malady. We ourselves know that it constantly checks its further progress, and we may perhaps hope that if it were applied in good time to the mucous membrane it would effectually arrest the tendency to the increase of the vegetation.

Treatment. As the true nature of thrush has been an object of controversy, so the treatment of this disease has varied according to the doctrines adopted regarding its character. Some of the ancient and many too of the modern writers maintain the malady to be almost entirely local, and under this impression apply their remedies directly to the seat of the disease, while others, deriving it solely from milk of a bad quality supplied by the nurse or mother, restrict their treatment entirely to the latter, giving medicines to improve the quality of the milk, without any direct remedial interference with the child.

Dr. Berg steers a middle course between these opposite opinions, and while he bestows the utmost attention on the milk of the nurse or mother, he states that local treatment can never be entirely neglected; nay, that in many cases it forms the most important part of the cure. The variations in the character of the milk should be carefully studied, both chemically and with the microscope; aids to medical investigation which were formerly unknown, and even now are but imperfectly appreciated by the great mass of practitioners.

General Treatment. In the treatment of thrush, Dr. Berg observes, it is necessary to make a distinction between simple aphthæ or thrush occurring in an otherwise healthy child, and those forms of the disease which attend on other maladies. In simple thrush he regards general treatment as unnecessary; local applications will usually cure the disorder. Even when gastric affections supervene, a perseverance in the mere local treatment is often all that is required. But when the digestive organs become seriously affected, general remedies must also be had recourse to, and as these affections often remain after the aphthæ have disappeared, constitutional treatment should be persevered in till the health is completely restored.

Our readers will remember that Dr. Berg considers the disorder of the digestive functions in thrush to arise mainly from a superabundant formation of lactic, butyric, acetic, and carbonic acids, and consequently the alkalies and their carbonates are strongly recommended to neutralize the excess of acid. Of these he gives the preference to soda; but should an excessive development of gas ensue from its employment, he advises us to have recourse to "aqua calcis" and "magnesia usta," as a change of remedies is often urgently required.

Emetics are indicated when there is reason to suspect that the aphthous crusts have been swallowed to a great extent by the patient, and that they are acting injuriously on the contents of the stomach. When the child vomits spontaneously coagulated or uncoagulated milk or mucus, an emetic will have the most favorable effect. The quantity of acid generated in the intestinal canal causes an excessive formation of casein, and particles of a cheesy appearance are then passed in abundance by stool. In such cases purgatives are extremely useful in clearing the intestinal canal. For this purpose castor oil answers best, but when the bowels become slow, and much mucus is secreted from them, rhubarb and jalap should be

XLVIII.-XXIV.

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exhibited. Calomel has very seldom been employed by Dr. Berg as a purgative in thrush.

To relieve the colicky pains and to obviate the tendency to intussuscep‐ tion so frequent in infants, Dr. Berg has generally employed antispasmodics and sedatives. The favorite preparation of this kind with our author is the liq. succin. ammon., given either by the mouth, or in the form of an enema. In the majority of the milder cases, he has contented himself with administering a little of the pulv. rhei and magnesia. warns us against giving any medicines in sugar to children suffering from aphthæ. He believes it to be an injurious practice, as the sugar being converted into lactic acid, will favour the increase of the parasitic vegetation.

Local Treatment. After a brief survey of the local remedies praised by the earlier writers, some of which are curious indeed, he observes that the local applications should be of such a nature as not to injure the epithelium on which the parasite is seated. "There is a period in the disease," he remarks, "when the aphthous crusts fall off of their own accord, and little more is then required than slightly pencilling or rubbing the affected part with a soft brush dipped in water." Dr. Berg, however, strongly advises us not to wait for this time, but, from the very beginning of the disorder to use chemical and mechanical remedies to destroy the parasite or to hinder its further extension. We cannot, however, expect to remove by direct mechanical interference the fibres of the parasitic growth, which have been shown by Dr. Berg to be so intimately interwoven with the uppermost layers of the epithelium. Our author, therefore, advises that in this stage we should have recourse to those remedies that have a gently solvent and macerating action on the epithelium. Among these he enumerates the alkaline carbonates, and also borax, while he considers the caustic alkalies to be more active in this regard, but, at the same time, less safe in their application. He has also tried solutions of alum, but not with very favorable results. The solutions of corrosive sublimate recommended by Columbier and Eisenmann are, he thinks, too perilous in their application to be ordinarily prescribed. A certain quantity of acid appears, from our author's researches, to be requisite for the growth of the parasite, while its increase is hindered by an excess of acid, and therefore the stronger mineral acids could not be used to arrest the disease, were not their local action too severe upon those parts of the mucous membrane that are still in a healthy condition. Alkaline remedies, consequently, are Dr. Berg's especial favorites. They counteract the excess of acidity so favorable to the growth of thrush, and, at the same time, soften the epithelium and aid in the throwing off of the aphthous crusts. An excess of alkali in any menstruum has been proved by Dr. Berg's experiments to arrest the increase of the parasite, and when administered to the child, alkalies probably counteract the excessive formation of lactic acid on the mucous membrane, though Dr. Berg does not positively state that they exercise a direct influence on the parasitic growth. Our author uses for this purpose solutions of subcarbonate of soda and borax, varying their strength according to the necessities of the case. The local treatment does not however end here. The constant application of alkaline solutions tends, according to our author, to diminish

the thickness of the epithelial layers by their macerating and solvent properties, and thus the blood, he suspects, comes more immediately into contact with the fluids in the mouth; and he suggests that albumen may in this manner escape and become mixed with mucus; and when it comes in contact with lactic acid it will form one of the most favorable menstrua for the parasitic growth. It is in this way that Dr. Berg explains the frequency of relapses after alkaline treatment has been long employed, and he accordingly advises us then to adopt other remedies, especially astringents and the mineral acids. It is at this period too that nitrate of silver is so useful; and we ourselves have frequently administered it in the proportion of three or four grains to the 3j of syrup. rheados, though perhaps the infus. salvia or some other mucilaginous preparation containing less sugar would be a more appropriate vehiculum.

Finally, Dr. Berg opposes the doctrine of the older writers that thrush is usually followed by an eruption on the skin, and that this is to be regarded as the same exanthematous process transported to the external integument. Our readers will be aware that the exanthematous nature of aphthæ is entirely denied by our author, and in this respect we fully agree with him. The eruption in question is, as Dr. Berg observes, chiefly confined to the nates and the adjacent parts, which in young children are constantly wetted by urine, or are in contact with the fæces. When the secretions from the bowels become disordered and of an acrid character, they will necessarily irritate and inflame the neighbourhood of the anus, and in this way produce what by the vulgar is still regarded as the external and subsequent appearance of thrush. Cleanliness and attention to changing the linen is therefore of the utmost importance in preventing these sequelæ.

The second portion of Dr. Berg's Essay presents us with a nearly complete historical analysis of the descriptions of thrush, from the earliest ages down to the present time. We say nearly a complete analysis, for our author is candid enough to give a full list of those works which he has not been able to consult: these however, are comparatively unimportant, and while the former and purely original part of his Essay is a lasting monument of his great intelligence and unwearied zeal and of his scientific acquirements, we must give due praise also to our author for his diligence in collecting so large a body of information on the subject of aphthæ as is presented by the historical division of his work. His criticisms too on the researches of others are mild and temperate; he is no blind adorer of his favorite theory, for where experiments have turned out unfavorably to his preconceived opinions, he has recorded them as candidly as those which were successful. Dr. Berg has avoided the too common error of the present day in not hurrying with his newly formed doctrines to the press, fearful lest some more fortunate competitor might snatch the anticipated laurels from his brow. He has calmly and steadily pursued his experiments and matured his doctrines, ere he produced them to the medical world; and we trust that he will continue his researches, and extend them to other branches of infantile disease. Such a modest little volume as that now before us will be readily perused by the student who would shrink from a more extended work, while the high character of its contents will ensure for it a cordial reception from the medical world.

In the matter of printing and paper, the little book is superior to many of the works that have emanated from the Swedish press, while the errors

are remarkably few, though quotations from seven or eight different languages are given in the historical portion. The Swedish school already occupies a favorable position in medical science, and we are convinced that this little volume will add to its reputation.

From the date of the publication of this monograph, the name of Dr. Fr. Th. Berg must take its permanent place in the list of original observers who have had the honour and good fortune of conferring a positive benefit on medical science.

ART. XIII.

1. The Phytologist, a Popular Botanical Miscellany. Conducted by GEORGE LUXFORD, A.L.S., F.B.S.E.-London, 1841-7.

2. The Zoologist, a Popular Miscellany of Natural History. Conducted by EDWARD NEWMAN, F.L.S., Z.s., &c.—London, 1843-7.

THE works above mentioned are issued as monthly journals, and are, for the objects for which they are intended, works of very considerable merit; and though not bearing on the practice of our profession, and so far not constituting that class of work, which as a general rule, we consider the more proper objects of notice in these pages, yet as treating on subjects which are or ought to be interesting to all the members of our profession, we are induced to give them a passing notice, and the more so as we believe they have not received from medical men in general, that attention and support to which we think they are entitled from a class of men whose education and tastes naturally bear on the subjects of which they treat. Though treating on distinct branches of natural history, yet, as being conducted in the same spirit, and being sister productions, and owing their origin to the same spirited individual, who is the proprietor of both as well as the editor of the Zoologist,' we feel, on these accounts, disposed to consider them together. Their object is to afford to the numerous class of those who are interested in the subjects of zoology and botany, an opportunity of perusing, at small cost, a readable account of the observations and findings of the day, and of recording their own observations on the same subjects. The pages of these works are open to the small facts which must of necessity be excluded from the elaborate transactions of societies, but which possess an interest for many, who, with the true love of the contemplation and observation of nature, have neither time nor inclination for abstruse researches. To the active members of our profession, who in the course of their studies have acquired a taste for these subjects, but who would find a sustained attentive study of them incompatible with the important and anxious duties of active practice, the works before us are peculiarly adapted,-recording facts interesting to all, and offering their ready pages to observers who may be willing to record what passes before their eyes, but who would shrink from the task of an elaborate paper.

We must be careful, however, by the above remarks, not to mislead by giving the idea that we have only before us the results of the "prentice hands" of natural history tyros. Open, as are these works, to all, yet in the table of contents amongst the names of the unknown, we see also

those of our well-known and justly celebrated authors, who here record the facts, which, though valuable in themselves, could not find admittance to the manual or condensed synopsis. Facts, however, are the words of nature, and whether recorded by the unknown Mr. A. or the celebrated Professor B. if faithfully related, speak the same lesson, and possess an equal value and in accordance with this view, it is gratifying to find how small a portion of nonsense finds its way to the open pages of these liberal journals, the preface of one of which declares (Zool. vol. i, p. 6,) that "every one who describes a single fact is welcome,-nay more than that, has a claim to be admitted as a contributor."

The Phytologist we shall notice first as being the elder sister, though we believe hitherto the less sought. Its immediate origin and object we quote from the proprietor's preface.

"The Phytologist owes its existence to the desire of recording and preserving FACTS, OBSERVATIONS, and OPINIONS relating to botany in general, but more especially to British botany. Prior to its commencement these had no appropriate receptacle. There was no periodical to which they would be acceptable. For works of a general character they were esteemed too dull; for those of high scientific pretensions they were supposed too trifling. By field-botanists alone were they considered worth preserving: to such the utility, the value of an unpretending monthly journal was most manifest; and these field-botanists-these observers these labourers in the delightful field of botanical inquiry, have freely availed themselves of its pages: they have done all that was anticipated, and 'the Phytologist' has become the medium of their communications with each other and with the botanical public." (vol. i, p. v.)

The above we have extracted from the preface of the first volume; in that of the last we are informed that its aim is that it should be "a complete register of the botany of Britain," and that with this object information given to other journals is invariably noticed in the Phytologist.' From an intimate acquaintance with the work from its commencement, we may say that it has from the first fulfilled the intention thus only recently expressed. All newly-discovered species of plants during the last few years, may be found here recorded; and considering how many years British botany has been cultivated, and since the earlier days of Smith, with only an occasional addition to our flora, the number which have of late years been added is truly surprising, and marks the habit of careful analysis, which characterizes the present generation. In addition to these matters of detail, interesting, most interesting, to the collecting botanist, are numerous very readable excursions, and some truly scientific papers on the philosophy of botany, the latter chiefly from the pen of Mr. Hewett Watson, the well-known author of the Geography of British Plants;" while with regard to the material for the further consideration of the interesting subjects of the last-named work, ample funds may be here found from all parts of Britain.

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A very remarkable fact is recorded by Mr. Spence, (vol. ii, p. 85,) of small branches growing from the disk of a leaf in Jungermannia juniperina, we extract the account from the observer's own words.

"I noticed that, at the summit of one of the stems, the leaves were so closely crowded together as to form a sort of coma; and that, from amongst these leaves, which were spread out on every side and recurved, there proceeded several mi