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5. Volumetric solution of oxalic acid is used, as alreadystated, for estimating the strength of alkaline solutions, as

well as of some of the salts of lead.6. Volumetric solution of soda is used for estimating the

strength of acids. We have described the methods of usingthe last two solutions.These processes, substantially as we have now described

them, but without the explanations of the reactions whichoccur, were all contained in the Pharmacopœia of 1864. In

the new Pharmacopoeia they are also given, but some modifi-cations in the methods of conducting and describing them hadbeen rendered necessary, partly by the adoption of the doublesystem of chemical notation, and partly by a resolution whichhad been adopted, that the volumetric processes should be sodescribed as to admit of the use either of British or of metrical

weights and measures. These are, in fact, the only operationsdescribed in the Pharmacopoeia in which special provision ismade for the use of metrical weights and measures by thosewho may desire to substitute that system for the British. Themanner in which the volumetric processes are now arrangedand described appears to be very satisfactory, as they can withequal facility be applied according to either system ; and thisis important, as the use of the metrical system in chemicalanalysis is daily becoming more general. It was necessary,however, in making the change, to rewrite the descriptions and to recalculate all the results.In the Pharmacopoeia of 1864 the processes for volumetric

testing were introduced by the following brief remarks :-" Volumetric solutions, before being used, should be shaken,

in order that they may be throughout of uniform strength.They should also be preserved in stoppered bottles.

.. The tube used with these solutions is an alkalimeter,which, when filled to 0, holds 1000 grains of distilled water at60°, and is divided into 100 parts of equal capacity."

In the new Phannacopo’ia the introductory remarks armuch amplified, as follows:-" The processes for volumetric estimations may be performe<

either with British or with metrical weights and measuresand the solutions are so arranged that they will be of the sam(strength, and the same indications will be obtained in usinthem, whichever system is employed, without the necessity ofaltering any of the figures by which the quantities of the sub.stances tested or of the test solutions required in the process,are expressed.

"According to the British system, the quantities of thesubstances to be tested are expressed in grains by weight,whilst the quantities of the test solutions employed in testingare expressed in grain-measures-the grain-measure being thevolume of a grain of distilled water.

"According to the metrical system the quantities of thesubstances to be tested are expressed in grammes by weight,whilst the quantities of the test solutions employed in testingare expressed in cubic centimetres-the cubic centimetre beingthe volume of a gramme of distilled water."As the cubic centimetre bears the same relation to the

gramme that the grain-measure bears to the grain, the onesystem may be substituted for the other with no difference inthe results, excepting that, by the metrical system, all thequantities will be expressed in relation to a weight (thegramme) which is more than fifteen times greater than theBritish grain." In practice it will be found convenient, in substituting

metrical for British weights and measures, to reduce the valuesof all the numbers to one-tenth by moving the decimal points,and this has been done in the tables appended to the descrip-tions of the volumetric solutions. The quantities indicated inthe Pha.rma.copceia, which in grains and grain-measures canbe conveniently used, would be found inconveniently large ifthe same numbers of grammes and cubic centimetres wereemployed.

" The following apparatus is required in the preparation anduse of these solutions." For British weights and measures.,-"1. A flask which, when filled to a mark on the neck, con-

tains exactly 10,000 grains of distilled water at 60&deg;. Thecapacity of the flask is, therefore, 10,000 grain-measures.

’’ 2.A graduated cylindrical jar which, when tilled to 0,

holds 10,000 grains of distilled water, and is divided into 100equal parts.

"3. A burette. A graduated glass tube which, when filledto 0, holds 1000 grains of distilled water, and is divided into100 equal parts. Each part, therefore, corresponds to 10

grain-measures.’’ For metrical weights and measures :&mdash;" 1. A glass flask which, when filled to a mark on the neok,

contains one litre, or 1000 cubic centimetres."2. A graduated cylindrical jar which, when filled to 0,

contains one litre (1000 cubic centimetres), and is divided into100 equal parts.

" 3. A burette. A graduated tube which, when filled to 0,holds 100 cubic centimetres, and is divided into 100 equalparts.

" (One cubic centimetre is the volume of one gramme of dis-tilled water at 4&deg; C.‘ 1000 cubic centimetres equal one litre.)" Volumetric solutions, before being used, should be shaken,

in order that they may be throughout of uniform strength.They should also be preserved in stoppered bottles. All mea-surements should be made at 60&deg;."

When the volumetric method is referred to among the Phar-

macop&oelig;ia preparations as a method of testing their strength,the results are stated only in British weights and measures; ybut in the Appendix there is a table given in connexion witheach volumetric solution, in which the results are stated ac-cording to the metrical as well as the British system. Thewhole subject is well arranged, and made perfectly explicit.

THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESSOF PARIS.

THIS is likely to prove a most interesting meeting. It is hoped’ that the British element will be very strong, and that both

by their presence and the share they may take in the discus-sions, or the papers they may read, medical men of the UnitedKingdom will worthily sustain the character of this country.The first meeting will take place on the 16th of August, at the

. Faculty of Medicine, at two o’clock; the morning sittings willoccupy from two to six, and the evening meetings from eightto ten. The congress will last two weeks, the meetings takingplace every day, Sundays excepted.We remind our readers that they may obtain members’

cards in this country by applying to any of the delegates,among whom we may again name Dr. Gueneau de Mussy,

Cavendish-place ; Dr. Beigel, Finsbury-square ; Mr. HenryThompson, Wimpole-street; and Mr. de M&eacute;ric, 17, Brook.

street. These cards are not connected with any expense.Such members as wish to read papers must send them,

either to any of the delegates, or to the secretary, Dr. Laccond,4, Rue Dronot, Paris, before the 26th of July. Not moremore than twenty minutes must be occupied by the reading ofany paper, and the subjects may either be chosen by theauthors themselves, or one of the following seven questions,proposed by the committee, may be treated.

1. Pathological physiology and anatomy of tubercle. Optuberculosis in different countries, and on its influence ongeneral mortality.

2. On the general phenomena which cause death after sur-gical operations.

3. Can efficacious measures be proposed to the governmentsof different countries to diminish the propagation of venerealdiseases ?

4. On the influence of the food used in various countriesupon the production of certain diseases.

5. On the influence of climate, race, and the ranks of life on

menstruation in different countries.6. On the acclimatisation of European races in hot latitudes..! 7. On the entozoa and entophytes which may thrive uponman.

The papers will become the property of the Congress.The programme (a copy of which will be given with each

card) contains excellent commentaries on these questions.These commentaries point out the manner in which the Com-mittee wish the questions to be treated, and the points uponwhich authors should especially dwell.It is customary to make the mcMurcntcnts with metrical apparatus at60&deg; Fahr.

75

The evening meetings will be especially devoted to the sub-ject chosen by the authors themselves independently of theprogramme.We wish our French brethren all success. We are confident

they will make members of the profession from foreign partsright welcome ; and, although the language may throw someobstacles in the way, a large amount of good most come outof the International Medical Congress of Paris of 1867.The museums will be thrown open to visitors during the

whole duration of the Congress, and the annual meeting of theFaculty will take place on the 14th of August, when M. B&ecirc;hierwill offer a sketch of the life of Rostan. Every member ofthe Congress will be admitted to this annual meeting on pre-senting the card which confers upon him the Congress member-ship. The Committee have been engaged in negotiating withthe authorities of several lines of rail. The Northern Railwaywill carry members at half fares from the 1 Oth to the 14th ofAugust, and from the 1st to the 5th of September. Non-transferable tickets will be obtainable on the line upon pre-sentation of the card.

New InventionsIN AID OF THE

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY.

THE BLOW-PIPE GAS CAUTERY.AT a meeting of the Royal Medico-Chirurgical Society, held

on the 28th of May, Mr. Alex. Bruce exhibited a new instru-ment, under the above title, which he has recently invented.He remarked that the galvanic cautery, although admirablyadapted for all cases in which it is desirable to keep up a con-stant heat, has failed to become popular with the professionin consequence of the want of portability of the apparatus,and of the expense attending its use. A few years ago M.Nelaton invented a gas cautery, which is applicable to the de-struction of small warty and other growths limited to thesurface, but not to those cases in which it is desirable to pene-trate to any considerable depth. It has, moreover, anothergreat disadvantage, in the facility with which the flame is ex-tinguished if not used with the greatest care.In Mr. Bruce’s instrument the principle of the blow-pipe is

introduced, and a great increase in the intensity of the flameis thereby obtained. The apparatus, which is r&bgr;markablefor its simplicity and portability, is figured below, and may bedescribed as follows;&mdash;

An india-rubber ball (A), capable of containing about liocubic inches of gas, is filled from an ordinary burner by meansof a pump-ball, now so generally known in connexion withDr. Richardson’s local an2esthesia this supply of gas willburn for about eight or ten minutes with a moderate flame.A tube about 20 inches in length connects this receiver withthe burner (B), a slender silver pipe about 6 inches in length,guarded at one end by a stop-cock, and terminating in a finepoint at the other. A second silver tube-the blow-pipe-isso applied to the former that a stream of air blown throughit impinges upon the flame, and converts it from an elongatedluminous flame of low intensity, into a sharply pointed conicalflame of the very highest intensity: this pipe is connected byan elastic tube of convenient length with the mouth-piece (p),through which the operator blows, no special skill being re-quired to keep up a constant current of air. When the nakedflame is to be employed as the cauterising agent, the onlyaddi-tion to the instrument is a shield of the form represented at y,which consists of a perforated metal disc protected by a ring ofivory and attached to a handle of suitable length. These shieldsare of various forms and sizes according to the purposes to whichthey are to be applied, one consisting of a narrow plate ofmetal having a slit in the centre, so that the cautery may beapplied along a well-defined line. When, however, the cauteryis required rather as a destructive agent than as a counter-

irritant, it will be found desirable to employ one of the smallplatinum points represented at E, which may be easily attachedto the burner, and which immediately become of an intense .

red heat. These points, which consist of a small cup, sup.ported by two stout platinum wires, are of various shapes,according to the purposes for which they are to be employed 9thus Cup 1 is rounded and may be substituted for the ordinarycautery irons ; Cups 2 and 3 are intended for the destructionof nsvi, vascular and warty growths of various kinds. Therapidity with which the cups attain a bright-red heat is re-markable ; and as the flame continues to play into them, whilstin contact with the tissues, the heat is continuous.The entire apparatus is packed in a small box; and as gas is

now to be obtained almost everywhere there can be little dif.ficulty on that score; the receiver, too, may be carried aboutalready filled. The instrument has been made by 14r. Ba.k@r.of Holborn, and great credit is due to Mr. Hawskly, the abmanager of the surgical department, for the admirable a airin which he has carried out Mr, Bruce’s l;!ugS&bgr;atio!1li1,

A, Ind1a-rubber ball to receive the supply of gas. Represented proportionallymuch smaller than natural.

B, Tabe connected with the receiver: the burner.C, The blow-pipe tnbe. D, The month-piece.E, The platinum cups of three different shdpes. Represented proportionally

larger than natural. F, One form of shield.

CHOLERA IN SiciLT.&mdash;For the week ended July 4th, 1for the provinces of Catania, Caltanisetta, Girgetti, and Tra."pani the attacks were 2383, and the deaths, 142]. 1B M. GU&Eacute;RIN has just resigned the editorship of the(?sseMe .MedKcoe, after a career of forty years, and leaves a namewhich has shed lustre on French medical periodical literature.