ed by exercise, as well as the muscles. But when the
action of the brain is feeble, and the blood in an impoverished
condition, there is a greater tendency to the exudation of fluid; the
substance of the brain is thereby softened, and serum, to the extent
of one or more ounces, is frequently found in the ventricles,
especially when the brain is much impaired by disease of its
substance. In some cases of hydrocephalus pints of serum are effused,
distending the brain and head enormously, and in many cases of
insanity the ventricles and membranes of the brain are distended with
serum. "Pritchard on Insanity" speaks of this distention of the
ventricles, which were "very full of serum" in twenty-nine out of a
hundred cases, and "in twenty-three ready to burst," and "in ten among
twenty-four melancholies astonishingly distended." Dr. Spurzheim
dissected a case of hydrocephalus, child of eighteen months, with two
and a half pounds of water in the membranes of the brain; and James
Cardinal, who died at the age of thirty years in London, had a pint of
water in the lateral ventricles, and about nine pints between the
brain and its membranes.

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.

[Hand pointing right] _The first two numbers of the_ JOURNAL _were
unavoidably delayed. The May number will appear in advance of the
month._

The BUSINESS DEPARTMENT of the Journal deserves the attention of all
its readers, as it will be devoted to matters of general interest and
real value. The treatment of the opium habit by Dr. Hoffman is
original and successful. Dr. Hoffman is one of the most gifted members
of the medical profession. The electric apparatus of D. H. Fitch is
that which I have found the most useful and satisfactory in my own
practice. Mr. Fitch has recently perfected certain improvements in the
Galvanic Battery, which enables him to furnish the best and cheapest
which has ever been offered by any manufacturer. The _American
Spectator_, edited by Dr. B. O. Flower, is conducted with ability and
good taste, making an interesting family paper, containing valuable
hygienic and medical instruction, at a remarkably low price. It is
destined to have a very extensive circulation. I have written several
essays in commendation of the treatment of disease by oxygen gas, and
its three compounds, nitrous oxide, per-oxide and ozone. What is
needed for its general introduction is a convenient portable
apparatus. This is now furnished by Dr. B. M. Lawrence