nursing bottle with a soft rubber top; I cut a large hole in the rubber so that the milk could run out easily. The poor child used to take the bottle in both hands, and holding it away from her sore mouth, would let the milk run down her throat. The poor little thing died in about a week. I can never forget that case; the tiny child with her discolored face swaying to and fro in her bed will never fade from my memory.

In cases where the fever is high, such as typhoid, etc., or where there is heavy mouth breathing, such as in pneumonia, the mouth gets filled with a thick green scum, and unless great care is taken it becomes sore. I have found that a piece of soft cardboard, shaped like the finger and wrapped evenly with soft gauze, is very effective for cleansing the mouth. Listerine makes a very good mouth wash, also crude carbolic, 1 min. to 3 3 of water. E. K. G. C.

Strange Action of Morphia

DEAR EDITOR: Having read your magazine for a long time I wish to come to its pages for some advice. About three months ago I had a case of broken leg, patient woman of twentynine, strong and well otherwise than limb. After doctor had set leg he ordered, rect. and hypo., morphia, gr. every 4 hours, which I gave for two days. The third day the pain was very great, and M.D. said to keep up dose of morphia the same. I had given one dose at 4 A. M. and when it came time for the 8 A. M. dose gave it in usual manner. I had not more than removed the hypo. than patient rose up in bed with a cry and complained of feeling very ill; face, hands, feet and in fact entire body became as red as fire; eyelids, hands, feet, lips and nose very badly swollen, pulse 102 but strong. September 26, temp. 9810. I waited some little time, and as redness and swelling remained the same, and pulse went up to 110 and was rather weaker than it was before (although not very weak), I gave m. xxx. Aro. spct. ammonia by mouth-forgot to say that tongue also was swollen-and after that hypo. strych. 1-60 gr. sulph.; after 30 minutes face returned to usual color, also body, but not till three hours had gone by did swelling of parts go down. Before I gave another dose I "phoned" the doctor and he laughed and said he had had it happen to him, too, with other patients; not to worry, etc., and go on with the same treatment, give same kind of doses for three days. After that all right-and fourth day same thing happened AGAIN, only pulse went up to 118. Doctor said

go on just the same, so I had to, and for two days after second one I gave same treatment without any bad result. Then M.D. said to stop doses. Patient got all well. She asked me time and again what it was, but of course I could not tell her; she never had any heart trouble and was a well woman, all but her limb. I wish to say I am a graduate nurse and was most careful about air, etc., in hypo. before giving same. All the time I was in the hospital and in the four years I have been out nursing I never saw but one other case of the kind. It did happen with me once again after that, about a month ago on another case. I have asked two doctors to give me a cause for it, but either they can not or will not do so. I want so much to know if other nurses have had this trouble or if I do something wrong in giving hypo.

Will you tell me at the time you publish this if you can, what is the cause of this most unusual state of things? Also will you let other nurses tell me in your pages if they know? I want your advice so much, for I am almost afraid to give a hypo. now of morphia. If I am wrong in any way I wish to know it at once before I do some awful damage that I can never undo. Thanking you, I remain

A WORRIED TRAINED NURSE.

[The action of morphin is most varied in different cases. In some cases very small doses will produce sleep and relieve pain. In other cases small doses of morphin cause great pain, extreme nervousness, restlessness and prevent sleep.

At times morphin will cause much redness of the skin, edema of the eyes, face, throat, etc.; it may be followed by desquamation.

This erythema is often attended by much itching. Sometimes morphin will produce vesicles, pustules and multiple ulcerations, but this is not often seen. The case referred to in your letter is somewhat peculiar, as at one time the drug was attended by the usual symptoms, and at others the redness, the congestion of the skin, eyes, etc., was produced. It is possible that the patient was better nourished and stronger one day than on another, and was thus better able to resist the action of the drug. Such cases seldom turn out badly. The manner in which you gave the morphin, probably, had nothing to do with its action on the patient. You need not be nervous or fearful to give morphin in proper doses, because you sometimes find it acting differently in different cases.]

Louisville, Ky.

The graduates of the John N. Norton Memorial Infirmary Training School for Nurses were invited by Miss Gillette, superintendent, to meet in the lecture room at Infirmary, on October 18, 1905, to organize an alumnæ. The following nurses were present: Misses Gillette, Jenkins, Rece, Hay, Isaacs, Dillon, Flynn, Emma Watts, James, Francis, von Nostitz, McConnell, McQueen, Bush, Dear, Collins, Koch, Cox, Dinkelspiel, Tanner, Anderson, and Mrs. Mewborne.

Others, who were unable to attend, signified their desire to become members, by writing or telephone, were Misses Milward, Hollingsworth, Robertson, Johnson, Shaver, Jennings, Gilmore, Very, and Schweitzer. Meeting was called to order by Miss Gillette, who explained the object of the organization, which is to establish a fund for sick nurses, for the mutual improvement of its members. Miss Rece was nominated chairman, after which election of officers took place with the following result: President, Miss Rece; vice-president, Miss Isaacs; secretary, Miss Dear; treasurer, Miss Collins. Committee on constitution and by-laws were appointed as follows: Misses Hay, Bush, and Francis.

Meeting adjourned to meet every third Wednesday of each month at 3 P.M. in lecture room at Infirmary.

Chocolate and wafers were served by Miss Gillette, assisted by Mrs. Mewborne, Misses Flynn and Dillon.

The Alumnæ Association of Norton Infirmary Training School met in lecture room at Infirmary November 15. Eighteen members and all officers were present. The constitution and by-laws were read and adopted. A programme committee, consisting of three members, Miss. Shaver, chairman, Misses Jenkins and von Nostitz, were appointed. Social committee was appointed as follows: Misses Dillon, Downes, Flynn, Mosby and O'Connor. Tea and wafers were served by committee.

K. DEAR, Secretary.

On December 20 the Alumnæ Association of Norton Infirmary met at Infirmary.

All officers, seventeen members and two guests, Misses Porter and Rexter, were present.

Business was very short, consisting of roll call and reading of minutes. Committee on entertainment then took charge. Egg-nog and black cake had been provided by social committee; a game, “A walk in your grandmother's garden," by programme committee; prizes were awarded, Miss Rexter receiving the first and Miss Watts, the booby. The room was beautifully decorated with Southern smilax and Christmas bells by our superintendent, Miss Gillette.