The nurse may safely act the part of the pharmacien in this department, but, at the same time, should be directed by the physician as to the preparation of suitable drinks. With this qualification, the attention of the French physician in nicely regulating the regimen of the sick chamber, is worthy of our imitation. The effect of the most useful and appropriate medicines will often be frustrated, unless a corresponding care in the plan of diet be strictly observed. To this mode of practical medicine peculiar to the French, which I have here criticised as not worthy of the skilful physician, there are some striking exceptions. At the excellent Hospital St. Louis, chiefly appropriated to the treatment of the various diseases of the skin, and principally under the direction of Alibert and Biett, arsenical and other active preparations are administered without apprehension. They prefer small doses of arsenical solution, twice a-day for a continuance, to the use of large doses for a short time. Tincture of cantharides, in the dose of twenty drops twice a-day, is one of their favourite remedies, alternately with arsenic, in the treatment of the order Squamæ. Before employing such medicines, however, they are careful to remove all inflammatory action from the system. Subcarbonate of ammonia, dissolved in water, in the proportion of two drams to a pint and a half, and given in this quantity daily, is found useful in certain states of cutaneous irritation, apparently caused by a free employment of mercury for syphilis. The inveterate disease called _lupus_ is very successfully treated by the application of an arsenical caustic. They allow the part to form a crust, before they apply a poultice or any emollient dressing. Neither expence nor trouble is spared in making the artificial medicated baths. The alkaline bath, prepared by dissolving the subcarbonate of soda in the proportion of two pounds to the necessary quantity of water, is extremely useful when the skin is affected with scales. The douche de vapeur affords great benefit in some obstinate local affections of the skin, when it is necessary to stimulate the vessels so as to bring about an entire change of action. This description of douche often proves useful in chronic rheumatism, and in sciatica, when existing in the chronic form. I had the opportunity of witnessing the administration of tartar emetic in large doses, as a daily medicine, to patients under the care of M. Laennec. His method is to begin with one, two, or four grains, as the total quantity for the twenty-four hours.