DR. LAWES ON FERTILITY. DR. J. B. LAWES, the eminent English agriculturist, is at present contributing a series of papers on "Fertility" to the London Agricultural Gazette. The following extracts from the first two numbers cannot fail to be of interest to our readers as a lucid presentation of the main points in the science of the subject: of decay since they formed parts of living vegeta- | then, finally, when vegetation decays, it assumes the SOWING SMALL SEEDS. Upon the greater number of ordinary soils the proportion of both carbon and nitrogen becomes less and less as we penetrate below the surface; consequently these substances must have had their origin in vegetation which had once grown upon the surface. Some soils which are called alluvial possess a subsoil fertility, which appears to have been a deposit derived from the remains of vegetation washed AMATEURS and others not thoroughly expefrom other soils. Fertility is therefore due to the rienced in gardening find a good deal of diffiorganic residue of previous generations of plants, culty in raising plants from seed, especially in mixed with certain mineral substances, the most the case of very small seeds. The London Garimportant of which are phosphoric acid and potash, den gives the following practical hints on the As the annual rainfall in most parts of the world is in considerable excess of the evaporation, it is sowing and management of such seeds: — evident that those substances which I propose to designate as the stock of fertility in a soil must exist in a comparatively insoluble form. If we took a quantity of rocks, such as we find in various parts of the earth's surface, — granite, slate, quartz, limestone, etc., - and, after grinding them to different degrees of fineness, were to mix them together in different proportions, we could, from the known composition of these various rocks, produce soils which would contain the most important mineral ingredients of plant food in very different proportions. Assuming that we purposely made one soil as rich as we could in this food, one as poor as we could, with two others in intermediate stages, and we then left them exposed to the ordinary influence of sun and rain, — I am here assuming the experiment to be tried upon several acres, and the artificial soil to be several feet deep, we should find that the seeds of plants carried by the winds and other agencies would spread and grow upon these soils with very different degrees of rapidity; and, as suming that we were able to watch the process for thousands of years, we might see several remark able changes in the character of the vegetation. A short time ago Schlosing proved that nitrificaThe surplus of the winter store of acorns laid up by tion was due to the action of a minute organism a mouse might give rise to a forest of oaks, thick which abounds in our soils. Under favorable conenough to destroy all the previous vegetation of ditions of temperature and moisture, nitric acid is grass; and, again, an accidental fire or a hurricane produced with great rapidity; it has been proved in might sweep away the forest vegetation, to be re-regard to the yeast plant (which converts sugar into placed by growth of some other kind. The character and amount of the vegetation would differ greatly on the different soils, and the largest amount would be found on the soil where the plant could get the largest amount of food. There being no carbon or combined nitrogen in the soil, the first plants would be entirely dependent upon what they could obtain of these substances, directly or indirectly, from the atmosphere. Rain water always contains ammonia, and the plant and the soil may condense a certain further amount from the atmosphere; but growth even in the soil richest in mineral food would at first be small, as the decomposition of carbonic acid and fixation of carbon would be limited by the amount of combined nitrogen which the plant could obtain from the sources mentioned above; and it would be much greater where the most abundant mineral food existed, as every particle of nitrogen would be there used up; while where there was less mineral food, some of the nitrogen might pass through the soil and be lost. Each year a certain portion of the vegetable growth dies off: leaves and branches fall, and portions of the roots decay; the greater part of the organic portion which falls upon the surface of the ground returns again to the atmosphere, but a certain part remains, and added to that which decays under ground becomes available for future growth. The atmosphere of the soil, which at first differed little from that which exists above it, becomes highly charged with carbonic acid, which decomposes the minerals in the soil; and thus, year by year, more and more of the nitrogen, collected by each generation of plants, becomes available for the generation that succeeds it. This organic matter, under the general term humus, was considered by the chemists in the early part of the present century to be the main source of fertility. The late Baron Liebig turned this idea into ridicule, and the word has almost been forgotten. Under the term humus I include all those organic compounds which have gone through certain stages In regard to potash and phosphate of lime, we may assume that they are dissolved by secretions from the plant when the roots are in direct contact with them. Humus may be taken up in a similar manner, and by some plants more readily than by others. Still, it is not until the nitrogen of the humus has assumed the form of nitric acid that its full effect upon vegetation is realized. alcohol and carbonic acid) that, like our ordinary Under whatever conditions the nitric acid may upon This Take calceolarias, for instance, or begonias, the seeds of which are as fine as dust, and sow either in the ordinary way, and the chances are that the whole will be lost; whereas by preparing the soil properly, and sowing on its surface, both kinds of seeds germinate freely. First drain the pan or pot, and then put over the crocks some moss or rough siftings from the potting bench, and on these some of the finer soil, finishing off on the top with very fine sifted soil mixed with a little silver sand. All should then be pressed down and made level and smooth, and then watered through a fine-rosed pot, or damped by means of a syringe, when, after standing to drain for a time, all will be ready for sowing. This can be the most readily done by opening one end of the packet and gently shaking it sideways, keeping it, when doing so, nearly on a level, in order that the seed may leave the paper slowly and evenly, as then there is no difficulty in causing it to be distributed regularly over the surface. part of the work over, the next thing is to provide against the seed suffering from want of water, or the soil getting dry. For this purpose nothing answers so weil as a piece of glass laid over the pot or pan, as it keeps the air in a thoroughly humid condition. A bell or hand glass answers the same purpose, if kept close, and in sunny weather it is always advisable to shade, as solar heat and light soon draw out the moisture. Should the soil become the least dry, the safest way to damp it is to bedew it with water from a syringe, as it can be done more lightly than with a watering-pot, if the syringe is used with dexterity. Seeds of a larger size than those named may be slightly covered, or have a very thin sprinkling of fine silver sand scattered amongst them, but only just enough to give color, and not bury the soil. Seed the size of mustard may be buried the eighth of an inch deep, and so on in proportion; but the great point with all to secure free germination is to have an equably warm, moist bed, from which they come forth without any loss. GLEANINGS. When the pressure of the atmosphere was first discovered, but before the cause was known, the philosophers of the day pronounced that it was due to Nature's abhorrence of a vacuum; a few JAPANESE DWARFING AND DEFORMING OF years ago no more rational explanation could have PLANTS. — Gardeners in Japar are expert in methbeen given for the persistent efforts of Nature to ods of producing artificial atrophy of plants, hindercover the earth with vegetation, but modern sci- ing their growth, making them deformed, and giving ence has thrown more light on the subject. Bous- a strange fantastic appearance, which, indeed, is singault placed some garden soil, rich in organic characteristic of much Japanese and Chinese art. nitrogen, but containing very little nitric acid, in a M. Carrière has lately paid some attention to this closed glass vessel; it was moistened and exposed art, which he calls nanisation, or dwarfing. In one to a temperature favorable to nitrification, and was form of it the plant is simply dwarfed, while its natfrequently stirred; at the end of a few months this ural aspect is retained; in another, some kind of artificial fallow had lost one half of its carbon, deformation is superadded. M. Carrière supposes and a formation of nitric acid had taken place, that the gardeners proceed by choosing suitable vawhich, if calculated on an area of an acre, would rieties, twisting and binding their branches till they have been equivalent to several hundred pounds. take a certain form, giving them scant nourishment, In an ordinary winter most of this nitric acid etc. These odd-looking plants are sometimes over would be entirely washed out of the soil. We a century old, and yet stand in small pots, the stem, learn from this that vegetation prevents the escape it may be, quite filling the pot, or dividing into a of nitric acid, and stores it up as food products; number of greatly twisted parts. The climate of Japan seems peculiarly suitable for the treatment referred to, which might hardly succeed in countries hotter or sunnier. Of all plants, the coniferæ, especially pines, seem to be those on which the Japanese operate most by the dwarfing method. PARAFFINE TO PROTECT SEEDS FROM BIRDS. -A correspondent of an English paper gives his experience with paraffined seeds as follows: "Here we have great numbers of small birds of various kinds, always on the lookout for seeds when sown. In order to prevent their taking those of the cabbage tribe, radishes, etc., I first put the seed into a tin can, then drop paraffine on it in proportion to the quantity of seed, say a teaspoonful to four ounces. I then shake up the seed well, so as to get every one well coated with it; then a pinch of red lead. The tin is again well shaken, and every seed will be found to be red; but I do not think it is essential to use red lead. I have found anything in the form of powder to answer equally well, such as dry, fine wood ashes or soot. I find that the seeds germinate freely, and that they are safe from birds until this has taken place, but no longer. Some means must then be used to prevent them from pulling the young plants out of the ground. My practice is to keep them dusted with wood ashes or soot, mixed with any dust which may come to hand, till they are developed sufficiently to be out of danger. The birds do not seem to relish dirty seed leaves, and the ashes act as a stimulant to the young plants Boston Journal of Chemistry. JAS. R. NICHOLS, M. D., Editor. This a knowledge of this fact should not in the least prevent a most constant and careful supervision. As in the state the price of liberty is "eternal vigilance," so in public institutions designed for the care of the sick, their safety and welfare depend upon a supervision which is ceaseless and thorough. CANNEL COAL. THE evidence of the unbounded resources of our country is constantly accumulating. Everything that an advanced civilization demands and which nature can supply is found here in great abundance. The prospective wealth and iudividual comfort which future centuries are to witness no one can fully conceive of, provided the miserable politicians can be smothered by the votes of the people, and their selfish schemes frustrated. The future of this country will be glorious indeed, if there is virtue enough in the people to preserve our institutions and maintain peace within our borders. We have, besides our cereals, immense deposits of iron, copper, zinc, manganese, silver, gold, quicksilver, antimony, nearly or quite all the useful metals; also salt, oil, limestone, plaster, marble, phosphates; and lastly, as a crowning blessing, inexhaustible deposits of coal of every kind. OUR ASYLUMS FOR THE INSANE. Ar no period has a more decided public interest been awakened in regard to asylums and our management of the insane than at the present. Some occurrences in our asylums have come to light which excite not only alarm, but a sense of overwhelming disgust and shame. That a physician, a superintendent, at the head of the largest asylum in Massachusetts, having absolute control over hundreds of the helpless insane, should be found guilty of the most shameless and criminal conduct is a startling fact. lecherous individual has not received that public notice which bis crimes demand. Perhaps it is better, however, not to let in the light upon his wicked deeds, so that the public may see them; but the law should hold him in its grasp, and punish him with extreme rigor. If such a man can find his way to a post so responsible as the head of an asylum costing millions of dollars, and sheltering under its roof hundreds of poor, defenceless invalids, what may not be done BIG TREES. A grove in California, consisting under cover of our public institutions? The state stance that a specimen of the most perfect canthan six feet in diameter. A rare and magnificent is lavish in its expenditures to provide shelter for nel coal has been placed in our hands for analyThis variety of coal white oak is to be seen in the Quaker burying- the sick from external evils, but it fails to protect sis, brought from Kentucky. ground in Salem, N. Y. It is more than 200 years its wards from greater evils within. has been hitherto imported from England at old, and is remarkable for its enormous branches, time to devise some plan by which clear, positive great expense, and it was not known that we which have a spread of 112 feet. A remarkable knowledge may be had of what is transpiring had deposits in this country. Quite recently chestnut-tree is growing on å farm in Berks, Pa. It within the walls of our asylums? Our system beds have been discovered in Kentucky, which is nearly forty feet in circumference at the base, and is regarded by many as a failure, a sham, a dan- are represented to be of vast extent. The qualthe top of the tree can be reached by steps fastened gerous device, and should no longer continue ity is excellent, fully equal to the best English, between the limbs. Most remarkable of trees with when better methods are distinctly in view. The and the coal is so accessible, that it can be set a history is a russet apple-tree in Skowhegar, Me., vast piles of brick and mortar, perched upon the down in Boston at about ten dollars a ton. which was planted in 1762. In its branches a playroom for children has been built for half a century. very apex of some of the coldest hills in New results of the analysis are as follows: The tree is seven feet from the ground to the England, which cover under one roof from five to branches, five in number, all of which are very large ten hundred human beings, all assumed to be menand average thirty feet in length, covering a space tal imbeciles, are structures not erected in accordof ground sixty-three feet in diameter. It is more than four and a half feet in diameter, and has yielded an average of thirty bushels of apples each year. A sprout from this apple-tree stands thirty-two feet from the parent stem, but is forty-eight years when washed in by rain or otherwise." of 1680 trees, contains not one which measures less younger. GRAFTING AND BEARING. The editor of the of trees with scions cut from bearing trees, and other Is it not ance with the best business or advanced medical cot We are led to these remarks from the circum Volatile hydrocarbon 65.40 24.96 The What is well known in Europe as the " tage system," or the retention of the insane in smaller buildings grouped together, on farms, in pleasant localities, is the most sensible and effective method of providing asylums. There should be no appearances, within or without, calculated SEVERAL years ago we commented upon a a to awaken ideas of prison life, or of unnecessary statement, then going the rounds of the papers, restraint. years that the impure gases in a close room would be The weakened, deluded mind can The resume its normal state only under influences removed by an open pitcher of water. A MAINE TREE. Recently a white-pine tree which simulate home and the quiet confidences pseudo-scientific nonsense has lately been rewas cut on the "Milford Timber Tract," which for of the family circle. Employment is an impor-vived, and is once more on its newspaper tour. size, length, soundness, and symmetry of proportion tant factor in curative means, and one sadly It appears in one of the religious weeklies in the has challenged the eager lumbermen to produce an overlooked in our stately palaces for the insane. following shape:equal in the local forests of Maine. The circumferBut above and beyond all, in matters of prime ence of the tree at the butt is 14 feet (diameter 48 inches); at the top, as far as used, 33 inches; the importance, is the character and fitness of the length, between the above dimensions, 103 feet, man (and the men and women under him) havscaling 3559 feet. The tree was divided into six ing charge of the insane in our asylums. It logs, the largest of which scaled 1003 feet. Thus is sad, indeed, to have one's confidence so deperished a monumental reminder of the palmy days when lumbering was profitable in Maine. cidedly shaken in regard to these important custodians of the sick as it has been by recent events; but we must not conclude that all are PORTUGAL consumed nearly as much American wicked and incompetent. We have many able, wheat in 1880 as Germany. humane, discreet men in charge of asylums; but When windows and doors are closed, and several Set a persons are sitting in one room, the air soon be- stated that it is injurious to health to drink the water kept in a bedroom during the night, if the pitcher is left uncovered?" It should be closely shut, or left standing outside, covered from dust, on the window-seat, which is much the best way. Impure air is not so deadly as impure water. One would suppose that it might occur to the writer of the above, as to any one having a smattering of scientific knowledge, that even if the small quantity of water in the pitcher were capable of absorbing "all the noxious gases in the room" it would be necessary for these gases to come in contact with the water; and this is manifestly impossible, unless currents of air from every portion of the room are constantly passing into and out of the pitcher. To assume the existence of such a system of atmospheric circulation as started and kept up by the attraction of the water for the "noxious gases " is perhaps more palpably absurd than the supposition that a quart or two of water can take up so great a volume of gas. That the water absorbs some impurities from the air, and that for this and other obvious reasons it is not so desirable for drinking as fresh water, "goes without saying;" but we warn our friends not to depend upon a pitcher or even a tub of water as a means of ventilating a close sleeping-room. HOT ICE. The degree of cold, and cause the flask to act as a have been nearly one and a half degrees colder than to burn the hand. YEARS. TABLE I. In these experiments the thermometer has repeatedly been observed to rise to a higher temperature than that of boiling water when imbedded in the ice, the tension of vapor inside the apparatus being always below 4.6 millimetres of mercury. But METEOROLOGICAL TABLES FOR SIXTEEN as it was suggested that possibly the temperature as registered by the thermometer was not the same as the temperature of the ice itself, although it is difficult to conceive how this could be, Dr. Carnelly has taken the precaution to drop some of the hot ice into cold water, and has found the temperature of the water to be thereby raised instead of being lowered considerably, as would be the case with ordinary ice. This experiment, which we understand was undertaken at the suggestion of Professor Roscoe, conclusively proves not only that the ice is hot, but that it is hotter than boiling water, for in the experiments detailed by Dr. Carnelly it must have existed at 122° C. METEOROLOGY FOR FEBRUARY, 1881. THE sum of my observations the past month has been as follows: Average Thermometer. At 7 A. M.. Lowest. Highest. Range. Whole month Last winter months THE paradoxes of science are sometimes as wouderful as the tricks of the old magicians. That a liquid may be frozen in a red-hot vessel appears almost miraculous, and that ice may be made so hot as to burn the hand or scorch paper is a kindred marvel. Dr. Thomas Carnelly, of Sheffield, in a paper recently read before the Royal Society, described the experiments by which he has obtained this hot ice. Andrews had already shown that a gas cannot be changed Last 17 winters into a liquid by compression, however great, if the temperature during the experiment be maintained above a certain point, which differs for each gas, and is known as the point of actual temperature. In the same way, it seems that solid cannot be melted into a liquid by a considerable application of heat, if the pressure of the vapor evolved be kept below a certain amount. Dr. Carnelly has illustrated this in the cases of ice and corrosive sublimate, and similar results could doubtless be obtained with other solids. Our readers will be interested in the following account of his experiments with ice, which we take from our London contemporary, Design and Work: a Temperature. 597 179 188 98 33 50 161 143 109 -1869. 43.12 50.00 612 186 150 93 637 180 148 64 -1870. 46.10 -45.35 Average 46.20 45.88 630.12 182.0 159.0 86.25 37.25 55 TABLE II. FACE OF THE SKY ANALYZED, GIVING THE AVERAGE RESULT OF SIXTEEN YEARS' OBSERVATIONS, TAKEN THREE TIMES EACH DAY, 18651880 INCLUSIVE. The average barometer for the month was 30.040 The face of the sky in 84 observations gave 49 A large bottle, holding about a pint and a quarter, is fitted with a cap, and through this is passed a wide glass tube. The flask and tube are filled with mercury, certain precautions being taken to obtain sound joints and exclude air, and they are then inverted over mercury contained in a trough. The mercury runs out of the flask and upper part of the tube, and the lower part of the tube remains filled with a column of mercury equal in height to the barometer. The whole system, therefore, is equivalent to a barometer tube with a large bulb in the upper vacuous part. Inside the glass flask If, so to speak, the sun burned with uniform and tube thus exhausted a thermometer is previ- In general, it may be said that the month was a flame, radiating heat alike in every direction, it ously arranged, and after the vacuum is established full degree warmer than the average for the past would seem that the earth, as a whole, must receive a small quantity of water, previously boiled to 18 years yet, with the snow remaining from January yearly equal degrees of temperature; but by condeprive it of air, is passed up the tube. The flask furnished good sleighing through the month, except sulting Table 1. we perceive our mistake. The is now surrounded by a mixture of ice and salt. 4 or 5 days after the heavy rain on the 12th. variations are numerous. The cause of these may These materials, when mixed, produce an intense It will be noticed that the entire winter months exist in the sun, in the influence of ever-varying The direction of the wind gave an excess of 14 Range 27 34 32 REMARKS ON THE ABOVE TABLES. spots D. W. and irruptions; or, the cause may be in local A careful analysis of the tables relative to the preventive of, but on the contrary is favorable to, influences on the earth, different regions being face of the sky will show the very general uni- the spread of some of our most fatal diseases, as visited by different winds, or with more stormy formity of these yearly aspects, and also the large small-pox, diphtheria, and scarlatina. This is shown weather; or, all these and other causes may unite proportion of fair weather as compared with the at the present time in Brooklyn, New York, Philain producing these differing results. January, 1880, other four aspects, being in the ratio of 7 to 5, delphia, Chicago, and other places." was remarkably warm, ten degrees above the aver-nearly, or 210 fair days to 155 foul. But time and age, while January, 1867, was as remarkably cold, space forbid further specifications. being ten degrees below the average. So of dif ferent entire years, as 1868 compared with 1878. But while the heat is excessive in one region, as America, the reverse may be true in another, as in Europe or Asia, and thus the general average may approximate to equality. EDITORIAL NOTES. WHAT IS IT? We have been requested to print C. W. FACEY, Cambridgeport, Mass. As already stated, the two answers were received BOTHERED BY "BOGUS."- Our " Americanisms" in language sometimes prove "conundrums" to European readers. A German correspondent writes as follows to the editor of the London Medical Times and Gazette: SALICYLIC ACID AS AN Adulterant. The French Minister of Agriculture and Commerce has addressed a circular to all the préfets, stating that the Administration had had its attention drawn to the danger to public health which is caused by the employment of salicylic acid for the preservation of solid and liquid alimentary substances, and has submitted the question to the Consultation Committee for Public Hygiene. After a close examination of the matter, and submitting various substances to analysis, that body has reported that the acid is not only dangerous from the direct effects it may produce on the system, but is so also indirectly as favoring the fraudulent introduction of substances into alimentary articles, rendering these more or less injurious; and it recommends that the sale of any alimentary substance containing any salicylic acid whatever should be prohibited. The Minister accordingly inclosed to the préfets the formula for such prohibition, which he desires should be widely circulated and strictly acted upon. LITERARY NOTES. Nature's pendulum is ever on the swing from one extreme to another, yet in the long run secures a golden mean. Seven seems to be a kind of sacred number in nature as in revelation. The week may be said to begin and end with a Sabbath, a rest, and a return. The foundation for this order seems laid in nature in the revolution of the moon about the earth, with a peculiar phase for each quarter or week, teaching the lesson to all attentive be- promised, a year's subscription to the JOURNAL. holders. But this heptade extends beyond the body and spirit to the material world about us. For there are doubtless tides in the atmosphere as in the ocean, influenced by the moon, not only daily but weekly, furnishing the ebb and flood tides when the moon is in quadrature and syzygy. And must SIR, In the number for October, 1880, page not such varying tides in the atmosphere, near eight 561, of the very instructive Medical Times and The Druggist's Handbook of Private Formulas, edited and hundred times lighter than water, naturally affect Gazette, I read the name "Bogus" ("Dr. Buchan-published by Mr. John H. Nelson, Cleveland, Ohio ($3.00), the weather, the air being the very medium of it, and an and Bogus Diplomas "). I could not find this value to the pharmacist. It contains a great variety of relibas reached its seventh edition, which is ample evidence of its that without which there could be no weather? word (bogus) neither in the Sheridan-Walker (T. able formulas for pharmaceutical preparations, perfumery, and Hence the origin of a common idea that a rainy Knowles) nor in the German-English dictionary, miscellaneous articles sold by druggists, with much other matfirst Sabbath in the month will generally be followed and suppose, therefore, that "bogus" is a proper by the American Pharmaceutical Association are included. ter useful to the trade. All the semi-officinal formulæ adopted by one or more rainy Sabbaths; and this is equally name. Am I right? You would oblige me by Testimonials from competent judges go to show that it is practitrue of any other day in the week, and of fair giving explication, and I should be happy to return cally superior to some books of the same character for which weather as well as foul. But as the peculiar changes service. I am, etc., F. BOCKELMANN, Dr., etc. extravagant prices have been charged. of the moon are a fraction over seven days apart, so RUDOLSTADT, GERMANY, February 18th. this succession of weather is continually passing on The editor replies thus:to the following day. Other causes, however, are often interfering with this natural order. So both the temperature and weight of the atmosphere are never long stationary. "The word 'bogus' is not even to be found in the work of our distinguished lexicographer, the great Dr. Johnson. It is an American novelty, and we believe means sham,' altogether untrue, and without foundation." There is a touch of "unsuspected humor" in the statement that bogus is not even to be found in Johnson's Dictionary. Mr. Presley Blakiston has just published Drugs that Enslave, a treatise on the opium, morphine, chloral, and hasheesh habits, by Dr. H. H. Kane, of New York city ($1.50). It is not a "sensational," but a calm and scientific, discussion of the subject. The statements concerning the rapidly increasing prev alence of these pernicious habits are abundantly sustained by trustworthy statistics. The practical part of the book, with its treatment of cases, will be of interest and service to the phy sician. From the same publisher we have John Hunter and his Pupils, the elaboration of an address by Professor S. D. Gross before the American Academy of Surgery. It is an interesting account of the life of John Hunter, with notices of some of his PERMANENT PICTURES ON THE RETINA. The most eminent pupils, the whole being comprised in a book of idea that the circumstances attending the sudden one hundred and six pages, and prefaced by an excellent engraving of Reynolds's famous portrait of Hunter. and violent death of an individual might be ascerConstipation Plainly Treated, by Dr. J. F. Edwards (also tained by an examination of the retina-amount-published by Mr Blakiston, at 75 cents), is a brief account of the functions of the stomach and bowels, with sensible hints for keeping them in order without the use of drugs. - This heptade may perhaps be further applied to the temperature of a series of years, though liable to like interruptions. I have placed a plus or minus mark before each year in Table I., according as that year was of a higher or lower temperature than the preceding; and, beginning with 1866, we notice three years (and perhaps a fraction) of decreasing temperature, followed by four years (perhaps less that fraction) of increasing temperature, making seven ing, perhaps, in criminal cases, to a revelation of years. The next three years, with one slight ex- the perpetrator's identity was discussed soon after ception, indicate the return of nature's pendulum, the discovery of the visual purple. Dr. W. C. Ayres, followed by the next four years of increasing heat, of New York, in an article upon the subject in the with also a single exception. But this series of New York Medical Journal for March, shows the observations is too brief and limited for a full con- impracticability of detecting a murderer by means of firmation or refutation of the theory. optogramme," as a general thing. After deI will only further notice the unusually high aver-scribing the details of the process of obtaining an age temperature of the last four or five years, an av- optogramme experimentally upon animals, he gives erage of 48.76°, full two and a half degrees above an amusing account of an attempt of his to make a the average of the past seventeen, in which no pre- picture of Professor Helmholtz upon the retina of an ceding year of that period had equalled even the low-animal. The result was an image of Helmholtz's shirt-collar and the end of his nose. est of these five. 66 an In the column of yearly rainfall we notice the COLD WEATHER AND HEALTH. In his last extremes in 1874 and 1878 as remarkable, showing report as registrar of Providence, Dr. Snow rea difference of 23 inches, or more than one halt marks: "There is a popular error, which we often the general average. It will be seen that the year hear spoken of in the winter season, that clear, cold 1878 was the climax, both in temperature and rain- weather is favorable to the public health. The fall, which illustrates the principle that great heat truth is that in this climate severe cold weather, if produces great evaporation; but the next preceding continued more than two or three days, increases year suggests a counter-cause, as the average heat the number of deaths as certainly as continued hot was about the same, while the amount of rain fell weather, though in a different manner. Severe cold short nearly 16 inches. We should here remember depresses the vital forces, and exposure to it prothat the ocean is the chief source of our rains, and duces fatal results among these persons, or classes not the immediate region where it falls. The plus of persons, whose vital force is weakened by any and minus marks in the record of the rainfall in cause. Such persons are the aged and the very Table I. indicate a shorter swing of the pendulum, young, and also all who are sick or debilitated from with like interruptions. any other cause. Besides this, severe cold is no cent manuals is Professor R. O. Cowling's Aphorisms in Fracture, a revised and enlarged form of a paper originally published in the Louisville Medical News, and received with much favor by eminent authorities in surgery. The second number of "Morton's Pocket Series" of 25 The Taming of the Shrew and All's Well that Ends Well have just been added to Mr. Rolfe's series of Shakespeare's Plays. Mr. F. J. Furnivall, the eminent English critic, in a note to the Salem Gazette, endorsing that journal's praise of these books, says: That, as school and family editions, they doubt; they're more business-like, more thorough helps to a are superior to Hudson's school editions I have no shadow of worker; and I have told Hudson's publishers so, while still maintaining my old strong praise of Hudson's character criticism, and of his book on the Life, Art, and Characters of my opinion) better than the other in the special department Shakespeare. Each of these men, Rolfe and Hudson, is (in of each; and school editions are Rolfe's specialty." The next play in the series will be Coriolanus, now printing. The Comedy of Errors will probably be published at the same time. All these books may be found at Williams & Co.'s. The Art Amateur of New York, which is unquestionably the best of the journals devoted to the cultivation of art in the household, has been enlarged and improved with the beginning of the new volume for 1881. It is issued monthly at $4.00 a furnish it with the JOURNAL for that price. year, but by special arrangements with the publisher we can Another important addition to our "Clubbing List" is The Californian, of San Francisco, the best and most popular only magazine west of the Mississippi Valley. The regular monthly yet published on the Pacific Coast, and at present the subscription is $4.00 a year, at which price we can furnish it with the JOURNAL Medicine and Pharmacy. DROPS AND SPOONFULS. IN the JOURNAL for October, 1880 (page 119), we referred briefly to Mr. Talbot's experiments on the size of drops of different liquids, which show the danger of administering powerful medicines by that extremely variable measurement. In reply to some inquiries since received, we would say that Mr. Talbot's account of his investigations appeared in the American Journal of Pharmacy for July, 1880. It shows that the size of the drop varies not only with the nature of the liquid, but with different bottles filled with the same liquid; and the same bottle is inconstant in this respect. To drop from corks applied to the lips of bottles is even less accurate than using the bottles alone. "Droppers," or dropping tubes, are more trustworthy, but these do not always give uniform results. The following portions of Mr. Talbot's essay, with the appended table, will show the practical importance of his researches better than any further abstract can do:— Strict general rules cannot be laid down as to the corresponding size of drops of classes of preparations, though the volatile oils, tinctures, spirits, oleo-resins, and fluid extracts may be grouped together, as yielding drops usually less than one half the size of drops of water. Solutions, syrups, and dilute acids afford drops but slightly smaller than water, excepting solution of nitrate of mercury and syrups containing or made from fluid extracts. Acids, wines, fixed oils, vinegars, and mixtures give, in most cases, drops of more than one half the size of water, about two thirds. In the drop measurement of the various classes of preparations in the United States Pharmacopoeia there was found a noticeable uniformity; amongst the officinal wines the extremes showed a difference AVERAGE SIZE OF DROPS OF CLASSES OF U. S. P. PREPA- Solution nitrate of mercury Nitro muriatic acid Diluted acids Muriatic acid Sulphurous acid Exceptions. 141 141 136 131 124 123 106 103 97 89 77 69 66 61 131 76 70 59 In an article in the Boston Medical and Sur 66 The writer of the as would ordinarily be taken up, so that the Any of the forms of steam atomizer in the marspoon would be full, but yet could be moved ket may be used, or, if those are not at hand, about without spilling its contents," the smallest the ordinary rubber-bulb atomizers will answer held only 50 minims, while the largest held 125 the purpose. One may, indeed, dispense with minims; that is, a spoonful measured with the the instrument altogether, though it is not advislatter would be equal to two and a half spoonfuls able to pour carbolic acid down the register, as measured by the former. The intermediate sizes one person, at least, is said to have done, in gave 55, 60, 60, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, and 110 minims. order to inhale the fumes! The same spoons filled as full as possible con- notes published in February writes on this point tained from 90 to 145 minims. Six dessert-spoons as follows:were found to hold from 2 drachms to 2 drachms 35 miuims, or, when as full as posssble, from 2 drachms 70 minims to 3 drachms. Fifteen tablespoons ranged from 2 drachms 35 minims up to 4 drachms 50 minims, or, by the other mode of measurement, from 4 drachms 30 minims to 6 drachms. I have used the steam of carbolic acid by heating the saturated solution in an open vessel over a gas or spirit lamp, and if one cannot get an atomizer this will do as well. It is a cheap way of using it, but it is troublesome to get it ready to use, and takes time also. When it is a question of convenience, the atomizer is always ready, and can be used a longer or shorter time, as may be necessary. A It will be seen that doses of powerful medi- German professor has used the pure acid in incines administered by these spoons might in some halers, which must be continually worn. This would cases be nearly three times as great as in others, be troublesome, and air saturated with vapor does a range much greater than the prescriber not, I think, have so good an effect as steam or would be willing to allow, and which in some spray. I am inclined to think that the use of steam cases might make a serious difference in the re- or spray of water alone would soothe an irritated sults. If a practitioner directs that a teaspoon lung, or rather the irritated bronchial tubes; at or other spoon shall be used in administering his least, when there is a dry, hacking cough. Water prescription, it will be well for him to test the dissolves the acid readily, but holds it very feebly; capacity of the spoon if precision in the measureso it is a good vehicle for conveying the substance to the irritated surface, and the readiness with which ment is important. It would be better, of course, to use the graduated glass measures made for this acid acts as an anesthetic and as a destroyer of miit gives it up insures prompt action. Inhaled, the purpose, and these ought to be a part of the sick-croscopic organisms, and it is easy to comprehend room equipment of every well-regulated house- how it benefits a cough. hold. A pair of them minim glass" and one for drachins and ounces, measuring up to four or eight ounces would cost only a trifle, and in the long run the saving in time and trouble compared with other means of measuring would more than balance their cost. IN an article on this subject in the JOURNAL for June, 1880, we gave some account of the investigations of Dr. J. M. Anders, which appeared to show that house plants, so far from CARBOLIC ACID for colds anD COUGHS. being injurious to health either in living-rooms In the communication on this subject in the or sleeping-rooms, were of service in supplying last number of the JOURNAL, the writer speaks moisture to the furnace-heated air of our dwellof using four parts of water to one of the acid." ings, and on that account positively useful in It has been suggested that this might be under-pulmonary diseases, since these are benefitted by stood to mean one part of the pure acid dissolved a moderately moist and warm atmosphere. In in four parts of water, instead of one part of the saturated solution diluted with four parts of water. The latter is the meaning, as any physician or druggist would see at once. As it is well known that by "carbolic acid" a solution of the acid is usually meant, no druggist should sell the pure acid without knowing for what purpose it is to be used. So far as we have made inquiries, this is the rule with all druggists in this vicinity. Our Boston friend, whose notes on the use of the acid appeared in the JOURNAL for February, writes: "The pure acid should not be sold to consumers, and I make it a rule not to sell it. I let none go out unless it is prepared ready for E. M. is a gentleman, thirty years old, who belongs to a family in which there is a marked history of phthisis pulmonalis. His physical appearance would indicate that he might be subject to the disease, but he has as yet escaped its development. The history of this case involves the families of both the father and mother. The father, although born of tubercular parents, escaped the disease, but the mother died at comparatively an early age, leaving a family of five children, four of whom have died of consumption. Of these children, three died between twenty and twenty-five years of age; one died in his thirty-ninth year, after a long illness, the last two years of which were under my observation. At E. M. is the youngest of the family. His life, with the exception of the last eighteen months, has been devoted exclusively to sedentary pursuits. twenty-three he married, and, as he was then enThe article on the practical use of carbolic acid gical Journal for February 10, 1881, Dr. E. J. in the February number was of great interest to at an isolated locality, for both amusement and ocgaged in an occupation which required his residence Forster, of Charlestown, shows that the spoonful me. I was suffering with a very persistent sore is as variable a measure as the drop, owing to the throat and cough, and showed the article to my phy-house-plants. She soon became an enthusiast, and cupation his wife commenced the cultivation of difference in the size of spoons and the diffi- sician, who made use of carbolic acid spray in my a profusion of plants, especially those of the foliage culty of deciding when they are just full. He own case and that of some others, with good results. varieties, accumulated in her house. As they remeasured twenty teaspoons of different patterns, We have received sundry inquiries as to the sided in an extremely changeable climate, where, and found that when filled with as much water" atomizer" necessary for producing the spray. during the cold months, constant watchfulness is |