a cup for use in the feeding of the insane

31

envelope of the corpuscles which though not normallypermeable to dissolved haemoglobin is normally permeableto dissolved haemoglobin rendered permeable in the processof caking. He has satisfied himself that the caking processis not a coarse rupture of the envelope. His observations

further lead him to believe that the non-nucleated red

corpuscle possesses a solid or semi-solid framework as seemsto be the case in the nucleated red corpuscles. 2. Dr. H. M.

Vernon : Heat Rigor in Cold-blooded Animals. This article,which is illustrated by 17 graphic tracings, contains theresults of a large number of experiments and shows thaton gradually heating the voluntary muscles of certain

Amphibia three distinct contractions are generally to beobserved, the initial contraction beginning at about 33° C.and culminating at about 43° C., a second contraction

occurring at from about 50° to 56° C., and a third at

about 70° C. Excitability was lost at about 385° C.In addition to the voluntary muscles the heart and un-striated muscles were subject to examination. The first con-traction seemed to be of a tetanic character whilst thesecond and third contractions appeared to be due to thecoagulation of proteids. 3. Mr. W. B. Hardy: On the

Coagulation of Proteid by Electricity. The experiments showthat under the influence of a constant current the particlesof proteid in a boiled solution of white of egg move with thenegative stream if the reaction of the fluid is alkaline butwith the positive stream if the reaction is acid, the particlesunder this directive action aggregating to form a coagulum.4. Dr. M. S. Pembrey and Mr. A. G. Pitts : The Relationbetween the Internal Temperature and the RespiratoryMovements of Hibernating Animals. The animals examinedwere dormice, hedgehogs, a marmot, and a bat. The con-clusion arrived at is that there is a relation between theinternal temperature and the nature of the respiratory move-ments of the above-mentioned hibernating animals. The

types of respiration at different periods are described indetail. 5. Mr. Ernest Starling: The Glomerular Functionsof the Kidneys with four figures in the text. The observa-tions made support the view of Sir William Bowman that theglomerular epithelium may be looked upon as a simplefiltering membrane-that is to say, that it resembles in manyparticulars a membrane of gelatine. The part also includesthe Proceedings of the Physiological Society on May 13th,1899.

The Tournal of State Medicine. Vol. vii., No.6. Jure1899. Price 2s. London: Bailliere, Tindall, and Cox.-Sir Charles Cameron and Dr. W. R. Smith contribute

to this number a paper on the composition of brandyin which they point out, what has for many years been

suspected, that a large amount of the so-called brandyconsumed cannot in all probability be the produceof the wines of the Cognac district but rather grainspirit artificially flavoured. The writers speak highly ofcertain samples of brandy made from Spanish wines. We

propose to deal with this paper in some detail in a future ’,issue. Mr. William Berry writes upon the Control of Measlesand Whooping-cough, and Dr. Patrick Letters on the Pre-vention of Measles in Rural Districts. Both these latter

papers were read at the Dublin Congress of the RoyalInstitute of Public Health in August, 1898.

GLOUCESTER GENERAL INFIRMARY.-At the lastmeeting of the committee of the Gloucester GeneralInfirmary Dr. Rayner Winterbotham Batten, J.P., resignedhis appointment of senior physician to the institution. Thechairman in expressing the regret with which the com-mittee accepted the resignation alluded to the great interestthat Dr. Batten had taken in the infirmary during the 33years with which he had been connected with it, and itwas unanimously resolved to recommend the governors toappoint Dr. Batten consulting physician.

New Inventions.AN EJECTOR FOR VACCINE LYMPH.

VARIOUS contrivances have been from time to time

suggested for the purpose of avoiding the obvious objectionsto the practice of expelling lymph from vaccine tubes byholding the tubes between the lips and blowing into themwith the breath. Messrs. Lynch and Co., Limited, of

Aldersgate-street, E.C., have recently introduced an ejectorby which the necessary pressure of air can be obtained fromany ordinary hypodermic syringe. It consists of a tubularmetal mount about three-quarters of an inch in length,

snown mil size in the accom-

panying illustration (A). Atone end of this mount thecentral aperture is tapered sothat it will fit on to thenozzle of the syringe and theother end is covered with a,

removeable screw cap havinga small hole in its centre (B).This cap compresses againstthe end of the mount a

perforated di"c of indiarubberor leather ((’) through whichva m,wvam.a y z uuawuu avuavu

the tube of lymph has previously been passed. The endsthe tube of lymph has previously been passed. The endsof the tube are then broken off and the connexion ismade with the syringe. The price of the mount is ls. Thediscs are of about the size of a hypodermic tabloid and whenthey require renewal they can be easily made from a pieceof indiarubber bandage or leather. The mount itself beingentirely of metal will outlast an ejector made wholly or inpart of indiarubber which is liable to gradual deteriora-

tion, especially in hot climates.

A CUP FOR USE IN THE FEEDING OFTHE INSANE.

MR. W. E. BURTON has designed-at the suggestion ofNurse C. W. Knight-a cup to be employed in those casesof dementia in which enforced feeding is necessary. Thereservoir is made of copper and domed over. The spout isof steel and terminates in a wedge-shaped nozzle which isfenestrated on the upper and under surfaces. The whole i&

thickly plated with either silver or nickel. In proceeding touse the cup the nozzle is pushed upward and backwardbetween the incisor teeth until about half an inch has been

got through when by slightly raising the reservoir and stillmaintaining pressure as much of the spout is introduced asmay be necessary. The cup has been used for several weeksin a very troublesome case with perfect success. It is

easily cleaned. The makers are Messrs. Mayer and

Meltzer.