A Preservative against Syphilis.-It is announced in a late number of L'Union Médicale, that a M. Debrosse professes to have discovered a method of preservation against attacks of syphilis. The inventor states "that any part plunged for five minutes in the prophylactic liquid may be exposed with impunity to the contact of mucous membrane impregnated with the virus of syphilis." A mercantile house has made a proposition to the Government of Spain on the subject; and it has been so far seriously entertained that the Government has referred the question to the decision of the Academy of Medicine and Surgery of New Castle. While the discussion was proceeding, (with closed doors,) a Dr. Lafond, of Bayonne, accompanied by a member of the commercial house in question, appeared before the Academy, and read a memoir on the success which had attended the use of Debrosse's liquid, stating that it was an astringent preparation. A committee was therefore appointed to inquire into the matter, and according to the latest intelligence, the members of this committee were busily engaged in carrying out their investigations on this curious subject.-Ibid, from L'Union Médicale.

Alleged Rape perpetrated on a Female while under the influence of Ether. That which had been suspected as a probable result, on the introduction of a new narcotizing agent, has, according to the Gazette Médicale, actually occurred in Paris. Last week a female went to a dentist to have a tooth extracted. He advised that it should be stopped; and, to avoid the pain of the operation, recommended his patient to inhale the vapour of ether. What passed while the female was under the influence of the vapour may be inferred from the following facts:--The young female was observed to leave the dentist's house about three hours after she had entered it, in a very disordered state. This attracted the attention of her employer, who could not account for her long absence. The injured party, notwithstanding the stupefying effects of the ether, retained some recollection of what had passed, and, from some words which fell from her, suspicion was immediately excited. She was examined by a physician, who reported that her person had been violated. The dentist has been arrested, and is about to be prosecuted for the offence.-Ibid, from Gaz. Méd.

A new cure for Nervous Affections.-M. Pallas considers that the cause of a great number of "nervous affections" is to be found in the excessive influence of atmospheric or terrestrial electricity. He states that, by adapting to bedsteads glass feet, and isolating them at about eighteen inches from the wall of the apartment, he has cured the patients sleeping upon them of a host of nervous affections.

The impression produced on the mind has probably as powerful an influence in the cure as the insulation on glass.-Ibid.

Statistics of Suicides in Paris.-By a criminal report, for the year 1845, just published, out of 11,049 deaths, there were 3084 cases of

suicide,--being 111 above above the number for 1844, and only 64 above that of 1843. Of the 3084 suicides, there were 2332 males and 725 females. Sixteen males and four females had not reached

their sixteenth year. Among the number were children of 7, 8, and 10 years. There were

From 16 to 21 years

From 21 to 30 66

From 30 to 50

66

123

362

1201

945

203

41

Taking the months of the year, there were of suicides in

Summer.-June July, and August

Spring.-March, April, and May

Autumn.-Sept., Oct., and Nov.

Winter.-Dec., Jan., and February

922

861

756

545

1110

995

432

213

According to the means of perpetration, there were—

The last mode of self-destruction is exceedingly prevalent in the department of the Seine.

The motives were those usually met with-love, jealousy, debauchery, reverse of fortune, domestic misery, and physical suffering. -Ibid, from Ibid.

Action of Ether injected into the Arteries.-According to the experiments of M. Flourens, it would appear that ether, when injected into the blood vessels, has an inverse effect to that observed after the inhalation of the fluid. When inhaled, ether suspends sensation before it interferes with the power of motion; but, when injected into the arteries, M. Flourens found that it destroyed the power of motion previously to exerting any influence on sensation : indeed, sensation remains unaffected, unless the quantity of ether employed is very large. Ibid, from Gaz. des Hôpitaux.

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

Composition of the Blood in Scurvy.-M. Marshal de Calvi, in an essay upon this subject, acknowledged the truth of Professor Andral's observation, that the quantity of fibrin might not be diminished in the blood of scorbutic patients, but accounted for the fact by the inflammatory condition generated in the circulating fluid by the efforts necessary for the resorption of extravasated blood. The singular coincidents of the diminution of albumen and of globulin, with the absence of dropsical effusion or of murmurs in the heart and arteries, M. Marshall explained by the difference which muse exist between diminution of the power of creating albumen in the blood, and genuine decrease or destruction of the component principle.

Treatment of Cancer.--M. Rivaillé read a paper on the use of caustics for the treatment of cancer. In a general manner Dr. Rivaillé stated that caustics were preferable to the removal of these tumours with the knife. Concentrated nitric acid had yielded him in his practice most advantageous results. Poured over a pledget of lint, it constituted with the latter a semi-solid cake, which moulded itself to the shape of subjacent parts, and effectually prevented hemorrhage. It was particularly in fungous tumours disposed to this accident that M. Rivaillé had found nitric acid useful as a local application. M. Rivaillé also in many instances employed alum for the purpose of arresting the progress of hospital gangrene.

Spontaneous Dislocation of the Knee.-M. Palasciano forwarded a communication, in which he endeavoured to establish-first, that the muscle known as "tensor vagina femoris" did not deserve that name, but, being inserted by long tendinous fibres to the external condyle of the tibia, its use was to rotate the leg outwards, and to abduct the knee when it is bent. Starting from these anatomical data, M. Palasciano observed that the spontaneous dislocation of the knee was a complicated affection, constituted by the flexion, rotation, and abduction of the knee; displacement of the tibia backwards, of the patella outwards, and often with more or less complete ankylosis. In order to cure this disease, which had hitherto been erroneously considered as irremediable, M. Palasciano proposed the section of the flexor tendons, of that of the rotator externus (tensor v. f.,) of the rectus femoris, and vastus externus, also the division of the external lateral ligaments of the joint: preliminary operations which would pernit the rupture of the ankylosis and the surgical reduction of the limb to its natural direction.-Medical Times.

Diarrhea of Children.-The diarrhoea which accompanies or follows the period of weaning is often fatal; it is not only observable in children who are suddenly deprived of the breast, but also in those who are nursed for too long a period. Dr. Weisse, physician to the Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, advises the exhibition of raw meat in such cases, and asserts that he has from this practice often derived the most signal advantages. The meat should be hashed, or reduced into a pulp, and two table-spoonfuls may be at first given in four meals.-Med. Times, from Annales de la Société Med. Chir. de Bruges.

Burnett's Disinfecting Fluid.--The chloride of zinc in solution, it appears from a parliamentary document which has just been issued, has been employed extensively as a disinfectant in dissecting-rooms, the wards of hospitals, and in the royal navy, and, according to the reports which we have seen, has been eminently successful in effecting the objects for which it is designed. The medical officers at Haslar Hospital state that it has been used in that hospital in the close stools of patients affected with dysentery, in the water-closets

and cesspools, and also in the wards, when the air was tainted by purulent expectoration or discharge from sores, with the effect of immediately removing the disagreeable odours. It has also been used in surgery with good effect, in removing the smell of putrefying animal substances, and the odour of dead bodies under inspection: when employed as a dressing to ulcers, it removes the disagreeable smell of purulent matter, and, in the proportion of one part of the clear solution to eighteen of water, it preserves subjects of natural history from putrefaction, and in a fit state of anatomical inspection, after more than a year has elapsed. A similar testimony in favour of the solution of the chloride, is borne by the assistant surgeon of the Marine Hospital at Woolwich, who adds, "the great advantage which the chloride of zinc possesses over other agents employed for a like purpose, is, that it removes the disagreeable effluvium, without leaving one little less offensive in its room, and may therefore be made use of wherever this effect is required-in private as well as public buildings, in the sick bed chamber no less than in the crowded ward. The method adopted at this hospital is to supply each of the wards with a bottle of the diluted solution, which the nurses have directions to use whenever occasion may require, besides sprinkling it over the floors before the morning and evening visits are made.

Its utility in the dissecting-room is confirmed by the statements made by Mr. Bowman, Dr. Sharpey, Mr. Partridge, Dr. Murray, and Dr. V. Pettigrew, who concur in asserting, that in a proper degree of dilution its success is complete, and that it appears to preserve the colour and texture of the parts very admirably. It has, further, the very important advantage of not acting on the steel instruments employed, being in this respect equal to alcohol. Dr. Methven especially mentions an instance in which the solution corrected advancing putrescence, and enabled him to dissect during July. He believes, further, it will be the means of saving many valuable lives, which are annually lost by wounds received in the course of dissection, as, while dissecting this putrid body, he cut himself several times, and once received a punctured wound, without any bad consequences arising. Mr. M'Bain, of the "Mastiff," adds his testimony to the rapid and perfect effects of the chloride of zinc solution upon animal matter in a state of putrefaction. Having frequently opportunities of dissecting or examining large fish, &c., cast on shore, whilst undergoing decomposition, the task has been occasionally any thing but agreeable, for want of a convenient power to destroy the putrefactive process. The chloride in these cases acts like magic; and as a great practical agent over one of the most import conditions of animal and vegetable matter-viz: putrefaction, it stands unrivalled." Its influence on board ship, in annihilating the offensive smell of bilge-. water, and in sweetening between decks, is shown by the united evidence of captains, surgeons, and masters in the royal navy. Among other vessels, it was used on board the "Victoria and Albert" royal yacht, to remove a more than ordinary stench of bilge-water, and other offensive odours, with the most complete success. The surgeon

states that she has remained comparatively sweet ever since, and when a bilge-water smell is occasionally perceptible, a slight application of the fluid removes it. The solution has also been used for very disgusting privies, &c., effluvia from which, it quickly neutral

izes.

Mr. Henderson, the surgeon to the dock-yard at Portsmouth, has employed the fluid in a severe case of open cancer, the fator from which was intolerable to the patient and attendants: this it destroyed so long as the dressings were kept moist therewith. Professor Quain has used it, he says, in the treatment of sloughing tumours with beneficial result, and he has no doubt it will supplant the chloride of lime and soda altogether in the removal of fœtid odour. Mr. Gibson, surgeon of the "Eurydice," employed it in a case of angry ulcer, in the proportion of one part to four of water. An eschar was the result, the separation of which left the ulcer in a healthy condition.

Several naval and other medical men have employed it as a disinfectant in hospitals, and on board ship, the general results being a marked diminution in the rate of mortality. Dr. Lindsay, Dr. Cronin, and Dr. Connor, of Cork, all bear testimony to its beneficial effects. Mr. Verling, surgeon of the "Vengeance," thus speaks:

We

"Having used the chloride of zinc rather extensively on board Her Majesty's ship Vengeance,' whilst employed in the conveyance of troops, I think proper to report to you the result thereof. carried the first battalion of the forty-second regiment, consisting of about 700 men, women, and children, from Malta to Berinuda. Measles had prevailed epidemically in the regiment previously to their embarkation, but we received none on board labouring under the disease; yet after being ten days at sea, several cases occurred simultaneously among the soldiers, and on the 1st of April, having been then a month at sea, the disease appeared among our own people, ten cases occurring on that day, and from that day to the fifteenth of the month, when we arrived at Bermuda, fresh cases were almost of daily occurrence, either among our own people or the troops. On getting rid of the troops, which we did at Bermuda, my attention was of course specially directed to every means whereby the contagion could be destroyed. Cleanliness and ventilation were duly attended to, and every part of the ship where the sick had been, after being cleaned and aired, was sponged well over with the solution of chloride of zinc several times. Than the result, nothing could be better; the disease totally ceased, no fresh case occurring after. On our passage from Halifax, with the sixtieth regiment on board, the weather was so bad, and the ship working so much, that it was quite impossible to open any of the lower-deck ports, on which deck the whole of the people lived, troops as well as our own people, for eight days; the air throughout the deck was exceedingly vitiated with every mixture of noxious smell, but the free use of the chloride of zinc tended, in a most surprising manner, to do away with the bad smell; so much 30, that the surgeon of the regiment came to me to get some to use in the part of the ship where the ladies of the officers were.