Miscellany. [Volume: 2, Issue: 12, July, 1861, pp. 695-696]

696

THE DENTAL COSMOS.

The Amer. Med. Monthly for June contains an interesting essay " on
anatomical preparations," by DR. JAS. E. STEEL, the practical character
of which is shown by the following extract: "There are various ways in
which disarticulated bones may be prepared: but the quickest, and probably the best, is to boil them in a solution of carbonate of potassa and
water-about Xvi to the gallon. This will free them from all extraneous
matter, and make them tolerably white. After having been subjected to
the foregoing processes and made quite clean, they can be made still
whiter by placing and keeping them in an oven until they shall have become quite hot, when they should be taken out, and sulphuric ether
applied to their surfaces with a brush, which will have the effect of giving
to them a really beautiful appearance."
In the course of a discussion on puerperal eclampsia before the Obstetrical Soc. of Boston, (Boston Med. and Surg. Jour.,) DR. WELLINGTON
related a case in which "there was dislocation of the lower jaw several
times during the convulsions."
In one of his lectures on the nervous system, (Amer. Med. Times,)
DR M. G. ECHEVERRIA thus notices some of the causes and varieties of
facial palsy and anesthesia: " Paralysis of the trifacial arises from causes
acting upon the nervous centres, upon the nerve itself, or from a traumatic
peripheric lesion, as in the case reported by Ch. Bell, of anaesthesia in
half of the lips after extraction of a molar tooth. Anaesthesia in the
corresponding side of the face, with loss of smell, taste, and at times
hearing, dryness in the pituitary, insensibility, and changes of nutrition
in the conjunctiva and cornea, with mydriasis, or dilatation of the pupil,
are the principal symptoms of paralysis of the trifacial. As to taste, it
will only be lost in the anterior part of the tongue, where the lingual
nerve is distributed; the gums are also swollen and torn, mastication becomes impaired, and the lower jaw hangs after paralysis in the pterigoides, the masseter, and temporal muscles."
According to the Druggist, " a transparent cement for glass is made by
dissolving one part of india-rubber in chloroform, and adding sixteen
parts, by measure, of gum mastic in powder. Digest for two days, and
frequently shake the vessel in which these substances are contained. The
cement is applied with a fine camel's-hair brush."
The Sci. Amer. gives the following on the relative tenacity of metals:
"GUYTON MORVEAU has carefully determined the weight which can be
supported by wires of a uniform diameter of 0.787 of an English line
without fracture.
Metals. Pounds. Metals. Pounds.
Iron.................................. 549-250 Gold................................. 150763
Copper............................ 302-278 Zinc.........1.9..................... 10 540
Platinum........................... 274320 Tin................................... 34630
Silver............................... 1887137 Lead................................. 17-621"
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL.
The Physician's Pocket, Dose, and Symptom Book.. By JOSEPH I.
WYTHES, M.D. Third edition. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston,
1861. This little work affords a condensed summary of some of the
leading facts in practical medicine, and is hence adapted to the wants of
those who require the extraneous aid of such a manual. It is neatly
printed and bound.