Academy of Sciences in Paris. 375 



This formation is the most striking and the most universal of the 

 ancient geological periods. The indications of the throwing up 

 of rocks occupy some epochs of the primitive, and all those of 

 the secondary period ; they are also frequently remarked during 

 the tertiary period, when the great terrestrial evulsions which had 

 produced the large chains of mountains began to be replaced by 

 the volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, of which we are still wit- 

 nesses. 



MEDICAL SCIENCE. 



Cure of Burns. On the 4th of July M. Magnin de Grandmont 

 addressed a lette/ to the Academy, detailing several cases in con- 

 firmation of his theory of immersion in cold water being an infallible 

 remedy in all cases of burns affecting only the epidermis, which, he 

 remarks, are by far the most numerous class of burns. 



Cholera Morbus. On the 18th of July M. Magendie read a letter 

 from M. Scipion Pinel, a surgeon at Warsaw, in which it is main- 

 tained that the cholera morbus affects principally the sympathetic 

 nervous system, as is proved by the weakness produced in the general 

 circulation, which is not accounted for by any sufficient affection of 

 the heart, or the organs of circulation, and can only, therefore, be 

 produced by a diseased state of the nerves, particularly the grand 

 sympathetic or trisplanchine nerve. He therefore proposes to give 

 the disease the name of trisplanchine. M. Pinel adds, in proof of 

 the disease not being directly contagious, that he has infused into 

 his own veins, not only the blood of a dying patient, but even the 

 intestine mucus taken from a dead body. But he remarks, that 

 when he remains more than a quarter of an hour in the room with 

 the patients, he experiences a feeling of painful oppression in the 

 stomach, in the direction of the vertebral column, which is removed 

 by going into the open air. The treatment recommended by M. 

 Pinel differs principally from that hitherto adopted, in prohibiting 

 narcotics ; but he agrees with other physicians in recommending 

 warm drinks, and all other applications tending to restore heat to 

 the surface of the body, and increase the circulation. 



Anatomical Plates. On the 25th of July, the Academy, on the 

 recommendation of its reporter, M. Dumeril, bestowed its special 

 approbation on the * Trait Complet de 1'Anatomie de 1'Homme,' 

 by MM. Bourgery and Jacob. This work is illustrated by 500 

 plates, executed with the greatest exactness. 



Lithotrity. On the 5th of August M. Civiale communicated to 

 the Academy a case of lithotrity, in which the calculus was six inches 

 in circumference. Great difficulty was experienced in fixing it in 

 the instrument, although the orifice of the pincers was twenty- six 

 lines in diameter. The operation was completed in fourteen visits. 



VOL. II. Nov. 1831. 2 C 



