SMOKING TOBACCO

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the multitude. True, the terminus is not always reached;there is a burst-up or a collision, and the victim is lost sightof, only, however, to be replaced by others not less eager.M. Regnard, having defined the malady, its symptoms, and itscourse, next applies himself rather despondingly to its cure.Copious "bleedings"—in the pecuniary sense-have beenpartially successful, but removal from the moral contagium ishis wisest suggestion. This, accompanied with a steady courseof inductive science, beginning with its originators, " NovumOrganum," and pausing over Aphorism 77, where we areadmonished that " when the populace applauds us we

should ask ourselves what fault we have committed," maywith some confidence in the result be put in practice. For

humbler cases, Al. Regnard is reminded of the two Quakerbrothers whose joint vocation was commerce. One of them,afflicted with " mania concionabunda," was unsuccessful inhis political venture, and thereupon received the fraternalprescription: 11 I have heard of thy defeat, William, nor doI greatly grieve at it; for now thou wilt drop other people’sbusiness, and attend to thine own."

CHOLERA INTELLIGENCE.

THE cholera news which has reached this country duringthe past week has been somewhat disconnected. Itis,how-ever, evident that the disease still prevails in several portionsof Italy. Thus, in Venice, an increase in the daily number ofattacks has taken place, and, according to a correspondentof the public press, as many as thirty-nine fresh cases havebeen notified in one day. Obher returns are to the effectthat during the week ending mid-day of the 14th instantthe daily attacks have varied between five and twenty-one,and that the total cholera deaths for the week have been

fifty-seven. Venice is, in fact, deserted by all visitors andpleasure-seekers, and the authorities are endeavouring, byplacing military guards over the houses affected, to keep thedisease from extending further. These measures, however,appear to be comparatively useless. Some attacks have taken

place in Florence, but they seem to be the result of importa-tion from Venice, and this notwithstanding the attempts thatare made strictly to isolate the households attacked. Bariand Brindisi also continue infected. As regards Bari, elevendeaths have taken place during the week ending the14th inst.; but as to Brindisi, no records of cholera deathsfind their way out of the country. Oria, an inland town inrailway communication with Brindisi, has also been affected.The latest news of the extension of cholera comes from

Trieste, where, on June 12th and 13bb, two fatal attacksoccurred in different parts of the town. The disease istherefore prevalent in various parts of the kingdom, andits maintained persistence in one or two places at the twoextremes of the peninsula must still be regarded as givingample grounds for anxiety as to the future.

SMOKING TOBACCO.

THE use of tobacco, as distinguished from its abuse, oughtto be a matter of intelligent observation and experience.We should incline to the opinion that any particular in-dividual who can say, "I always know when I have smokedenough-if 1 go beyond the just limit I lose my power ofprompt decision," had better not smoke at all. It is clearlyunwise for a man who cannot swim to persist in dabblingin deep waters. There are currents and under-draughtswhich may at any moment destroy his balance. The veryreverse of the complaint made by this person is the expe-rience of most smokers. A moderate use of tobacco soothesthe senses, and leaves the mental faculties free from irrita-tion and ready for calmly clear intellectual processes. Whenthis is not the effect produced by smoking, the "weed " hadbetter be eschewed.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF COLLAPSED BOWEL INOPERATIONS FOR INTESTINAL

OBSTRUCTION.

IT is generally held that in intestinal obstruction thebowel above the obstruction is dilated, and that below it iscollapsed. And of this fact practical use has been made,for in case of doubt as to the seat of obstruction when

operating for its relief, collapsed bowel has been sought forand followed up to the lesion. Dr. Michael, of Baltimore,has published a short note in the Medical News of May 29th,to show that this rule is not without exceptions. Hementions two cases which occurred in his practice this year.In the first case, on opening the abdomen he at once sawcollapsed small intestine; but he subsequently found thetransverse colon so distended that the peritoneal coat wasruptured in several places, and the seat of obstruction was astricture of the sigmoid flexure. In the second case, also, coilsof collapsed small intestine were at first seen, and then thecaecum and sigmoid flexure were found distended above astricture in the latter portion of the bowel. The " note" is

very short, and no explanation of the fact is given. Suchcases are notable exceptions to the general rule, and as suchthey are well worthy of regard; but, after all, they areexceptions, and surgeons must look for guidance to the rule.There must be some explanation of such an unusual occur-rence, and we wish Dr. Michael had been able to give it.

A GALLANT ACT.

Ws have great pleasure in recording an act of braveryand prompt action on the part of one of the junior membersof the profession. On June 9th Mr. Frank Edward Nichol,assistant house-surgeon at St. Thomas’s Hospital, was aboutto cross Westminster-bridge when his attention was attractedto a crowd on the Embankment and the presence of an oldman in the river who was evidently drowning. Without thesitation Mr. Nichol ran down the steps, divested himselfof his coat, and plunged from the parapet into the water.He had great difficulty in getting hold of the man, butmanaged to keep him above the surface until a boat arrived.Mr. Nichol’s labours did not end here, for the man was pulse-less and had ceased to breathe. It was necessary, therefore,to perform artificial respiration, in which &bgr;’Ir. Nichol wasalso successful. The man was admitted into the hospital,from which he was discharged quite well two days later.Such a deed is worthy of the highest praise, and we hopethat Mr. Nichol will receive that recognition which it isin the power of the Royal Humane Society to bestow. Weare pleased to add that no ill consequences have beensuffered by the rescuer. -

HOLIDAYS FOR THE OVERWORKED.

IN this hard-working age-and such it still is for verymany, notwithstanding the long-continued depression oftrade-the annual holiday has a continual interest, alikewhile it is expected or enjoyed and when it is remembered.That it is also in point of refreshment for mind and bodyan undoubted boon it is needless to assert. Almost everyonewhose means permit now leaves town for a week or two ofpurer air than the rest of the year gives him. Each has hisown ideal of what is recreation for him, but rest and varietyare the components of every such ideal. In former articles

upon this subject we have discussed its merits with ourmedical brethren and others in professional life, whosenecessities in the matter of timely relaxation are wellknown. Now, we are happy to find that circumstances areso shaping themselves as to bring like holiday facilities withinthe reach of the labouring classes. These have not hitherto,for the most part, had either opportunity or means of

arriving at what is to them a restorative at least equally