ARM AND LEG. These Celebrated Artificial Limbs, which, before the war, enjoyed so large a Southern patronage, have been nearly TWENTY YEARS BEFORE THE PUBLIC, and have secured, both in this country and in Europe. the unqualified endorsement of the most distinguished surgeons of the world. Fifty Gold and Silver Medals (or "first prizes,") including the great Medals of the World's Exhibition in London and New York, awarded to Dr. Palmer for THE BEST PATENT LIMBS. DR. PALMER directs the manufacture of his Patent Leg and Arm, aided by men of the best qualifications and greatest experience. PALMER'S RULES FOR AMPUTATION now embody the results of years of added experience. Patients save the expense and loss of time, resulting from leaving home. Pamphlets containing full information concerning these limbs, and the "Rules for Amputation," will be sent to any address on request. To avoid fraudulent imitations, (many of which are now offered to the Public,) apply only to the inventor. aug '66, 1y DR. B. FRANK PALMER, 1609 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Particular attention is called to the improved Artificial Legs and Arms; Apparatus for Resection, shortened legs, ununited fracture. Apparatus for the variations of club-foot, bow-legs, knock-knees, weak ankle; Spinal Supporter Apparatus, for disease and injuries of hip-joints, &c. The Manufacturer claims for himself, that he has had a practical experience of ten years in the most celebrated workshops of Paris, Belgium and Germany, and twenty years in the United States, in the manufacturing of Surgical and Orthopaedical Instruments, Artificial Limbs, &c. For references, refer to our most eminent Surgeons of Philadelphia. augly WHOLESALE DEALERS IN DRUGS, MEDICINES, Chemicals, Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Glass, Dye Stuffs, Fancy Goods, &c. TRAND AND 24th STRETS, (SOUTHWICK'S BUILDING.) GALVESTON, TEXAS. E. 7 SCHMIDT, DRUGGIST AND APOTHECARY, GALVESTON, (OPPOSITE THE MARKET), Keeps constantly on hand a full Assortment of FRESH DRUGS, MEDICINES, Patent Medicines, Perfumeries, Sponges, Stationery, etc., etc. DR. W. H. B. GOODWIN. W. W. ECHOLS. GOODWIN & ECHOLS, DRUGGISTS, GALVESTON, Respectfully invite all wishing to purchase in their line, to call at their Store, On Southeast corner of Tremont Street, ONE SQUARE ABOVE THE OLD TREMONT HOUSE. THE Galveston Medical Journal. VOL. II. JUNE, 1867. No. 6. At what time does the Lochia cease in this Climate? BY L. HUDSPETH,* M.D., HALLETSVILLE, TEXAS. Most authors on this subject, at the time of writing, show their experience to have been in countries several degrees north of this, and it is evident that the same rule is not to be applied to the two climates; and, therefore, the difference in latitude is plain that there would be as much difference in the cessation of lochia as in the menstrual flow in the two latitudes. It is well known that the menstrual flux does not commence at so early an age in northern latitudes, and they do not continue so long, as in this southern climate, and, why not the same rule be applied to the cessation of the lochia? In reasoning we are compelled to agree, that the womb will be longer in return GREENSVILLE DOWELL, M.D.: *HALLETSVILLE, TEXAS, Dear Sir,-If this article be found worthy of a place in your JOURNAL you may publish it : if not, do me the kindness to return it. It has been hurriedly written, and its deficiency is owing to a want of that deliberation which is so necessary for our thoughts to appear well on paper. Next winter I shall do myself the honor to visit the Medical College at Galveston, and spend some time there, and thereby get clear of the prejudices which all have for the place where we receive our medical instruction. ing to its normal condition in parturient women, in this climate, than in those who live in more northern countries, having for a guide the difference in the time of menstruating. Dewees, in his compendious System of Midwifery, p. 210, says :-" It is very unusual, in my practice, to see the lochia too abundant; on the contrary, very little of this discharge is to be seen after the fifteenth day, and sometimes it is over sooner. I have made it a rule to interfere whenever it has continued with any force beyond the tenth day." Meigs' Obstetrics, p. 274, says "By the tenth or fifteenth day many women have none but en have none a whitish discharge, which also ceases between the twentieth and thir tieth day." And. again, on p. 314, the author last quoted says;—" It disappears in the third week, and sometimes earlier. Not a few women continue to have a show in the fifth week; and, in fact, the Jewish women had their purification at the fortieth day, which probably might be founded on observation, as well suited to the inhabitants of this country as to those of the Holy Land." Medical gentlemen, in their experience in midwifery, after the safe delivery of the woman, and giving the necessary instructions pertaining to her health, does not again see her, only through courtesy after the third day, unless called upon in case of suppression or too great a flow of the lochia, and, therefore, does not inquire into its cessation after the time laid down in works on this subject. There are so many diseases of the womb, and its appendages, with symptoms so much resembling those of a suppressed lochia, that, unless there is something like a rule to govern, the inexperienced might be found trying to establish a lochia, which had expired by limitation, and (vice versa) might be trying to stop a healthy lochia when it was a relief to that organ, and thereby cause disease of the womb. Nine out of ten women who have borne children are subject to a vaginal discharge, and, when asked if the lochia has ceased, will answer that it has, because there is no blood in the discharge, when, in all probability, there is a well established lochia going And, in this manner, doubtless, the practitioner is often deceived. Now, if it is true that a cessation of the menses, during gestation, is an act of nature to stow up nutrition for the foetus for nine months, can the human system, in so short a time as five days-yes, fifteen after parturition,-get clear of the retained nutrition and not do violence to its machinery? I am inclined to the opinion it cannot, in this climate, the opinion of our American authors to the contrary notwithstanding. Last year I delivered forty-four women, and I don't remember a single case, when I made it a point of observation, that there was a cessation of the lochia short of twenty-seven days. Now, should the practitioner not have something to rely upon as authentic and definite when consulted upon this subject? I am now treating a wife for ulcer on. ation of the uterus, and the husband of the same for balanitis; the former I believe to be, and the latter I am certain, is dependent on a cohabitation too soon after parturition, or before the lochia had ceased. The object of this article is that the time of the disappearance of the lochia will differ so widely, in each undivided case, and the strength of the womb must determine the duration of the discharge. But, I wish it to be understood, that I do not think one case in a thousand will cease on the fifth or tenth day in this climate; and do hope that the attention of some accoucheur in this climate, in charge of a lyingin ward, be directed to this point, and obtain a more correct average time for the cessation of the lochia. Heuce, Lagree with you, the great necessity of medical societies being established in every county (as recommended in your JOURNAL) for the purpose of discussing important questions that so frequently occur in the science of medicine. Abscessus Vertebrarum-Abscess of the Vertebra WITH REPORT OF CASES. The vertebræ are liable to decay and form pus, whether from chronic or acute inflammation or from depositions of tuberculous matter in their structure is not well established, or rather whether the tuberculous deposition or active inflammation is the primary cause, is disputed. I believe in most cases the discase is produced by a contusion from falling or jumping or direct blows which sets up a subacute inflammation, and this, by the continued pressure, causes disintegration, and, finally, the formation of pus, which is forced out into the soft tissues around the vertebræ and the spinal column leans to the side from which the absorption takes place, and from which the pus flows, if this absorption takes place, on the anterior portion of the body, the spine bends backwards and the spinous processes are pointed under the skin and the body thrown forwards and the head backwards. If one side of the body is absorbed the spine curves to that side and the head to the other; so |