precise limits of the original loss of structure to which they had been subject so many years before, as well as the almost complete closure of the osseous wounds. The reparative process had evidently commenced in the whole extent of the circumference of the irregularly circular wound, and progressed toward the centre, where but a small opening remained. The new bone diminished in thickness from the circumference toward the centre, and resembled in appearance the closure of an opening made in a sheet of ice in the process of subsequent re-freezing-thickest at the circumference and thinnest at the centre, until completely closed as before the fracture and opening were made. These cases suggested to the distinguished surgeon-in-chief of Napoleon's military campaigns, the idea and opinion which he advanced at the interview referred to, that not the integrity, nor the existence itself of the dura-mater, as had been supposed, was essential to the reparation of the lost superimposed osseous structure. This opinion he advocated verbally in the medical section of the Institute of France. He remarked, in conclusion, that "if his former patients had lived a little longer, the openings in their heads would have ceased to exist."

Dr. Miller. Do you know of any instance where considerable loss of substance of cranium has been followed by complete closure?

Dr. Richardson. I have seen them very much diminished; can not state that I have ever seen complete closure.

Dr. Miller. Dr. Dudley once performed an operation in which the orbital plate was removed, and the brain pulsated at this point during the remainder of life, or at least for as many years as he had any knowledge of the case.

Dr. Richardson. So far as my remembrance of the literature upon this subject goes, I can not now call up any case in which complete closure has resulted.

Dr. Miller. Is there any truth in the idea that a metallic plate may be inserted to protect the brain?

Dr. Flint. It is only a popular idea. A metallic plate is often placed over the opening exterior to the scalp, as a protection to the unshielded brain.

A member inquired of Dr. Flint if he had ever known an instance in which loss of cranial bone in children had been replaced?

Dr. Flint. I think I have.

Dr. J. Lawrence Smith. I have known an instance of complete reparation after such loss, and epilepsy followed.

Dr. Flint referred to a case where loss of cranial bone was fully replaced, and as an example of the singular effect injuries about the head sometimes manifested upon the intellect, he

cited the case of a gentleman who was regarded as stupid until he received fracture of the skull, with loss of cerebral substance; after which he had acquired extensive and deserved reputation as a gentleman of legal abilities.

Dr. Richardson related a case of a man who, at his wedding, received a blow with a shovel over the anterior parietal region, fracturing the skull, and occasioning the loss of two or three ounces of cerebral substance. The marriage ceremony was, nevertheless, performed. After the lapse of a week, the man became suddenly insensible. He was trepanned, and much bone removed. Complete recovery resulted. Several years afterward he was in health, and reported his intellect stronger than before the injury.

A member. Is cerebral matter re-produced?

Dr. Flint. It is.

Dr. Richardson. What is the experience of members with regard to recent improvements in treatment of epilepsy?

Dr. Miller has been disposed to place confidence in digitalis. Dr. Rogers knows but one instance of recovery from epilepsy, and that was under the use of oxide of zinc. The patient had tried all other specifics.

Dr. Powell spoke of a case treated and supposed to have been cured by peony.

Dr. Rogers said that a case within his knowledge was reported to have been cured by accidental burning.

Dr. Wible advanced the opinion, that the very frequent failures in treatment of epilepsy, were sometimes due to the fact that physicians were not sufficiently mindful of the proper hygienic conditions of their patients.

Dr. Caldwell mentioned the case of a lady twenty-five years of age, who had, since childhood, suffered daily from pain in the top of her head. She had tried various forms of treatment, and had ultimately given up all remedies-is never free from pain, but sometimes suffered more than at others, although she is generally up and about.

Dr. Brandies suggested osteophytes as the cause of the pain.

M. Lobach says the seeds of the Carduus Mariæ have surprising efficacy in arresting uterine hemorrhage; not only checking the discharge at the time, but by continued use, preventing its return; and this in cases where krameria, sesquichloride of iron, phosphoric acid, tannin, &c., had failed; and especially operative where the floodings are associated with portal obstruction, diseases of the liver and spleen, hemorrhoids, &c. Used in the form of tincture or docoction.

Editorial Department.

A vigorous writer in one of our exchanges has appropriately remarked, in regard to the Convention of Teachers soon to meet in this city, "that whatever of discussion or deliberation may precede the final action of that body, must come through the medical press between now and the first of May; since the magnitude of the questions to be taken up, and the limitation of a single day to their consideration, inevitably determine that action, and not deliberation, decision, and not discussion, must be the province of the council, when assembled."

It is, in our estimation, a matter of the utmost importance that all who are to be members of this Convention should come prepared for prompt action, consequently both they and the constituents from whom their instructions are to emanate, should make themselves thoroughly conversant with every point likely to be brought under consideration by that body; so that, after due deliberation, they may be enabled more discreetly to choose their positions, and with more certainty to institute those measures which will tend to promote the best interests of the profession. If this course should be adopted by all members of this Convention prior to their assemblage, it will certainly save much needless debate, and be more likely to result in the attainment of the objects for which the council is convoked. That our readers may be fully informed in regard to the objects of this Convention, we extract such of the proceedings of the last National Association as refer to it:

Dr. James R. Wood, of New York, Chairman of the Special Committee on Medical Education, submitted his report, which was read, with the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the several medical colleges of the United States be requested to send delegates to a convention to be held at [Louisville], on the [second] day of [May, 1859], for the purpose of devising a uniform system of medical education.

Resolved, That the present report of the Special Committee on Medical Education, be referred to such convention for its consideration.

Resolved, That said convention of delegates from the several colleges of the United States be requested to submit to the meeting of this Association in May, 1859, the result of their deliberations.

On motion, the report was accepted and referred to the Committee on Publication, and the accompanying resolutions were laid on the table.

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On motion of Dr. Comegys, of Ohio, the resolutions submitted by the Special Committee on Medical Education, were taken from the table for consideration.

A long discussion ensued, upon a motion of Dr. Hamilton, of New York, to refer the resolutions to a committee, consisting of one member from each delegation representing a medical college, these members to be named by the college delegates present, and to report on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock.

The debate on the subject was terminated by the operation of the previous question, moved by Dr. Foster, of Tennessee, and the motion of Dr. Hamilton was agreed to. * * * *

Dr. Frank Hamilton, of New York, from the Committee of Delegates from Medical Colleges, to whom were referred the resolutions reported by the Special Committee on Medical Education, submitted the following report:

The Committee to whom were referred the resolutions appended to the report of the Special Committee on Medical Education, have adopted the following preamble and resolution:

Fully appreciating the value and importance of the resolution under which we have been appointed, but a majority of the gentlemen constituting this committee not being authorized by the medical faculties of the several colleges with which we are connected to act as their representatives in this matter, and moreover regarding it as quite impossible to secure a convention of delegates in the interim of the meetings of this Association: therefore

Resolved, That we recommend to all the Medical Colleges entitled to a representation in this body, that they appoint delegates, especially instructed to represent them in a meeting to be held at Louisville, on Monday, the day immediately preceding the convention of the American Medical Association for the year 1859, at 10 o'clock in the morning, at such place as the Committee of Arrangements shall designate.

S. D. GROSS, Chairman.

FRANK H. HAMILTON, Secretary. This report was accepted on motion of Dr. Kemp, of Maryland, and the preamble and resolution were adopted; and the Committee was instructed to meet in Louisville on the Monday preceding the session of 1859.

That discussion may be fully elicited, and the views of all

parties expressed, it is probably better for medical journalists to take the initiative in the utterance of opinions in regard to the best means of reform. Under this conviction, and with the previous avowal that we will give our adhesion to every projected change which, in our opinion, looks with certainty to the elevation of the standard of medical education in this country, we wish to advocate the adoption of certain measures which now occur to our minds as essential features in the proposed reforms.

Firstly: We regard it as important that the period of attendance upon lectures should be lengthened. We propose, to this end, that certificates of attendance upon three full courses, each of four months, and only one annually, shall be made a uniform requisite for graduation.

Medical schools may readily prove that, in the adoption of such a rule, they are not actuated by purposes of self-emolument, but only by an earnest desire that students should be better perfected in in all branches of the profession before being admitted to its honors, by admitting such students as have paid for two full courses, to the third without additional charge for fees.

Secondly: We strongly urge the repeal of that rule under which some schools have regarded a term of years engagement in practice as equivalent to a full course of lectures. That this measure has been an important aid to many deserving practitioners, we doubt not; but at the same time, we do not hesitate to express a conviction that its general working has been to hold out an inducement to students to commence the practice of medicine without adequate preparation, so as to obtain the benefit of this clause.

Thirdly: In the feelings of rivalry which have prevailed between medical schools, some faults have been introduced into the beneficiary system. We recommend medical schools to instruct their representatives to institute careful scrutiny into the workings of this system, to ascertain if the abatement of certain features now practiced, would not be promotive of the interests and success of medical teaching and of the profession generally.

Fourthly: As this convention of Teachers is assembled in obedience to a call from the whole profession through their