The very next note taken on March 20th, shows that the patient considered his throat as quite well," "He could eat any mortal thing." The parts soon became quite cicatrised. Syphilitic sarcocele, when occurring in patients not hitherto treated with mercury, yields very rapidly to large doses of the iodide of potassum. John W., æt. twenty-seven was seen March 6th, 1868, by Dr. Drysdale, at the Metropolitan Free Hospital. Two years previously he had suffered from a hard sore on the penis, alopecia, and slight eruptions on the skin; but did not appear to have been treated for these symptoms, which, indeed, were all rather slight and transient. When seen, the left testicle was found much enlarged, the size of a man's fist, and very hard. Patient was ordered to take twenty grains of iodide of potassium in a wine glassful of water thrice daily. In a month the testis was of natural size and con sistence. The same lesion occurring in the person of a young gentleman, a relation of Dr. Drysdales', who had taken no mercury for a slightly indurated sore, followed by spots of a rupial character, was rapidly relieved by large doses of iodide of potassium; in about fourteen days, the organ returned to its proper size and consistence. Ozana, also, with destruction of the bone, is in most cases rapidly stayed, and cured by the administration of twenty grain doses of iodide of potassium. For example, Amelia M., æt. fifty-two, was seen 12th May, 1868, with ozæna of the right nostril, and dead bone; and with ulcers of the right tonsil. Patient said that, nearly twenty years ago, she remembered to have experienced some symptoms during her married life. The husband had been dead sixteen years, and she had neither had any children, nor miscarriages. Under large doses of the iodide, the patient's health became greatly benefited, the ozæna stopped, and pieces of dead bone came away. Iodide of potassium, however, has only the power to cure the existing symptoms, not to cure the disease. An example of this is seen in a case of a woman, who for six years has attended the dispensary with a large scar on the left thigh. This scar occasionally breaks down, and becomes an ulcer, which is at once cured by the iodide, again to relapse in a few months. The woman's health is good and she has healthy children. The affection named syphilitic psoriasis of the tongue appears not to be very amenable to treatment; but it is consoling to be aware that persons may retain this lesion for twenty years, and have no other symptom, and procreate healthy offspring. For example, Mrs. M., aged fifty-five, was seen February 18, 1868, at the Metropolitan Free Hospital. Her tongue was covered with white patches, and the edges were indented by the marks of the lower incisors. Patient had been married once, thirty-four years before, and had had five children, only one of whom was alive at that time, aged twenty-eight. Before his birth she had one still-born child, twelve months after marriage. Her tongue had been affected in this fashion for many years. No amount of iodide of potassium did this case any good, and we presume our friends who employ mercury have like experiences, at least some of the most eminent among them have confessed as much to us. Mary S., married in 1838; seen 1st March, 1868. Had two children, both of which died; the first was born seven years after marriage. When pregnant, she suffered from sore throat and eruption, and the child had eruption and was treated at Blackfriars Bridge Hospital with powders and died. A year subsequently another child was born, which had eruptions, took powders, and died in nine weeks. Her husband died in America. He and the patient were both treated by Mr. Paget at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, when she took a great deal of medicine, and was in-patient. At the date of first seeing her, patient had extensive psoriasis of the tongue, which, in spite of large doses of iodide, still remains, although the salt improves her appetite and "does her a great deal of good.” (To be continued.) CLINICAL RECORDS FROM THE DUBLIN Edited by W. THORNLEY STOKER, M.D., L.R.C.S., Demonstrator of Anatomy in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. MERCER'S HOSPITAL. Locomotor Ataxy. (Under the care of Dr. EAMES.) CAROMELO GIAGOLONI, an Italian sailor, aged thirtyone years, unmarried, was admitted into Mercer's Hospital February 28th. During his childhood he suffered from some affection of the lower extremities, of which he could not give a very clear account. Since that period he enjoyed perfect health till four years ago. His relations are all healthy, and have never exhibited any symptoms of neurotic disease. He has never had any venereal complaint. On a voyage to Constantinople, in the year 1864, he was much exposed to wet. He now became subject to severe flying pains in the lower extremities, which came and passed away with the rapidity of lightning. He suffered, too, at this period from occasional impairment of vision, diplopia, and amplyopia, also from deafness; these would last from twelve to twenty-four hours, and recurred about once a fortnight. His feet became numbed at this time, and he experienced some consequent difficulty in locomotion. The sexual powers were at this period exaggerated, being able to have connexion seven and eight times a night. He improved in general condition, and made a voyage to the Sea of Azov, where he suffered severely from cold, whilst wintering there. On his return he was admitted into an hospital at Marseilles, being unable to walk without reeling. He was there treated by tonics and electricity. From the account which he gives of the examination made by the physician, there is no doubt locomotor ataxy was diagnosed. Having been under treatment for two months, he left hospital much improved. He next made a voyage to Dublin, and immediately, on his arrival in port, was sent to Mercer's Hospital. He complained, on admission, of pain in the abdomen. On inquiry it was found that his bowels had not been moved for five days, and that he had not passed water for twenty-four hours. The urine was drawn off and the bowels freed by a purgative enema. During the remainder of his stay in hospital he passed water freely, and his bowels were moved regularly. He now directed our attention to his troubles in locomotion. On being directed to leave his bed, he at once and without difficulty did so, but before commencing to walk he pressed his feet with his hands against the floor of the ward, for the purpose, as he said, of insuring perfect contact, as he had lost all sensation in his feet. On attempting to walk he reeled and staggered, and could not proceed unless clutching by the bedsteads or guided by some of those present. He was quite unable to support himself with his feet placed parallel to each other if directed to look upwards or to shut his eyes. He could stand in this position if allowed to fix his eyes upon his feet. The muscular force of the limbs was at the same time perfect, as the patient was able to carry on his back one of the pupils present, if held by the hands. On his returning to bed we proceeded to examine the limbs as regarded the anesthesia of which he complained. On tickling the soles of the feet there was no motion whatever of the limbs, nor was the tickling felt in the slightest degree. We next passed a pin inore than a quarter of an inch in depth into various parts of both feet. Neither was this felt, the patient regarding our operations with a placid smile, and saying "pas de tout." The same is true as to the entire anterior aspect of the leg. But over the gastrocnemii on both sides sensation was perfect, nor had it ever been impaired in these situations. Above the knee sensation was perfect. that he suffers slightly from spermatorrhoea and also occasional incontinence of urine, He has lost all sexual power He mentions not having had an erection of the penis for two years. He also suffers from time to time from vertigo. Has never noticed squinting or dropping of the eyelid. He distinguishes perfectly between heat and cold applied to the feet. The treatment adopted was syr. of the phosphate of iron in 3j. doses three times a day, the passing of the interrupted magneto-electric current along the limbs, and full nourishing diet. Under the use of these his condition improved, and he was able to walk with greater confidence. As his ship returned to Italy in a fortnight he was obliged to leave hospital. He was then able to walk without actually reeling, but his gait was precipitant, whilst the trunk was bent forward. Sensation had returned below and in front of the internal maleolus on each foot, and he himself attributed the fact of his being able to walk more securely with his boots on than in his bare feet to the fact that he felt his steps when his boots were on, but not at other times. He had also lost to some extent the numbness in his knee-joints. His condition otherwise was unchanged. This case is interesting as exhibiting in a marked degree the initiatory symptoms of the disease known as locomotor ataxy. The burning pains, flying like an electric spark through the limbs, the passing derangements of vision, the transitory deafness, and the increase of virile power, to be followed, by-and-by, by its total loss. It shows, too, to how large an extent the troubles of locomotion depend on the anesthesia of the feet, and the temporary, but decided, improvement in the condition of the patient which follows upon even partial restoration of the cutaneous sensibility. Transactions of Societies. MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. PETER MARSHALL, ESQ., President, in the Chair. The first case seemed to Mr. Watson to be one of those generally associated with constitutional syphilis. The mother has had three children still-born, and discoloured at birth. The treatment consisted of hydri cretâ and iodide of iron; pain in the knee-joint came on after the administration of the mercury; which rheumatic pain sometimes throws light on these cases. In irritable constitutions, Mr. Watson recommends the tonic treatment, and cod liver oil, the pupils to be kept well dilated by atropine. Mr. HOGG said that these kind of cases are met with in large numbers, and as a rule are very difficult to treat. He considers them of the superficial kind of inflammation, and differing much from the cases related by Mr. Hutchinson, which are of a rarer kind. In the latter you frequently get synechia and obliteration of pupil as after consequences. In reply, Mr. WATSON differed most completely from Mr. Hogg in his opinion of the two cases. He considered that in both the parenchyma was inflamed. He had omitted one fact, namely, that the urine was highly acid. Mr. DUNN related a case where a patient of his had contracted syphilis within a month of pregnancy. On January 12th, she was confined; on March 14th, the baby began to snuffle; and a rash appeared on the nates, face, and skin; There were also mucous tubercles on the corner of the mouth. Most authors deny that syphilis contracted by the mother in the last month of pregnancy can be communicated to the offspring; this is the first case on record. Mr. WEEDEN considered the evidence not quite sufficient to establish the case. Mr. DUNN stated that the man and his wife had never before had syphilis, the first appearance of it in the man being in November. Mr. HOGG explained the difficulty there was at arriving at conclusions in these cases. Mr. HAMILTON also considered the transmission of the recent syphilitic attack from the mother to the child not already es tablished. self in the second and third months, and not in the first. In reply, Mr. DUNN said that secondary syphilis showed it Dr. THOMPSON DICKSON then read an abstract of his paper on matter and force, considered in relation to mental and cerebral phenomena. Our ideas are vital phenomena; the resultants of motion conveyed through nerves from external objects. The immediate phenomena are chemical and physical changes in the brain cell, or cells with which these nerves are connected; agitation or vibration of that cell or cells which is communicated to other cells, evidenced by a succession of impressions related to the antecedents, and suggested by it. The evidence of the physical change is the permanence of the impression. We see a rose for instance, its image fades from mental view on removal, but its impression remains, a permanent change in a cell or cells which becomes prominent whenever the cell or cells are rendered active, and we appreciate the comparative difference from other cells. Music is an illustration; music is a modification of motion reaching our aural sense or. gans as waves, varying in rapidity, and known as hearing, one factor of which is the permanent impression of the musical sound. The evidence afforded by diseased condition is very characteristic, especially when compared with pathological changes as seen after death, we observe various forms of imperfection in mental phenomena, as loss of memory, incoherence, &c.; and we find associated therewith, atonic, atrophied, amyloid and fatty cells; and, as a current of electricity will not pass through a glass rod connecting two portions of copperwire, those cells which are unhealthy, or have foreign matter in them, cut off the current which should otherwise pass between two portions of brain connected by them, the current on the other hand running in the course the greatest vitality. Morbid speech is often strongly confirmatory, the current being unable to pass to the cell bearing the impression of the word which should follow in logical sequence, darts off to its antithesis. Many such cases are followed by epilepsy, or cerebral hemorrhage. I shall only touch upon epilepsy, which appears in two forms; one in which the muscular phenomena are violent, while the mental are more or less slight; the other in which the mental phenomena are profound, while the muscular are more or less absent. Observation has led me to the conclusion, that in health there is a perfect balance between the controlling organs of the brain and the muscular system. In the latter form of epilepsy, the whole surface of the brain is more or less changed; while in the former, a part only has been injured, and that perhaps by coarse disease as tumour, in which case a portion of the seat of control over the motor centres is destroyed. In passive con ditions we shall not have any manifestation till the potential energy (or specific power) will so overbalance that of the seat of control, that it will extend itself in violent contraction, till its potential energy again approximates the balance of that of the controlling seat. DUBLIN OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY. DR. EVORY KENNEDY read a paper on PUERPERAL FEVER, of in which he wished to direct the attention of the Society principally to the question of the preventibility of the disease; and for that purpose he commenced by accepting the doctrine that it is essentially a zymotic affection, and proceeded to show that, according to the statistics of London and other great English cities, the mortality from zymotic diseases alone is between one-fourth and one-fifth of the gross total of deaths. Further, that in nine out of ten cases death, in such instances, results from preventible causes; hence that the mortality may be reduced one-fourth, minus one-tenth. Although the difficulties surrounding the actual detection of the miasm or germ which generates this class of diseases has yet to be overcome, still there can be no doubt of its existence as an entity; and we can investigate the laws which govern its development with much accuracy, and know and can handle many solids which may be said to contain, if not the poison, at least its habitat. He thought that the view that a common principle, modified in its forms of manifestation by surrounding circumstances, was the root of various forms of zymotic disease, was indicated by the concurrent prevalence of different zymotic affections, and that it was strengthened by the possibility of tracing various manifestations of disease to a common germ. Thus, hospital physicians are well aware of the increased likelihood of the occurrence of metria during the prevalence of typhus, scarlatina, or erysipelas. This occurrence has now been so often observed that there can be no doubt that such phenomena stand in the relation of cause and effect. He had treated so fully of this subject in a paper read before the British Medical Association, that he would now abstain from going into it in extenso. Should the principle of isomerism— which of late had attracted so much attention amongst our chemists and professors of physical science-be adopted in disease, it would much simplify the difficulty which we now feel in accepting the theory of a common morbific poison; and in that case we might bestow on the polyatomic molecule or principle the name of zymotocene, and it would strictly fall within Dumas' definition of what he terms polymorphism. There is, therefore, nothing unreasonable in supposing that, as in the case of polymeric or polymorphous hydrocarbons, we may also have the germs of different disease produced by poly meric combinations in the same elements. Puerperal fever appears epidemically, being most virulent in crowded maternities, but also visiting the chambers of the rich and the hovels of the poor; and of its contagious character now-a-days no doubt is entertained, although he (Dr. K.) stated that, twenty years ago, the advocate of contagion was regarded as worse than an infidel. If the views arrived at with regard to the true nature of the poisoning in these cases be correct, then the contagious and sporadic nature of the disease will be quite reconcilable. Its local cause approaches more nearly to a constant quantity in the wards of a lying-in hospital, whereas it is only an occasional quantity in the houses of the affluent; and the only influence exercised in its production by the atmosphere is, that in certain states of the atmosphere the constant and occasional quantities become more operative. The poison is more concentrated in the case of numbers, but can be fully generated by one parturient woman. The most striking parallels that we are acquainted with arethe gaol fever, erysipelas, cholera, and tuberculosis occurring amongst the crowded labourers in large cities. In distinguishing between metria and its congeners, it would be unnecessary for him to dwell upon after-pains, Hysteralgia, or what he used to term Peritodynia, or Gastralgia; but peritonitis and metritis might require a passing notice. These affections, occurring apart from the puerperal state, are sometimes met with, but then they do not assume the zymotic form, but seem purely local inflammations. These are the class of cases in which he would advise the free use of the lancet and of leeches, where twelve or eighteen ounces of blood taken by the former, and followed by the application of eighteen or two dozen of the latter, would subdue inflammatory symptoms, and change the character of the previously incompressible pulse. He would distinguish between this form of disease and true zymotic metria by the symptoms of blood poisoning which occur in the latter-the shrunken features and the unmistakeable expression of countenance. In the zymotic puerperal fever the lancet could rarely be used, we must depend on local depletion; and the true secret of success is to reduce the pain by repetition of leeching, before reaction has time to establish itself. He has seen patients repeatedly lost owing to the hesitation of a physician in persisting in the use of leeches where he had found them to subdue pain. Another practical hint which he would wish to impress upon his hearers was the value of the use of mercury in these diseases, if its effects could be produced; but in bad cases there was no time to get the patient under its influence. Therefore, in his own practice, it was his custom, where he dreaded the advent of metria or peritonitis, to commence the use of small doses of grey powder as soon as the labour was completed; in some suspicious cases even using mercurial inunction. In this way he was enabled, if bad symptoms manifested themselves, to speedily mercurialise the woman. He had but on one or two occasions seen death occur where the mercury showed itself. In the treatment of metria there are two indications-the relief of local symptoms, and the support of the constitution by nourishing and easily assimilated food. We should remember that, although local depletion is necessary, yet that metria is a poison fever a disease of debility-and that if we neglect to support the strength, the patient will sink from the collapse which must ensue. Stimu lants must be used more guardedly, but, as a rule, they were not used soon enough; and in one instance in particular, in a class of cases which he had described many years ago, which were marked by sudden collapse, exhaustion, and tympanitis, and were allied to what Laennec had termed "Factitie Debile," it is surprising the quantity of stimulants which can be borne. It is in this class of cases that the turpentine treatment is so valuable, and it is remarkable the slight appearances of disease which a post-mortem examination will reveal in them. Amongst the forms of metria he would speak of one which might be termed traumatic metria, or that which was the result of operations, injuries, or lesions of any kind occurring during the delivery. We know that, during the prevalence of zymotic metria, any accidental or operative departure from the natural course of labour is likely to be attended with the most serious results; in the same way, that during the prevalence of erysipelas or phagedena in surgical hospitals, all open wounds are liable to be attacked by the prevailing epidemic. He exhibited to the Society a number of drawings of cases of traumatic metria, and reminded it of the year 1838, when so great a mortality from these cases occurred in the Dublin Lying-in Hospital. Those who have seen cases of arthritic metria would, he said, remember that the joints are most generally secondarily affected at intervals of days or even weeks after the peritonitis or metritis has run its course; but that in several of the dreadful cases of 1838 the contrary was the case, and that the knee, elbow, ankle, wrist, or sacro-iliac sychondrosis were primarily attacked. The pain in these arthritic forms was most intolerable, particularly in the case of the sacro-iliac joint; opiates failed to give relief, and caus tics or the actual cautery seemed to be the most effectual remedial agents, although many of the patients sank rapidly. In those cases where hospital gangrene attacked parts injured during labour, he had seen most advantage follow the use of caustics and mineral acids, with chloride of soda lotion and antiseptic poultices. He had, at the suggestion of Abraham Colles, tried free incisions in some of these cases, but with unsatisfactory results. The last variation of type, observed as a genus of the general family of metria, to which he would direct the attention of the Society was that which, in a paper read before the British Medical Association, he had designated "Puerperal Purpuric Fever." He had described it as an endemic that appeared in the Lying-in Hospital during the year 1837, and which in some cases showed symptoms unlike any previously seen in metria. Those symptoms corresponded in their characteristics to what Dr. Marston described in the so-called "Black Death." They were, firstly, those of profound blood poisoning; and secondly, those of cerebro-spinal irritation. Dr. Kennedy impressed on the Society the benefit to be derived from the study of the diseases of animals, for as there was to be observed a certain similarity existing between the nervous and circulatory systems of warm blooded creatures, so their diseases seemed related, and might be advantageously subjected to comparative observation. DUBLIN PATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. THE preparation which Mr. Stokes brought before the notice of the society, was a specimen of ILIO-FEMORAL ANEURISM OF ENORMOUS SIZE, which he had recently removed from a patient in the Richmond Hospital. He was a man of about 50 years of age, a messenger in one of the commercial establishments in this city, and was obliged occasionally to carry, not only very large, but very heavy weights. The patient, according to his own account, was of temperate habits, and never had rheumatism or any constitutional disease. Abut four months ago, he observed for the first time, the sudden appearance of a tumour in the right groin which gave him no inconvenience. About two months' afterwards, however, it became so large and painful that he was obliged to seek medical advice. He was under the care of Dr. John Kirkpatrick for some time, who after wards transferred him to the care of Mr. Stokes, in the Richmond Hospital. The diagnosis of aneurism was not attended with any difficulty. A very large pulsating tumour occupied the lower part of the abdomen in the right side, and the upper portion of the femoral region divided by Poupart's ligaments into two unusual portions, the superior being the greater of the two. A loud bruit was heard in placing the stethoscope over the tumour, and there was distinct pulsation. There were no other symptoms of organic disease, no murmur to be heard in the heart, the only thing abnormal about which was, occasional intermission. The idea of pressure as a means of cure was at first entertained, but the patient could not bear it, pressure in any situation was attended with such severe pain. The other modes of treatment as the injection of fluids with the object of producing coagulation of the blood. The introduction of the other more novel modes of treatment was out of the question. The great size of the tumour precluded all such attempts. There remained, therefore, but two courses, one was not to attempt any surgical interference, which would be to leave the man to a certain and painful death, the other was to attempt to bring about consolidation of the tumour by occluding the vessel above the seat of the aneurism. After anxious consideration, Mr. Stokes determined to have recourse to the latter procedure, and, if possible, to apply either a permanent or a temporary ligature in the common iliac artery, or if he found that to be diseased to go higher and occlude the abdominal aorta immediately above its bifurcation. The artery was exposed in the usual manner, and in getting a view of the common iliac on the right side it was found, that it would not be safe to tie it, it was not healthy, and besides there was very little of it to be seen. The aneurismal tumour overlapped three-fourths of the lower part of the vessel and not only did | it conceal the vessel from view but it flattened out the artery and gave it the appearance of being very much dilated. It would have been impossible to apply the clamps then for there were extensive adhesions between the anterior wall of the artery and the peritoneal sac, so much so, that the latter was dissected off with difficulty. On making the post-mortem examination, under these circumstances, Mr. Stokes applied Lüer's aneurism needle round the aorta, just before its bifurcation and attached to the ligature a piece of silver wire and then applied the clamps designed by Mr. Porter for the temporary occlusion of arteries. The immediate effect of the application of the clamps was to cause a complete cessation of pulsation in the tumour. The circulation was completely arrested, not only in the vessels of the right lower extremity, but in those of the left. The patient was removed and for some hours after the opera tion every thing progressed favourably. Mr. Stokes remarked one serious and, to him, unaccountable symptom, that the man complained of a burning pain which he referred to the sole of the right foot and the ball of the great toe, of that side. This was only relieved by pressure, and lasted only two or three minutes at a time, returning every few hours. He got opiates, and became tranquil, and had several hours' sleep, towards midday, he took brandy and beef tea and appeared to enjoy it. In the afternoon, about 3 or 4 o'clock, he got a semisyncopal attack from which he was roused by the exhibition of small quantities of stimulants. The pulse at the wrist became in these attacks almost unaccountable. The heart's action very weak and the lips perfectly white. As the day wore on these attacks became more frequent and more prolonged, and at the close of the day at about 8 or 9 o'clock, it became quite obvious that his end was approaching. At 12 o'clock, thirteen hours after the operation, he expired. A remarkable thing occurred in the course of this case, to which Mr. Stokes stated he had omitted to direct attention before, and that was the rapid reestablishment of the collateral circulation. Five or six hours after the operation, pulsation was distinctly perceptible in the left femoral artery. The post-mortem examination disclosed the great size of the tumour which engaged the termination of the common iliac, the entire of external iliac and a portion of the femoral artery. There was no fluid blood in the tumour, which was filled chiefly with a dark mass of coagulated blood, and a considerable quantity of recently coagulated fibrin. There was extensive adhesion of all the surrounding parts to the tumour, and a portion of the pelvis was eroded. There was no other organic disease to be found, except in the heart which was extremely fatty, indicated not only by its great friability, pale colour, and softness, but also by its microscopical appearance, which was carefully noted by Dr. Purser, who has devoted special attention to this subject. There was no peritoneal inflammation, or even congestion to be found. It is probable that this case might have had a different termination but for the diseased condition of the heart, and that death was the result of shock occurring in a person with fatty heart. Mr. Stokes looked forward to the operation of deligation of the abdominal aorta being attended with success on some future occasion. Sir Astley Cooper was most sanguine of the operation being eventually successful. He says:-"My own conviction is that it can be done, and be done with success.' These remarks applied to the application of ligatures, but Mr. Stokes was of opinion that the plan he adopted on the present occasion, and which he hoped would be always adopted, afforded a much greater chance of success. One of the most common causes of want of success after ligature of the large arteries is the secondary hæmorrhage, that occurs consequent in the ulceration produced by the ligature, but, by adopting this plan of Mr. Porter's the artery can be perfectly occluded, and rapid consolidation of the contents of the tumour may be produced as this case shows, and although he had not examined the interior of the artery it was well known that the application of this instrument does not cause any injury to the internal coats of arteries. He therefore came to the conclusion that this mode of dealing with arteries in what are called surgical aneurisms is destined to play a most important rôle in the treatment of these affections. COLD WATER TREATMENT OF TYPHUS FEVER. the observations of Jürgenssen as to the efficacy of cold water intestinal QUINIA AS AN ANTIPHLOGISTIC. A. MARTIN, in an Inaugural Dissertation, published at Giessen, in 1868, states that he has tested the conclusions drawn from their experiments, in reference to the action of quinia upon the blood by Binz and Scharrenbroich. Twelve experiments were perfornied by him. In two of these, repeated with every care and precaution on dogs, it was clearly shown that when the system was put under the influence of quinia, the formation or augmentation of the white corpuscles of the blood as well as the effort for their expulsion by the intervention of an inflammatory process was restrained. The experiment presented by the author to prove the curative influence of quinia upon inflammation seated in the parenchymatous viscera are new. He adduces to this intent experiments made upon frogs by laying bare the liver, in which condition, with great care, the animals may be kept alive for three days. The proper hepatic corpuscles in the frog, it is true, resemble very closely the white corpuscles of the blood, but from these they may be distinguished by their size and composition. It was shown by these experiments that the action of the quinia caused the inflammatory process to become as fully arrested in the liver as in the exposed mesentery. To test the antiphlogistic power of quinia, in four frogs the liver during fourteen days was allowed to remain exposed for twelve hours each day. Into two of these frogs, during the intervals of exposure, 0025 grm. of quinia was injected. In the twenty preparations which accompanied the thesis of Mr. Martin, he thinks also the fact of the antiphlogistic action of quinia was fully established. It is very certain that the development of white corpuscles in the blood is far less than occurs in other cases of inflammation treated without quinia.-Centralblatt f. d. Medicinisch, Wis. senschaften. FOOD AND DWELLINGS FOR THE PEOPLE. Two subjects of grave importance to the community at large, and in an especial manner to that class of it unburthened and unblessed by worldly opulence, demand a far larger share of public attention than has lately been bestowed upon them. The subjects are-the peoples' food, and the peoples' dwellings. Viewing the former as of vital importance, and the adulteration of it a crime of a very high order indeed, we are once more compelled to inquire, for what time longer is adulterated human food to be permitted for exposure and for sale by dishonest London traders? Have short measures and light weights become "acknowledged institutions" amongst us? Is avoirdupois weight to continue six drachms to the ounce and thirteen ounces to the pound? Are thieves-washed, bland, and insinuating-to retain the privilege to mix dust in our tea, add sand and lead to our sugar, chalk and plaster to our flour, rice and alum to our bread, and to ply turnips, pease, saffron, and "shot salt" ad lib. in the preparation of that amalgam yclept butter? In a word, are weights and measures of mercurial uncertainty, to be countenanced and to be recognised for the legitimate and standard ones of the period? And is adulteration of the peoples' food to be regarded as the very essence and life of trade? Undoubtedly the time has long since come for the application of the final screw in order to check the vicious career of the fraudulent trader. Is it to be applied? Will there be suitable machinery prepared so that it may be adopted with success, and for the advantage of the hard fisted mechanic, the toiling labouring hack, and, better still, to express even a particle of that "bitter aloes" with which the morals of trade now appear to be blended? These are grave and serious questions, questions for the present hour, questions that should be answered by the "Plot and Passion" of an outraged public opinion, with whose demand no "circumlocution office" dares to trifle. Many, indeed, are the tricks of London traders, but one that we consider worthy the attention of our readers has lately been submitted to our notice. A purchaser, ere he left the establishment of a fraudulent trader, observed that the commodity purchased by him was in weight some ounces less than for what he had paid, and, as a consequence, demanded of the trader, in the presence of other purchasers, his full weight or his money returned to him. "I assure you its quite correct Sir, quite correct; bacon is up in the market, that's how it is; a trifle less weight, as you say, but our price is the same, just the same as formerly, for the article." The subterfuge told, for that time at all events, and the victim appeared to be satisfied with the explanation. Yet the purchaser sufficiently shrewd to question the correctness of weight or the fullness of measure he receives from the loquacious fraudulent trader, may pretend to "perfectly understand" the tenor of the words used to justify a fraud by the smooth-tongued hypocrite; but the language is generally so full, gushing, and apologetic-the thing is so well done, in fact that he smiles, bows his head, apparently to note his appreciation of the sentiments expressed, in reality to cover a mantling blush that his stern manhood won't conceal; and leaves the mangling mart of slight-of-hand, of short measures or of light weights, tricked of a trifle, more or less--and he knows it! In London at the present moment, and in the articles of human food more especially, fraudulent trading prevails to an extent scarcely to be believed. In every street, in every market, in every passage where the "staff of life" is exposed for sale, there dishonesty, in some shape or other, flourishes; and how it has happened that the conscientious traders-for there are such, be it observedhave not long since banded themselves together for characters' sake, and insisted on a thorough and a practical parochial or governmental supervision over articles of human consumption, appears really unaccountable. It is simply an idle display of sound and fury, that ambulating, parochial, periodic shop and stall visiting, light weight and short measure hunting, so familiar to the ken of most of us. The parochial authorities know this; if they do not they are dolts-parochial dolts-a species of the genus not uncommon in our fortunefavoured latitude, and if the "supervisors" once in a time pounce on an "unprepared" delinquent, and haul him up before his worship, and that his worship cautions" him firstly, and secondly fines him in the heaviest penalty the law permits, what follows? Why, this: the delinquent" pays the fine. Is that all? O yes, there s something more. He gouges what he calls the "makeup" piece from each of his other set of light weights, clips his measure, or shortens his yard-stick (as the case may be), drives his trade at higher pressure, and "clears capital" ere the week's end, out of the indignity. In France they "post up" a dishonest trader. With us he is fined, if detected; but the crude mode employed to detect is, as we have said, an idle display-" sound and fury signifying nothing." The application of the branding iron beneath the right malar might be adopted as a means to leave a lasting inpression on the elastic conscience of a trading cheat. Would there be a possibility to form a borrow and lend arrangement between the Horse Guards and the Board of Trade? At the former there is now a 66 spare" branding iron; the latter wants one. Perhaps the Commander of the Forces might accommodate the President of the |