498 Miscellaneom Intelligerice, 



chemical characters of blood under such circumstances, which he 

 thinks sufficient to enable an accurate discrimination. This opi- 

 nion is opposed by M. Raspail, who states that all the indications 

 supposed to belong to true blood, may be obtained from linen 

 rags, dipped, not into blood, but into a mixture of white of egg 

 and infusion of madder, and that, therefore, the indications are inju- 

 rious rather than useful. This is contradicted by M. Orfila, and 

 a commission claimed for the examination of the question. Both 

 disputants agree that the microscope is of no use. — Med. Journ. 

 lix. 366. 



4. Globules of the Blood. — M. Raspail states that the globules 

 of the blood vary in diameter, according to the organs which sup*, 

 ply the blood under examination, contrary to the general opinion, 

 which considers their diameter as constant and invariable in every 

 part of all individuals of the same species. — Med. Journ. lix. 366. 



5. Growth of Hair. — A man between twenty and thirty years 

 of age, of strong and healthy constitution, having a short, curly, 

 and coarse hair, of a dark brown colour, found himself becoming 

 bald. Numerous and large bald spots appeared on the head, and 

 gradually increased until it became perfectly bare, and as the eye- 

 lashes fell out, the man had quite a singular and disagreeable ap- 

 pearance. When the head was closely examined, a short, white, and 

 scattered down, very similar to a slight degree of mouldiness, wa$ 

 I)erceptible. At first it was hoped that the hair would grow again, 

 but the sequel proved the contrary; after two years Dr. Radima- 

 cher advised him to pour French brandy upon sulphate of copper, 

 and, when it had remained a few days, to wash the bald parts once 

 a day with the solution. In eight days the hair had begun to 

 grow, and in four months it etjualled the original growth in 

 quantity, but was of a lighter colour, crisp, dry, and stiff, and had 

 not a natural appearance. A spot still remained bald on the back 

 of the head. The eye-brows and lashes grew again like the rest 

 of the hair. A year after this, the man shed his hair again, but 

 the eye-brows and lashes remained. Dr. R. wished him now to 

 wait awhile, to ascertain whether the hair would or would not 

 grow again spontaneously, but the patient would not, and had 

 recourse to the solution, which produced another growth of bland 

 or light hair, and the spot, which before had continued bald, not- 

 withstanding the solution, became covered in common with the 

 other parts of the head. This growth had a much more natural 

 appearance than the former one. — Med. Jour?!, lix. 470. 



6. Stammering. — ^^According to Dr. Mac Cormach stammering 

 arises from an attempt to speak when the lungs are nearly empty, 

 or when the stammerer is drawing in his breath. To cure this 

 habit, he makes the stammerer take a deep inspiration, and repeat 



