N. MATERIA MEDICA, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE. 567 



KnigMs Pale Primrose, or to some white scentless curd soap 

 like the white Castile. Perfumed soaps should always be 

 looked upon with suspicion. 12 A, April 11, 1872, 464, and 

 20 A y April 20, 1872, 466. 



ACTION OF SKIN IRRITANTS. 



The experiments of Rohrig and Zuntz had rendered it prob- 

 able that all irritants applied to the skin exercise a tissue 

 change in the body, and as carbonic-acid baths are recom- 

 mended as stimulants to the skin, Paalzow tested the action 

 of water saturated with carbonic acid on rabbits, but found 

 that it neither increased the amount of oxygen and carbonic 

 acid expired by rabbits, nor did it redden the skin either in 

 them or in man. He thinks the effect of carbonic-acid baths, 

 which has been ascribed to the carbonic acid dissolved in the 

 water, is really due to alkaline salts. On applying real irri- 

 tants, such as mustard, to the skin of rabbits, he found the 

 consumption of oxygen and the production of carbonic acid 

 invariably increased, often by more than one half i. e., tissue 

 change in the body was rendered much more rapid by the 

 application of the irritant. The relation between the oxygen 

 consumed and the carbonic acid evolved was not constant. 

 21 A, April 22, 1872, 314. 



BROWN INSTITUTION FOR ANIMALS. 



On the 1st of January an institution was opened in London 

 called the "Brown Institution," for the study of the diseases 

 of animals. It results from a sum of money which was be- 

 queathed in 1852 by a Mr. Thomas Brown to the University 

 of London for the purpose of founding and upholding an in- 

 stitution for investigating, studying, and, if possible, endeav- 

 oring to cure the diseases and injuries of animals useful to 

 man, the money to remain at interest for nineteen years. A 

 hospital has been erected, consisting of stables for the recep- 

 tion of the larger quadrupeds, and of houses of various de- 

 scriptions for those of a smaller size, and a laboratory for the 

 study and investigation of disease lias been built adjoining 

 the hospital ; the main object kept in view being the lessen- 

 ing of human evils by the study of the diseases which afflict 

 the lower animals. Dr. Burdon Sanderson, Professor of Pa- 

 thology in University College, London, has been appointed 



