amount dissolved was about 60 per cent. in forty-eight hours; the products were the same as in the case of fibrin. If large quantities were introduced, half a pound or more, the diminution in weight was much less, not amounting to more than 30 per cent. The occurrence of absorption by examination of the amount of nitrogen in the urine did not give any satisfactory results, though some increase was observed. A third series of observations were made on the absorptive power of the intestine. These showed that water could be absorbed by the large intestine, though very slowly, twelve hours being required for the absorption of 250 ccm. An increase in the amount of nitrogen in the urine, when peptone prepared from fibrin was introduced, showed that some absorption of this material took place; if introduced in large quantities the peptones appeared to irritate the intestine and to produce diarrhoea. Fluid albumen was not absorbed. That the function of the large intestine can be dispensed with, without disturbance of the general health, is shown by the circumstance that the patient remained in thoroughly good health after the fistula had existed for two and a half years. 6. Klein finds that in the dog the capsule contains in that half which is next the parenchyma a continuous mass of unstriped muscle, the fasciculi of which are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axes of the whole organ. Above this longitudinal coat is a more sparing layer of similar muscular fibres running at right angles to the former and imbedded in connective and elastic tissue. The trabeculæ are almost entirely composed of muscular fibres. In the spleen of monkeys the capsule contains a thin layer of longitudinal muscles in the deeper part only, whereas the trabecula possess a great amount of muscular tissue. In the spleen of man the capsule contains sparingly muscular fibres, and generally at those points only where the trabeculæ are inserted into the capsule. The larger trabeculæ, including the larger branches of the splenic artery and vein, contain in their periphery numerous bundles of unstriped muscles; the smaller trabecula also contain muscular bundles. In the pulp he finds not a reticulum of fine fibres as generally admitted, but a honeycomb of membranes, including spaces of various sizes containing a few blood-corpuscles and numerous nuclei, which are either large, pale, and round or smaller, elliptical, spherical, or irregularshaped. The structure of the pulp, as he observes and describes it, is, he thinks, consistent only with the theory that the venous radicles of the pulp are represented by a labyrinth of spaces in the matrix as advocated by W. Müller, Frey, and others. The lymphoid corpuscles which are produced in such numbers in the spleen appear to be developed from the general cellular stroma of the pulp by a process of budding. In regard to the relation of the matrix of the pulp to that of the adenoid tissue of the arterial sheaths and to the Malpighian corpuscles, he thinks the one passes gradually into the other. He finds numerous lumps of yellowish pigment in the pulp of the human spleen which he believes to stand in intimate relation to coloured blood-corpuscles that have been taken up by lymphoid cells and broken up into small particles within their structure. The multinuclear cells of Kölliker have a real existence and originate in the spleen pulp. 7. Drs. Drosdoff and Botschetschkaroff state that they were led to undertake their researches in consequence of the observations of Prof. Botkin, that the liver augmented in volume in patients in whom the spleen had been made to contract by the passage of induced currents of electricity. They laid open the abdomen of a narcotised dog in such a way as to expose both the liver and the spleen. They then carefully enveloped the spleen in the mesentery, and partially withdrew it, keeping the surface of the membrane constantly wet with warm water. The splenic arteries with their accompanying nerves were easily exposed, and the latter were isolated and divided. The spleen immediately began to enlarge. Irritation of the peripheric extremities of these nerves caused the spleen to contract; during this procedure the liver was closely watched without being removed from its bed. A manometer was introduced into the splenic vein, in order to indicate changes of pressure in the foetal system. The experiments led to the following results:1. Section of the nerves forming the plexus lienalis causes the spleen to augment in all its diameters to the extent of some centimeters, and irritation of the distal cut extremities causes it to diminish. As soon as the latter process commences the liver begins to enlarge, the tubules becoming more sharply contoured, their colour a more pronounced red, the borders of the organ more rounded, and the whole texture firmer. 2. If whilst the spleen is swollen the liver be pricked by a needle, scarcely any blood flows; but as soon as the spleen has been caused to contract by the passage of the electric current, it flows so freely as to empty the liver. 3. After each contraction of the spleen the number of white corpuscles in the liver increases, as the authors of the paper have ascertained by direct enumeration. 4. On irritation of the splenic nerves the pressure in the splenic vein rises. 5. As soon as the irritation is no longer applied the pressure falls to its original level, though before the spleen attains its original volume, indicating that the effect observed is not altogether a vaso-motor action, but is due to the co-operation of other muscular elements, which have indeed been demonstrated iu the lesion of the spleen. 6. Ligature of the splenic vessels materially diminishes the manifestation of the above effects. 8. According to Hörschelmann, sweat-glands occur in all parts of the body, even on the concave side of the concha of the ear, where their presence has been hitherto overlooked. The gland-ducts or tubes never divide dichotomously in the large glands of the axilla. The diameter of the excretory duct is always smaller than that of the tube. The stratum Malpighii dips down in the form of a conical process between two papilla in the cutis towards the excretory duct; when the two are in contact, the excretory duct begins its corkscrewlike windings. Hörschelmann distinguishes small and large sweatglands. In the latter the tube varies in diameter, in the latter it remains the same. Muscles are found in all sweat-glands, excepting those of the scalp. They always lie close beneath the epithelium. The epithelial cells are polyhedric, and their basal extremities are often dentated. They sometimes possess a cuticula. The epithelium in the excretory ducts consists in the small glands always of at least two cell layers, which increase in thickness towards the exterior. The innermost cell layers always possess a cuticula. 1. R. ARNDT. NERVES. Untersuchungen über die Ganglien-Körper der Spinal Ganglien. Archiv f. Microscop. Anat.,' Band xi, p. 140. 2. TH. TREITEL. Eine neues Reaction der Markhaltigen Nervenfasern. In 'Centralblatt f. d. Med. Wiss.,' 1876. No. 9. 3. W. KRAUSE. Die Nerven-Endigung in der Retina. f. Microskop. Anatomie,' Band xii, heft iv, p. 742. Archiv 1. R. Arndt observes that the fundamental form of the cells of the spinal ganglia is that of an irregular more or less flattened disk. They are at least bipolar, but he believes that multipolar ganglioncells also exist, of such form that in addition to two strong and easily perceptible processes they send forth a number of finer processes which, however, may easily be torn or overlooked. He has not been able to satisfy himself of the existence of unipolar ganglion cells, though like other observers he finds many examples in every preparation. The apolar cells which he has also discovered in the spinal ganglia he regards as the result of an anomalous process of development. The two chief processes of any ganglion-cell usually arise in immediate proximity with one another. In many cases each process is enclosed in a special sheath given off from the capsule of the cell; whilst in others the two processes are enclosed in a common sheath. They are almost always medullated even at their origin, though non-medullated specimens are sometimes met with. 2. M. Treitel states that in the course of some investigations he has recently made on the anatomy and pathology of the eye he noticed a remarkable peculiarity of some anilin dyes, namely, that fuchsin, anilin blue, and the iodine violet recommended by Jürgens, tint the medullated nerve substance of healthy nerve-fibres very intensely, whilst they act on degenerated nerve-fibres much less strongly, and do not colour connective tissue at all or but very slightly. He thinks that although these substances may not supplant the use of gold chloride, they may yet prove very serviceable in rapidly bringing the medullated nerve-fibres into view, a few minutes being all the time required. These dyes have the advantage over gold chloride of staining preparations that have long been kept in Müller's fluid. The precise method he adopts is as follows:-A fine section of the optic nerve is placed for about a minute in a very dilute solution of the iodine. The preparation is then carefully washed in distilled water and mounted in glycerine. The normal nerve fasciculi then appear tinted of a violet colour, whilst the connective tissue fasciculi appear by contrast of a bright yellow; any degenerated fibres are much more feebly stained. The walls of the vessels are of a clear violet, and can be easily recognised. The preparations cannot be put up in resin, as the preliminary treatment with alcohol and turpentine discolours them. 3. W. Krause advances the following reasons against the hypothesis of an anatomical continuity of the fibres of the optic nerve with the epithelial cells of the retina, i.e., with the rods and cones. (1.) The rods and cones are connected with the connective-tissue-cells of the membrane fenestrata, and the radially running supporting fibres which are undoubtedly composed of connective tissue. (2.) The parallax of the "vascular figure" is explicable on the view that light is perceived in the plane of the choroid. (3.) The results of sections of the optic nerves and the conditions present in anencephalic fœtuses. (4.) The outer segments are excluded in birds and amphibia by the presence of coloured oil drops. (5.) In the outer segment the occurrence of lamination in the inner segment, the presence of fat drops, and of ellipsoidal lenticular paraboloidal and hyperboloidal bodies in many animals in the rod and cone granules, the occurrence of transverse striation, all constitute so many arrangements that are undoubtedly of a dioptric nature and are therefore of importance. (6.) The epithelial cells of the retina proceed from the ectoderm (epiblast). In the solitary instance where the termination of the nerve fibrils in homologous cell-layers has been ascertained with certainty, it takes place between the cells (anterior epithelium of the cornea, Cohnheim.) REPORT ON TOXICOLOGY, FORENSIC MEDICINE, AND HYGIENE. By BENJAMIN W. RICHARDSON, M.D., F.R.S. I. TOXICOLOGY. A Case of Tobacco Poisoning.-Dr. John W. Bigelow, of Albany, New York, relates that on the 28th of August, 1875, he was hastily summoned to attend Mr. T. S-, a clerk, aged twenty-six years, who had been suddenly seized with convulsions while walking with a friend in the street. He was stricken without premonition, and was conveyed to a neighbouring store, where Dr. Bigelow found him. His skin was pallid and anæmic; his features pinched and contorted; his pulse irregular, variable, and intermittent-at one time 136 in the minute, and in a short time down to 38. The heart beat very irregularly, as evinced by palpitation and tremulous motion of the organ, especially when the man was lying upon the left side. The heart sounds were muffled, and seemed almost to run into each other. The temperature ranged from 98° to 99.5° Fahr. The lips were bloodless, the eyes staring, the pupils dilated. He com plained of great pain and distress in the left side of the chest, especially around the præcordial region; suffered from dyspnoea, drew long sighs, made a gulping effort at emesis, had hiccough and cold perspiration, and presented great nervous prostration. These symptoms were rapidly succeeded by clonic convulsions, which produced great muscular agitation, particularly of the extremities. The teeth were knit together, hands tightly clenched, the legs flexed and extended in rapid alternation. With the cessation of these symptoms the patient complained of pain more or less complete, especially of the left side of the extremities, and of the tip of the tongue; he also spoke of excessive languor and of nervous tremor. After a longer time Dr. Bigelow observed a cataleptic condition of the arms and legs. If a leg or arm were extended or flexed or uplifted it would retain that position for at least five minutes, and the patient, although conscious, was yet unable to help himself or to control the excessive muscular perturbations. This condition passed off, and was followed by hysteric tremors with convulsive twitching of the flexor muscles of the whole body, accompanied by an agonised apprehension of some rapidly approaching catastrophe, the result of which would be death. This fear was in some subsequent attacks the cause of prolonged mental and bodily excitement. Conversation, rapid walking, or any violent motion of the attendants would provoke this spasmodic attack and produce great nervous excitability. He was treated by the hypodermic injection of morphia and with bromide of potassium and ammonia. He was removed home and the urgent symptoms subsided. On inquiry, Dr. Bigelow found that this was the third attack of a similar kind to which the patient had been subjected. The patient had smoked tobacco since he was twelve years of age, some days using as many as twelve cigars, and often substituting for luncheon three or four strong ones. He had little or no appetite for most of the time, was pale and cadaverous, languid and weak; ate but little and at irregular intervals; but from the time he rose in the morning to his retirement at night he was never without his "weed." He was restless, would start up and jump in his sleep, and had become irritable in disposition and enfeebled. A searching scrutiny of his family history failed to elicit any trace of epilepsy or other nervous disorder, and with regard to himself he denied any other sickness than the present. Under quinine, iron, and strychnine, the health of this patient improved, but on September the 5th Dr. Bigelow was again summoned to attend him, as the messenger said, for the "worst fit he had ever had." On arriving Dr. Bigelow found the patient reclining on a couch, presenting the appearance, in speech and looks, of an acute maniac. He was seizing his friends and imploring them to save him from some indescribable "something," which was stifling him. The next moment he fell into the most violent convulsions. He presented the same symptoms in rapid succession as have already been narrated, excepting that his fear of death had become a mania. On inquiry it was found that he had become fretful for a day or two, |