637

able to most of the patients as the instrument commonly i

employed. ]

"Its advantages are, its cheapness, lightness, and absenceof unpleasant taste or feeling. For poor patients, who areusually prevented, by the expense of gold or platinum palates,from obtaining relief, I hope gutta percha will be made avail-able."In cases of congenital deficiency, fissure of the palate, &c.,

I.think considerable relief might be afforded by attaching toa. hard palate of the gutta percha an artificial soft one, ofprepared caoutchouc. The caoutchouc adheres easily andpermanently to the warm gutta percha, and if properly pre-pared, and of a suitable flexibility, thickness, and shape, itmight, I should think, very materially aid the great numbersof persons who suffer from this distressing deformity. The

expense, at any rate, need not henceforth prevent any onefrom seeking relief."The soft palate I have not tried: for an artificial hard

one I have found the gutta percha practically useful.Whether it may resist the action of the fluids of the mouthfor any length of time remains to be seen. If so, I cannotsee any objection to the employment of this substance for thepurpose named. In the hope that it will be fully tested, andthat it may, perhaps, relieve some suffering, I offer the hintto the professional public through your columns."

An Economic Filter.Mr. HALL, surgeon, Bridge-street, Southwark, forwards us

the following drawing and description of a very simple filter,which was in his father’s possession at Manchester. He says,*’ Finding that the filters in general use are far more expen-sive than they ought to be, I think a description and copy ofthis might enable the medical profession to make their ownfilters at a much cheaper rate. They can be easily cleansedafter ten or a dozen years’ servitude, by simply taking out thedifferent layers, separately washing them, and replacing themin their respective positions.

The top line is to represent a slate perforated with holes, and theremaining space is to be filled with river water. The different layersmay nearly fill the vessel, leaving about seven or eight inches depthfor the water at the top, each layer of the matters percolated beingabout five or six inches.in depth.

" The vessel may be made of wood or other material, witha hole at the bottom for a wooden tap. A string may bepassed through, and made fast in the inside, so as to act as aconductor for the water."

____

A New Elastic Corset. )The evils attendant upon the system of tight lacing, so

absurdly prevalent amongst females in this country, have,been over and over again pointed out in THE LANCET, and thesystem has been repeatedly decried by numerous writers inour pages. It is with peculiar approbation, therefore, that werecommend the profession to inspect a new corset invented byMessrs. THOMAS, of Cheapside, which certainly will be foundto obviate many of the objections to which ordinary stays areliable. India-rubber enters as an important material into itsconstruct ion, and supersedes a good deal of the whalebone, andother unyielding substances, in the close armour in whichWearers, to their great injury, are accustomed to encase them-selves. The words of the proprietors, in speaking of theircorset, are, "It has no seams; it fits in every part; and thefabric is so constructed as to be elastic at those parts wherethe pressure is chiefly applied. This is effected by means ofan extremely fine thread of India-rubber, perfectly coveredwith the finest lace thread, by which means the India-rubberis protected, and being introduced into the staple of the clotb,

it does not increase its thickness." Messrs. Thomas have noretail establishment for the sale of the article, and therein wethink they err extremely. We entertain a high opinion of theinvention; but we would have our medical brethren examineit and judge for themselves. While on this subject, we havean opportunity of inserting the following passage from aNorth American paper. Without vouching for its truth in aUrespects, we admit that the circumstances are at least withinthe verge of possibility. " Mrs. Charity Berry, who died atNew Prospect, U.S., on the 24th ult., was 110 years old, andleft behind her all her sons and daughters, to the number ofthirteen. She was noted for her opposition to tight lacing."’

An Aerated Chalybeate.Messrs. ROBINSON and PALMER, of Birmingham, have for-

warded to us a packet of their " Patented Aerated Chaly-beate," consisting of " Carbonate of the protoxide of iron heldin solution by excess of carbonic acid." It is " in four-ounce

bottles, containing, respectively, two, three, and four grains ofthe proto-carbonate," as attested by Dr. Percy and Mr. GeorgeShaw. We can ourselves bear testimony to the fact that,sometimes, at least, the carbonic acid is " in excess," for oneof the bottles exploded upon our table, covered as it is withthe contributions of our numerous correspondents,—fortu-nately, however, without any of the papers sustaining mate-rial injury. Dr. Percy says, " This preparation is nearly aspalatable as common soda water," on which head we make nofurther remark than-De gustibusnon est disputandum.

Reviews.

Researches on the Motion of the Juices in the Animal Body.By JUSTUS LIEBIG, M.D., &c. Edited by WILLIAM GREGORY,M.D., &c. London: Taylor and Walton. 1848. 8vo, pp. 1069.

WE don’t like the title. The " motion of the juices" is a termwhich smacks of the days of an obsolete and blundering phy-siology,when the 11 spissitude of the humours," "the lubricatingoils of the animal tissues," the "vis insita," and such likefigments, used to be called in to explain vital phenomena, thecauses of which eluded the acumen of the observers. Theadvance of a science will generally be indicated in the correct-ness of its phraseology. We venture to suggest that the" Motion of the Fluids in the Animal Frame" would havebeen a more philosophical and comprehensive expression ofthe subject of the treatise before us.But although we ind lault with the title, we nave no ctesice

to cavil at the volume itself. It is a useful contribution to

physiology. Most part of it is occupied with a record of ex-periments tending to show that the motions of the animalfluids, and their passage through the parietes of vascular andmembraneous structures, depend less on the phenomenon ofendosmose than on chemical affinity; and that the " pressure"of the atmosphere, which has been so frequently cited toaccount for the circulation, &c., is less influential than its

hygrometric state." From these experiments, it appears that the absorptive

power of animal membranes for different liquids is very dif-ferent. Of all liquids, pure water is taken up in the largestquantity; and the absorptive power for solution of salt dimi-nishes in a certain ratio as the proportion of salt increases.A similar relation holds between the membranes and alcohol;for a mixture of alcohol and water is taken up more abundantlythe less alcohol it contains."—P. 9.The salts, in fact, appear to play a most important part in

the animal economy, as, relatively to their amount in theingesta, they determine the direction of exosmose, and of thecurrents in the vascular system."The action of solution of salt is of three kinds, according

to the proportion of salt. Spring water is taken up into thebloodvessels with great rapidity; while these vessels exhibita very small power of absorption for water containing thesame proportion of salt as the blood does; and a still morestrongly saline solution passes out of the body-not throughthe kidneys, but through the intestinal canal:’-p. 61.

,

Indeed, many hysiological processes seem dependent on

638

the attraction for water manifested by some of the consti- the surface of plants, especially those of a delicate organiza-tuents of the fluids. If the amount of salts in the substances tion, such as the hop, will destroy or disease them. To suchtaken into the alimentary canal be less than the amount pre- an origin Liebig refers the potato disease, which caused suchsent in the blood, the aqueous and other portions of the a widely-spread famine in the two past years. He remarks-former are absorbed into the blood; if, on the contrary, the "In the districts which were most severely visited by thesalts be in larger quantity in the nutriment than in the cir- so-called potato disease in 1846, damp, cold, rainy weather,culating fluid, water is abstracted from the latter-and this followed a series of very hot days; and, in 1847, cold and rainwill account for the homely example of the thirst and febrile came on, after continued drought, in the beginning of Septem-

syxnptoms produced by the presence of salt food in the . ber, exactly at the period of the most luxuriant growth of the

symptoms produced by the presence of salt food in the primce potatoes. -pp. 88 89.

But another cause for the motion of the fluids in the vessels autumn, excites influenza ; that is the disease is the effect ofis present in the condition of the surrounding atmosphere. the temperature and hygrometric state of the atmosphere, byWe extract the following passage, which exhibits the views which, in consequence of the disturbance of the normal trans-of the author on this head in a comprehensive manner:- piration, a check is suddenly, or for a considerable time, given

.. to the motion of the fluids, which is one chief condition of life,

That the skin of animals, and the cutaneous transpiration, and which thus becomes insufficient for the purposes of health,as well as the evaporation from the internal surface of’ the or even hurtful to the individual."-pp. 89, 90.lungs, exert an important influence on the vital processes, and The fungi which have been observed on the potato plants,thereby on the state of health, has been admItted by phy- and the putrefaction of the tubers, are not the signs of asicians ever since medicine has existed; but no one has

disease, but the consequences of the death of the plant:’-hitherto ascertained precisely in what way this happens. p, 92.

"From what has gone before, it can hardly be doubted, p. 92.that one of the most important functions of the skin consists The Appendix to the work is highly important, as it con.in the share which it takes in the motion and distribution of tains the announcement of a plan founded on the precedingthe fluids of the body. considerations, and propounded by Dr. Klotzsch, keeper of"The surface of the body of a number of animals consists the Royal Herbarium at Berlin, for preventing the futureof a covering or skin permeable for liquids, from which, when, ravages of the potato disease.

’

as in the case of the lung, it is in contact with the atmosphere, "an evaporation of water, according to the hygrometric state The chief points to be attended to, with a view to theand temperature of the air, constantly goes on. attainment of the object-namely, the increase of tubers,

" If we now keep in mind that every part of the body has are-

to sustain the pressure of the atmosphere, and that the 1. To increase the power in the roots, andgaseous fluids and liquids contained in the body oppose to this 2. To check the transformation which occurs in the leaf.pressure a perfectly equal resistance, it is clear that, by the "’ We obtain both ends simultaneously, if, in the fifth,evaporation of the skin and lungs, and in consequence of the sixth, and seventh week after setting the tubers, and in theabsorbent power of the skin for the liquid in contact with it, fourth and fifth week after planting out germs furnished witha difference in the pressure below the surface of the evaporat- roots, or at a time when the plants reach the height of six toing skin occurs. The external pressure increases, and in an nine inches above the soil, we pinch off the extreme points ofequal degree the pressure from within towards the skin. If the branches or twigs to the extent of half an inch down-now the structure of the cutaneous surface does not permit a wards, and repeat this on every branch or twig in the tenthdiminution of its volume, a compression (in consequence of and eleventh week, no matter at what time of day.’ "-p. 104.the loss of liquid by evaporation), it is obvious that an equali- This note is, however, added-zation of this difference in pressure can only take place from "Any one would be bitterly disappointed, who, on the prin-within outwards; first from within, and especially from those "Any one would be bitterly disappointed, who, on the pnn-parts which are first from contact and especially from those ciple that there cannot be too much of a good thing,’ shouldwhich offer the in closest contact with the atmosphere, and take off more than is here recommended. -po 104.pressure. Dr. Klotzsch offered to make public his method for a re-"Hence it follows, that the fluids of the body, in conse- muneration of about £300, if, after three years’ experience, it

quence of the cutaneous and pulmonary transpiration, acquire should prove to be efficacious. ,

The Prussian College of Rurala motion towards the skin and lungs, which must be acce- should prove to be emcacious. The Prussian College of Rural

lerated by the circulation of the blood. Economy having reported favourably on the plan, such an" By this evaporation, the laws of the mixture of dissimilar agreement was ratified by the Minister of the Interior, and

liquids, separated by a membrane, must be essentially modi- the method has been made public accordingly. The cost of itfied. The passage of the food dissolved in the digestive is stated not to exceed lie 6d. per acre in Germany.canal, and of the lymph into the blood vessels, the expulsionof the nutritive fluid out of the minuter bloodvessels, the Dr. Gregory adds-uniform distribution of these fluids in the body, the absorbent " It is very desirable that this method should be triedpower of the membranes and skins, which, under the actual in the British islands, and as the season for trying it nowpressure, are permeable for the liquids in contact with them, approaches, I have given Dr. Klotzsch’s account entire."-p.are under the influence of the difference in the atmospherical 109.pressure, which is caused by the evaporation of the fluids ofthe skin and lungs."The juices and fluids of the body distribute themselves, Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of Bombay

according to the thickness of the walls of the vessels, and for the Years 1845 and 1846. Bombay: 1847. pp. 122.their permeability for these fluids, uniformly through the THE Transactions before us contain seven articles, and severalwhole body; and the influence which a residence in dry or in communications in an appendix. In the first article, by Dr.moist air, at great elevations, or at the level of the sea, may m c. Arnott, on "The Systemexert on the health, in so far as the evaporation may thus be T. S. Arnott, on The Enlistment of Recruits, and the Systemaccelerated or retarded, requires no special explanation; of Invaliding pursued in the Native Regiments of the Bombaywhile, on the other hand, the suppression of the cutaneous Army," the author shows how very faulty is the presenttranspiration must be followed by a disturbance of this mo- system of recruiting in India, both in its constitution andtion, in consequence of which the normal process is changed working. But if the mode of enlisting be bad, the system ofwhere this occurs."—pp. 73—75. invaliding is worse. Although, to judge of the fitness or un-This process occurs in the vegetable as well as the animal fitness of a man for further service, is a truly medical ques-

kingdom. tion, yet the constitution of the general committee empowered"By the evaporation of water at the surface of plants, a to inquire into this matter is such, that three-fifths of its

vacuum arises within them, in consequence of which, waterand matters soluble in water are driven inwards, and raised members are non-medical. The preponderance, nay, even thefrom without with facility, and this external pressure, along very presence, of mere military officers in a committee wherewith capillary attraction, is the chief cause of the motion and the physiological condition of a man is under consideration,distribution of the juices."-p. 81. entails numerous evils, is the cause of many serviceable menAny cause which will suddenly check the transpiration of being pronounced unfit, and tends to encourage malingering.

639

Those medical members having experience of the manner inwhich the duties are conducted in these committees, observesthe author,"must know that their opinions, even on professional points’

are liable to be overruled, and their decision as to fitness orunfitness is one of minor consideration." Also, strange tosay, there are cases which avowedly require no medical opinionwhatever, and these are styled not hospital cases."’

"

Thus the state becomes burt,hened by the pensions allowed I

to numerous undeserving men, who have with considerableease managed to cheat the invaliding and essentially non-medical committee by factitious disease and infirmity. Sucha state of things ought not to be suffered after this able ex-posure by Dr. Arnott; for it makes it imperative on the highergoverning boards to bring about a reform in their arrange.ments for enlisting and invaliding; and the medical officers ofthe Indian army must exert themselves until their true posi-tion and their due influence be obtained. Non-medical officersshould have no voice in purely medical matters. This article

applies especially to the Bombay army; that of Bengal ismuch less open to censure.A few extracts will suffice for the next brief article by Dr.

Morehead, on small-pox, as observed in the Bombay NativeGeneral Hospital. From a tabular account of the prevalenceand mortality of the disease in different years and months, itappears that small-pox is much more apt to prevail in

Bombay in some months than in others. For example: ofthe 445 cases admitted from 1829 to 1845 inclusive, 383 oc-curred from the 1st of January to the 1st of July; and ofthem 143, or nearly one-third of the whole, in the month ofMarch. But in the half year from the 1st of July to the 1stof January, only 62 instances occurred; and throughout theseventeen years, not a single admission is recorded in themonth of October, only two in September, three in August,five in November, and fourteen in December. The months ofthe greatest prevalence after March, are February, April,May, July, January, and June, in the order given. Dr.Stuart’s report of the small-pox which prevailed in Calcuttain the years 1833, 1838, and 1843, illustrate the same fact.Of 2,922 deaths, 963 were in March, 756 in April, 455 inFebruary, 375 in May, 157 in January, and 150 in June;whilst but two occurred in October, six in September, thirteenin August, and forty-five in July. Dr. Morehead asks-" May it be laid down as a law of epidemic small-pox in

India, that its seasons of prevalence are the winter andspring, and those of absence the summer and autumn?"A similar characteristic, but much less marked, may be

noticed in the epidemics of Europe. Sydenham states thatthe vernal equinox is that most favourable to epidemic small-pox. The Registrar-General’s Reports go to show the samething. During the prevalence of influenza in the past winter,the exanthemata were particularly rife.Another highly interesting and important fact mentioned

by Dr. Morehead is, that whereas this law of epidemic va-riola is not peculiar to, but only more marked in, tropical ’,

climates, a similar law has been noticed to influence thepropagation of the vaccine disease in those climates, and, asat present appears, in them exclusively. The cow-pox is

propagated in India with difficulty during the hot months,that is, during those months when small-pox is infrequent.In this country, as in India, some influence of season seems

to be admitted, and the idea that the spring is the mostfavourable period for vaccination is entertained and acted

upon by many. In order to determine the law of propagationof vaccine with reference to the effect of the seasons, we

require extensive statistical details, which our vaccine institu-tions ought to be required explicitly to supply.

.

The third article is on the prevalence of intermittent feveramong the troops at Hydrabad and Scinde during the autumnof 1843, by Mr. Carter, assistant-surgeon to the 21st regimentof native infantry. This paper will prove very useful to

those studying the phenomena of intermittent fever. The

physical characters of Hydrabad and its neighbourhood arethose of malarious places in general; we find a large alluvialplain, with several small hills cropping up, on one of whichthe city is seated, and on others are some villages. The hillsare cretaceous and marly; the plain is made up of a dark-coloured, plastic earth, with cretaceous matter. The hillsare divided by a river running into the Indus; and the alluvialplain is intersected by numerous canals and old ditches, quiteneglected at one season, and causing inundation of the landsaround; and, at another time, converted into a series of stag-nant pools; whilst a part of the plain is occupied by jungleand swamps.During the first three or four months of the period referred

to, the pools and ditches got filled, and much of the countrylay under water; but in September the water began to si.b-side, and with it intermittent fevers began rapidly to invadethe sepoy ranks. In December, Mr. Carter’s regiment be-came totally unfit for service, and was removed from its

quarters; the other regiments were almost all in nearly anequally sad ’plight.BfUi1>.lJ aau !-,J.JÖ1.LlI.

The fever Mr. Carter would call bilious-intermittent, fromthe accompanying derangement of the biliary organs; its typewas quotidian. The paroxysm generally lasted from eight toten hours, and was complete in all its stages of cold, heat,and perspiration, except in a few cases, in which one of thestages was incomplete, or even the cold stage only present.

11 The fever frequently commenced with vomiting of blood,always of bilious matter, and sometimes it terminated with adischarge of blood by the anus; profuse bleedings from thenose attended it, singing in the ears, amaurotic affections, andviolent nervous pains of the head. Local inflammationseldom presented itself, but the symptoms of local congestionwere occasionally severe :’

In the first part of the autumn death took place during anattack of quotidian fever; after several severe accessions, in-sensibility came on during a paroxysm, and terminated indeath; "latterly, however, dysentery, supervening upon greatdebility, soon put an end to the existence of all attackedby it :’ .

The treatment adopted consisted in emetics, followed bygentle purgatives and quinine, modified according to circum-stances, and this seldom failed. But the exciting cause re-mained in the infected locality ; consequently relapses wereconstant, and after very short intervals, the average periodbecame but four days from the date of discharge to that ofre-admission. Mr. Carter observes, that if the disease hadbeen a little more fatal, the living would have been unable tobury the dead, so great were the havoc and sickness inducedin the large army of Scinde.When we read of the dreadful ravages malaria produces in

our Indian armies, the study of its phenomena appears to bea matter of national interest, and is particularly important tothose who enter the public services. It becomes the impera-tive duty of the executive to endeavour to save so great asacrifice of human life, and to avoid the immense attendantpecuniary loss. As the source of so great mischief is, to saythe least, found so intimately associated with defective

drainage of land, and the consequent accumulation of waterand decaying organic matter, ready to evolve the poisonwhen the generating power of heat is applied,-a state ofthings certainly remediable,-it behoves the government touse their utmost exertions, and to supply the requisite re-

sources, that remedial measures may be applied, so far as it ispracticable. The effects of misrule in Hindostan are notconfined within the barriers of that peninsula; they escapein the form of pestilences, devastating the globe.A brief but interesting paper on the functions of the bile

in digestion, follows the article just considered. Taking theaccount of Mr. Goodsir as to the removal of the epitheliumfrom the intestinal villi during lacteal absorption as correct,—

640

a view, by the way, questioned by some observers,-theauthor, Dr. Morehead, starts the hypothesis that the bile isthe efficient agent in removing the epithelium and mucusfrom the ’surface of the villi. This view he states to haveoccurred to his mind

" solely from observing, in frequent examinations of thesmall intestines after death, how the adhesiveness of themucus, and its separability from the intestinal surface, les-sened in degree, according as the mucus became more or lessmixed with bile."

He goes on to say-" In order to entertain this view, it would seem necessary

to assume that the bile flows into the duodenum rather beforethe passage of the chyme from the stomach, than when theduodenum is filled with chyme. May it be that the bileflowing into the intestine before the chyme is admitted, re-moves the epithelial layer and mucus, and fits the surface forabsorption ; that then the chyme passing into the duodenummay become mixed with the pancreatic secretion, thereby bediluted, probably further acted upon, and better fitted forbeing absorbed into the lacteals ?’The author develops an ingenious hypothesis in the follow-

ing remarks concerning the activity of the secretion of bileduring digestion. Regarding the secretion of intestinalmucus as excrementitious, it happens that during absorptionby the villi and their naked condition, this elimination mustbe checked, and the venous blood must go to the liver, carry-ing the matter unelaborated into epithelial cells as an elementof secretion; and if so, the action of the liver makes up forthe defective production of intestinal epithelium. " In other

words, when the intestinal surface is secreting little, or notat all, then the liver is secreting much, and vice-versa."

" The idea that the bile is the means of freeing the intes-tinal mucous surface from epithelium is supported," Dr.Morehead remarks, " by various pathological considerations.The state of the tongue indicates that of the intestinal mu-cous membrane. When the former is coated, we may inferthat the latter is so also, and therefore unfitted for the laststage of digestion. No wonder, then, that this state of thetongue should be accompanied by nausea, want of appetite,and the train cf symptoms called bilious; and that theseshould be removed by means which, by increasing the biliarysecretion," supply the effective agent for the removal ofepithelial debris, and for the restoration of the digestive pro-cess.

In Dr. Morehead’s opinion, some mode of removing the iepithelial layer of the intestinal tube should, from analogy Iwith other mucous canals, be indicated by physiologists; thus ’ithe bronchial epithelium is removed by the action of cilia;that of the skin by friction. But in this view, the authorseems to confound together the primary detachment of epi-thelium, and the after process, its removal. But, speakingcorrectly, we cannot say that the cilise of the bronchi detachthe epithelial particles, although, when detached, they are theactive agents in their removal. The unloosing and throwingthem off would seem to follow from the growth of a freshlayer beneath them from the basement membrane, pushingthem before it, as the permanent do the temporary teeth.Then being detached, the action of the ciliae is called into

requisition to effect their expulsion. So in the skin, as is

proved by microscopic anatomy, new epidermic cells are

formed, imbibe all the nutrient matter, and push the olderand withering cells towards the surface, when they arethrown off by the movements of the limbs, and by friction.Applying the principles involved in these remarks to. thecase of the intestinal epithelium, we can conceive the bile,acting, perhaps, by its chemical properties, to be concernedin the detachment of the cells; but their removal, when de-tached, might rather be attributable to the mechanical

agency of the onward passage of the contents of the canal,and to peristaltic action, than to that agent. But allowingtle=bile to beeSieacioMS in tht!0dag o;S’the epitheliaHayer

of the villi, it still remains a question whether, in this action,it be not aided by the turgescence and increased vascularityof the villi themselves during absorption, as well as by anendosmotic process into the cells from the more fluid, externalchyme, or chyle.

Further, the assumption made by Dr. Morehead, of theflow of the bile into the intestine rather before the entranceof the chyme, is purely hypothetical; and, on the contrary,many physiologists have supposed the flow of the bile intothe duodenum to be induced by the contact of the chymewith the opening of the ductus communis choledochus actingsympathetically, or as an excito-motor, to be, that is, secondin point of time. We must no further prolong our remarkson this interesting physiological question, which must stillcontinue sub judice, but we recommend the perusal of theTransactions annually published by our Anglo-Indian brethren,to all to whom they are in any way accessible.

Medical Societies.

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1848.—MR. HANCOCK, PRESIDENT.

INTUS-SUSCEPTION.

IN a discussion on a case of this nature, related by Mr.HUTCHINSON,Mr. PILCHER referred to a case under the late Mr. Bryant,

in which several feet of intus-suscepted intestine sloughedaway, and the patient did well. He referred also to a case inwhich a boy, labouring under all the symptoms of intus-sus-ception, accompanied by a tumour, was successfully treatedby thorough and complete distention of the intestines with in.jections of gruel. Mr. Pilcher advocated mechanical distewtion of this description.Mr. STEDMAN said that this mode of treatment originated

with Mr. Finch, of Greenwich. Mr. Finch had tried it inthree cases with complete success, and he (Mr. Stedman) hadhad similar success in two of his own cases.Mr. HIRD was sceptical as to the nature of these cases, al’IIIi

thought we were not always in a condition to decide whetherthere was intus-susception or not. Mercury was formerly re-commended to be given by the mouth; now gruel was adnii-nistered in enemata. He had examined persons who had diedwith symptoms, confidently believed to be those of intus-S11S-ception, that had found no such lesion.Mr. DENDY considered that the signs of intus-susception

were unequivocal during life,-tenesmus, straining at stool,and bloody mucous motions. These cases frequently got wellof themselves in the early stages. Portions of intestine some-times came away, yet the patient got perfectly well in theearly stage of the disease.Mr. HUTCHINSON was certain from the first that the case he

had mentioned was one of intus-susception. There were nosigns of inflammation. He had given castor-oil three times aday, with injections.Mr. PILCHER stated that in his case, in addition to the other

symptoms, the patient had continued vomiting, which haddecided him in his opinion as to its being a case of intus-sua-ception. He objected to introducing anything into the mouth,,even gruel, much more mercury. He considered that the in-jections acted by forcing the bowel from the sheath whenthere was no adhesion.Mr. HIRD had no doubt of the frequency of the disease. la

many cases supposed to be intus-susception, examination afterdeath proved that there was none; but, on the other hand,intus-susception was often found where there had been nosymptoms of it during life. Distention of the intestine incases of inflammation was injurious, but in intus-susceptionitmight be beneficial.Mr. LowE mentioned a case of obstruction in the intestine

from ulceration, and in which recovery took place under theuse of large doses of opium.

SYMPTOMATIC PROMINENCE OF THE EYE-BALL.

Mr. PILCHER related the following cases:-While in attend-ance upon Mr. P—, in December, 1846, my attention wasdirected to Master P—’s left eye, which certainly was mate. prominent than the other,.yet without approach to strabismus.