ordeal, and would help writers by showing them the errorsto be avoided in future. That it would heighten, and notlower, the reputation of the referees may be-inferred from theresult of open reference on the continent; and thus all partieswould be benefited. We do not make these remarks becausewe know of any unfairness, but because we constantly hear oidoubt and dissatisfaction.

During the past session, 8 papers out of 34 have been re-jected ; whilst in former sessions since 1850 the rejections havebeen 19 in 43, 13 in 38, 21 in 44, 21 in 36, 12 in 30, and 11 in32. Some of the rejected ones have evinced much careful in-- quiry, as that of Dr. Bence Jones, and have contained muchmatter for reflection, as that of Dr. Handfield Jones; and if z,

they have been erroneous or essentially defective, to sustainthe conclusions arrived at by the authors, it shows the import-ance of having a preliminary reference, so that the time of theSociety might have been saved. The insertion of a case of sup-posed and not proved disease may be less injurious than that ofincorrect original inquiry; but it is only fair that both alikeshould be excluded, or opportunity given to the authors forfurther reflection and inquiry. It has been the practice, webelieve, to return papers to the authors which have merit, butare objected to on some points, for re-consideration, condensa-tion, excision, &c.-a plan which is just, and should be uni-versal.

Thirdly. Will the fellows inform us why probably the mostinfluential Medical Society in the world cannot obtain fiftypapers yearly, and why in some years the volume of " Trans-actions" scarcely exceeds 200 pages? We should like to hear agood reason for publishing a work at a prohibitory price, whenthe author, the Society, and the profession alike would bebenefited by the most extended circulation.We conclude with the expression of an opinion, that the

funds of such a Society would be best employed in the publica-tion of extended and important researches, the expense ofwhich would be burdensome to the authors, rather than of shortand comparatively unimportant articles, which, when onceperused, lose their interest. If it be replied that such commu-nications are not often made to the Society, we would ventureto hint that the objections which is always raised to an expen-sive paper, and the desire to cut out that which is costly, evenat the sacrifice of the paper itself, is a sufficient rejoinder.

Human Histology in its Relation to Descrit,iie. Anatomy,Physiology, and Pathology; with 434 Engravings on Wood.By E. R. PEASLEE, A.M., M.D., Professor of Physiologyand Pathology in the New York Medical College, so., &c.Philadelphia: 1857. pp. 616.WE may draw the attention of our readers to this work as

being the first American treatise on the subject with which itdeals. It is true there is no particular addition made in it to theknowledge already possessed by ns in histology, Dr. Peaslee’sbook being a compilation, intended as a guide for Americanstudents. But there is a novelty about its entire aim---viz.,1. To give a corrected view of the simple chemical elements,of the immediate principles of the simple structural elements,and the proper tissues entering into the composition of thefluids and the solids of the human body. 2. To associate with

the structural elements and the tissues their function while in

health, and the changes they undergo in disease.

" In the promotion of his object the author has drawn moreespecially upon the work of Robin and Verdeil in the firstpart, that of Lehmann in the division including the fluids, andon Kolliker’s excellent work in the part of the tissues proper."

Relative to the admeasurements of the minute structural ele-

ments, Kolliker has also been more particularly relied upon;they are given in fractions of an inch, instead of a millimetreor a Paris line, as has usually been done by translators ofGerman and French works both in England and in America.A great deal of information is compressed into Dr. Peaslee’s

book, and which is abundantly illustrated. Some of the wood.

cuts, however, are inferior and muddy, and, in our opinion,convey but little meaning of what they are intended to repre.sent, (e. g., colourless blood corpuscles, p. 159, &c.;) whilstothers may pass muster pretty well.

Elements of Minera7ogy, containing a, General Introduction tothe Science, with Descriptiozas of the Species. Reprintedfrom the Eighth Edition of the "Encyclopsedia Britaunica."By JAMES NiooOL, F.R.I.S., F.G.S., Professor of NaturalHistory in Marischal College and University of Aberdeen.Illustrated by numerous Woodcuts. Edinburgh: Black.1858. pp. 346.

THIS is a concise but fair summary of the leading principlesand more important facts of mineralogy. It is intended forthe general student, with a view to the practical application ofits teachings to geology, mining, and other cognate pursuits.A " mixed system" of classification is adopted in preferenceto either a rigid chemical or crystallographical arrangement.Naumaun’s system and symbols of crystallography are retainedas being, in the author’s opinion, not only simpler and morephilosophical than any hitherto proposed, but as the most

generally useful in consulting the best works on mineralogicalscience. The first portion of the " Elements" is occupied bythe consideration of the form of minerals; the second by that

’ of their physical properties the third by their chemical pro-perties the fourth by that of their class1jication; and the fifth

’

by the " description of mineral species!" The book is well. illustrated, and appears to be adapted to the purpose it has inl view.

Foreign Department.FACIAL NEURALGIA; SECTION OF THE STJB-ORBITAL, rn-

FERIOR DENTAL, BUCCAL, AND LINGUAL NERVES.

BY PROFESSOR MICHEL, OF STRASBURG.

THE patient was a man of forty-five, who had been sufferingfrom facial neuralgia for the last eighteen years. The fits wereextremely frequent, and the usual remedies, short of surgicalinterference, had been of no avail. Professor Michel conceivedthat the case was one of localized neuralgia, situated on one orseveral branches of the trigeminus, the pain radiating throughfurther nervous subdivisions. Hence he divided, in one sitting,the sub-orbital, inferior dental, and buccal nerves. The ope-rator believes that the section of the latter has never been

attempted: he divided it at the anterior margin of the m -seter.

An incision, one inch in length, was made on a line withthat margin, and the fat and cellular tissue were graduallydivided, avoiding the transverse twigs of the facial nerve, andthe facial artery anteriorly. The surgeon thus came upon thebuccinator where the terminal branch of the buccal nerve wasdiscovered, and resected on the posterior aspect of the masseter.Great facility is obtained by raising the cheek with the fingeron a foreign body placed between the teeth and the cheek.The wounds were healed in a week, and the pain relieved forthree months. At the expiration of that period the fits be-came as frequent as before the operation. The attacks were

: now wont to begin on the right side of the tongue, the painL then spreading all over the face; the malar twig seemed also