rapidly strained through a cloth, a clear extract is obtained, which, in cooling, yields a deposit; this substance being collected on a filter, is partly soluble in boiling alcohol, and there remains undissolved a residue insoluble in ether and alcohol. The residue in question being boiled with a solution of potash, dissolves almost entirely, and the addition of hydrochloric acid induces the formation of a precipitate in the solution. On examining this precipitate, it was found to consist of a crystallizable substance, fusing at 60° cent.; its structure and other properties were precisely those of margaric acid.

"The acid filtrate contained phosphoric acid and lime. From several quantitative analyses, I concluded that there was more lime than is required to combine with the phosphoric acid in the form of the neutral phosphate, the excess of lime being exactly that which was necessary to convert the margaric acid into a neutral margarate of lime, С34H3+0,ČаO. Consequently it followed that the three substances existed in the form of margarate of lime and phosphate of lime as immediate principles of human feces.

"The alcoholic filtrate from the deposit being allowed to stand for twentyfour hours, deposited another substance, of a nearly white appearance, and which proved to be margarate of magnesia.

"The peculiar action of a vegetable diet on human feces was investigated by means of experiments undertaken upon myself, when I observed that an entirely vegetable diet was attended with the formation of a large quantity of margaric acid in the excrements-most probably not in the form of a margarate, but in the free state, inasmuch as it was obtained from the decomposition, with hydrochloric acid, of the precipitate induced by adding milk of lime to the cold and clear alcoholic extract of feces, after the separation of the abovedescribed deposits.

"In the month of December, 1855, I had an opportunity of noticing that during a cold night, when the temperature falls below the freezing point, excretine crystallizes readily and in large quantity in the clear alcoholic extract of feces; this method I employed as often as possible, to prepare enough excretine for its chemical analysis; but the cold weather not lasting long enough, and this season having been remarkably mild, I was compelled to adopt a modification of the process by milk of lime, described in my former communication.

"Having prepared a sufficient quantity of excretine, partly by the action of cold, and partly by means of milk of lime, the chemical composition of this substance was now determined. A qualitative analysis showed it to consist of carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, and oxygen; there was no water of crystallization present. Oxide of copper was employed at first for the combustion, but they were subsequently undertaken with chromate of lead, on account of the large proportion of carbon that excretine contains; no substance having been found to combine with it, its atonic composition was calculated from the assumption that one equivalent contained one equivalent of sulphur; and the following formula was obtained :

"In my former communication I had stated that when the tissue of the spleen is submitted to a process of analysis similar to that adopted for the extraction of excretine, a substance closely allied to cholesterine is obtained. This subject being one of great importance in a physiological point of view, I have resumed the investigation, and placed beyond doubt that this substance is really cholesterine. Its presence in the spleen is evidently independent of that which might exist in the blood retained by this organ after death. Is it that the spleen secretes cholesterine? This can only be determined by actual experiment; but it is very remarkable that a part of the blood which is supplied to the liver should come directly from an organ containing large quantities of a substance known to enter into the composition of the bile."

V.

REPORT ON MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS.

On Transfusion of Blood in the Horse in Diseases attended with low Vital Action. By Mr. JAMES FARRALL, Veterinary Surgeon to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. ("Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medicine," Feb., 1858.)

MR. FARRALL'S remarks are of considerable interest, not only as affording additional evidence in favor of a very important but much neglected mode of treatment, but also as containing the description of a new mode of performing the operation-a mode which may supersede the syringe altogether.

"During the autumn of 1856 and spring of 1857," says Mr. Farrall, “an epidemic prevailed in and about Dublin, indeed, I believe, all over Ireland, to a greater or less extent, which at its outset presented the leading features of influenza, but of a low typhoid character; it was much more prevalent along the eastern coast than on the western or in the midland counties. In Dublin it was very fatal, and in most of the cases which I was called on to see, I found intense debility, which in some instances had come on within a few hours after the disease had first manifested itself. Horses were seen to eat their food in the morning with every appearance of health and good spirits, and before evening they were found resting against the side of their stables for support; so rapidly had debility followed the first symptoms of the disease.

With all these cases the principal difficulty was to support the strength, watching at the same time closely the symptoms which manifested themselves as the case progressed. Sometimes the urinary organs became affected, and repeated evacuations caused the patient to sink rapidly. In others the bowels were involved, and to such an extent as to resemble bad cases of cholera in the human subject; but the worst forms of this disease that I witnessed were those in which the animals had been bled previously to my having seen them. With those cases which had not been bled, I had, in treating them, an average amount of success; but in most of those that had, I am bound to admit I was by no means so fortunate. I found that everything I could do to restore the vital powers was, in the majority of cases, useless, and, save in the instance of a few young, vigorous horses, collapse set in within a few hours after the abstraction of the blood.

“I gave a fair trial to all the usual remedies. In cases where influenza had assumed a typhoid form, and in which the leading symptoms were a feeble, thready pulse, quick and labored breathing, cold extremities, clammy mouth, drooping eyelids, utter prostration of strength, and, in short, the usual symptoms of collapse, especially such as had been reduced to this state by loss of blood or by excessive purgation, I was generally successful. Discouraged by repeated failures, I determined to try the effect of transfusion,' believing it to be a not unnatural restorative, especially in cases where the improper abstraction of blood had superinduced the symptoms above alluded to.

"To enable me, therefore, to give this operation a fair trial, I commenced a series of experiments, so as to discover the simplest, safest, and most effectual method of conveying blood from one animal into another. I first tried the transfusion syringe, which has been used by medical practitioners for this purpose; but, whether from want of skill in its use, or from defect in the instrument, which had been recommended to me as one of the best, or from some other cause, I cannot tell, but certain it is, I was in no case as successful with

it as I was with a more simple apparatus. I fancied that the blood lost much of its vitality by being exposed to atmospheric air, and also by its being forced and compressed within the cylinder of the instrument. These impressions as to the cause of failure induced me to undertake several experiments with a view to the construction of an instrument which would fulfil the requisite indications, viz., to allow the blood to pass freely from the vein of the healthy into that of the diseased subject without coming in contact with the atmospheric air, and without alteration of its temperature. I at length adopted an exceedingly simple apparatus, which I can describe in a few words. It consists of an India-rubber tube of some two and a half feet long and three-eighths of an inch in diameter, that is, about the caliber of the vein in the adult horse. This must first be turned inside out and carefully cleansed of all sulphur, arsenic, or other matter used in vulcanizing. To either end of this I fitted a silver tube, curved somewhat like a syphon, so that the end, which is slightly rounded at the point, might be passed easily into the vein, both tubes being exactly the same. A narrow zinc or tin trough is required to contain hot water, in which two-thirds of the tube should be immersed during the time that the blood is flowing. This completes the apparatus, and, being prepared, and the horses ready, held by assistants, the jugular vein of the healthy horse, from which the supply is to be taken, is to be opened, and into it one of the silver tubes to be carefully passed, point upwards, so as to receive the current of blood as it flows back from the head; the operator holding the other end, and, having previously opened the corresponding vein in the patient, he should wait till the current is passing freely down the tube from the healthy horse, and then bring it in contact with that which is now flowing slowly from the patient; he should pass the end of the tube carefully into the vein, point downwards, by which means the possibility of any air getting into the tube is avoided. The quantity to be transfused is readily ascertained by watching the expression of the eyes, and noting the pulse carefully. So long as there is no dilatation of the pupils, and so long as the heart's action is not very much affected, the blood may be allowed to flow on uninterruptedly, but as soon as the pupils become dilated, it is necessary to lessen the supply gradually, by compressing the tube with the finger and thumb. If the dilatation disappear after a minute or two, the blood may be again allowed to flow, but if the dilatation increase, you must stop, or otherwise injurious consequences will result. In the cases of two animals which I purchased for the purpose of experiment, I purposely let the blood flow after the dilatation of the pupil had manifested itself, in order that I might see the result, and I found that the dilatation of the pupil increased; and in one of the cases, after winking both eyes three or four times in rapid succession, the horse reared up and fell back. In the other case, I forced the blood in from an India-rubber enema bottle; the pupils first become still more dilated, the breathing very quick and difficult, and the eyes assumed a wild, agonized look, and the animal, with a sudden bound forward, fell dead. I had my finger on the artery during the entire time, and observed a great unsteadiness and fluttering of the pulse, which increased in frequency until the instant before he fell. In the first of these cases I did not force the blood into the vein, but allowed it to flow until I perceived the injurious effects on the horse; he tottered and fell, but in a short time recovered, and was walked back to his stable; he died in the course of the night, and on examining his head, I found considerable congestion of the brain. The tube which I used will transfer about three quarts of blood in eight minutes; at least I judge so from the fact that when used as a syphon it will pass three and a half quarts of water, and a little less of oil from one vessel to another in that time.

"In one of my successful cases, phlebitis supervened both in the healthy and diseased horse. I think I am correct in saying that this disease is by no means so likely to occur in horses as in human beings, and is certainly not so formidable; but, nevertheless, I am quite sure that it may happen as a consequence of the operation if the instrument be not kept scrupulously clean, and also if great care be not taken in its introduction into the vein. Having, from these and other experiments, not necessary to detail, determined on the mode of operating most likely to be successful, I shall now proceed to state the result

of four cases in which I have operated, and which I think I may look upon as having been followed with entire success. In three of the cases the patients had been bled a short time previous to my having seen them, and were so much weakened that they could scarcely walk. In the fourth case a drastic purgative had been administered, causing super-purgation and great prostration of strength. In each of the four cases the condition of the patient was so similar that the description I have already given may answer for all. Having selected a healthy young horse from which to obtain the blood to be transfused, I opened the jugular vein in the patient and in the healthy subject, and having inserted. the tube, as before described, into the vein of the healthy horse, I placed the India-rubber tube in the tin trough containing the hot water to maintain its temperature, and the other curved tube into the descending portion of the vein in the patient. As soon as the current from the healthy horse had completely expelled all atmospheric air, the instrument being thus arranged, the blood flowed freely from the vein of one horse into that of the other in an unbroken current. The average quantity of blood transferred in each of these cases was about three quarts. I observed no particular symptoms to follow from the transfusion until two quarts or more had passed from the healthy to the diseased subject; but as soon as about this quantity had flowed into the diseased subject, there appeared to be produced an amount of stimulation, indicated by an increased action of the heart; at the same time the pupils began to dilate, and the countenance evinced an anxious expression. My former experiments led me to watch with great care the progressive dilatation of the pupil, and I deemed it expedient in each case, when this symptom was well developed, to compress the tube so as to diminish the current and allow the transfusion to proceed more gradually and slowly. Occasionally I almost completely interrupted the current until the subsidence of this symptom, and I found that when about three quarts had been transfused, any additional quantity was followed by unpleasant symptoms, which indicated the necessity of stopping the operation. On removing the tube and closing the vein, all symptoms of irritation gradually subsided, and the pulse, from being rapid and irritable, became slower, stronger, and fuller, gradually approaching the healthy standard.

"In each of these four cases the reaction was steady and progressive. The natural warmth of the extremities was gradually restored, and in the course of ten or twelve hours the patients presented other equally unmistakable symptoms of amendment, such as returning appetite, more quiet and steady respiration, cheerfulness of countenance, and a willingnesss to move about. From this point there was a gradual improvement, and in a short time they were pronounced cured."

On the Toxical and Medicinal Properties of the Nitrate of the Oxide of Glycyl (Nitro-Glycerine, or Glonoine). By (1) Mr. FIELD, late Demonstrator of Anatomy at St. George's Hospital Medical School; (2) Dr. FULLER, Physician to St. George's Hospital; and (3) Dr. HARLEY, Professor of Practical Physiology at University College.

"1. In the evening of February 3d, 1858," writes Mr. Field, "I was conversing with a homoeopathic practitioner, when he mentioned a medicine which possessed peculiar and extraordinary qualities, some of which he described as having affected himself, though he had taken it in very minute quantities. I laughed at his credulity, and offered to take as much as he pleased, upon which he let two drops of what he called the first dilution of glonoine fall on my tongue. After swallowing this small quantity of fluid-I was assured the quantity did not exceed two drops-I asked what effects I must expect, but was told to wait and observe for myself. I then purposely conversed on other subjects. In about three minutes I experienced a sensation of fulness in both sides of the neck, to this succeeded nausea, and I said, 'I shall be sick.' The next sensation of which I was conscious was as if some of the same fluid was being poured down my throat, and then succeeded a few moments of uncertainty as to where I was, during which there was a loud rushing noise in my ears, like steam passing out of a tea-kettle, and a feeling of constriction around the

lower part of my neck as if my coat were buttoned too tightly; my forehead was wet with perspiration, and I yawned frequently. My intellects returned, however, almost immediately, and I remember saying, This has nothing to do with homoeopathy, but it has to do with a very powerful poison; there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in the philosophy of some of us.' I also reproached my friend for not having tested the anaesthetic power of the medicine, by inflicting a slight wound on me. I need scarcely say I am thus minute in my description of what occurred, that an accurate idea may be conveyed of the actual effect produced on me, as well as to justify the uses to which I have since put the medicine. When these sensations had passed off, which they did in a minute or so, they were succeeded by a slight headache, and dull heavy pain in the stomach, with a decided feeling of sickness, though without any apprehension that it would amount to vomiting. I lay on a sofa, feeling rather languid, but talking cheerfully, conscious at the same time that I could very well exert myself both mentally and physically, if I liked, but that it was more pleasant to be idle. This condition lasted about half an hour, at the end of which I was quite well, and walked home, a distance of half a mile, with perfect comfort. I slept soundly from one o'clock till six, when I was called up, having a slight amount of general headache, but not such as I should have regarded but for the recollection of last night's adventure.

"The physician to whom I am indebted for this overdose told me, that when his first impression that I was shamming had passed off, my condition caused him the greatest alarm, for he really thought he had killed me. I learn from him that my head fell back, my jaw dropped, I was perfectly white, breathing stertorous, and no pulse at the wrist for the space of about two minutes. He immediately rushed to a closet, and procured some stimulant, which he poured down my throat. I had never been in better health and spirits than on the day of this occurrence, and had taken nothing for hours but a little cold tea.

This same first dilution of glonoine consists of one drop of a peculiar chemical compound, dissolved in ninety-nine drops of rectified spirit; and glonoine itself I learn to be a nitrate of oxyde of glycyl, prepared by adding nitric and sulphuric acids to glycerine, the temperature of the fluids being kept down by a freezing mixture.

"My own personal experience of the very marked and peculiar effects produced by this drug made me anxious to test its qualities still further. As a direct sedative to the nervous system, without possessing any stimulating or permanently depressing qualities, without affecting secretion, together with its power of subduing muscular action, it appeared to promise to become an invaluable agent in the treatment of a large class of nervous and spasmodic diseases. By a strange perversion of all reason, as it appears to me, my friend, who is an enthusiastic disciple of Hahnemann, began to rejoice, when all appearance of danger had passed, that he had discovered what he considered a splendid remedy for apoplexy, on the principle of similia similibus curantur. I leave him to the enjoyment of his opinions, feeling only grateful that he did not give me a second dose to cure me on a like principle, while I consider the best mode of applying the drug in a precisely opposite direction. With this object I procured some of the first dilution of glonoine from a homoeopathic chemist, and proceeded to institute a series of experiments before applying it to the treatment of disease.

"Anxious to inform myself on the effects of a smaller dose, I got a medical friend to join me. We each touched our tongue with the cork moistened with glonoine solution, and recorded the sensations produced by it. They were nearly as possible identical-a sense of constriction of the neck, slight nausea, with fulness, and some pain in the head, as if the brain were expanding. But I think my friend must have experienced more decided effects than I did, for he declared that he would never take any more. The sensations lasted about five minutes, and then passed off without leaving any unpleasant effects.

"Animals, as far as my experiments have extended, appear to be almost unaffected by this drug, which acts so powerfully on the human organization. "I have repeatedly given it to cats, rabbits, and other animals in doses varying from two to thirty drops without producing any immediate effect. One