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Pharmacology and Therapeutics.TOXIC SYMPTOMS PRODUCED BY A SMALL DOSE OF

ACETAXILIDE.

DR. MEYER of Hillesheim reports a case in which, havinggiven a robust girl of thirteen who was suffering frompyrexia and headache some acetanilide (antifebrin), dis-pensed in bulk so as to save expense, two doses were taken,contrary to directions, within three-quarters of an hour ofone another. These doses were merely measured by thequantity which could be taken up on the point of a knife,and could not have much exceeded four grains. After thesecond dose, the child, thoagh she lost the severe headachewhich had induced her to take the double quantity, becameblue in the face and complained of great faintness, palpita-tion, and prostration. The heart’s action was certainlyincreased, and as she lay in bed it was noticed thather legs were much colder than usual. As the acetani-lide had apparently produced such undesirable symptoms,Dr. Meyer ordered that no more should be taken. Howevei,one day when he was away the pain in the head came onso severely that the girl again disobeyed his instructionsand took the remaining portion of the powder, nearly seveng:ains, in two doses within an hour or so of one another.Again the pain was cured, but on Dr. Meyer’s return hefound a considerable amount of cyanosis, which, notwith-standing his persistent use of stimulating measures, did notbegin to improve for five or six hours, and did not disappearfor twenty-four hours. It should be stated that the patientin this case was, as a rule, very tolerant of powerful drugs,having frequently taken rather large doses of morphinewithout any unpleasant effects.

SHEPHERD’S PURSE AS A HAEMOSTATIC.Dr. K. E. Wagner publishes in the Vrach some observa-

tions which tend to show that the capsules of shepherd’spurse (capselice bursm pastoris) when made into a tincturehave very considerable haemostatic properties. The caseswere of different kinds, two of them being of uterinehaemorrhage, two of haemoptysis, and one of epistaxis. Inall these a marked effect was produced, the haemorrhagebeing either entirely arrested, or at least very greatlydiminished. No unpleasant eft’ects, such as headache ordyspnoea, were observed, even when three tablespoonfuls ofthe tincture were taken in the course of twenty-four hours,the usual dose being from four to six teaspoonfuls.

OXYNAPHTHOIC ACID.

The antiseptic properties of oxynaphthoic acid, or as it isalso called naphthol-carbonic acid, is the subject of anarticle in a Vienna medical journal by Dr. A. Schucking,who has made use of this substance in various ways. Its

chemical formula is CnHs03’ or C1oH6 z ggo Is isa light-grey powder, with scarcely any smell, and almostinsoluble in water, but readily soluble in alcohol, ether,caustic alkalies, and alkaline carbonates. Its antizymoticpower is five times stronger than that of salicylic acid, andwill prevent the putrefaction of water in which meat hasbeen dissolved even in as small a proportion as 1 in 20,000.It is well known that the soda salt of salicylic acid is devoidof antiseptic properties, but this is not the case with thenew acid. It seems, too, to be capable of being usedinternally without producing any disorder of the digestiveapparatus. In large doses, however, it is toxic. Rabbitsdie after the ingestion of from twenty-two to forty-fivegrains, and then present signs of stomatitis, gastro-enteritis,hypeniemia of the lungs, liver, and kidneys, also albu-minuria. The acid can be detected in the urine by striking ’oa violet, blue, or red colour with nitric acid, and a blue orin very minute quantity a green colour with perchlorideof iron. Dr. Schucking found a-oxynaphthoic acid act verywell in many cases as a substitute for iodoform, having agreat advantage over the latter in being almost completelydevoid of smell, besides which it appears to exert nc

specific action on the central nervous system, and is verymuch less costly. When dusted over sluggish granulationsit acts as a mild caustic and stimulant. For washing ou1the vagina he employed a solution of the combination of th<acid with phosphate of soda, the strength varying from 0’!to 1 per cent. Dr. Schucking does not, of course, pretenc

that a-oxynaphthoic acid is the best antiseptic for all pur-poses, but brings it before the profession as a valuable addi-tion to our present category of these remedies, especiallyrecommending the solution with phosphate of soda.

PILOCARPINE IX JAUNDICE.

Dr. Witkowski, writing in a Polish medical journal, speaksvery strongly of the success he has had in treating cases ofjaundice by means of injections of pilocarpine. One casehe relates of a lady who had suffered for many years frompain over the hepatic region, and an accumulation of bilein the gall-bladder. She had been treated in various ways,Carlsbad and hydropathic compresses having produced someamount of temporary benefit, but, on the whole, her con-dition was becoming worse when Dr. Witkowski saw herfirst. He ordered hypodermic injections of the sixth of a

grain of pilocarpine once or twice daily. After the firsttwo had been given the patient felt more relief from painthan she had previously done from morphine, and in threeweeks’ time, during which the pilocarpine was continued,she entirely recovered, the subjective sensations and thephysical signs passing away. This was three years ago,and there has been no return of the affection. Dr. Witkowskihas, he says, treated thirty cases of jaundice in this manner,with the most satisfactory results. Of course, pilocarpinedoes no good in cases where carcinoma or any other form ofneoplasm is the cause of the jaundice. But he recommendsits use in all simple cases---at all events, where the heart isunaffected.

THIO-RESOr,CIN.

The latest substitute for iodoform is a combination ofsulphur with resorcin, discovered by Ewer and Pick ofBerlin, to which the name of thio-resorcin has been applied.It occurs as a powder, and is without smell and entirelynon-poisonous. It has been used as a dusting powder, andas an ointment made up with vaseline of the strength offrom 10 to 20 per cent., for eczema, psoriasis, itch, and otherskin diseases. It is insoluble in water, but sparinglysoluble in ether and alcohol. In price it is about the same

, as iodoform.

MARINE BIOLOGY.

IT will be in the memory of our readers that in the courseof the last year a Marine Biological Laboratory was opened’at Plymouth under distinguished patronage. It was

recognised that the objects aimed at were of the highestscientific and economic importance. The Prince of Walesconsented to be patron; Mr. Huxley to be the president.Amongst the vice-presidents were the Duke of Argyll,Professors Allman and Flower, and Sir John Lubbock ;amongst the council, Messrs. Spence Bate, Thiselton Dyer,Gunther, Sclater, and Professor Charles Stewart ; amongstthe governors, Professors Burdon Sanderson, Michael Foster,and Robert Bayley. The secretary and resident directorappointed was Mr. Gilbert Bourne, with Mr. Garstang a&

his secretary; and the naturalist was Mr. Cunningham.The building was erected on Citadel Hill, Plymouth, andalthough so short a time has elapsed since its erection,some excellent and most useful work has been done by thenaturalists, who have been able to take advantage of thespecial facilities of study afforded to them, amongst whomare Messrs. Weldon, Hardy, MacMunn, Beddard, Burdon.Sanderson, and Gotch.The first part of the Journal of the Marine Biological

Association shows very clearly the kind of work which canbe accomplished with success in such an institution. It opens.with a brief report from the Director, in which he expressesa hope that the universities, science colleges, and learnedsocieties of Great Britain will aid the Association by hiringtables in the institution, which can be provided at anannual rent of :E40, to which aspiring young naturalistswho have acquired a knowledge of microscopic techniquecan be appointed. In the lovely bay, and in the moredistant fishing grounds-from which all the west of England,as well as the metropolis, are supplied with turbot, soles,mackerel, and many other dainty fish,-ova can be ob-tained in sufficient quantity to permit of their develop-ment to be followed through every stage. The immense im-portance of this inquiry in an economical point of view, andin connexion with the ever-increasing population of these

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islands, for whom a liberal supply of cheap and whole-some food is a matter of the highest importance, isadmitted on every hand. There are many points requir-ing investigation which can only be solved by longand patient research-such, for example, as the periodswhen the different kinds of fish shed their spawn, the situa-tions in which it is deposited, the circumstances that arefavourable or unfavourable to its development, the possi-bility of greatly developing the fishing industry of certainbreeds by the collection and artificial fertilisation of theova on a large scale, the migration of fishes, and the goodor bad influence of trawling. To solve many of these

points, however, a small steam vessel is badly wanted, thebest fishing grounds being nearly a day’s sail from the ,,station; and some wealthy naturalist (if such a being exists),or perhaps we should say some wealthy lover of naturalhistory, could give no more useful present to this institutionthan a handy little vessel, with the means of keeping herafloat. During the past year the region of Plymouth Soundwhich lies within the breakwater has been carefully ex-plored by Mr. Bourne, who gives lists of the principal Pori-fera, Hydrozoa, Anthozoa, and Echinoderms he has found.Mr. Weldon will give an account of the Crustacea in aforthcoming number of the Journal, while Mr. Garstanghas devoted himself to the Mollusca.The studies of the reproduction and development of

Teleostean fishes but Mr. Cunningham, which constitutethe first memoir in the Journal, offer several points ofinterest for consideration; for they show, in the first place,that a difference of less than one-thousandth in the specificgravity of the water is sufficient to kill the vast majorityof the ova, their specific gravity being so nicely adjusted tothe medium in which they develop that a change of thatdegree leads to their mounting to the surface or to theirresting at the bottom. Then great advances have beenmade in recognising the ova of different species of fish,which, similar as they appear to the uneducated eye, presentdifferences in size, in the presence of one or more polar ordirecting globules, in the presence of oil globules, and inthe mode of segmentation, which, carefully noticed, enablethem to be easily identified. Mr. Cunningham has gainedmuch information on these points from the study of the sole,mackerel, and pilchard, in regard to the early stages of thedevelopment of which little has hitherto been known. Inaddition to Mr. Cunningham’s memoir, Mr. Gilbert Bournegives an interesting account of the first specimen of aTornaria-the larva of Balanaglossus-that is known tohave been captured on the British coast.

THE PARIS UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION.(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

International Congresses for June.THE time has now arrived when all who intend to

participate in one or more of the International Congressesto be held in conjunction with the Paris Exhibition shouldsend in their names and prepare their speeches. Most ofthe Congresses will take place towards the end of July,during the month of August, and the earlier part of

September. Some, however, occur at a much earlier date,and for these, at least, there is not a moment to lose.The first on the list is the Life-saving Congress, whichwill be opened at the Trocadero Palace on June 12th at2 o’clock, and last till the 16th. The entrance fee is onlynve francs, and for this each member of the Congress willreceive a paper on the subjects to be discussed. Allcommunications should be addressed to M. Emile Cacheux,25, Quai St. Michel, Paris. Judging from the names ofthe members of the Organising Committee, the Congresswill deal principally with methods of saving life at sea.Nevertheless, as members of this committee may also benoted the names of M. Marie Davy, Director of the ParisObservatory and President of the French Society of Hygiene;Dr. Morin, its secretary; and M. Mesureur, President ofthe Plumbers’ Trade Syndicate or Union. Dr. Voisin willread a paper on the Service Organised for Succour in casesof Street Accidents at Paris; and M. Guillemin one on theMeans to Prevent Drowning in Rivers and Lakes. Thequestion of providing train and railway lines, with all a

appliances &c. for meeting accidents, will be dealt with, asalso the best methods of watching over dangerous mountainpasses, and, in a word, of coping with the accidents thatbefall every description of travellers. The question of in-surance against accidents, especially for seafaring men,will also be discussed. After this we shall have a seriesof experiments performed from the banks of the Seine withregard to saving the drowning ; and, what will perhaps beof more particular interest, a visit to the theatres of thePort Saint Martin, Palais Royal, and the Grand Opera. Ifthis Congress can bring pressure to bear upon the authoritiesto render theatres somewhat safer than at present, a greatservice will have been rendered.Almost at the same time the International Congress for

promoting Physical Exercise in Schools, &c., will assemble.This Congress will be held under the presidency of M. JulesSimon, who at one time was Prime Minister, and is one ofthe most eminent literary men of France. The Vice-Pre-sidents are Dr. Brouardel, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine,and M. Morel, Director of the Superior EducationalDepartment. A number of eminent medical and scientificmen are members of the committee. The entrance fee isfive francs, which, together with all communications, shouldbe sent to the secretary, M. Pierre de Coubertin, 20, RueOudinot, Paris. In this, as in the other Congresses, anyonemay become a member by paying the entrance fee. FromJune 6th to the llth preliminary athletic sports willtake place, and it is the winners at these sports who willfigure before the Congress. The Congress itself will openon Saturday, June 15th, at eight in the morning, at theEcole des Ponts et Chaussees, 28, Rue des Saint-Peres,where, after the opening speech by M. Jules Simon, a

report will be read by M. Pierre de Coubertin on PhysicalExercises in the Schools of England, America, and Australia.On the Sunday there will be an excursion on the riverMarne; and during the week, up to Saturday, June 22nd,there will be sittings of the Congress in the morningand athletic sports &c. in the afternoon. On Tuesday,June 18th, Dr. Lagrange will address a public meeting onthe Physical and Moral Necessity of combining Exercise withthe Education of the Young.From June l7th to June 27th, also under the presidency

of M. Jules Simon, the second International Congress ofthe French Society of Men of Letters, organised with theassistance of the International Literary Association, willassemble at the Trocadero Palace. At this Congress theauthors of scientific and medical works, contributors tomedical papers, &c., will be heartily welcome. M. JulesLermina, the indefatigable secretary of the InternationalLiterary Association, is particularly energetic in his desireto see the authors of scientific works take a prominentposition in the fraternity that should unite men of letters.’Consequently any journalist or author, who may be in Paristhis month, is invited to join the Congress, and communicatewith the secretary of La Societe des Gens de Lettres, 47, Ruede la Chaussee d’Antin.The International Congress on the Housing of the Poor

will meet at the Workmen’s Club in the Social EconomySection of the Exhibition on the Esplanade des Invalides,from June 26th to the 28th. Names and the entrance feeof twenty francs should be sent to M. Emile Cacheux,25, Quai St. Michel, Paris, who is the treasurer.’ M. JulesSiegfried, Deputy, will be President of the Congress,and M. Raffalovitch (19, Avenue Hoche), the well-knowncorrespondent of the Journal des D&eacute;bats, one of thesecretaries. Foreign countries will probably be well repre-sented at this Congress, for among its patrons are Dr. Schrader,member of the German Reichstag ; M. Grad, of Alsace,also member of the Reichstag; the King of the Belgians;the Count of Flanders; the Emperor of Brazil; and his Ex-cellency M. Moret, former minister at Madrid. Mr. White,Miss Collins, and Mr. Sunderbron, of New York, promiseAmerican support. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, theMarquis of Salisbury, Miss Octavia Hill, and the RightHon. G. J. Goschen (Chancellor of the Exchequer) lendtheir names on behalf of England. King Humbert andProfessor Luzzati are patrons for Italy ; the Burgomaster,Herr Van Thienovern, for Holland; his Excellency M. de

Bunge, President of the Ministerial Committee, St. Peters-burg, and M. de Besobrasoff, Senator, member of theAcademy of Sciences, for Russia; and M. G. Moynier,President of the Red Cross Society, for Switzerland. Asthis Congress on the Housing of the Poor involves some ofthe gravest sanitary questions of the day, it is to be desired