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discussed. Details of the various experiments are given andthe resulting post-mortem appearances described. They aresuch as to lead Mr. Miles to lend his support to the theory ofthe important part played by the cerebro-spinal fluid in themechanism of cerebral concussion. His conclusions, as givenin the summary at the end of his paper, are that the

group of phenomena commonly spoken of as " concussionof the brain " result from temporary anaemia of the organ con-sequent upon stimulation of the restiform bodies and perhapsother structures in the region of the bulb. The stimulation ofthese parts is supposed to be effected by the wave of cerebro-spinal fluid which rushes through the aqueduct of Sylvius andthe foramen of Magendie and from the subarachnoid space ofthe brain to that of the cord when a severe blow is dealt overthe skull. Such a wave will naturally disturb the equilibriumof the nerve cells throughout the central nervous system, andthe haemorrhages found throughout the brain substance andon its surface are to be ascribed to the recession of the

cerebro-spinal fluid which supports the bloodvessels of the ’,brain. He is further of opinion that the petechial hmmor-rhages found in cases of so-called concussion are not to beregarded as the proximate cause of the symptoms of thatcondition, but rather as an index of the force producing theinjury. -

DRUNKENNESS AMONG WOMEN.

THE Daily Telegraph devotes a column to the discussion ofwhat is called "A National Shame : Drunken Women." No

one who has his eyes open can fail to see that women are

fatally losing modesty in the way in which they enter public-houses. Our contemporary quotes evidence from coroners,magistrates, police-court missionaries and others, all with oneconsent agreeing that drunkenness among women is on theincrease. Young women are not excepted, but included inthe statement. Mr. Wynne Baxter has said that the questionof drunkenness, directly or indirectly, enters into half the

inquests he holds. In 1891, in London, 8373 women weretaken into custody for being " drunk and disorderly. " Of2554 women appearing at Clerkenwell, 95 per cent. were thevictims of drink. Magistrates and missionaries are convincedthat prison does nothing to benefit drunken women, and thatthey should have the power of dealing with them quitedifferently from ordinary criminals. This is quite obvious,but we must aim at measures which check the creation ofdrunkards in homes and streets.

THE BIRKBECK PANIC : A MANIACAL EXCITEMENT.

THE saying that " apprehension kills and apprehensioncures " is of the nature of a truism, for apprehension causedthe Birkbeck depositors to withdraw their money and appre-hension (of otherwise losing it) caused them to replace it.

Panic arises from a more or less unreasonable disturbance ofthat sense of security which ought to rest in all social

institutions, whether commercial or structural. The sanctionsof civilised life have their highest expression in thissense of security, which is totally wanting in the methodsof savage existence. But while, on the one hand, a

sense of security is regarded as characterising the bodypolitic, individuals have, on the other, to be carefulto cultivate the faculty of self-control which forms,as Herbert Spencer has said, a chief distinction betweenthe human being and the brute. The possession" of theswine by a legion of devils and their subsequent self-destructionserve well to illustrate the outcome of muscular activitywhere this governing faculty is conspicuous by its absencePanic in human beings is the counterpart of this condition ofthings ; and it is neither more nor less than a maniacalexcitement with, among other symptoms of derangement,loss of appetite, watchful and sleepless nights and a total

incapacity to think soberly on any subject, the whole mindbeing absorbed by the one idea which swamps all its ordinaryactivities and diverts them from a normal, healthful flow intoan insane rush of selfish impetuosity. The evils of such arush as that upon the Birkbeck Bank are not finished whenthe panic has been lulled, as in this instance, by the evidenceof stability and safety. The injurious effects upon individualsare not easily surmounted, and the medical profession is onlytoo well aware of the serious extent to which the

resulting nervous exhaustion and prostration are now

beginning to make themselves felt among those directlyor indirectly concerned in the foolish and needless excitement.The full and ultimate chronicle of such panics is written in thecase-books of our lunatic asylums ; and although we are wellaware of the futility of advice in dealing with actual panic,we nevertheless feel it to be our duty to issue a note of warningon the subject, and to impress upon all the great necessity ofcultivating and exercising in every walk of life and under

every circumstance in life the all-important moral attributes ofself-control, self-restraint, self-government.

THE MUSCULAR SENSE.

AT the eighteenth annual meeting of the American Neuro-logical Association, held in New York in June of this year, aninteresting paper was read by Dr. G. F. Preston of Baltimoreon some Contributions to the Muscular Sens-.1 Dr. Preston

thought that it might be considered definitely proved thatthe muscular sense, or at least one part, was composed ofafferent impulses which were entirely independent of generalsensibility. The next step that suggested itself was thestarting-point of these afferent impulses. Clearly, as

several observers had noted, the muscles alone-that was,sensations coming from them - could not give us the

information we required as to the position of our limbs.

Undoubtedly the tendons, the joints and their coverings, andperhaps the bones, all aided in producing the posture sense,or rather from these proceeded nerve fibres conveying posture-sense impressions. The loss or impairment of posture sensewas an almost constant symptom in sclerosis of the posteriorcolumns of the cord. It seemed probable to Dr. Preston thatthe fibres conveying posture-sense impressions passed into therestiform body, thence to the cerebellum and on to the greatbrain. In three cases of tumour of the cerebellum inwhich necropsies had been made he had observed loss ofposture sense without impairment of general sensibility.

FEVER IN LONDON.

THE embarrassment of the Metropolitan Asylums Board withthe extension of the epidemic of scarlet fever is very great,and, judging from previous epidemics, more pressure is yet tobe expected. As early as May 14th the Ambulance Committeereported the number of cases to be larger than on the sameday in any previous year. Out of 3744 patients under treat-ment, no less than 3353 were cases of scarlet fever. The

ages of the patients are instructive. Out of 7794 fever

patients admitted to the Board’s hospitals between Jan. lstand Sept. 12th, 74 per cent. were between one and ten years,of age, 16 per cent. between ten and fifteen, and only 10 percent. over fifteen. The Asylums Board have reached the limitof their accommodation and have been obliged to decline alarge number of cases. The chairman of the Board, Sir EdwinGalsworthy, at the meeting on the 17th inst., severely and withmuch iteration reflected on the Local Government Boardfor its "lamentable " delay and indecision in agreeing tothe proposals of the managers for plans for meeting theunprecedented number of cases. The public will awaitwith anxiety the defence of the Local Government Board.Meantime it appears to us as if this wholesale reception of

1 Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, Aug. 25th, 1892.