236

which subsequently proved to be a papilloma-treated withDoyen’s serum, apparently without good results. Mr. H.

Harvey Littlejohn and Mr. T. W. Drinkwater deal with

poisoning with arsenious acid, calling attention to the occur-rence of yellow sulphide of arsenic in the alimentary canal.

. The Scottish Medical and Surgical Journal (January).-Professor John Chiene, the retiring president of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh, in a valedictory addressdeals with the history of the society during the past 50years. Dr. B. P. Watson publishes the results of some

experiments on rabbits to elucidate the effects of withdrawalof the liquor amnii, which is followed by death of the foetusand degenerative changes in the placenta ; the latter closelycorrespond with those described by Eden in the retainedhuman placenta. Dr. David H. Stirling gives some statisticsof results obtained at a sanatorium for tuberculosis and Mr.H. M. W. Gray comments on a variety of surgical conditions,especially dealing with the use of vaccines in surgical cases.

.

.

The West London Medical Journal (January).-Thisnumber opens with two short papers on climatic subjects,the first by Dr. S. A. Bontor dealing with Jamaica as aHealth Resort and the second by Dr. W. S. Colman withsome French Health Resorts. Dr. A. P. Beddard gives anaccount of recent work on the Opsonic Powers of the Bloodand manages to make this rather difficult matter intelligibleto those who have not previously studied the question. Dr.D. G. A. Chowry-Muthu sets forth his belief that static

electricity is of value in the treatment of pulmonary tuber-culosis.

The Medical Chronicle (December, 1905).-In this numberProfessor W. Stirling’s article on Coöperation and Adapta-tion in Digestion is concluded. The second part deals withmodern work and points out the two kinds of stimuli whichgive rise to secretion of digestive juices, the hormones orchemical excitants acting slowly and continuously, and thenervous impulses acting quickly. Mr. E. D. Telford recordsa case of Umbilical Hernia in which perforation of the smallintestine in the sac was caused by the presence of a pieceof rabbit’s bone.

New Inventions.THE EQUIPOISE BED, COUCH, AND CARRYING

CHAIR.

AT the Institute of Hygiene, 34, Devonshire-street, London,W., a bed of ingenious construction is on exhibition, whichhas been brought out by the Equipose Couch Co., Ashford,Kent. The mechanism is that of a ratchet wheel and pawlwith crank-handle attachment, enabling the top part of thebed to be manipulated and fixed at any angle required. Whenthe desired position has been reached it can be there retainedfor so long a time as is necessary. The mechanism works sosmoothly that the position of the patient’s head and

shoulders, however helpless or heavy he may be, can bechanged as often as wished for and without the slightestdifficulty by the nurse or attendant. If the patientis able to use his arms he can easily adjusthimself to whatever position he wishes with the smallestpossible exertion. If, on the other hand, he is suf-

fering from acute heart disease or from a malady in whichany exertion is dangerous the nurse can alter his posture soea-ily that he is scarcely conscious of movement. Another

advantage claimed for the bed is that the bottom can bedropped, an arrangement which provides a double inclinedplane, thus affording relief to the thighs and the legs. Thebed is intended for the use of invalids and should serve its

purpose well. The illustrations represent two of the manypositions which may be given to the bed. The price isfive and a half guineas. It may be upholstered in imitationleather, tapestry, or morocco at an additional charge, andhandles are supplied for use when the bed is carried aboutwith a patient lying on it. Chairs; conches, and surgery

chairs are constructed by the Equipoise Co. upon the sameprinciple but none of these were on exhibition.AN ASEPTIC EAR OR WOUND SYRINGE.

THE defect of most piston and other syringes which arefilled through the nozzle is the great difficulty of keeping

them "surgically" clean. The instru-ment shown in the illustration, how-

ever, since its parts are made entirelyof metal and readily separated, can beeasily sterilised. Further, its makers

have, at my suggestion, added a nozzlewhich, being detachable, not onlyenables the syringe to be filled with-

out risk of contaminating its interior

through an infected aperture but alsofacilitates the cleaning of the nozzle

itself, precautions of the utmost im-

portance in aural treatment. In usethe syringe is filled with fluid throughthe fixed nozzle, after which thedetachable nozzle shown at the side is

slipped over the fixed one and the

fluid is ejected in the ordinary way.Before refilling the syringe or proceed-ing to the other ear or to the next

patient the detachable nozzle is re-

moved and cleansed. A convenient lengthfor these nozzles is four inches ; it willsometimes be advantageous to have

more than one of them. The syringemay be had in sizes of one, two, three,and four ounces. It is made by theMedical Supply Association of 228,Gray’s Inn-road, London, W.C., withnozzles of various sizes.

V. H. WYATT WINGRAVE, M.D.Durh.Stratford-place, W-