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the kidney. Other organs have not as yet been examined.Great numbers may be detected in the dejections and in theintestinal contents after death. They were found to growin every gelatine-plate cultivation of choleraic alvine mate-rial, and in some cases occupied almost the entire surface ofthe plate; whereas in other cases, though more seldom,comma-shaped bacilli prevailed, but never to the exclusionof the particular organisms in question.The most important part of Dr. Emmerich’s communica-

tion, however, refer,3 to the inoculation experiments whichhe, in conjunction with Dr. Sehlen, made at the HygienicInstitute of Munich. The animals experimented upon werefor the most part guinea-pigs, and it is believed that lesionshave been induced in animals by inoculation with thisbacterium which simulate those observed in persons whohave died of cholera, and especially as regards the smallintestine. The changes have been noticed to vary from asimple desquamative catarrh, with rice-water-like intestinalcontents, to haemorrhagic exudation and ulcerative destruc-tion of the mucous coat. A couple of drops of a solutionprepared by the addition of a fragment (about the size of apin’s head) of this bacterial cultivation to two or threedrachms of distilled water, injected subcutaneously or intothe lungs, give rise to a protracted illness of from five to sixdays, accompanied with deep-seated changes in the intes-tinal mucous membrane ; whereas the injection of a largerfragment of the cultivation, covering, say, a area of abouta quarter of an inch, suspended in water, is followed bydeath in from sixteen to thirty hours, but with lessemphasised pathological lesions in the intestine ; the severityof the intestinal lesions being thus the more marked themore protracted the course of the disease, and the largerthe dose the earlier the fatal termination.

Several other matters of much interest in connexion withthe subject of cholera causation are dealt with in Dr.Emmerich’s paper; but the ppace at our disposal does notpermit of our doing more at present than to bring beforeour readers the salient points of the evidence adduced insupport of the specific characters and pathogenic propertiesof the apparently new cholera microbe to which he callsthe notice of the profession.

Pharmacology and Therapeutics.EULACHON OIL.

EULACHON OIL is advocated by Dr. Lyons of Detroit as asubstitute for cod-liver oil. The b.t.ys and estuaries of thePacific coast of British America and Alaska are annuallyvisited by immense shoals of a small fish popularly known asthe candle fish, eulachon, or outachon. This fish belongsto the family of the salmonidæ, and b3ara the scientific nameof Thaleicthys pacificua. Tne candle fish is less than a footin length. The spa.waing season is ia April and the firsthalf of May. The fish is chie9y prized on account of its oil,which is used as food by the Indians. So rich in oil is theentire fish that when dried it serves the natives for torches,whence its name. The commercial oil contains muchpalmitin, and probably stearin, so that at common tempera-ture it is only semi-fluid. The olein, which for medicinal pur-poses at least must be regarded as eulachon oil forms a limpidfluid of a pale-straw colour and fishy odour, unlike that ofcod-liver oil, and is perhaps to many less repulsive. Its spe-cific gravity is not very different from that of cod-liveroil, but it is rather more viscid. When mixed with sulphuricacid (five volumes of oil ta one of acid) the temperaturerose to 55° C., with cod-liver oil the elevation of temperatureis about double this. The colour reactions with acids arevery different from those of cod-liver oil. Sulphuric aciddoes not produce with eulachon oil the rich purple colourwhich obtains with cod-liver oil and other oils containingbiliary ingredients ; it produces a deep brown tint. Toeoil probably contains a trace of iodine. The fatty acidsobtained after saponfication amounted to 95’85 par cent.Eulachon oil contains about 13 per cent. of an unsaponifiablesubstance, which is the most peculiar and interesting con-stituent. The low specific gravity of this peculiar ingredient,and its indifference to most reagents, remind one strongly ofthe paraffins ; and now that petroleum and petroleum oil arerecognised as having a positive influence on tuberculous

complaints, we shall not be surprised if eulachon oil befound to owe any therapeutic efficacy it may have to thepresence of this peculiar body.

ASEPTOL.

This antiseptic agent, which is chemically known as

orthoxyphenyl sulphurous acid, is a body belonging to thearomatic series, and is allied in chemical composition tosalicylic acid; the comparison of the rational formulae willshow the resemblance and difference between the two bodies:

Aseptol ............ (C6H4OH) (SO2OH)2.Salicylic acid......... (C6H4OH) (COOH)2.

Aseptol is an acid phenol, and it is the acid property itpossesses which neutralises the ammoniacal bases whichaccompany the processes of putrefaction. Aseptol is a syrupyliquid of amber colour, and possesses a density of 1400. Ithas a faint characteristic odour, which is, however, dis.agreeable. It crystallises at 8° C , and boils at 130° C.With ferric chloride it shows a violet colour like that given bysalicylic acid. Treated with potash it yields pyrocatechin,resorcin, and hydrochinon. A small dog, weighing sevenkilogrammes, took by the mouth seven and a half grammesof aseptol without experiencing the least distress ; carbolicacid in a dose three times as small produced violent con-vulsions and grave disturbances, followed by death. Aseptolis believed to be preferable to salicylic and phenic acidswherever an antiseptic agent is required—e.g., in cases ofdisease of mucous membranes, especially the conjunctiva.

NAPHTHALINE.

Dr. Rossbach has used naphthaline as an antiseptic agentwith a view of checking diarrhoea, and, it is said, withexcellent result!-’. The medicament is believed to be effi.cacious in cases of intestinal catarrh, even when chronic,with or without structural alterations, provided the changesare not of a cancerous nature. The good effects are obtainedafter the use of the drug from five to ten days. The same

;4 remedy appears to be useful in cases of diarrhoea, due to

! tubercular disease of the bowel. Naphthaline in smallquantities escapes with the urine, and seems to have a bene-ficial influence on some diseased conditions of the mucousmembrane of the bladder, such as vesical catarrh. Afterthe lapse of a few days the microbes which abound in thealkaline urine disappear, the deposit of muco-pus diminishes,and the general condition participates in the amelioration.Naphthaline is nearly always well born?, the digestion is notdisturbed, and small doses are said to improve the appetite.The exhibition of the drug may be continued for many

months without causing inconvenience.’ APOMORPHIA.

From an investigation into the action of apomorphia onsome cafes of epUepsy and chorea, M. Weill has come tothe conclusion tha,t this powerful agent may be beneficially

t employed in cases of nervous disturbance. The bydrochlora.teis used in doses of from two to six milligrammes. AUdis-eases associated with spasmodic action are relieved by it.Hiccough, epilepsy, and chorea have been much benefited

: thereby. A sedative action is produced without nausea orvomiting, provided the doses be as small as above men-tioned.

Correspondence."Audi alteram partem."

CHARCOT’S DISEASE.To the Editor of THE LANCET,

SIR,—The recent discussion on Charcot’s disease, and theinteresting features it disclosed, naturally suggest the

question whether the disease can be traced in the patho-logical researches of the insane, a,3, from its affiliation toneurotic disorders, one would suppose might be the case.Dr. Moxon seems to have implied something of the kind inhis off hand allusion to the prevalence of certain fracturesamong the inmates of asylums, and I venture to think theidea is worth pushing further. It has been frequentlyasserted that a morbid fragility of bone is sometimes detectedin the insane, and I have myself seen the condition of the