997

The cases of typhoid fever in hospital on the 3rd inst.numbered fifty-four, but, although the number of cases ofthis disease has of late been more numerous in Dublin thanusual, there has been nothing like an epidemic. Sir CharlesCameron, medical officer of health, states that it is remark-able that, while other zymotic diseases have declined inDublin, typhoid fever has not decreased; but he also pointsout that there is still much to be accomplished in referenceto the proper disposal of the sewage of the houses ofDublin, and that many cases of typhoid fever may easilybe traced to defective house drains.

UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.

The annual opening meeting of this society was held lastweek in the Museum Buildings, Trinity College. The

presidential address was delivered by Mr. Bewley, whochose for his subject, "The Struggle between Cells andBacteria." The salary of Dr. Donovan, medical officer of health for

the city of Cork, has been increased from jE160 to £ 200.Dnblin, Nov. 13th.

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PARIS.

(From our own Correspondent.) )

A NEW MICROBE.

PROFESSOR VERNEUIL has communicated a second notefrom Dr. Charles Richet on the new microbe which he foundin an epithelial tumour of a dog, which was reported in THELANCET of last week. A culture of the "staphylococcussepticus inoculated in a dog rendered it only slightly ill,but injected in the peritoneum of a rabbit it caused a gravemalady, and frequently death. If into a rabbit be in-

jected the blood of a dog rendered ill by the inocula-tion of the microbe, the rabbit escapes death by a subsequentinoculation. This blood seems to play the r6le of a vaccine.If the blood of a dog in health be injected into a rabbit, thesymptoms induced in the latter, when afterwards inoculated,are not fatal. Professor Verneuil sees in these experimentsintimations of a new influence of the blood of one animalon another, as regards the effect of cultures in preventivevaccination, and he remarks that they give rise to a new idea.

ACTION OF HYDROFLUORIC ACID ON THE BACILLUSOF TUBERCULOSIS.

Dr. Herard has undertaken to respond to ProfessorJaccoud’s note on the action of hydrofluoric acid on thebacillus of tuberculosis, also reported in THE LANCET oflast week. Dr. Herard says he does not accept as demon-strated that hydrofluoric acid is without action on thebacillus of Koch. On the contrary, he believes in this actionin certain determined conditions, and supports his opinionby reference to the researches of Dr. Trudeau of New York.This physician has shown that tuberculous cultures, sub-mitted to the action of solutions of hydrofiuoric acid suffi-ciently concentrated, may be inoculated without producingtuberculosis. Moreover, from a practical point of view, thehydrofluoric inhalations may have their utility, even if theydo not destroy the pathogenic bacillus in the parenchyma ofthe lungs. It is possible that they act on the phenomenaof putrefaction; they may also modify nutrition in an

advantageous manner, and thus put phthisical subjects in aposition favourable for ultimate cure. Numerous observa-tions prove that patients have found great benefit fromhydrofluoric inhalations. Their use may, therefore, be pre-served in practice, as cod-liver oil is in the same affection,as well as arsenic, creasote, or tannic acid, which, thoughoften very useful, are not invariably attended with success.

EFFECTS OF THE INJECTION OF SOLUTIONS OF SALT,

MM. Dastre and Loye, in a note in the Archives dePhysiologie, state that a considerable quantity of a physio-logical solution of salt may be injected successively intothe veins of an animal without causing any apparenttrouble, immediate or consecutive. This quantity has beenraised by the experimenters beyond two-thirds of the weightof the animal. The expression " toxic dose," the authorsremark, has no meaning so far asthe salt solution is concerned.There is no such thing as a toxic dose, but there is a toxicrapidity. This rapidity is superior to 3°; that is to say,

the quantity of the solution introduced does not exceedthree cubic centimetres per minute and per kilogramme ofthe animal. In order for the injection to be innocuouscertain conditions are necessary-as moderate rapidity ofthe injection and the amount introduced, and a healthystate of the organs, especially of the kidney. When theseconditions are not fulfilled the animal succumbs sooner orlater. There is then observed a constant exudation whichis produced in the serous cavities ; also sanguineous suffu-sions and exudations by the mucous membranes. Whenthe course of the urinary elimination is observed, one

notices, as a general rule, a perfect parallelism betweenthis excretion, on the one hand, and the injection on theother. After a certain time, the quantity injectedis balanced by the quantity which is eliminated. Thisnormal regimen reveals the existence of a mechanismwhich regulates the quantity of water of the organism.This mechanism begins to act when the quantity of saltwater injected is equal to the quantity of the blood of theanimal before the experiment. The surplus is immediatelyrejected. This quantity, equal to the weight of the bloodof the animal, seems to separate in two portions: one

portion (about 25 per cent. of the weight of the blood)remains in the circulatory apparatus during the whole timeof the experiment, and is only eliminated definitely lateron; a second portion (about 75 per cent.) is retainedmomentarily in the serous membranes and the tissues, toescape equally later on. These facts show a physiolo-gical connexion between the circulatory and serous systemsconnected with the preservation of the balance of thewatery portion of the blood and of the tissues. Analyseshave shown that, when the animal returns to the normalcondition, the injection of physiological salt water producednothing but a "lavage," properly speaking, or a washing-of the blood and of the tissues.

Paris, Nov. 13th.

VIENNA.

(From our own Correspondent.) )

AMERICAN AND ENGLISH STUDENTS IN VIENNA.

THE number of American and English students attendingthe lectures and courses in Vienna is increasing year by year.Now, in the first days of the winter session, more thanseventy students have entered, the most of them beingAmericans ; England is represented by only a few Glasgow,Edinburgh, and Aberdeen men. The courses deliveredby the privat-docenten, especially those on skin diseases,syphilis, laryngology, gynaecology, and operative surgery,attract most, on account of the abundance of interestingcases and dissections. Since the beginning of this sessionuseful information concerning academical matters is givento the foreign students by a special Medical Students’column, contained in the only English Vienna paper—theVienna WeeklyNews,—wherein the new courses, the fees, &c.,are announced every week. Some of the courses are givenin English.

THE LATE PROFESSOR VON BAMBERGER.

The disease from which Professor Bamberger had beensuffering for some months and to which he finally sue.cumbed on Nov. 9th, at 9.30 A.M., is believed to have beencancer of the bronchial glands, and haemoptysis occurred by corrosion of the bronchial vessels by cancerous ulcera-tions. No post-mortem examination was made.

Vienna.

MEDICAL MAYORS.-The following is a list of themembers of the medical profession who have been selectedto serve as mayors for the current year in the various townsof England and Wales :-W. Nettle, M.R.C.S., L.S.A.(re-elected), Liskeard; James Blake Maurice, M.D.,.F.R.C.S. Eng., J.P., Marlborough; H. W. Freeman,F.R. C.S.I., Bath; John Dommett Bishop, M.R.C.S.(fourth time), Calne; Hugh Moss, M.D., M.R.C.S., Con-gleton ; John Sherburn, M.B., C.M. Ed., Hull; F. E.Manby, F.R.C.S. Eng., Wolverhampton; W. Clarkson,L.R.C.P. Ed., L.F.P.S. Glas., Morpeth; C. A. Colmer,L. F. P. S. Glas. (re-elected), Yeovil; Alderman J. B. Stedman,F.R.C.S. Eng. (re-elected), Godalming; and Alderman R. R.Daglish, M. R. C. S., L. S. A. (re-elected), New Romney.