hairs, a cotton-like down is observed on the surface of the scalp, upon which down a white dust is to be observed, consisting of the parasitic growth. In a later stage of the disease, we no longer find any down, and there is atrophy of the scalp and irremediable baldness. The disease ordinarily appears in the form of rounded patches, surrounded by healthy hair, which patches continually tend to become larger from the extension of the parasitic growth. This may go on until every hair in the body is destroyed. The cure of this disease sometimes comes on spontaneously, as in the case above cited, for a time; in certain cases it does not go further than the downy period. This result is much favoured by pulling out the hairs and using a parasiticide, such as gr.j. of Hydrarg. Bichlor. to aquae 3. with q.s. of alcohol. This application must be made for a long time to the parts affected. The appearance of the cryptogams under the microscope is similar to that in other parasitic diseases, except that the mycelium is in greater quantity, and the spores are said to be rather smaller. The diagnosis of tinea decalvans is rather easy. There are two pathognomonic symptons-(1) the fall of the hair, (2) the existence of down. It need rarely be confounded with favus or tinea tonsurans, since in favus there are crusts and cups, and the hairs do not all come out; again, in tinea tonsurans the hairs are broken, and the skin is coloured brown and covered with scales. The prognosis is generally grave as far as bladness is concerned, unless vigorous means are made use of. The disease is very contagious, and Dr. Drysdale has seen three cases of it in the same family at one time. It is, perhaps, more common in children, than in adults. The treatment must consist of epilation of large space of the hair in the vicinity of the patch, and the long application, by means of a sponge, of the parasiticide lotion above referred to. In some cases, it is extremely difficult to extract the hairs, which break easily. the disease has come to the last stage, all treatment is useless. Mr. Erasmus Wilson and other observers in this country seem to err in believing that cases like those cited above may be caused by nervous weakness. The baldness caused by wasting diseases, such as phthisis, syphilis, fevers, and senile baldness, &c., are easily diagnosed from that which is gradually caused by well defined patches progressing, as in this patient, because unchecked by treatment, towards total baldness. ST. GEORGE'S HOSPITAL. CASE OF HERNI A. Under the care of Mr. POLLOCK. When L. A., aged 46, a married woman, was admitted on January 28th, 1867, under the care of Mr. Pollock, with strangulated femoral hernia. She stated that on the 25th, at about ten A.M., she was carrying a pail of water up stairs when she suddenly felt faint and sick, and noticed a tumour in the right groin; had never been ruptured before; ice was applied. There is a tumour in the right groin about the size of a walnut, very tender but not painful; the skin over it is reddened, and cannot be moved over the subjacent parts, being bound down to them. There is severe pain in the abdomen with frequent, though not stercoraceous, vomiting. At four P.M., the operation was performed by Mr. Pollock; the tissues were found thickened by inflammation; the sac was opened and found to be almost dry, containing a small quantity of semi-purulent lymph, a piece of omentum in a state of intense congestion, bordering on gangrene; and a knuckle of small intestine completely sphacelated in one part, the gangrene, however, not implicating the entire circumference of the gut; the stricture was very tight; it was divided; the omentum ligatured and cut off; the bowel stitched to the margin of the wound, and the gangrenous portion slit open; a small quantity of fæcal Buid escaped. There was little or no hemorrhage during the operation; beef-tea two pints. Five P.M., pil. opii., gr. ij., statim. Ten P.M., rep. pil, gr. j., st. 29th: Four A.M. Rep. pil, gr. j., st. Had snatches of sleep during the night; vomited once, and now has nausea; there is slight tenderness in left side of the abdomen, but no pain; tongue clean and moist; pulse quite weak, 80; skin cool; there is slight fæcal discharge from the wound. Ten P.M. Rep. pil, gr. j., st. 30th: A great deal of fæcal matter has been discharged from the wound; patient is very weak, and is evidently sinking. Sp. vini gall., 3vi, quot; arrowroot. 31st: Died. For the notes of the post-mortem examination we are indebted to Mr. Pick, Curator of the Museum :Externally.-The body was in good condition. There was a sloughy wound in the right groin, two inches long. Thorax. The lungs were congested and full of blood. The bronchi contained mucus. The heart was uncontracted, the valves blood-stained, the aorta atheromatous. Abdomen. The liver was congested. The spleen rotten. The left kidney was converted into a bag of cysts, and a calculus was formed, blocking up the ureter. The small intestines in the right iliac region were intensely injected and glued to the abdominal wall. There was an opening in them which communicated with the external wound, higher up was a second opening which communicated with the abdominal cavity, the mucous membrane being more destroyed than the serous. The pelvis contained liquid fæces. It is a question whether the rupture was finally caused by tearing the intestines apart in removing them in consequence of their already weakened condition, or whether it occurred during life. Mr. Pollock remarked that this was one of those lamentable cases in which operative interference had been too long delayed. It was evident from the length of time that had elapsed since the first symptoms of strangulation appeared, and from the state of the integument over the tumour, that severe mischief had occurred to the strangulated intestine. The skin was bound down by inflammatory thickening to the subjacent parts, and was a clear index to what had been going on in the sac. It was of importance to diagnose between inflamed glands, and a hernia such as the present. In both the appearances are similar. A swelling is formed in the groin, without impulse on coughing, and covered with reddened skin. The absence or presence of vomiting and other symptoms of strangulation, would be the data on which to found the diagnosis. But if, with symptoms of strangulation, the first incision revealed suppurating glands, it would be proper to pursue the investigation, and for the surgeon to satisfy himself that a hernia did not exist elsewhere, as both might coexist in the same if the patient recovered from the immediate dangers that In this instance the prognosis was unfavourable; for surrounded her, and an artificial anus were established, she might die of inanition, as it was impossible to say how low down the gut had been opened. case. The almost dry condition of the sac was that described by Mr. Laurence, and was due to the extreme tightness of the stricture. HARVEIAN SOCIETY OF LONDON.-MARCH 27. Dr. POLLOCK, President. COMMITTEE FOR THE PREVENTION OF VENEREAL DISEASES. PRESENT-Dr. Broadbent, Mr. Weeden Cooke, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Curgenven, Dr. C. Drysdale, Mr. Gascogen, Dr. T. Fox, Mr. James Lane, Dr. Meredyth, Dr. Menzies, and Dr. Semple. The Honorary Secretaries read answers sent from several hospitals as follows:-Mr. Gascogen and Mr. James Lane's returns showed that in the Dean-street hospital there was a the fact which he had noticed for some years back, that the Dr. TILBURY Fox remarked that it was not necessary to grant any certificate of health to the prostitutes, as if the Contagious Act was carried out, the very fact of their being seen in the streets would show that they were not diseased, as otherwise they would be in the hospital. Dr. MENZIES considered that a police registration of all prostitutes would be a most beneficial arrangement. Mr. GASCOGEN said that such a registration already existed in the form of a blue-book called Judicial Statistics. In this there was given the number of prostitutes in London and other towns (as, for example, about 6000 in London) for the guidance of the police. He contended that prostitution could not be ignored so long as there were so many unmarried men, soldiers, sailors, and of other classes. The present way of hunting down brothels was absurd. An informer, a member of the medical profession, at present made it his business to point out all such places, and inform as to their whereabouts to the police, for which he received a reward in half of the costs. He contended that the police should be allowed to license a brothel, and see that neither the neighbours nor the inmates were annoyed, so long as they remained quiet and retired. daily average of 179 male and 39 female out-patients, and 16 male in-patients. The average number of female in-patients in the female Lock Hospital being 66. In the Lock Hospital of Liverpool the returns gave the number of beds as 50, and the average number of patients in hospital as 45. No outpatients are treated at the Liverpool Lock Hospital. The The PRESIDENT remarked that, with the exception of the Dublin Lock Hospital only admits females with venereal dis- reports made by Mr. Coote, Mr. Lane, Mr. Gascogen, Mr. eases. A grant from Parliament enables the hospital to main- | Chater, and from the Lock Hospitals of Dublin and Liverpool, tain 100 beds; there are no out-patients, and the average the returns were very incomplete. What the Committee number of Female in-patients is 86. In a full report sent by desired to know was, the daily number of venereal out-paMr. Holmes Coote, it was stated that the total amount of tients, and the relation this number bore to the total of the venereal cases seen daily at St. Bartholomew's Hospital was, surgical cases seen, so as to form an idea of the spread of the on an average, 174. Mr. Coote wished it to be understood disease. The question as to the advisability of extending the that the worst cases come from Whitechapel, the Commercial- principle of the Contagious Diseases' Act of 1866 to the general road, and the East of London; that accommodation for such population was then resumed. The President was of opinion cases was urgently needed in that quarter, as the wards of St. that the certifying of women, when leaving hospital, as free Bartholomew's were filled with these East-end cases. Average from disease might lead to the encouragement of fornication. number of venereal cases seen daily in the surgery, 43; in Mr. WEEDEN COOKE observed that an eminent surgeon of out-patients' room, 44; in the wards, 75; scattered through his acquaintance was the medical officer to a brothel, and so hospital, 12; total, 174. Sloughing sores have been, accord- much good had been done by his inspections that that house ing to Mr. Coote, rather frequent of late in St. Bartholomew's was much frequented by persons who heard that disease was Hospital. The severe cases come, for the most part, from the unfrequent in it. districts east of Finsbury; the women are very poor and dirty; young girls of 12, or even younger, are sometimes in hospital. A vast number of the girls, according to Mr. Coote, are kept and dressed by old women, who take nearly all their earnings; they follow them, watch them when ill in hospital, and dismiss them as soon as they see that they are marked or scarred. The report from Guy's Hospital showed that there was a daily average of 55 venereal in-patients, there being 25 beds for males and 30 for females affected with such diseases. This gave a proportion of venereal cases to the total of surgical cases seen as one to six. No return of the number of outpatients was sent by Guy's Hospital, which was much to be regretted. The report from the Middlesex Hospital showed that there were only 11 beds for venereal patients in that large hospital. No return, unfortunately, was made of the number of venereal patients seen daily. The report by Mr. S. Chater showed that the number of venereal out-patients seen daily at the Metropolitan Free Hospital was, on an average, 20, and that the proportion these bore to the total number of surgical cases seen was as 1 to 3. There were no beds for such cases in the hospital. In Staffordshire General Infirmary there are four male and four female beds for venereal cases, and these are frequently not filled, especially the female ones. The Southern Hospital of Liverpool sends all its venereal cases to the Lock Hospital, and it appears from the report that it has neither in nor out-patients with venereal diseases. The report from Chester Infirmary shows that there are eight beds for female venereal patients, and only an average of two occupants of these beds. Very few venereal cases come to that Infirmary. In Portsmouth Hospital there are 60 beds for female venereal patients only; no venereal out-patients. The importance of the late Government examinations in improving the health of the population, as far as venereal diseases is concerned, was well shown by the two following reports :The Government Act came into operation in October, and so much has been effected by its means that the report from Assistant-Surgeon Knight from Sheerness Garrison Hospital shows that from 1st January to 22nd March, 1867, there have been only 36 admissions for venereal disease. Aldershot, on the contrary, has not yet enjoyed this sanitary system, and the contrast is well shown in a letter from Mr. Powell, Workhouse Medical Officer of Farnham. According to this gentleman, the average number of female venereal cases in his charge has been for the last three years 22; the average deaths 8 per cent., 15 per cent. having primary sores, and 23 per cent. gonorrhoea, the remainder had eruptions, phthisis, dropsy, &c. The largest number of deaths were from consumption than dropsy. There were two large venereal wards with 18 beds, but at present a fever ward was turned into a venereal ward. No case is refused, and Mr. Powell states that at present there was less than 200 cubic feet of space for each patient. The population of Aldershot is 16,720, of whom 10,000 are military. The Contagious Diseases' Act is soon to be enforced in that spot. The writer expressed his opinion that brothels should be licensed and inspected at Aldershot, and that it should be illegal for beer-house keepers to harbour any notorious prostitutes. He describes the majority of the cases of diseases among the prostitutes there as being chronic and non-infectious. Mr. JAMES LANE remarked that he could now account for Mr. CURGENVEN thought that certificates should not be granted to prostitutes. Mr. LANE said it was important that it should be known that there was already a registration of prostitutes. Dr. C. DRYSDALE had not quite made up his mind whether to recommend that the continental system should be extended to this country in its entirety. It had great advantages, but some great evils. On the one hand it certainly, as in Paris, Nantes, Lyons, and other French towns, much lessened the severity of venereal disease; but, on the other hand, it cer tainly much curtailed the liberty of the female sex. Women, he thought, had never enough freedom in any country, and having very few occupations by which they could gain a living, were sometimes forced temporarily to exist by prostitution. The French police system, he thought, stamped them too firmly with this passing misfortune, and, as it was well known, that about one-fourth of the prostitutes in this country re turned into the ordinary population yearly, he questioned whether registration and police supervision should be compul sory, until it had been tried voluntarily, by means of a great addition to the Lock (female) accommodation, and the giving of certificates to those disinfected when free from disease. He quite agreed with Mr. Gascogen, that the police should licence certain houses in retired situations as brothels, the present system was a disgrace. Dr. CHAPMAN thought that, as far as the army and navy were concerned, the State had a perfect right to enforce any laws which would keep them in health and working order. But he contended that the continental laws for keeping back vene real disease had not been so very successful in their attempts as to warrant us in too closely imitating them. If women had any rights at all, one of them must be the right to their own persons. He thought, too, that the tendency of such legisla tion was to make prostitution respectable, and as this was quite opposed to all true ideas of social happiness, he thought that they should be most cautious in adopting the system of registra tion and police supervision of prostitutes, unless no other means should be found of diminishing the extent of venereal diseases. Dr. T. Fox thought that the public were quite ready to adopt the Contagious Diseases' Act of 1866, with the exception of the certificate of health to prostitutes. Mr. LANE said that they might be examined, but no certificate of health granted. Of 200 women lately examined at Woolwich, 85 were found to be diseased. Dr. BROADBENT, whilst allowing the necessity of being careful in destroying the liberty of women, said that we must also think of protecting the public from disease. Dr. MEREDYTH contended that prostitutes should not be allowed, as at present, to mix with the general public in theatres and promenades. Mr. WEEDEN COOKE also complained of the indecency of the prostitutes who rode about in Rotten-row. Dr. CHAPMAN contended that, as long as prostitution existed, it should be allowed to be seen, not kept quiet, in order that its evils should rouse society to further efforts to diminish the amount. Dr. SEMPLE wished to know whether it was possible to distinguish gonorrhoea in the female from leuchorrhoea, as this was practically important. Mr. LANE said it was not; and that gentleman also added that the speculum should be used in all cases of examination of suspected women, or discharges would escape notice which existed at the os uteri. and the integuments over the tumour were less movable. In the course of the month of May an abscess seemed to be developed in the seat of the projection, at three fingers' breadth from the umbilicus in a sinistral and upward direction, presenting, in the early part of June, the form of a circumscribed redness with swelling of the integuments. The abscess opened spontaneously on the 9th of June with a very small orifice, whence a small quantity of pus mixed with fluid fecal matters made its appearance. Through the fistula no part of the fork could be felt; dark brown foetid fæcal matters were constantly discharged through the opening. On the 12th of June the four prongs of a fork appeared in two-thirds of their length, in a nearly perpendicular direction to the abdominal wall, in the immediate neighbourhood of the fistula just described, four points having shortly before become visible, while a slight pressure on the integuments was sufficient to bring the fork into view to the above-mentioned length. Careful traction and manipulation showed that the wall of the abscess, which was in direct contact around and between the prongs, hindered the removal of the whole fork. After two incisions along the prongs, the fork was without difficulty brought into view Mr. WEEDEN COOKE observed that one serious difficulty in police registration and examination lay in the nomadic charac-in its integrity. On extraction, the handle was in its whole ter of the prostitues. Foreign Medical Literature. SELECTIONS FROM THE NEDERLANDSCH ARCHIEF VOOR GENEES EN NATURKUNDE, Deel I., 3rde Aflevering, Utrecht, 1866. length covered with dark-brown, soft, fæcal matters. After having been carefully washed, the fork appeared, in consequence of the presence of sulphuret of silver, entirely coated with blackish grey, while in the course of the middle of the handle crystals of phosphate of lime had become attached. After the removal of the fork, the patient felt much relieved. The fistula was simply dressed and kept clean, and on the 14th July was completely closed. Around it considerable infiltration was perceptible, which gradually diminished, so that the patient entirely recovered from the results of swallowing the fork. At the close of this communication the author quotes By WM. DANIEL MOORE, M.D.Dub. et Cantab., M.R.I.A., analogous instances of swallowed forks, and shows that in KONORARY FELLOW OF THE SWEDISH SOCIETY OF PHYSICIANS, OF THE COPENHAGEN; EXAMINER IN MATERIA MEDICA AND MEDICAL JURISPRU DENCE IN THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY IN IREland. 1. A case in which a fork was swallowed, and removed by the formation of an abscess in the epigastric region, followed by recovery, is described by A. H. van Andel, first physician to the Asylum for the Insane at Zutphen, in the Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, Tweede afdeeling, eerste aflevering, p. 58. The case was that of a lady, aged 64, who, suffering from melancholy, had, two days before her admission on the 31st of August, swallowed a silver fork. It appeared that she had for some time contemplated suicide, and her intention was, by swallowing a fork, to put an end to her life. She had before been under treatment in the institution, during which period a similar occurrence had taken place with another woman. The fork had in this instance been removed by gastrotomy; soon after the operation the patient died. She had a vivid recollection of this case, and hoped that having once swallowed a fork she also would die after the operation. In the Institution she acknowledged what she had done, and wished to be operated on. Those living in the house with her also stated that the woman had swallowed a silver fork. On examining the abdominal integuments it was found that the fork was situated in the cardiac portion of the stomach, the points being directed upwards and forwards, while the handle was located somewhat posteriorly in the pyloric portion. The patient felt little pain, but a sensation of pressure and weight in the stomach. Under the influence of rest and the use of easily digestible food she recovered. On the 6th November the points of the fork were no longer felt, but a tumour was observed in the left side of the abdomen, above and to the left of the navel. On the 10th April a superficial projection, pointing towards the integuments, made its appearance upon the tumour, which, up to that time, had been round anteriorly, the integuments being movable over it. On the 3rd May, the patient began to complain of more pain, such cases it is best not to be in too great a hurry to have recourse to operative interference, and that an expectant method deserves the preference. As to the route taken by stomach after the latter had, by adhesive inflammation, bethe fork, he believes that it perforated the wall of the of the adherent wall, and subsequently that of the opposite come attached to the colon; that thereupon the perforation wall of the colon, took place, and that finally the abdominal integuments had been perforated. 2. Turning by the Knee.-A proposal to improve the technical proceeding of turning by the lower extremity. By SIMON THOMAS, Professor at Leyden (Ned. Tijdschrift voor Geneesk., i., 1., Turning by the lower extremity is almost always effected by one or both feet; this method is generally practised and recommended. In its place the author proposes another, which, in his opinion, presents unmistakeable advantages— namely, turning by the knee. Only in two cases is the foot more easily reached than the knee-viz., in original breech presentation, where there can be no question of turning by the lower extremity; and in head or face presentation, with coming down of one or both feet. Except in these cases, the advantages of turning by the knee are the following:-1. In every case of turning, however the fœtus be situated, and whether the uterus be strongly contracted around it or not, the introduced hand reaches a knee sooner than a foot. 2. In every case of turning we know as surely-more surely or more quickly where we shall find a knee than where we shall find a foot. 3. The force by which the foetus is moved acts in every case of turning more advantageously on the lower extremity, when we make it act upon the knee, than when we draw by the foot; and, moreover, we can with greater ease, and in a manner more advantageous for the child, employ great force, when this may occasionally be unavoidable in a case of difficult turning. The proceeding to be followed to reach the knee or knees need not here be given step by step. The numbers given by the author in support of his proposal are the following: Cases of Turning. By the knee in shoulder presentation By the foot in shoulder presentation By the knee in head presentation By the foot in head presentation Total 13 1 74 1 8 Co 21 25 26 12 13 4 5 2 76 51 6 17 37 16 4 12 5 2 2 [The practice above recommended, of turning by the knee in preference to the foot, was many years ago advocated by the late Dr. Breen of this city, in an essay on the subject, published in the fourteenth volume of the Edinburgh Medical Journal, and has also been described by Drs. McClintock and Hardy in their Practical Midwifery. -TRANS.] Summary of Science. (Specially Edited and Compiled for the Medical Press and Circular.) M. von Pettenkofer and Karl Voit say that more oxygen is absorbed during sleep than during the day, whilst less carbonic anhydride is given off during the night. During labour a man exhales more carbonic acid and water than during repose (not sleep). But the amount of oxygen absorbed is the same. It appears that during sleep the oxygen is stored up in the body for several hours. The above authors state that there is the same quantity of urea secreted in working as in resting days, showing that the work of the muscles is performed without an increase in the decomposition of albuminoid substances (notice in Chemical News). SOLUBILITY OF IODINE IN TANNIN, &c. M. Kollier states that tannin augments the solubility of iodine. One part of iodine is dissolved in 450 parts of water at ordinary temperatures, when the water contains 3.3 parts of tannin, and at a higher temperature, 1 part barely requires 240p. of water, containing a trace of tannin. A solution of sugar dissolves less iodine than pure water. PRECIPITANTS OF THE ALKALOIDS. By CHARLES R. C. TICHBORNE, F.C.S.L., F.R.G.S.I., &c. the alkaloids. The antimony-salt acts in the same manner, The double iodide of bismuth and potassium precipitates [THE Editor of this Summary wishes it to be understood that he is not responsible for the ideas, theories, or the correctness of statements made in any of the papers quoted in the compilation.] ON THE REDUCTION OF NITRIC ACID AND NITRATES BY ZINC, M. TERREIL (Bulletin de la Société Chimique), shows that the nitric acid is not at once reduced to ammonia by nascent hydrogen, but is always converted first into nitrous acid, and that this reaction, in conjunction with permanganate of potash, may be used as a test for the presence of nitrates in water or in any other solution. He also points out that the estimation of iron by permanganate (M. Margueritte's method) is liable to error, if every trace of the nitric acid is not destroyed, before the reduction of the persalt of iron to a proto-salt (either when brought about by zinc or by a sulphite). Permanganate of potash, according to M. Terreil, completely absorbs binoxide of nitrogen, and transforms it into nitric acid, it also oxidizes nitrous and hypo G. Meissner proceeds, as follows, to separate these acids, as excreted by dogs. He boils with water and carbonate of baryta, and then filters, crystallizes the barytic kyanurenate from the filtrate, and separates the uric acid from the residue left on the filter, by hydrachloric acid-kynurenic acid appears wholly or partially to obliterate the murexide test for uric acid. ACTION OF LIGHT UPON CYANIN. M. Schonbein suggests the use of a solution of cyanin as as photometer. He finds that the depth of colour it takes on exposure to light is in proportion to the actinic power of the light, and that the phenomenon occurs in vacus to the same extent.-(Foreign correspondent of the Chemical News): PERCHLORIDE OF LEAD. There exists in the chlorine series a composition corresponding to peroxide of lead Pb. Og. This substance is a perchloride and shows consequently all the characteristics of similar compounds. The alkaline chlorides give it stability, it is inclined to unite with ether, and becomes a powerful agent of oxidation.-N. Nickel.-Journal de Pharmacie. NEW PILE. ACTION OF NITRO-MURIATIC ACID ON SILVER, BY M. ROUILLION. A mixture composed of two-thirds hydrochloric acid, onethird nitric acid, or three-fifths of the first, and two-fifths nitric acid will dissolve gold or platinum, but does not penetrate pure silver-chloride of silver is only formed on the surface. This superficial chloride as soon as it is formed becomes a protecting envelope to the remaining silver, and acts as an impervious varnish to the acids of the bath so well, that the silver thus protected can remain for any time plunged in mixture without sustaining injury. That is to say, without the formation of chloride extending beyond its surface. This pile has less strength than Bunsen's, but is more constant. It deserves to be tried against the others in use at the present time.-(Journal de Pharmacie). HIPPURIC ACID AND SUCCINIC ACID IN ANIMAL Dr. Meissner and C. Shepard, in the examination of blood and other animal fluids for hippuric and benzoic acids, where the presence of succinic acid is suspected, rely on the solubility in absolute alcohol of the alkali and calcium salts of hippuric and benzoic acids, the corresponding salts of succinic acid being insoluble. Normal blood, at least that of herbivora, always contains succinic acid, but never contains benzoic or hippuric acids. The hippuric acid found in the urine of herbivora is first produced in the kidneys, and is not simply separated by them from the blood. There is no clue to the nitrogenised substance, which, in the body of the animal, becomes converted into hippuric acid; whatever it may be, it certainly is not urea. The observation of Lautemann, that quinic acid becomes converted in the human body into hippuric acid, is fully confirmed by these experimenters. Wöhler's early observation, that the administration to human subjects of succinic acid causes an increase both of the normal quantity of that acid in the urine and also of the carbonic acid, without influencing the excretion of hippuric acid, is also fully corroborated. ON THE PRESENCE OF PROTAGONE IN THE BLOOD. By M. L. HERMANN. The author has found protagone in blood. It is contained principally, if not exclusively, in the globules, especially in red globules. To obtain it, stir with ether some defibrinated blood, the clot of which divides into small pieces. Let it remain in a jar placed in hot water for some days, stiring it frequently. This operation is repeated several times with fresh ether. On cooling the ethereal liquor at 0°, it should be muddy, if otherwise, the ether is evaporated gently until there is left a considerable crystalline residue. Placed in contact with water this residue swells. The water is drained off, and then it is treated by some cold ether to extract the cholesterine. The residue presents all the properties of Mr. Liebriech's protagone (a substance supposed by him to be the chief constituent of nervous tissue from which cerebrin and myelin are developed. It was prepared by M. Liebriech from brainsubstance. Composition C16 H291 N PO22. E. S.) ON THE DINOSAURIAN REPTILES OF SOUTH AFRICA. Professor J. H. Huxley, in a paper he read before the Geological Society, describes a portion of a right femur twenty-five and a half inches long, so that the entire femur may be safely assumed to have exceeded thirty inches in length. The peculiar form of the bone and the character and position of the trochanters leave no doubt of the DinoSaurian affinities of the reptile to which it belonged, which must have been comparable, in point of size, to its near allies, the Megalosaurus and the Tyuanodon. VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. French Academy by M. Arthur Gris, states, as a conclusion, that the amylaceous matter contained in plants is partly resorbed during the development of the flowers; but that this process is not continued during the development of the fruit. The diagnosis of the Alga.-Upon this subject a controversy has been going on for some time past between M. Archer of the Dublin Natural History Society and Dr. Braxton Hicks of London. "The latter contends that there are so many intermediate forms between the earlier and later stages of the development of certain plants, which are in every respect like what Mr. Archer considers adult forms, that diagnosis from the examinations of specimens alone not undergoing development is unsatisfactory."(P. Science Review). experiments are in connection with the changes which ocOn the maturity of plants. The author M. A. Beyer's cur in fruits at different periods of their growth. He has made observations on the changes in the gooseberry from the time of its formation to that of its complete maturity. These observations refer to the decrease of sugar, in the amount of acid liberated, to the fatty matter, the nitrogen and the ash. His conclusions are as follows:-As maturity progresses, the proportion of water diminishes and that of solid substances increase. The quantity of sugar always increases, but the first period of maturity the fruit encloses a maximum quantity of free acid. The diminution of which, in the later period, is only perceived when the dry material is examined. Mineral matter diminishes progressively. changes as that of acid. The fatty matter continues to increase if the total of the fruit is considered, but if the calculation is made from the weight of the solid substances it has its maximum in the first period, and diminishes afterwards by degrees. ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL ACARI IN POTATOES. M. Guerin de Menneville exhibited at a late meeting of the French Academy, some specimens of potatoes covered with acari, but which appeared to be perfectly sound. M. G. Menneville remarked that two months of wet weather had produce myriads of acari, known as Tyroglyphus feculæ, on the Australian, and other varieties of potatoe growing on the imperial farm at Vincennes. THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE Hen and Duck EGGS AS NOURISHMENT.-BY M. A. COMMAILLE. From the analysis made by M. Commaille, the duck has always the advantage, its fertility much greater, its nourishing value more considerable. But the hen eggs, from custom are more agreable to the taste. The white of the duck's, egg is of a blue shade which is not inviting, in the other it is more gelatineus, but in many cooking and useful preparations the duck's eggs advantageously replace those of the hen. TOXICOLOGY "POISONING BY STRYCHNINE.”* This is a report written by M. M. Tardieu, Lorain, and Roussin, on the occasion of the death of a women named Pegard. They confine themselves to a detail of the chemical analysis of the organs extracted from the corpse, and physiological experiments performed upon living animals, with the products furnished by the analysis of the body. All the organs were perfectly preserved. The experi menters having found out that they contained no mineral substance had recourse to a direct search for the vegetable alkaloids. The stomach and intestines were divided into Stomata of Leaves.-M. M. Duchartre and Bossingault small pieces, these, together with the liquor contained in the allege that the quantity of carbonic acid decomposed by the first organ, and the alcohol in which they had been preleaves of plants has no relation to the number or super-served, were introduced into a large glass flask with a fresh ficial extent of stomata. They further state that in the case litre of alcohol. An alcoholic solution of tartaric acid was of fruits the green parts decompose carbonic acid, and yet poured in, agitating all the time, until the whole exhibicontain no trace of stomata, therefore the stomata of leaves ted a decided acid re-action. It was then heated to a temperaare not the breathing organ of plants. ture of 35°C. for 24 hours, agitating frequently. The mixAnnales d'hygiene publique et de medécine légale and Journal de Pharmacie. The starchy matter of plants.—A paper laid before the |