442 NEW INVENTIONS.

College of Physicians, but they were men of whom thatcorporation have a right to be exceedingly proud.

This volume contains the biography of but one physicianof any official celebrity, Thomas Moundeford, M.D. Cantab.,who was seven times Censor of the Royal College of

Physicians and seven years President between the dates of1612 and 1623. He was an Eton man, a classical scholar,and a competent official, but has left no mark in the medicalworld. Sir Thomas Charles Morgan, M.D., also an Eton andCambridge man, attained to considerable prominence at theend of the eighteenth and beginning of this century, butmore as a philosopher and miscellaneous writer and as thehusband of the popular author and hostess, Sydney, LadyMorgan, who wrote "The Wild Irish Girl," than as a

medical man. Morgan was a friend and an admirer of EdwardJenner, the discoverer of vaccination, and his only purelymedical work seems to have been an expostulatory letter toBenjamin Moseley on the latter’s review of the report of theRoyal College of Physicians of London upon the Jennerianwork. Sir Thomas Morgan’s knighthood was a semi-politicalhonour, and was given to him by the Duke of Richmond,the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. As a politician he was astrenuous advocate of Catholic Emancipation and took anactive part in the promotion of the Irish fishing industries,having been a member of the Royal Commission to inquireinto them. A materialism a little too pronounced for histime was apparent in his writings and seriously damagedhis professional reputation, and it is as a man of the worlds

of letters and fashion that he will be remembered-if at all.Dr. Benjamin Moseley, to whom we have just referred,studied medicine in London, Paris, and Leyden, and settledto practise in Jamaica in 1768, where he was Surgeon-Generalto the island, and made interesting notes on the climate,topography, and endemic disorders of the West Indies, fromwhich, however, he seems to have drawn incorrect deduc-tions. He was physician to the Royal Hospital for

Veterans at Chelsea, and was a voluminous, and almost sen-sational, but unscientific writer upon tropical disease ardallied subjects. He also claimed to be the first to have dis-

covered that the scratches of a mad cat will produce hydro-phobia, and he published at the beginning of the century awork on the prevention and cure of that disease, his methodof treatment being to extirpate the wounded part andadminister a full course of mercury.

Three purely scientific men are noticed at some length inthis volume : two laymen bearing the same name as thephysician whom we have last mentioned, and a physician,Dr. John Mudge, the son of the Rv. Zachariah Mudge,described by Sir Joshua Reynolds as the " wisest man he hadever met," and brother of Thomas Mudge, the celebratedwatchmaker. John Mudge, M.D. Aberd., F.R.S., though anadvanced and learned physician, as is shown by his viewsupon infection held as far back as 1777, is better known asa celebrated manufacturer of telescopes. He received the

Copley Medal of the Royal Society for his work in this

direction, and the President, Sir John Pringle, in makingthe presentation remarked of him : "Dr. Mudge hath trulyrealised the expectation of Sir Isaac Newton, who, aboutone hundred years ago, presaged that the public would oneday possess a parabolic speculum, not accomplished bymathematic rules, but by mechanical devices." Telescopesoccupied most of Dr. Mudge’s time. He made two largeones with a magnifying power of two hundred times ; oneof these he gave to Count von Bruhl, the other descended tohis son, General William Mudge, director in 1791 of the

Ordnance trigonometrical survey of the country, and laterLieutenant-Governor of the Royal Military Academy at Wool-wich. Of the two Aloseleys, Henry the father, the famousmathematician, was Professor of Natural and ExperimentalPhilosophy and Astronomy at King’s College and chaplain tothat institution also, and it is to his mathematical labours that

we owe the formulse by which the dynamical stabilities of ourships of war have since been calculated. Henry NottidgeMose.ley, his son, the celebrated naturalist, and member ofthe scientific staff of the Challenger, needs no further com-ment. His "Notes by a Naturalist on the G’hccllenger’qapproaches Darwin’s "Journal of the Cruise of the Beagle "in interest and importance ; while the fact that he succeededProfessor Rolleston in the Linacre Professorship of humanand comparative anatomy at Oxford University invests himwith additional interest for our profession.

A Practical Ready Reference Guide to Parish Councils andParish 3-reetings. By T. HARRIS STONE, M.A., and T. G.PEASE, B.A., Barristers-at-Law. London : George Philipand Son. 1894.

IF it were not for the fact that women may be elected

parish councillors there would be something very patriarchalabout this form of rural government, ascending as it doesfrom parish to district and from district to county councils ; -,and it is as well perhaps (considering the power in localsanitary matters) that the district council may be called toaccount at the bands of the county council by a parishmeeting. But whatever may be said for or against theLocal Government Act, as most of its provisions will

come into operation in November it is well for aUthose interested in the matter to know what specialpowers are granted to the different bodies. The work before us deals mainly with those parts of the Act

directly affecting parish meetings and parish councils-although there are cross-references to direct the reader tothe Act itself, which is printed as an appendix to the bock-and is exactly what it professes to be: "a practical readyreference guide." Every point is dealt with under a separateheading, and these are marginal and in alphabetical order,so that the book is really its own index. This is exactlywhat a book of reference should be, and the authors

may be congratulated on having placed their matter togetherin as concise and handy a form as possible, whether for theuse of chairmen, clerks, and councillors themselves, or forthat of those merely curious upon the subject.

New Inventions.A NEW GALVANIC ELEMENT FOR MEDICAL

PURPOSES.

THE object of this communication is to bring to the

notice of those of the readers of THE LANCET who are

interested in electro-therapeutics what I consider to be a.

distinct advance in galvanic batteries for medical pur-poses. A new element has been submitted to me byMr. Schoth, of 170A, Great Portland-street, W., whichI am inclined to consider as the one best suited to the

requirements of physicians and patients. It is, first, a

dry element, which will stand a deal of knockingabout without detriment to its efficacy ; secondly, it is

very light, the smaller model, sufficient for all ordinarypurposes, weighing but a trifle over three ounces ; thirdly,it is the most compact medical cell I am acquaintedwith-it is cylindrical in shape, measuring one inch and aquarter in diameter and two inches in height (under threeinches with terminals) ; fourthly, it is quite as constantand as durable as other larger elements of a similar(Leclanché) type ; finally, it is cheaper than most of thecells now in the market. Mr. Schoth is making two largermodels of the same type. Their diameter is the same (twoinches), their height respectively two and three times thatof the smaller model. The intermediate size is suitable formaking up hospital and other batteries, and for working

443ANALYTICAL RECORDS.

small induction coils. The largest is powerful enough to Ifeed electric bells, or a small exploratory lamp._____

A. DE WATTEVILLE.

MILNE’S ANTISEPTIC DRESSINGS.

WE have before us samples of corrosive sublimate gauzemade by Mr. John Milne, Ladywell, London, S.E., underthe immediate direction of Sir Joseph Lister. That alone

is a sufficient guarantee of great care having been exercisedin its manufacture. When shaken in a beam of sunlightno loose powder can be detected, and the evenness of

the litmus colouring may be taken as an indication of theevenness of the application of the salt to the gauze. The

gauze itself is of a soft and smooth quality, and Sir JosephLister has described this dressing as the most satisfactoryhe has met with. An excellent sample of lint medicatedwith the crystals of boracic acid and coloured with litmushas also been brought to our notice by the same firm. A"first field dressing " as supplied to the Admiralty has like-wise been forwarded to us. it contains a wool pad, gauze,and waterproof together with bandage and pins, all enclosedin a compact envelope. It appears in every way to answeradmirably the purpose for which it has been prepared. Thefirm sends also a carbolised ligature tube prepared underthe direction of Sir Joseph Lister. It consists ot a long tubecontaining carbolic oil, in which the ligatures are stretched and suspended between two plugs. This ensures cleanliness I,and prevents leakage.

Analytical RecordsFROM

THE LANCET LABORATORY.

"CEREBOS" NUTRITIVE TABLE SALT.

(THE CEREBOS SALT Co., LIMITED, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

A BRIEF chemical examination soon revealed the composi-tion of this preparation. It consists of ordinary table saltadmixed with a definite proportion of phosphatic salt. It is

therefore claimed to repair the breach created by the elimina-tion of the valuable mineral constituents of flour during thepreparatory process. Of course, the statements as to its

real value can only be borne out by experience, but its

employment in many cases would, doubtless, give satisfactoryresults connected chiefly with the process of bone construc-tion. Excess, however, may prove in some instances no lessan evil than a deficiency, and there are other articles of foodbesides flour which contain phosphate, and in considerablylarger proportion.

SALUTARIS WATER.

(TEE SALUTARIS WATER COMPANY, 236, FULHAM-ROAD, S.W.)The chances of active organisms being contained in

properly distilled water are very remote, since every particledistilled has not only attained a temperature of 100° C. at one

stage in the process, but has also absorbed and given outagain the 536 thermal units which represent the latent heatof steam. "Salutaris" is stated to be made with pure dis-tilled water, and a recent examination of some samples con-vinces us of the truth of this statement. Evidence of thecare taken in the preparation of the water is seen in the factthat it yields no appreciable residue (not more than twograins per gallon) when evaporated to dryness, and it is per-fectly free from metallic taint. The water is brilliant,desirably sparkling, and well aerated with pure carbonicacid gas. It is well adapted for table use, and, on accountof its remarkable purity, especially for invalid use or forthe preparation of milk-and-scda or other beverages inwhich an effervescent water is desirable.

MOONLIGHT 0INTMENT.

(BARCLAY AND Soss, 95, FARRINGDON-STREET, E.C.)Our examination shows this preparation to consist of a

non-ra.ncifiable and non-saponifiable oil impregnated with azinc salt ; but so far its composition presents little novelty,although the ingredients incorporated are probably of a

kind specially selected to render it suitable for the purposeintended.

KINGZETT’S "SrLPHUGATOR."

(THE SAXITAS Co-,tpA-,Y, LIMITED, THREE COLT-LANE, BETHNAL&REEX, E.)

The "sulphugator " consists of a small roll of gauzesaturated with sulphur, and is intended for the convenientand probably effective treatment of bird-cages, rabbit-

hutches, and other small habitations with sulphurous acidgas (SO.,). The idea is an excellent one, and renders the

employment of a powerful deodorant and disinfectant easyand safe. In experiments tried in the laboratory the"sulphugator" was found to burn very satisfactorily andwithout trouble.

(1) PROTOCHLORIDE OF IRON PILLS; (2) PHOSPHORUS PILLS.

(ARTHUR H. COX AXD CO., ST. MARTIN’S-PLACE, BRIGHTON.)

A point of considerable importance in the making of certainpills is that the coating thereof should be such as to preventthe oxidation of the contents--as, for example, phosphorus-orthe deliquescence as well as oxidation of a drug like the proto-chloride of iron. On examining these pills we could gain noevidence that either form of deterioration had taken place ;,the phosphorus in the one glowed and evolved fumes imme-diately on scraping off the coating, and the iron in the otherwas found to exist in the form of the pure light-green proto-salt. At the same time, the coating is not so refractory as-not to yield to the disintegrating action of ordinary solventsor of the fluids of the body.

"MONTI TOSCANI WINE MADE FROM GR APES GROWN INCHIANTI, TUSCANY.

(THE TUSCANY WINE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION, LIMITED, 6 AND 7,LONG-LANE, ALDERSGATE-STREET, E.C.)

, This is a wine of the claret type, but especially and desir-

ably’free from acid constituents-a condition which renders-it more delicate to the palate, the peculiar and agreeable-flavour of the grape-derived ethers being in consequence morepronounced. Analysis gave the following results : alcohol,by weight, 8’6ij. per cent.; by volume, 10-73 per cent.; extrac--tive-?, 2’42 per cent.; mineral matter, 0’20 per cent.; total’acidity reckoned as tartaric acid, 0’16 per cent. It is

evidently an unsophisticated product.

SPÉCIALITÉ LIME-JUICE CORDIAL.(FELTOE AXD SMITH, LIMITED, 25, AUGUSTUS-STREET, REGENT’S-PARK,

N.W.)There are few non-alcoholic beverages more wholesome

and palatable than genuine lime-juice mixed with plainor aerated water. While acting as a pleasant relief to

thirst, it contains an agreeable proportion of organic acidconstituents, associated with potassium and phosphoricacid, which doubtless act beneficially in the system. The

preparation of lime-juice, however, is not entirely withoutdifficulties if the final product is to be brilliant and free

from the musty smell which indicates a change to whichthe expressed juice of the lime is particularly liable. The

above preparation is perfectly free from these objections ; itpossesses the peculiar aromatic fragrance of the fresh lime,keeps well, and is an attractive, bright, amber.coloured

fluid. On analysing the following results were obtained:

acidity, reckoned as citric acid, 3-20 per cent.; sugary con-stituents, 42-8 per cent.; mineral matter, 0-24 per cent. Its

permanent property is evidently secured by the addition ofsalicylic acid, as we succeeded in extracting a moderate .

amount of this acid and recognisrg it by the iron test. The

preparation yields a refreshing beverage of excellent flavourwhen diluted with water, and especially with aerated water.We are confident that it is made from no other materialsthan the pure fruit indicated.