BIOLOGY. 2.09 



which wo are told it possesses of immediately allaying pain 

 arising from any cause. In a large number of instances it has 

 been successfully employed for the relief of headache. Dr. Smith 

 has found it of great value in inducing quiet and refreshing sleep. 

 London Lancet. 



INOCULATION OF TUBERCLE. 



Dr. Lebert, Professor at Breslau, has been trying the experi- 

 ment of introducing tubercle into the system by subcutaneous in- 

 jection. The amount introduced varied from .50 centigrammes to 

 a gramme, diluted and triturated with distilled water. The nape 

 of the neck was the spot chosen for injection. The experiments 

 were made with Guinea pigs and rabbits, and both gray and yel- 

 low tuberculous matter was employed, as well as liquid from a 

 cavity. The result of his experiments was the finding of tuber- 

 cles not only in the lungs, but in the liver, the spleen, the pleurse, 

 the pericardium, and the whole lymphatic system. Microscopic 

 examination demonstrates the identity of these tubercles with 

 those of man. Boston Mcd. and Surg. Journal. 



BAYONET WOUNDS. 



Our knowledge of bayonet wounds has been so limited that 

 their effects have been, until a recent period, involved in consid- 

 erable doubt and even mystery. Experience, however, teaches 

 that we have exaggerated the nature of these injuries, and at- 

 tributed to them formidable qualities which they happily do not 

 possess. 



Why is it that soldiers have such terrible fear of the bayonet? 

 Why is it that the de-termincd approach of a line of glistening 

 steel makes the cheek blanch and causes the bravest hearts to 

 waver? Why do we in many battles witness the rout of lines 

 that have unflinchingly withstood a continued galling fire of mus- 

 ketry and artillery, as soon as the opposing line approaches closely 

 with fixed bayonets? This dread of " cold steel 11 is, in my opin- 

 ion, mainly attributable to ignorance of the nature of the injuries 

 inflicted by it. There appears to exist, in the minds of men a 

 vague dread of transfixion by the bayonet. But this would prob- 

 ably not be so, were it generally known that bayonet wounds are 

 almost harmless, when compared to the ploughed tracks which the 

 terrible Minie bores through the tissues. The bayonet, on account 

 of its less velocity, is easily diverted from a straight course by 

 bony, cartilaginous, and tendinous tissues, and forms a smooth 

 track, whilst the Minie is relentless in its course, whirling with un- 

 impeded force through all opposing structures, crushing, tearing, 

 maiming all. A bayonet wound almost invariably heals by first 

 intention under auspicious circumstances, and leaves no deformity 

 behind, whilst the simplest bail wound requires weeks for a com- 

 plete recovery, and then perhaps leaves the sufferer with a con- 

 tracted and useless limb. Dr. Barucli. 



