with the eyes of his mind. Such was the peace of a man, who had long accustomed himself to meditate on the secret plans of an over-ruling Providence. What is more sublime than this death of genius, which, when so directed and controlled, is the very sanctity of the intellectual powers? With smiles he approached to the very fountain of truth, and joyfully awaited the hour of his departure. A few days before his death, when thankful for the kind attention of domestic love that watched over his bed, he exclaimed, 'Je suis presque heureux d'etre aveugle.' Happy old man! Who is there among us who does not long for such an end."

"Twenty years ago, when a stranger entered our Academy of Sciences, he could not fail to be struck with a sort of holy respect, on seeing around him so many men of high genius, the glory of France, and the luminaries of their age. There the geometrician might behold Laplace, Ampere, Legendre, and Poisson; there the student of physical science saw Hany, Berthollet, Chaptal, and Vauquelin, and the naturalist met with Jussieu and Desfontaines, Cuvier and Geoffroy St. Hilaire.

"All these men, who had sprung up during the time of the Republic, and whom the Empire had promoted to dignity and distinction; men of iron for labour, and of fire for thought, and whose discoveries have supported, but without paling, the brilliancy of the contemporaneous achievements of policy and warall have at length disappeared from among us; and this grave, at which we now stand, is about to close over one of the most distinguished of their number. In this day of mourning alike of science and of our country, may our souls be lifted up to the contemplation of those great men who, in the course of a few years, have vanished from our sight; and may the rising generation learn to understand that, in the absence of those social crises which, though terrible for the time, yet work a salutary effect on the human race, they may still find, in the fulfilment of the calm duties of life, and in the prosecution of scientific and literary pursuits, inspirations as elevating and hopes as dignified as ever kindled the breasts of those who have gone before them!"

RE-INTERMENT OF BROUSSAIS.

66

The remains of Broussais were recently exhumed from the Cemetery at Pere la Chaise to be deposited under the statue, which has been erected to his memory at the Val-de-Grace. As a matter of course, there was another imposing ceremony got up on the occasion, and deputations from a variety of learned Societies attended, to renew their respectful homage to the Napoleon of Medicine. Two funeral orations were pronounced, before the body was lowered " dans ses pénates eternels." Here is the exordium of the first. Although the ceremony, which has brought us together this day, is not exempt from all the impression of funeral recollections, yet there now prevails in our bosoms a sentiment of pious joy, like that which attends the consecration of a glorious name, or the return of the head of a family to his home, after the absence of many years. The remains of M. Broussais are at length committed to their proper restingplace; for the true abode of the distinguished dead is in that place which they had adopted by their love during life, and which they have rendered famous by their own imperishable renown.' "For the last time, adieu, Broussais! In separating ourselves from thee, receive anew the expression of those sincere regrets which thy loss has inspired, and which are only soothed by the thought that one of our professors still worthily bears the glorious name which thou hast delegated to him."

.

BERZELIUS ON THE URINE.

The distinguished Swede, after giving a most elaborate account of the composition of this animal fluid, proceeds to point out how much its composition is affected by a variety of substances when taken into the stomach. The following examples will abundantly prove the truth of this remark.

After the free use of mercurial ointment, the Urine is found to contain salts of this metal in minute quantities. To detect their presence, we have only to dry the sediment that is precipitated, and then to calcine it: globules of mercury may thus be obtained.

Nitre, the yellow Prussiate of Potash, and many metallic salts, especially those of Iron, may readily be discovered in the urine, not long after they have been swallowed.

After the employment of large quantities of any ferruginous preparation, the urine sometimes acquires a feeble blueish or greenish hue-owing, says Berzelius, to the union of the Iron with the ferro-cyanic Acid, which may be generated by the decomposition of different animal matters within the body itself.

Soon after Tartaric or Oxalic Acid has been taken into the stomach, the urine often deposits, as it cools, oxalate or tartrate of Lime-a deposit that is increased by the addition of the chloruret of lime to the fluid. The Malic, Citric, and Tartaric Acids render the urine more or less decidedly acid. Succinic Acid also re-appears in the urine. Not so, however, with the Benzoic Acid; for this seems to become transformed within the organism into Hippuric Acid-according to the observations of Wohler, Boyé, and Leaming.

The infusion of Nut-Galls is known to pass into the urine; for a black precipitate is found to be formed on the addition of a ferruginous solution. After the administration of Iodine, the iodurets of Potash and Ammonia are discoverable. The alkaline Carbonates also, the Borates, the Silicates, and the Chlorates may be detected by the addition of their respective re-agents. The same holds true of the yellow Prussiate of Potash: the red prussiate is converted into the yellow. The Sulphuret of Potassium is absorbed in part only, without alteration; part becoming oxydised during the circulation, and converted into a sulphate.

The Vegetable Salts, having Potash and Soda for their bases, are transformed into Carbonates; for the urine is then found to be alkaline, and to effervesce on the addition of an acid. The same phenomenon is often observed when a person has been eating very freely of certain fruits, as apples, cherries, strawberries, and raspberries, which contain the malate or the citrate of potash. This fact explains the utility of these fruits occasionally as a remedy in uric acid gravel.— Journal de Pharmacie.

MINERAL SALTS, TAKEN BY THE MOUTH, DISCOVERABLE IN

THE URINE.

Dr. Kramer, professor of chemistry in the university of Milan, read, in the course of last year, before the Imperial Institute of Lombardy, an elaborate account of his researches for the purpose of discovering in the Blood, the Urine, and other products of animal Secretions, various mineral Salts that had been taken into the stomach.

It would be tedious to report the details of his experiments; all that we propose to do at present is, to present the most important conclusions which he has deduced from his extensive and very carefully conducted investigations.

1. The salts with alkaline bases, which we are in the habit of administering to

man and the lower animals, pass with facility into the blood, urine, and even— this holds true more especially with the Ioduret of Potassium-into the sweat and saliva.

2. The blood and urine, when once charged with alkaline salts, free themselves of these foreign matters with very rapid progression.

3. The Salts of Barytes (at least the Chloruret) pass in small quantities into the blood and urine: it is, however, difficult to detect their presence by the ordinary chemical re-agents.

4. The vapour of certain substances, when inhaled into the throat, are absorbed and pass into the circulating fluids with a truly remarkable rapidity; as is proved by experiments with the Vapour of Iodine, traces of which are discoverable in the blood in half an hour after the commencement of the inhalation.

5. Very many of the Compounds of the Metals, properly so called, with other substances, pass into the blood and urine; the presence of the metal may generally be discovered in both fluids. The metallic salts, which have been chiefly subjected to experiment, are the sulphate of Mercury, the sulphuret of Antimony, the tartrate of Antimony, the muriate of Silver, the Carbonate and Sulphate of Iron, and, lastly, the various Combinations of Copper.

6. Some of the metallic Salts and Compounds-for example, those of Copper -may even be detected in the blood and urine eight or ten days after the internal use of the preparation has been quite suspended.

7. Iron, administered by the mouth, is rapidly absorbed and passes into the blood and urine: it should be borne in mind, however, that the urinary secretion in health contains a minute quantity of this metal.

8. Copper also is found, in a still more minute quantity in healthy urine; but it seems probable that the existence of this metal in animal fluids is derived from the copper vessels employed in domestic economy, and also from not a few articles that are used for food. If copper is present in the urine, we may fairly suppose that it may also exist in the blood.

9. Normal Blood always contains a certain quantity of Manganese: the urine also does not appear to be quite exempt from it.-Giornale dell'Instituto Lombardo.

Remarks. The rapid absorption of so many metallic and other salts into the animal economy is a subject of great interest to the practical physician, as well as to the mere physiologist. It suggests, among other considerations, the necessity of more caution, on the part of medical practitioners, than is generally used in the administration of these substances. How must the system become thoroughly impregnated with such a metal as Mercury, when the patient has been taking blue-pill, for example, two or three months without intermission! One might almost believe the assertion of the once famous St. John Long, that he♦ could extract globules of pure mercury from the skin of some of his patients.Rev.

M. MALGAIGNE ON THE ABUSE OF TENOTOMY IN VARIOUS

DEFORMITIES.

Our readers are probably aware that the subject of M. Guerin's alleged almost invariable success in the treatment of even the most unpromising deformities, by the operation of dividing those tendons and muscles which are supposed to be contracted, has been recently brought before the Royal Academy-of which he is a member-by M. Malgaigne, and that the discussion thereon ensuing has been carried on with no little asperity by both parties. We have already more than once expressed our own opinion as to the merits of the "grand ortho

pædiste:" we shall now select a few passages from a recent paper by M. Malgaigne, in which he comments upon and criticises the doctrines and practice of his opponent.

Suppose, says M. Guerin, that a surgeon has to treat a case of deformity of the foot, when all the muscles, with the exception of two or three, are in a state of paralysis. Those, which are not paralysed, are, as a matter of course, retracted, and draw the foot in the direction of their action. If we cannot indeed effect a cure of the paralysis by Tenotomy, we can, and we ought to, correct the vicious direction of the foot by dividing the tendons which occasion it. Cela est fait. Forthwith the critic launches his thunders against the operator and the operation, on the ground that he never heard of Palsy being treated by the division of the tendons of the affected part! We may here observe that, in the same limb, there are not unfrequently some muscles which are palsied, while others are retracted; and therefore surely we may fairly presume that the one set may be divided, while at the same time we endeavour to excite the other set to action. "Now we beg to offer a few remarks on the doctrine here inculcated. The first point to be determined is to ascertain what the author really means by retracted muscles. Does he allude to the normal and physiological retraction, which always exists in healthy muscles when opposed to such as are paralysed? We may fairly infer, from the above-quoted paragraph, that such is his meaning; and it is very certain that, in the instance of the paralytic foot to which we have alluded, the tendo Achillis was divided by M. Guerin for the simple retraction of the muscles of the extremity. If such be the case, the doctrine here propounded is so utterly inconsistent with all the sound principles of enlightened surgery, that we need not surely waste a line in combating its error. Never will any muscle, when acting by its physiological action alone, prevent the foot from being reduced to its normal direction by the effort of the hand, or by the application of a boot. If you divide the tendon under such circumstances, what good do you expect to result from it? Either a re-union of the divided ends will take place, and the muscle will recover its contracting power; or this power will be entirely lost, and then, in place of a partial, you will have a complete, paralysis. Is this a result to be desired?

"Let us see what was the result of such a line of practice in a case reported by M. Guerin.

"A child, six years old, was some time ago admitted into the Infant Hospital with the following deformity:

"In the second year of her age, she had been seized with convulsions, and these had been followed by palsy of the left leg. M. Bouvier, who was consulted about this time, recommended the use of a spring-boot with the view of supporting the weak extremity, advising at the same time that the case should be left to the natural restorative efforts of the constitution. About twelve months afterwards, the paralysis had very sensibly diminished; but the foot still hung down and was drawn somewhat outwards. M. Guerin, who now saw her, pronounced the ease to be one of pied-bot valgus, and, (according to the statement of the child's mother) he at once proceeded to divide the tendo Achillis. On the young creature being discharged from the hospital some time afterwards, he assured the mother that her child would be certainly cured of the club-foot, but perhaps not of the paralysis. Now, so far from this being the case, what is the state of the child at the present moment? The foot is precisely in the same condition as it was before the operation; the gait is excessively unsteady; the spine has begun to be curved; the affected leg is somewhat shortened, and the size of its calf is considerably less than that of the other leg. It must be quite unnecessary to comment on the practice pursued in this case: it was irrational, and therefore altogether unjustifiable. After no little consideration of the subject, I do not hesitate to assert, as a principle of surgical practice to which there

is no exception, that it is utterly irrational to divide healthy muscles in demiparalysed limbs."

M. Malgaigne, notwithstanding this assertion, willingly admits that, in certain cases of pathological contraction of a limb, the section of the retracted tendons is quite justifiable, and may be productive of much good. For example, if the Gastrocnemii muscles are in a state of such rigid contraction that the heel cannot be brought down to the ground, or the foot cannot be easily incased in an ordinary boot, the section of the tendo Achillis may be perfectly warrantable, as the patient may thereby be enabled to walk with much greater ease and comfort than he could before. The same may be affirmed of a case where the knee-joint has become flexed, in consequence of the predominance of the action of the flexor over that of the extensor muscles of the leg; for surely it is better, if a patient must have an anchylosed knee-joint, that the limb should then be in an extended than in a bent position.

"In January 1840, M. Guerin informed the Academy of Sciences that he had, three weeks before, divided the biceps, semi-tendinosus, semi-membranosus and rectus internus muscles on each side, in a young girl, for an incomplete luxation of the knee-joint. On the day after the operation, the deformity, we were told, was reduced to a simple normal flexion of the part; and, after the patient had been kept in the Orthopaedic Hospital for nine months, the report proceeded to state that the cure was complete, with the exception only of a certain degree of permanent flexion of the articulation.

"Now for the real history of this case. The girl, when seven years of age, had been seized with convulsions; after one of the violent attacks of which, the contractions and paralysis, with which she is now affected, were first observed. A variety of means were tried for her relief; but they all failed; and she was therefore sent to the Salpetrière as a poor helpless creature. M. Mitivier, touched with compassion at her pitiable condition, recommended the case to the notice of M. Guerin, who admitted her into the Hospital of Children, and performed two tenotomic operations, in the first of which he divided thirteen, and in the second five muscles or tendons, for the relief of her various deformities. Now let us hear what was the actual condition of this poor creature, when she was sent back to the Salpetrière, after having been all but cured. (!) She was then, and still continues, as miserably helpless as ever; and, in addition to her helplessness, she now suffers a good deal of pain in the site of the wounds that were made in different parts of the body.

"Another memorable case, in which the great Orthopedist divided no fewer than 42 muscles and tendons at one séance and 'sans desemparer,' was quite as little creditable to the veracity, as well as the judgement, of the operator. M. Phillips, who allowed himself at first to be so far misled by the alleged success as even to adopt a similar line of practice in an analogous case, has candidly confessed (in his Memoir, de la Tenotomie Sous-cutanée, p. 18) that, in neither instance, was the operation productive of any decided benefit."-Journ. de Chirurg.

Remarks. So much for the performances of M. Guerin. As is the case with all great claqueurs, the actual performances of this gentleman fall far short of his professions. But the blame should not fall upon him exclusively; there is more than one scientific (!) quack in the list of the Royal Academicians. One of his most zealous assailants is a gentleman who actually recommended-aye too, and he put his recommendation in practice the forcible extension, by means of a powerful mechanical contrivance, of semi-anchylosed joints. After the death of one or two patients, who were subjected to this horrible contrivance, the scheme was dropped.-Rev.