N. MATERIA MEDIC A, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE. 55 3 



on awakening, as the dog could be pinched, or stuck with a 

 pin, or have its toes trodden upon, without exhibiting the 

 least symptom of distress, although able to move about and 

 run as usual. This extraordinary condition, in which the nerv- 

 ous-sensitive system seemed abolished, lasted several hours. 

 Similar results were met with in employing bromoform. G 

 B.April 22,1872,1111. " 



PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF BEEF TEA. 



The authority of Gustave Bunge is now added to the list 

 of those who have taken ground against the value of beef tea 

 and extracts of meat as articles of diet. He thinks the re- 

 freshment they give is only due to their warmth and pleas- 

 ant taste, and that their chief value consists in enabling a 

 person to take with* appetite a larger amount of dry or taste- 

 less food than he could otherwise do. The statements of Lie- 

 big that the addition of meat extract to vegetable food in- 

 creases its nutritive value, and that the extractive matter of 

 meat, especially creatine and creatinine, is the material fur 

 muscular work, have been disproved by Voit and Meissner ; 

 and the idea that beef tea and meat extract are beneficial on 

 account of the salts they contain is an unlikely one, as these 

 salts are already present in excess in ordinary food. 



The suggestion, however, that they answer the purpose of 

 stimulants, like coilee, tea, and alcohol, seems to be confirmed 

 by experiment. Small doses of meat extract quicken the pulse, 

 but large ones produced paralysis of the heart and death. 

 This action is attributed to the potash salts contained in the 

 extract, as the ash alone produced the same effect as the 

 quantity of extract from which it had been obtained. 21 A, 

 April, 1872,314. 



PROTEST OF LONDON PHYSICIANS AGAINST PRESCRIBING 



ALCOHOL. 



A considerable degree of stir has been produced in London 

 by the circulation of a declaration, from a large number of 

 the most eminent physicians of that city, fn regard to alcohol, 

 in which they state that, believing the inconsiderate prescrip- 

 tion of large quantities of alcoholic liquids by medical men 

 to have given rise, in many instances, to the foundation of in- 

 temperate habits, they are of opinion that no medical practi- 



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