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the present condition of the Thames is one fraught withimminent and immediate danger to the health and lives of theinhabitants of this vast metropolis.The soundness of this conclusion is further proved by the

circumstance that the state of the Thames has already, in someinstances, given rise to sickness and death.The following note, addressed to the Registrar-General, is

from Mr. Croft, assistant-surgeon of the Dl’eadnought hospitalship :—" The twe cases of fever reported by me on the 19th ashaving occurred on board rapidly recovered, and no fresh casehas arisen. The health of the patients generally is very satis-factory. However, I learn from residents on board, and otherspassing a large portion of each day on the water, that they areaffected at times with nausea, loss of appetite, and inclinationto diarrhoea, though none of them have been so severely affectedas to require medical aid."

’

That it has not occasioned hitherto an outbreak of cholerais really surprising, when we consider that the comparativelypure water taken from the Thames, and supplied to the in-habitants by the Southwark and Vauxhall Company in 1853,was clearly shown to have caused a great mortality from cholerain that year. Our escape hitherto from that plague is probablydue to the circumstance that Thames water taken from theriver near the bridges is not now supplied by any of the metro-politan water companies-a circumstance which appears to bereally providential.We perceive now how incorrect are the theories and state- I

ments advanced by certain men of science, and how much ofevil they are calculated to entail-namely, that the earthymatter in suspension in the water of the Thames deodorizes andrenders the sewage innocuous, and that Thames water does notcontain sulphuretted hydrogen, or any other noxious gases andcompounds, the sulphuretted hydrogen, sulphur, phosphorus,and ammonia, all, according to these authorities, being oxidizedas soon as the sewage is discharged into the river, and convertedinto sulphuric, nitric, and phosphoric acid. Another extra-

ordinary discovery of these gentlemen is, that the water ofthe Thames, at Kew Bridge, contains as much organic matteras at London Bridge, the thousands of tons of sewage pouredinto this part of the river scarcely making any difference, theyaffirm. The results obtained by us are very different, andmore consistent with reason and common sense. Why, for thedisproof of these statements the aid of science is scarcely needed,the possession of an unimpaired olfactory organ being alonenecessary.

Thames water is a compound so variable and changing thatit is scarcely possible to procure any two samples which shallagree in their physical and chemical characters. Samples may,indeed, be collected at most times, especially in comparativelycool weather, which do not smell offensively, and which do notcontain sulphuretted hydrogen; but then, again, other samplesmay frequently be procured in which that offensive and un-wholesome gas is present in no inconsiderable quantity. Itwas Dr. Hassall, who, in his work on the " Water Supply ofthe Metropolis," published in 1850, first stated that Thameswater sometimes contained sulphuretted hydrogen, and thatthe sewer water which is daily poured into the river alwayscontains that poisonous product of decomposition.

Messrs. Bidder, Hawksley, and Bazalgette, in their Reportupon "The Main Drainage of the Metropolis," submitted to"the Metropolitan Board of Works," arrived at the following,amongst other extraordinary conclusions as to the condition ofthe river:-" That the causes of the apparent impurity of the river have

been greatly exaggerated and much misunderstood, and wefind," they state-

" That the mechanical discoloration of the water is not dueto the presence of sewage matter, but chiefly to the presence ofinorganic substances, brought down by land floods, or washedup, and kept in motion by the tide.

" That the chemical condition of the nowing river is not sen-sibly altered by the admission of sewage, because the organicmatters become rapidly decomposed and disinfected by theaction of the oxygen contained in the water through whichthey are diffused.

" That the condition of the flowing water of the river is notinjurious to health."That the discharge into the river of the comparatively

small quantities of sewage matter from areas difficult to drainto any common outfall, may be continued by outlets extendedto low water, without any sensible injury to the appearance ofthe river or its banks, or any detriment to the health of theinhabitants of the metropolis."

It is hardly necessary to point out that these conclusions,

especially the first and second, are wholly contradicted andset aside by the results of the observations and analyses con-tained in this Report.We will now consider, in conclusion, very brietly, the nature

of the remedy demanded. The sewage must be no longer per-mitted to pass into the river. It must be conveyed to a distancefrom the metropolis. Nothing short of this proceeding, we arepersuaded, will meet the exigencies of the case. The mere ex-pedients of pouring quantities of chloride of lime into the river,of discharging the sewage into the centre instead of at thesides of the river, or the alteration of the form of the sides andchannel of the river, in accordance with the plan of Mr. Golds-worthy Gurney, would, we are convinced, if carried into effect,prove completely inefficient. We are also clearly of opinionthat every effort should be made to utilize the sewage thusconveyed to a distance. We entertain not the shadow of adoubt but that in the present state of science this object couldbe satisfactorily accomplished, and, moreover, that it will beaccomplished.Of the money value of the sewage of London now thrown

into the Thames, to the injury of the health of the inhabitantsof the metropolis, some idea may be formed from the subjoinedfigures and calculations :-

COMPOSITION OF THE SOLID SEWAGE MATTER FROM DORSET-SQUARE. BY PROFESSOR WAY.

Results 1’e-arranrred b1 Professor Hofmcanra and -Ifr. Witt.

Of the valuable matter of sewage, according to Messrs. Hof-mann and Witt, six-sevenths are present in the liquid portionand only one-seventh in the insoluble or suspended form.

MONEY VALUE OF THE SEWAGE OF LONDON.

The average quantity of sewage flowing into the river perday may be stated at about 95,000,000 gallons, which con-tains about 431,850 tons of solid residue.

These, state Messrs. Hofmann and Witt, in their report t-o,the Government referees on the Main-Drainage of the Metro-polis, at 17s. 7d. per 100 tons, give as the

For the purification of the Thames the main requisite con-sists in the diversion of the sewage. Nevertheless it would behighly desirable that the plan of erecting quays along each sideof the river should be adopted. Not only would they contributeto the purification of the river and increase the salubrity of themetropolis, but they would add enormously to the value of allproperty contiguous to the river. This would be a truly greatand noble national undertaking, and as such the expense shouldfall upon the whole country, and not be thrown on the inha-bitants of London.

Medical Societies.ROYAL MEDICAL & CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23RD, 1858.

MR. CHARLES HAWKINS, V.P., IN THE CHAIR.

SUPPLEMENT TO A PAPER ON THE MEMBRANA DECIDUA.BY ROBERT LEE, M.D., F.R.S.

This paper contained the details of the examination of theovum found in a case of extra-uterine fcetation, reported in theBritish 11Iedical journal on the 13th February last. Theauthor, on reading this report, addressed a letter to Mr. Favell,asking him to send the preparation for minute investigation, a

46

request which was immediately complied with. The authorhaving placed the parts in a shallow vessel, and covered themwith rectified spirits, proceeded with fine forceps and needles,and a dissecting lens magnifying six diameters, to determinethe nature of the connexion between the inner surface of the

Fallopian tube and the outer surface of the ovum. He foundthe placenta and villi of the chorion completely surrounded bya deciduous membrane. He was unable completely to separatethe two layers of this membrane, in consequence of its beinghardened by the spirit in which it had lain some time. The

appearance of the amnion was natural. In the cervix andfundus of the uterus were several soft membranous shreds ad-hering slightly to the lining membrane.

ON THE INFLUENCE OF LIQUOR POTASSÆ AND OTHER FIXEDCAUSTIC ALKALIES UPON THE THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIESOF HENBANE, BELLADONNA, AND STRAMONIUM.

BY A. B. GARROD, M.D., F.R.S.NO. II.

THE object of this second communication was-1st. To prove that the active principles of the plants under

consideration are absolutely destroyed by the influence of thecaustic alkalies.

2nd. To show the ratio which must exist between the diffe-rent preparations of the plants and the alkalies for the neutra-lization to be perfect.

3rd. To ascertain the time demanded for the decompositionto be complete.

4th. To illustrate clinically the influence of the alkali inpreventing the occurrence of symptoms, and removing suchwhen large medicinal doses of these solanaceous drugs are ad-ministered.

Dr. Garrod, before proceeding to discuss these various heads,brought under notice a few points relating to the nature ofliquor potassae, and the properties of some of the officinal pre-parations of henbane, &c., showing that the former, althoughStrongly caustic, still possessed but little neutralizing power,- containing so small an amount of potash-not more than 6’7per cent.; and that most of the preparations of henbane, bella-donna, and stramonium, as the tinctures and extracts, werestrongly acid in reaction, and hence, before the alkali couldact upon the active principles contained in them, it must firstneutralize this acidity, next separate the alkaloids from theacids with which they naturally are combined in the plants ; that,therefore, much more was required (measured by the physiologicalor therapeutic strength of the drugs) to neutralize the galenicalpreparations than their alkaloids, or the active principles them-selves. To prove that the active principles were absolutelydestroyed by the alkali, he (Dr. Garrod) performed several ex-periments in the following manner :-A solution of atropinewas made by dissolving it in water with the aid of a littlespirit, dividing the solution into two parts, adding to onesome carbonate of potash, to the other a sufficiency of liquorpotassse, and permitting both to remain for some hours.Chloroform was afterwards well shaken with both solutions,and allowed to subside, the supernatant fluid being poured off,and the chloroform washed with a little distilled water. Eachportion was evaporated spontaneously in glass dishes. Fromthe solution, to which carbonate of potash had been added, agummy matter was obtained, (soon, however, becoming crys-talline,) a solution of which dilated the pupil intensely; andwhen acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and chloride of golddropped in, gave rise to the beautiful plumose crystals ofthe double chloride of gold and atropine. From the secondsolution, that to which liquor potassas had been added, a strong-smelling substance was left, on the evaporation of the chloro-form, having no power of dilating the pupil, and giving rise tono crystallization with the gold salt.

These experiments demonstrated beyond doubt the absolutedestructive agency of the caustic alkali upon the active princi-ples. It was also shown that most other alkaloids, as morphia,quinine, cinchonine, &c., were not so destroyed. To show theratio which must exist between the different preparations ofthe plants and the fixed alkali, in order that neutralizationmay be perfect, Dr. Garrod gave the results of more than sixtyexperiments and observations in t tabular form, from which itappeared that when atropine is acted upon by liquor potassoe,the destructive influence of the latter is so great that less thantwenty minims are required to neutralize one grain of theformer, and that probably pure potash will destroy its ownweight of atropine. That when belladonna preparations areemployed, the power of the potash becomes weakened, fromthe causes above alluded to-namely, the natural acidity of the/ir!icrs :ol.nn the necaccitv rtf first displacing t,ha ".ll:".loi.-1 from

the acid with which it is combined; still, however, it wasshown by the table that fifteen minims of liquor potassse willdestroy a fluid drachm of the tincture, and that twenty-fiveminims are sufficient to produce the same change in five grainsof the extract; at once demonstrating that quantities verygreatly beyond the medicinal doses of these drugs-indeed,even poisonous amounts-are rendered quite inert by verymoderate addition of the alkaline solution.The same was found to hold good in the case of daturine

and the preparations of stramonium. Ten minims of liquorpotassse will neutralize a drachm of tincture of henbane, andthirty minims destroy nine grains of extract of henbane, althoughwhen ten grains are employed, dilatation will often ensue froma small portion of the extract, less than one grain being leftfree, and it should be observed that a very minute proportionof these preparations are amply sufficient to induce the effect.Of course these extracts and tinctures are liable to variation instrength, acidity, &c., circumstances which must necessarilyproduce an alteration in the requisite amounts of liquor potassasrequired for complete neutralization. With even the best ex.tract, however, procured from one of the first druggists intown, it was found that nine grains were destroyed by theabove-named quantity of potash. Nine grains of good extractof henbane and three fluid drachms of good tincture of thesame, may be considered as doses of the drugs, which fewpractitioners would prescribe; yet these are destroyed bythirty minims of liquor putassse, proving beyond all doubt thatin the proportions prescribed in actual practice a total neutrali.zation of effect ensues. To ascertain the required time, Dr.Garrod made experiments with solutions of atropine, andcommenced the observations shortly after the addition of thepotash. In an hour and a half the effect on the pupil wasmuch diminished, and in two hours and a half ceased altogether.The influence of the alkali in preventing the occurrence ofsymptoms and removing the same when large medicinal dosesof these solanaceous drugs are administered, was clinicallyillustrated by the narration of several cases, in which, aftervery decided effects had been induced by henbane or bella-donna preparations, the addition of a very small quantity ofliquor potassse to the draught (the patient continuing the otherdrugs) quickly caused the cessation of the symptoms; and

again, other instances where the withdrawal of the liquorpotassse from a combination was followed by the occurrence ofpowerful symptoms. From these observations and experi-ments, Dr. Garrod concluded that the liquor potassae possessedthe peculiar power of destroying the active principles of hen-bane, belladonna, and stramonium, even when in very dilutesolutions, and that the combinations frequently prescribed areutterly incompatible both in a chemical and therapeutical pointof view.

Dr. GARROD, in answer to Dr. O’CONNOR, said that he hadnot tried the effect of heat in his experiments, but he had nodoubt that an increase of temperature would increase therapidity of decomposition.

Dr. O’CoNNOR had observed for a long time past the factsstated by Dr. Garrod, and that it had been distinctly statedby Geigar, on the authority of Liebig, that atropa., stramonium,and hyoscyamia were decomposed by fixed alkalies, and thaton the application of heat the decomposition was more rapidlyeffected. From having read the statement of Liebig, sometwelve or thirteen years ago, he had never since ordered fixed

alkalies in combination with either of those preparations.Dr. GARROD had enumerated in his paper the works in

which the statement had been made that alkalies had the

power of destroying the active principles of henbane. He, claimed no originality in the matter, but simply the merit of

having brought the subject prominently forward at a timewhen, notwithstanding the statements of several authors,medical practitioners were constantly in the habit of prescribingmedicines which had the power of completely neutralizing eachother.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PATHOLOGY OF THE GLANDULAR

STRUCTURES OF THE STOMACH.

BY NILSON FOX, M.D., B.A. LOND.

The observations recorded contain the result of a series ofmicroscopical examinations of 100 stomachs, taken indiscriminately from the bodies brought for post-mortem examinationto the Pathological Institute of the Charite Hospital, Berlin,under the direction of Professor Virchow. The principalmorbid conditions noticed are classified under the heads ofacute and chronic affections, and described under the title of