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that it was possible in a few deep breaths for a healthyperson to take a fatal dose. He stated that he had had con-siderable experience of status lymphaticus, and that in thiscase the immediate cause of death was, in his opinion,undoubtedly due to the inhalation of carbon tetrachloride.

Lieutenant-Colonel E. Lawrie, I. M. S., stated that he hadbeen medical attendant of the Dalrymple family and hadknown the deceased for a number of years. In his opinionshe was quite healthy and the only cause of death wasinhalation of carbon tetrachloride.

Dr. Spilsbury repeated the evidence he had given beforethe coroner’s jury, and stated again that death must havebeen accelerated by the inhalation of tetrachloride ofcarbon.

Mr. Bodkin, for the defence, said that he had no com-plaint to make at the institution of the prosecution, andstated that Messrs. Harrods, on learning that carbon tetra-chloride was dangerous to certain people, immediately gaveorders that this preparation was never again to be used intheir establishment.

Mr. Leycester, on hearing the steps taken by Messrs.Harrods, consented to the withdrawal of the charges of

manslaughter. He pointed out that the prosecution hadserved the purpose for which it was intended in bringing tothe notice of the public the dangerous nature of the dryshampoo where carbon tetrachloride was used, and also thatit would be a severe warning against the use of thissubstance by any other persons for that purpose, since if anyfuture deaths occurred a serious charge would of necessity beinstituted.The learned magistrate, Mr. Horace Smith, agreed with

the course taken to withdraw the prosecution.In view of the important evidence which has been pub-

lished in connexion with the case, we feel sure that thePharmaceutical Society will consider it desirable to make arecommendation to the Privy Council to place carbon tetra-chloride on the Poisons Schedule. We consider that the

public should in future fully realise the dangers of the dryshampoo, not only when carbon tetrachloride is used butalso with many other preparations extensively employed.Carbon tetrachloride probably came into use because it wasnot inflammable, though, as is evidenced above, it has othervery serious dangers. Many of the preparations which areused for the dry shampoo are dangerously inflammable, andnumerous serious cases of burning have resulted, while aterrible tragedy of this sort has just occurred.Our readers will remember that in THE LANCET of

August 7th we published an important note by Dr. AugustusD. Waller on the relative toxicity of chloroform and carbontetrachloride, with a note by Dr. V. H. Veley on the dangerof the latter substance as a dry shampoo. We are now

enabled to print an account of further investigations by Dr.Veley on its toxicity.

II.-Further -Experiments on the Toxicity of Pure andaommercial Carbon Tetrachloride, by V. H. VELEY,

D.Sc., F.R.S., Physiological Laboratory,University of London.

In consequence of the important case upon this matter

Tecently before the court, I have, in the absence of Dr.Waller, carried on experiments, supplementary to those

already described in THE LANCET, on the comparative effectson isolated muscle of (1) pure carbon tetrachloride as againstpure chloroform, and (2) pure carbon tetrachloride as againstthe same substance to which carbon disulphide had beenpurposely added in the proportion of 2 per cent.-namely,that in the commercial article. The sample of pure carbontetrachloride was obtained by the fractional distillation ofthe commercial article ; its physical properties, boiling point,density, &:c., were in accordance with those found by Thorpe,Young, and previously by myself.The experiments were conducted in the usual manner-

namely, to obtain the normal response from muscle in salinesolution, then to substitute the chemical compound and con-tinue until abolition of response took place, then again toput back into saline solution in order to ascertain therecovery, if any.

1. Pure carbon tetrachloride as against pure chloroform.-Solutions of both these substances were made up to n/100concentration in physiological saline solution, and therefore

contained 0 1538 per cent. carbon tetrachloride, and 0 1194per cent. chloroform respectively, neglecting variations ofdensity of water ; the substances were weighed out towithin 1 part in 500 ; the former solution was subsequentlydiluted as required.

Fi7’st series of experiments. Substances both of

concentration. Times required for abolition : chloroform 14’,carbon tetrachloride 17’ ; good recovery in the case of theformer, no recovery in the case of the latter.

Second series of experiments. Carbon tetrachloride n/150, n

chloroform 100 Times required for abolition : chloroform

13’, carbon tetrachloride 28’ ; recoveries as before.

Third series of experiments. Carbon tetrachloride n/130, n

130chloroform n/100, being approximately the proportion of equalweights. Times required for abolition : chloroform 13’,carbon tetrachloride 24 - 5’ ; recoveries as before.

Hence, therefore, though the action of carbon tetrachlorideis less rapid than that of chloroform, its action is more

deadly, as the muscles recovered from the toxic effects of thechloroform, but were killed by the carbon tetrachloride.

2. Pure carbon tetrachloride as against the same with 2 percent. carbon bisulphide.-The former solution was the same asthat used in the experiments described above ; the latter solu-tion contained 0 ’ 1538 per cent. tetrachloride and 0 003 percent. carbon disulphide. It might be an open questionwhether the latter substance really dissolved or only formedan emulsion with the water, but, however this may be, theliquid thus obtained had an odour quite identical with thatof a similar liquid obtained from the " dry shampoo." Twoseries of experiments gave the following results :-

Times required for abolition.

Pure carbon Do. with 2 per cent.tetrachloride. carbon disulphide.

First series......... 20’ ............... 16’

Second series ...... 20’ ............... 14’

Mean value ...... 20’ ............... 15’

There was no recovery in any case.Hence, therefore, since the toxic or lethal values are

inversely proportional to the times, one has the ratio15 : 20 : : 100 == 133, or, to put the matter in other words, the2 per cent. carbon bisulphide purposely added increases thelethal value by as much as 33 per cent. It may further bementioned that a solution (or emulsion) containing 0’ 1 percent. carbon disulphide, obtained from a sample of hair-wash,killed an isolated muscle immediately.

It is to be hoped that the public warning may suffice tostop the use of carbon tetrachloride by unskilled and untrainedpersons.

MOTORING NOTES.

The Red Cross Doctors’ Policy.THE Medical Insurance Committee (see p. 1160) has had

under consideration for some time the question of motor-carinsurance, and is now in a position to recommend insuranceat Lloyd’s under a policy which is better calculated to meetthe practical needs of motor-car owners than any other whichhas been inspected. It is well known that the sale valueof a car purchased new deteriorates very rapidly. Amedical man may, for instance, purchase a new car for;&700 and insure it for that amount, paying a premiumon that sum annually ; if, however, his car becomesa total loss three or four years later he would underordinary circumstances receive not the replacement value,£700, but the sum at which the car is valued at the time itcame to grief. A car bought new for E700 would probablyin its third year not be valued at one-half that amount,although its usefulness to the owner would not have greatlydiminished. The policy which the Medical Insurance Com-mittee recommends meets this objection, since the insuredvalue is agreed as the replacement value. Thus, in the eventof total destruction or loss, the full amount insured is paidin cash. The premium rates are governed by the present valueof the car and accessories and by its horse-power ; for instance,

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on a 10 horse-power car and accessories valued at E300 theannual premium is £11 10s , and for a 14 horse-power valuedat £400 the premium is .614, and so on. The rates quotedare those of the "Red-Cross" doctors’ policy, and the

premiums cover (1) all damage to car the direct result ofaccidental collision, excluding wilful damage, wear and tear,and mechanical breakdown; (2) all claims for which theassured may be liable for injury to persons (excludingpassengers) and animals, or damage to vehicles or propertycaused by the car, also law costs incurred by consent ; (3)all damage by fire, lightning, explosion, or self-ignitien,including tyres, lamps, and accessories on the car ;(4) loss of car by theft, including accessories, fittings,or parts, if stolen with the car, and damage tocar through any attempt at theft ; (5) damage to car

while being towed or conveyed by road, rail, or inland

waterway, anywhere in the United Kingdom ; (6) damage tolamps and accessories due to accidental collision, and damageto tyres from the same cause when the car also is damaged.Further, compensation of £1 a day is paid during the timethe car is being repaired owing to an accident, to cover thecost of hiring a conveyance; this compensation is payablefrom the second day after the receipt from the repairers ofthe assured of an estimate for the repairs until the repairs areactually completed, but the allowance for hire of a con-

veyance will not be paid beyond 75 per cent. ofthe agreed cost of repairs. There is no restrictionas to driver, all damage to the car being covered while

any licensed person is driving, whether with or withoutthe knowledge of the assured. If no claim is made in a

year an amount equal to 25 per cent. of the full premiumpaid will be returned in cash. If the owner only drives thereis a reduction of 5 per cent., and if the same owner owns twocars, only one of which is used at a time, there is a reductionof 20 per cent. on the combined premiums ; if both cars areliable to be in use at one time the reduction is 10 per cent.The owner’s liability with regard to his paid driver, accidentsto the owner or passengers in the car, and theft of accessoriescan also be provided against under these policies for smalladditional premiums.The Medical Insurance Committee is able to allow 10 per

cent. off the total premium paid by the insurer. Specialpolicies are also issued to owners of certain makes of cars,authorising them to have repairs up to any amount com-menced immediately without consent at the authorisedagents of the particular company, but for a medical man the"doctors’ policy" would seem to be the best. Red Cross

policies are also issued without the provision above mentionedfor compensation while the car is being repaired, and can bemade to cover mechanical breakdowns under certain condi-tions, the premiums being adjusted accordingly. A full

prospectus of these may be had on application to the

secretary and agent at 429, Strand, London, W.C.The Olympia Motor Exhibition.

The only International Exhibition of Motor-cars this yearwill be held at Olympia, London, from Nov. 12th to 20th.This will be the eighth held by the Society of MotorManufacturers and Traders, and as there will be no exhibitionin Paris this season a large influx of visitors and buyers isexpected. About 300 firms will be displaying their wares anda moderate estimate of the motor-cars on exhibition wouldbe 600, whilst in addition there will be all kinds of

engines, types of electric ignition, lamps, clothing, and

tyres. Special trains at cheap fares will be run by therailway, companies from the chief towns in the provinces, anddoubtless many medical men, hesitating or on the verge ofchanging from horse-driven to petrol-propelled vehicles, willtake advantage of these special railway facilities to visit theshow, where the latest ideas in motor construction will be onview. As last year, the number of THE LANCET which is

published on the same day as the exhibition opens willcontain a description of the show, and especially of suchexhibits as are likely to be of interest to the medical motorist.

THE autumn dinner of the Glasgow Uni-’versity Club, London, will be held at the Gaiety Restaurant,Strand, on Friday, Nov. 5th, at 7.30 P.n., when LordRosebery, Chancellor of the University, will preside.Members who intend to be present, or to introduce guests,are requested to send notice at once to the honorary secre- taries, 4, Bryanston-street, Portman-square, W.

THE JUBILEE OF THE CRANLEIGHCOTTAGE HOSPITAL.

JusT half a century ago there was opened in the Surreyvillage of Cranleigh (or Cranley, as it was then spelt) thefirst cottage hospital in England, and this, the month of itsjubilee, is a fitting occasion to recall the inception of a classof institution which has become familiar in every part of thecountry, and which in spite of certain adverse criticisms has.largely justified the intentions of its founders. To those whoare accustomed to the neat brick-built bungalow buildings,which in their equipment and design are microcosms of thelarger county institutions for the sick poor and with which thename of cottage hospital is in most instances associated atthe present day, it may come as a surprise to learn that theword "cottage" " was accurately descriptive of the prototyp&of them all. The medical founder of Cranleigh CottageHospital was the late Mr. Albert Napper. Mr. Napper,who at one time was associated with this journal,has been dead 15 years, but he is still remembered bymany of his friends, for he gained the respect of hisneighbourhood as a skilful surgeon, a keen sportsman, and ahumane and open-hearted country gentleman. The idea ofthe cottage hospital was driven home to Mr. Napper by thefrequent occurrence in his practice of cases of serious illnessthat could not be given the treatment necessary for thepatients and satisfactory to himself in the poor and fre-quently unhealthy surroundings of an agricultural labourer’sdwelling, whilst he had frequently found it difficult or

impossible to induce such patients to leave those homes toenter the county hospital at Guildford some miles away.They dreaded the unknown environment of a large institu-tion and wished to remain in the hands of the man theyknew and trusted. Others who had met with accidentsmight have been induced to enter a large hospital but

would have undergone serious risk in the journey overcountry roads necessary to reach it. These facts had’

also struck the late Archdeacon J. H. Sapte, rector of theparish, who having a convenient old cottage in the village,offered it rent free to be equipped as a hospital for the use ofa limited number of poor people needing careful attentionwhilst undergoing medical or surgical treatment. The schemearoused interest in the neighbourhood and a small committeewas formed to put it into execution, with the result that the

following rules, amongst others, were framed for the conductof the little hospital :-

The hospital is designed for the accommodation of the poor whensuffering from sickness or accident.The establishment shall consist of a regular nurse, and another

woman for the regular work of the house.The nurse shall, at such times as her services are not required in the-

hospital, attend poor women in their own homes during their confine"ments or other illnesses, on the payment of the usual fee.

Patients shall be received on the payment of a weekly sum, theamount of which, dependent on their circumstances, is to be fixed bytheir employer, in conjunction with the manager of the hospital, whoshall grant admission on consultation with the medical officer.The funds for the establishment and support of the hospital shall be

raised by voluntary contributions.

It was further provided that Mr. Napper should be themedical officer, but that cases admitted from the practice ofneighbouring medical men should be visited by them so thatthey might have a voice in the treatment. A lady volunteeredto give her help to the establishment in special cases. Anexcellent rule (which has been followed since the foundation)was that parish patients might be received into the hospital foroperative or other treatment, in which case the Poor-lawmedical officer who attended them was entitled to recover fromhis guardians the special fees sanctioned by the Local Govern-ment Board. The idea of the founders was to reproduce, asfar as possible, the kind of life to which their patients wereaccustomed in their own homes, only replacing cleanlinessand decently served and cooked meals for the dirt and ill-feeding which were then, as now, only too common in manyrural homes.The building which was adapted to this purpose by

the rector’s generosity was an old and picturesque twc-storey cottage. It is well shown in our illustration, anddid duty until 1901, when the single-storey brick hospital,part of which can be seen behind the old cottage,was erected to meet the demands of modern surgery,the cottage being converted to the use of the nurse and the