In connection with the paper of Dr. Bontecou, in this issue of The Journal, may be mentioned a case published by Lücke, of Strassburg, in the Deutsche Zeitschrift für Chirurgie, of November 30, 1887 (Bd. 26, Hft. 5 and 6). The case was one in which the patient began to collapse suddenly after drinking a glass of cold beer. Kussmaul advised an operation, and it was done by Lücke at 8 P.M. The spray was used for a quarter of an hour before the operation, warm sublimate compresses being placed on the abdomen. Dimethylacetal-chloroform was the anæsthetic used, Lücke preferring this in all operations on the abdomen. The abdomen became somewhat relaxed under the anæsthetic, and a somewhat increased resistance was found on the right side, though there was no dulness. The incision was made in the median line below the navel, and when the peritoneum was opened a quantity