209SMALL-POX IN SCOTLAND.

respiration was at the same time discontinued. He then

gaveaboutsix normal respirations and again ceased to breathe.The cyanosis all this time remained the same. After the

second stoppage of respiration nothing seemed to have theslightest effect. Several more injections of brandy and alsoof ether were given ; artificial respiration, the interruptedgalvanic current, raising the legs, complete inversion andnitrite of amyl-all these were tried. but without success,the artificial respiration being continued for over half anhour. An inquest was held on Monday, July 10th, when averdict of "Accidental death was returned. The coroner

said he "did not consider that a post-mortem was necessary,"so that an examination of the heart could not be made.

SMALL-POX IN SCOTLAND.

SMALL-POX has almost disappeared in Scotland. Therehave been no fresh cases in Glasgow for a week or two andonly five remain in hospital. The Montrose outbreak is

reported on by Dr. Lawrence. It consisted of eighteen casesand the medical officer of health traces all of them, directlyor indirectly, to working amongst flax imported from Russia.A similar genesis is alleged with regard to an outbreak thatoccurred in the town seven years ago, and the natural advice isthat employers should accept the services only of revaccinatedworkers. This receives local emphasis from the facts that inthe course of the outbreak no revaccinated person was

attacked, though the revaccinations were numerous, and thatthe only death occurred in an unvaccinated adult.

THE ADVANCES MADE IN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES.

THE address delivered by the new President (Sir JohnEvans, F.R.S.) before the members of the Society ofChemical Industry on the occasion of their annual meetingat Liverpool on the 12th inst. embodied an interestinghistory of the progress that has taken place in chemical

industry and science during the last half-century. After

referring to the enormous impetus given to the iron trade bythe introduction of the Bessemer furnace, Sir John Evans

drew the attention of his hearers, as if by contrast, to

the interesting experiments of Professor Dewar under con-

ditions of extreme cold. Most substances when subjectedto these conditions are, he said, so to speak, dead and theirordinary affinities are in abeyance. Thus sodium or potas-sium actually floated on liquid oxygen without evincingthe least disposition to combine. " Glacial chemistry "will probably compel us, therefore, to modify our viewsas to the properties of matter. The future for gas derivedfrom coal, the President thought, was as a source of powerrather than as a direct illuminant ; as for electricity, the fieldfor its application appeared to be as broad now as ever it was.Its economical production was one of the most pressing pro-blems of the day. Reviewing the extraordinary progress thathad been made in organic chemistry, Sir John Evans instancedthe discovery of mauve by Perkin, which was so quicklyfollowed by an abundant harvest of artificial colours. Not

only colouring matters but flavours and scents have been

produced in the chemical laboratory, though art, thePresident remarked, if superseding nature for a time, musteventually acknowledge her inferiority, even in "pear-drops."The production of sugar was another illustration of the

progress in chemical industry. Owing to the improvementin the methods of growing the beet and the process of manu-facture nearly twice the weight of sugar is produced fromthe root than was the case fifty years ago. Sugar naturallyled to the subject of fermentation, and it was the studyof fermentation, more particularly the action of yeast onsngar, that led to the elaboration of another and vitallyimportant field of science-bacteriology. The deterrentinfiuence of light on the growth and life of organisms, asillustrated in Professor Marshall Ward’s experiments, was

mentioned in this connexion. From organisms Sir JohnEvans brought his hearers face to face with a problem whichthe chemist has failed satisfactorily to solve-not the dis-posal but the utilisation of sewage. Though many chemistshad designed processes which were effectual in decently andeconomically disposing of sewage, yet the utilisation of

sewage as a fertiliser has not been brought to a successful orsatisfactory issue. Sir John Evans could hardly refer to thissubject without giving a word of praise to the excellentservices rendered to agriculture by Sir John B. Lawes andDr. Gilbert, and it was with these words of tribute that heconcluded his interesting address. Professor J. Emerson

Reynolds, ex-president, moved, and Professor Campbell Brownseconded, a vote of thanks to the President for his address,a proceeding of which the members present unanimouslyapproved.

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MEDICAL AID FOR INDIAN WOMEN.

WE are once more favoured with an opportunity of bringingunder the notice of our readers the movement inauguratedseven years ago by Lady Dufferin for the purpose of pro-viding skilled female medical aid for Indian women. Two

years ago we directed attention to the progress made by thiswell-directed enterprise. In 1891 the number of personsrelieved through its agency was 411,000, and the number offemale native Indian students in training in the medicalschools was 204. Last year’s report marks a further

advance. The annual register of patients has increased to466,000 and the student roll to 222. We have to note,moreover, that local organisations connected with the parent.society in Calcutta have sprung up to the number of

131 throughout the provinces of India, from Beloochistan toBurmah and Tinnevelly. An important branch established inLondon to represent the United Kingdom held its annual

meeting a few days ago at the residence of Lord Brassey. Onthat occasion the income of the society in India was stated tobe about 3500, the investments representing about 116,828.These are figures which attest not only the growing esteem withwhich the operations of this useful association are regarded byits well-wishers amongst the European population, but, whatis even more important, its appreciation by the far morenumerous body of sufferers whom it seeks to relieve. We areall aware of the difficulties interposed between the benevolentskill afforded by Western science and Oriental necessity byreligious and social exclusiveness. We must all regret thatsuch difficulties exist, but we must also all the more becauseof their existence endeavour so to administer to our sufferingfellow subjects in India that aid which they require as toensure its acceptance. We have already shown that LadyDufferin’s scheme is achieving year by year an increasingsuccess in this direction, and we can therefore confidentlycommend its efforts to the practical support which many inthis country will, we feel sure, be able and ready to render.

SPINAL CORD CHANGES IN PERNICIOUS ANAEMIA.

WE referred in a recent number of THE LANCET to observa-tions originally made by Dr. Lichtheim on changes occurring inthe spinal cord in association with pernicious anemia and tothe more exhaustive work by Dr. Minnich, which was in realitya continuation of that commenced by Dr. Lichtheim. In a

recent number of the -zYeiirologise7tes Centralblatt there is a

P6sitnig of an article from the Zeitsahrift für Klinishe Medicin,by Dr. Minnich in continuation, or rather in extension, of hisformer work. In this paper are detailed the observations madeon five cases of pernicious ansemia, which during life presentedno symptoms pointing to spinal cord affection. It was hopedthat early changes might be found in the cord to indicate the-manner in which the affection began and its possible cause; butthis hope was scarcely realised. Two distinct groups of changeswere found. The first consisted of capillary haemorrhages,

210 THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.

similar to those: occurring simultaneously in the retinas, withtheir consequences—viz., patches of miliary sclerosis. These

were particularly noticed in hardened preparations. Thesecond group of changes was only noticed after hardening,the fresh cords presenting no other appearance than was tobe expected in cases of extreme anaemia. In the hardened

specimens this change consisted in a strong, bright colourationof the posterior columns of the cord in its entire length, not-unlike the ordinary posterior sclerosis of tabes, but withoutany shrinking. There was also visible at the peripheral parts’of the anterior and lateral columns a somewhat diffuse bright-yellow colour. The cord substance was very brittle, the

- effect of a process of softening affecting the grey as well asthe white matter, but especially the posterior columns1’Exactly similar changes were found in a case of leucasmia andin one of tumour of the inferior vermis of the cerebellum-i e., in cases of long-continued illness which had muchreduced the patients. The microscopical appearances were’--very similar to those found in true spinal cord affections, but’the changes evidently depended on a condition of oedema of’the cord. The writer considers it not impossible that thedropsical changes originating in the course of severe illnessesmay really be the starting point of a true degenerative disease,of the spinal cord.

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THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.

FROM Rome, under date the 17th inst., our own corre-

,spondent writes : There can now be no doubt that in pointof numbers alone, to say nothing of the importance of the

,monographs which were announced in my last communi-,cation as being expected from such dii naajorum gentium ofmedicine as Virchow, Charcot and Nothnagel, the comingCongress will be superior to the most-frequented of itsten predecessors. In the first place, take Italy herself.There are about 20,000 possessors of medical diplomas inthe peninsula, and of these it is safe to assume that nofewer than one-fourth will make an appearance at the

Sections. To these 5000 Italian medical men may safely be- .added the 3000 practitioners and teachers of other nationalitieswho are already pledged to come, to say nothing of

’’the fact that ’adesioni’ to the number of 3000 more areall but committed to be present. Allowing for absten-

tions and false starts’ due to unforeseen causes, whichaffect no profession more than the medical, we maydeduct 1000 from the 11,000 thus compiled, and the balanceof 10,000 ’Congressisti’ remains-a total exceeding by morethan 4000 the attendance at the Berlin Congress in 1890. It

*:.s, I find, from Germany that the majority of the foreign parti- cipants at the sittings will come. Certainly there is nothingof that international jealousy between Italy and the twoother members of the Triple Alliance that caused the Frenchcepresentatives to be ‘conspicuous by their absence’ at theBerlin Congress. America also, both from her northern and:southern divisions, will send many delegates-the physicians."1,nd surgeons of the United States especially. These latter,I understand, have already engaged a first-class steamerto take them first to Liverpool and thence, without

touching at any intermediate port, to Cività Vecchia, from’’which place an hour and a half’s journey by rail will bringthem to Rome. The International Exhibition, as I have fromtime to time indicated, will form a feature of the approachingCongress that has been unexampled by any hitherto held atmedico-chirurgical meetings. In addition to the ten classes’of’ exhibits’ and the supplementary class devoted to hydro-logy and balneoterapia,’ already enumerated, the CroceMossa Italiana’ will be exceptionally rich in its show ofmatériel-so rich, in fact, that the Palazzo delle Belle

Arti, in which the above-named classes will be accom-

Emodated, will afford no room for the wealth of appliancesand other gear constituting the armamentarium of a

ully equipped ambulance service. In consequence, a special

building-the ‘Eldorado,’ which is contiguous to the Palazz)delle Belle Arti-has been set apart for the Italian RedCross Society-an arrangement all the more necessary onaccount of the fact that the great proportion of the’ exhibits ’ are sent in for competition ’ and the umpiremust therefore have space and detachment’ enoughto test each of the competing systems separately so as

to arrive at an adequate appreciation of their several meritsbefore adjudging the medal or diploma to be qwarded to tbe’best’ and the second best.’ Over and above this distinc.

tively competitive exhibition there will be a subordinate orsupplementary one, consisting of exhibits outside com.

petition’ (fuora cortcorso)-exhibits placed on view byforeign Governments. Germany is particularly rich in theselatter ; whilst the various societies of ’Assistance Publique’ throughout Europe, including that of the Knights of Maltawill be strongly represented. The whole exposition, in fact,will do infinite honour to its accomplished and indefatig- able organiser, Professor Luigi Pagliani of Turin, Directorof the School of Hygiene and Sanitary Officer en chefto the Ministry of the Interior ; and it will establisha precedent to be followed, it is anticipated, by future Con.gresses, whose appointments, indeed, will henceforth bereckoned incomplete without a concurrent exhibition of thekind. It may be well to remind your readers who may wish,whilst profiting by the various discussions in the Sections, to

take full advantage of the unique opportunities afforded bythe ’Esposizione,’ that the latter will be open from Sept. 15thto Oct. 15th-that is, a full week before and a full fortnightafter the risin g of the Congress. "

THE MANUFACTURE OF OZONE.

OzoNE has always afforded an interesting subject both forpopular speculation and scientific investigation, and it is onlya month ago that the exact conditions were ascertained by whicha maximum yield of this interesting body could be obtained. Werefer to the interesting studies of Professors W. A. Shenstoneand W. Priest, a short notice of which appeared in an article on

the Royal Society conversazione in THE LANCET of Jane 10thIt is now reported that ozone has been successfully prepareon a commercial scale, so that we may expect to deal with its a>

an everyday commodity. By adopting a special form of appa.ratus, in which many of the delicate bearings of the almostfamiliar and historic ozone generator of Siemens and Brodie aredispensed with, M. Andreoli has succeeded in converting in

his apparatus oxygen into ozone to the extent of 6 percent,In the Andreoli apparatus advantage is taken, it appears, of :the well-known tendency of electricity to flow away from,

points, and it is between these points, under an enormoustension, that oxygen or air is allowed to flow. Part of the

oxygen is thus condensed into ozone. The yield of ozoB6,

however, in no way compares with the results of ProfessorShenstone’s experiments, who obtained as much as 30 per centof ozone, an amount that exceeded all existing records aniwhich has not since been surpassed. Even wereozonetobeprc’duced in a tolerable state of purity we cannot see how it wouldbecome available for the many purposes for which it ii

supposed to be so valuable, besides which, there is (hi

question of its storage. Ozone, under ordinary conditionis a gas which is probably moie difficult to preserve thanany other known gas. Apart from its tendency under theslightest provocation to "explode back into ordinary oxygenits extraordinary power of diffusing through many substance!is a difficulty that must be reckoned with. As an illustrationof this property may be mentioned the fact that it passesthrough comparatively stout rubber tubing as though it wellwire gauze. Then, again, ozone in quantity is decidepoisonous, whilst its presence in the air to any extent producesirritation of the mucous membrane. Ozonisers for the pn’duction of ozone in a room may perhaps be used with adf3!J’