1789THE ARMY MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CORONATION.

addition to sucking blood exercise a poisonous influenceon the organism of the patient. It is also well

known that the body of the parasite, and especially itsanterior region, is provided with numerous large glands,distinguished as the head glands, neck glands, and

cesophageal glands. Dr. Looss gives reasons for supposingthat if the impairment of health which accompanies anky-lostomiasis is really due to a substance secreted by theparasite this substance is probably derived from the headglands. In continuation of the research Dr. Looss turnedhis attention to sclerostoma, a parasite closely allied to

ankylostoma and found in Egypt in immense numbers inthe bodies of the equidæ. In examining the parasites hehad much trouble from the tendency of their bodies to con-tract and to become wrinkled when they were removed fromtheir natural habitat, but he overcame this difficulty byimmersing them in alcohol of about 70 per cent. strengthheated to 80° C. ; they were then cleared in glycerine andmounted unstained in glycerine-gelatin.

THE ARMY MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THECORONATION.

THE army medical arrangements in the metropolis in con-nexion with the processions on June 26th and June 27th havebeen made public and appear to be of a most detailed andcomprehensive character. Stretcher squads will be stationedimmediately behind the line of troops on either side of theroute ; 18 ambulance and six dressing stations will beestablished at convenient spots ; and 10 field hospitalswill be located at such varying points around the centreas Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, St. James’s -Park,Battersea Park, Regent’s Park, Lambeth Palace, SurreySessions House, Tower Ditch, King’s College, andHounslow Heath. The following seven general hospitals,the first four of which are actually on Friday’s route, haveengaged to reserve a certain number of beds for casualtiesof a severe nature occurring among the troops : St. Thomas’sHospital, St. George’s Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital,Westminster Hospital, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Guy’sHospital, and King’s College Hospital. Special arrange-ments have been made for the Colonial and Indian

contingents present in London for the ceremonies of the

coronation. At Alexandra Palace temporary ’- non-dieted "

hospitals have been established to meet the wants of over3000 officers and men, while serious cases can be drafted toSt. Thomas’s Home (officers), Rochester-row Station Hospital(non-commissioned Europeans), and Herbert Hospital (non-commissioned natives). Field hospitals of 50 beds will beestablished in the Home Park, Hampton Court, and on

Hounslow Heath ; a detention hospital of 14 beds will beopened at Fulham Palace for the mounted troops of theIndian contingent ; and a method is to be devised for the

separate treatment of infectious diseases. The medicalofficers in charge of the various camps have been warned asto the need of the utmost vigilance against small-pox.

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THE DISTRIBUTION OF PLAGUE.

THE weekly return of the Director-General of the SanitaryDepartment of Egypt shows that for the week endingJune 8th there were four new cases of plague admitted, ofwhich one occurred in a European. There were two deaths,14 recoveries, and 16 cases remained under treatment.

THE UNRESTRICTED SALE OF POISONS.

IT is, of course, difficult to suggest a satisfactory system ofcontrol by which all poisons or poisonous preparations can besold. Tobacco, paint, and alcohol are poisons, but there is

practically no limit to their sale. Whilst admitting, however,the danger to the community which the unrestricted sale of

poisonous compounds intended exclusively for agriculturalpurposes would possibly involve it is pretty evident that theprovisions of the Pharmacy Act were never intended to applyto such preparations. The sale, for instance, of a weed-

killer or insecticide does not surely require the officesof a particularly well-educated or qualified person, such asis the chemist and druggist. The chemist and druggist isrequired to possess an accurate knowledge of poisons forobvious reasons, chief amongst which is that he dispensesthem for internal administration. Elsewhere we record a casein which a seed and artificial manure merchant was summonedfor selling a poisonous vegetable alkaloid known as nicotinewithout having his name and address on the bottle, and forselling the poison to an unknown person, and for failing tomake an entry of the sale in a book kept for the purpose,contrary to the provisions of the Pharmacy Act. 1868. The

preparation was sold as a I I vaporiser fumigator " which isused for the destruction of greenhouse pests. Evidencewas given to the effect that the compound contained over20 per cent. of nicotine, two ounces containing as

much as 186 grains of the alkaloid-a quantity, it

was stated, sufficient to prove fatal to at least

300 persons. The case was considered proved and thedefendant was fined £2 on each of the three summonses,

including costs. Consent, however, was given to state a

special case for the Court of Appeal. Instances of this sort

are multiplying and it is to be hoped that the Privy CouncilPoisons Committee may find that they will be able to controlthe sale of poisons in some way which, while duly protectingthe public, will not threaten to extinguish an undoubtedlyimportant trade. We learn that the report of this committeeis not expected until the end of the autumn. Their decisionwill have an important bearing upon the case which we havejust discussed.

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THE SMOKE NUISANCE IN NEW YORK.

A VERY instructive incident is reported in our columnsthis week by our New York correspondent in regard to the-smoke nuisance which has recently arisen in that city. As

is well known, the fuel used for heating purposes in NewYork, as in most continental cities, is anthracite. As a

consequence the atmosphere of these cities is never black-ened with smoke, for anthracite is a smokeless fuel. Owing,.however, to the high price of hard coal in New York city,as a result of the general strike amongst the anthracite

colliers cheaper and smoky coal has suddenly come into-

vogue. This change of fuel soon had its bad effect upon theatmosphere of the city and to some extent the inhabitantshave been experiencing a condition of things similar to thatfrequently met with in London, where the householdersare allowed to pollute the air with comparative impunity.In New York city it is a civil offence for a house-

holder to allow smoke other than white, or cinders, dust,gas, or any offensive odour to come from his chimney. Wefear that it would be impossible to impose such a restriction,as that regarding the use of anthracite or smokeless coal inLondon. But what an excellent result would accrue couldit be done. There is little doubt that the householders ofthe metropolis tarnish the atmosphere of London to an

infinitely greater degree than does the manufacturer. There

is no reason, however, why pressure should not be kept to bear-upon the latter offender. It is quite easy to prevent smoke-production in a large furnace even when soft bituminous-

coal is used, whereby not only is a nuisance effectuallychecked but an important economy of fuel obtained, as wehave repeatedly pointed out. In New York notice is to be-sent to all persons guilty of the offence to discontinue-the use of soft coal within five days and in aggravatedcases within 24 hours. If the notice is not complied withprosecution is to be immediately instituted and in case of the