Recent Literature The Proclivity of Women to Cancerous Diseases . By Herbert Snow, M.D. (Lond.). London: J. & A. Churchill. 1891

1891 Boston Medical and Surgical Journal  
patients were left entirely well after such surgical measures. He would only advocate removal of the organs where there coexisted structural changes aud prolapse. He then enumerated the therapeutical agents and measures which should have thorough trial, and believed that such conservatism would ofteu disappoint the gynecological operator. UNSUSPECTED ECTOPIC GESTATION. Dr. H. F. Formad, of Philadelphia, gave the results of a series of observations which by virtue of his position as coroner he
more » ... d been able to make in a large number of post-mortem examinations on women, with a view to ascertaining the cause of death in cases where ante-mortem diagnosis had not been made. Since commencing careful investigation, he had come across thirty-five cases of unquestionable ectopic gestation. Of these, there had been but one ovarian and three interstitial, the remainder being intra-peritoneal. There was no instance of extra-peritoneal pregnancy. In none of these cases hud the condition been diagnosed when a physician happened to be called in previous to death. The histories showed that all the women had been engaged in hard work, subjected to violence, or were laboring under special excitement. His conclusions were that the condition of extra-uterine gestation was a much more common one than was supposed, aud that a certificate of heart disease, or any other such vague statement frequently, though unwittingly, covered uj) the real facts. SURGICAL SECTION.-THIRD DAY. D«. Edmund Andrews, of Chicago, read a paper on CADAVER STUDIES ON THE REMOVAL OF THE SEMILUNAR GANGLION THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE CRANIUM. Relapses of facial neuralgia, after stretching or resecting the nerve for its relief, are very common. Even after resection, relief is sometimes obtained temporarily by a second operation, loosening the end of the nerve iu the cicatrix. The author thinks that this neuralgia is often caused by a neuritis, which, beginning at the periphery of a nerve, travels upwards, finally affecting the semilunar ganglion. With a view of reaching this ganglion work has been done on the cadaver, and a method established which he considers the best for its removal. An H-sbaped incision is made over the zygomatic arch, which is sawed through at both ends, and turned down with the lower flap. The corouoid process is then sawed through aud included in the upper flap. The inferior dental and gustatory branches of the inferior maxillary nerve are reached through the masse ter and internal pterygoid muscles, and followed up to the foramen ovale. The ganglion is reached by trephining the edge of the foramen. The ganglion is dissected from the dura, to which it is firmly attached. A similar operation has been twice done by Rose, of London. Dr. Lawrence Turnbull, of Philadelphia, read a paper on DEATHS FROM CHLOROFORM AND ETHER SINCE THE HYDERABAD COMMISSION. The author has collected thirty-nine deaths from chloroform and four from ether. With neither auajsi lidie is the cause of death always the same, aud both heart and respiration should be watched. Iu the discussion the necessity of giving chloroform slowly was brought out. This operation is often miscalled craniec/omy, which implies removal, whereas, in reality it is a long incision. This incision is carried from the frontal eminence parallel with the frontal suture across the lambdoidal suture, and a narrow piece of skull removed. This operation is as successful as making two incisions, aud less dangerous. Dr. John A. Wyeth, of New York, read a paper on SUPRAPUBIC CYSTOTOMY. The abdominal wound is treated by the open method. The bladder is closed only when it is perfectly healthy, otherwise the wound is left to granulate. This is the safest rule to follow in Buprapubic bladder operation. Twenty-three cases were reported without a death. Dr. W. R. Townsend, of New York, read a paper ou SPRAINS OF THE ANKLE. Flat-foot is not infrequently the result of iiuprop-. erly treated sprain of the ankle. The leg should be elevated, and strips of adhesive plaster carefully applied in different directions over the seat of injury, ami a pressure bandage put over this, or in case of a more severe injury, a plaster-of-Paris bandage should be put on for a few days only. The patient may use the foot within reasonable limits after the apparatus is applied. Dr. Robert Newman, of New York, read a paper on PLATINUM NEEDLES FOR ELECTROLYSIS. Platinum is by far the best material for needles, but is so easily bent that it is often difficult to manipulate. To overcome this difficulty, the author has made a steel needle with a groove, which is first put in, and the platinum needle inserted along the groove. The steel needle is then withdrawn. Recent Literature. This book is the substance of a lecture given by the author at the Cancer Hospital in London. Tho points which he makes are in brief as follows : That women are more prone to cancer than men no one can doubt. The two organs which give this greater predominance in women are the uterus and tho breast. He considers that there is a special liability to cancer in parts " where the cell elements subsist in unstable equilibrium, that is, are prone to frequent modifications and changes in individual growth or relative arrangement, and are very intimately controlled by the nervous system." Conditions which are typically fouud in the uterus, and also in the breast. As exciting causes, traumatism accounts for a few cases; the majority, however, are due to various depressing neurotic conditions, particularly mtntal dis-The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal as published by The New England Journal of Medicine. Downloaded from nejm.org at VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY on September 15, 2016. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. From the NEJM Archive.
doi:10.1056/nejm189105281242207 fatcat:kz5cnpkrr5e4zbdggapdp3jhjm