396 Scientific Notices — Miscellaneous. [Nov. 



filling the copper caps, recommended by Mr. Wright, is not only- 

 tedious but dangerous ; a much preferable one is to mix up the 

 explosive compound into a thick liquid, with any adhesive solu- 

 tion or tincture, and by means of a hair pencil to introduce a 

 large drop of this mixture into the bottom of each cap. 



The Germans, we suppose by way of practical refutation to the 

 hackneyed reproach of national dulness, have anticipated their 

 neighbours in making a novel application of fulminating powder. 

 A good many years ago, an attempt to murder was made by 

 sending by post to the obnoxious person a box containing a 

 quantity of the powder, and within which several of the common 

 fulminating papers were cemented in such a manner, that they 

 must have exploded on removing the lid. Fortunately, however, 

 although the explosion took place, it did not communicate to 

 the rest of the powder. The criminal was detected, and, after a 

 judicial trial, was suitably punished. — (Schweigger's Neues 

 Journal fiir Chemie und Physik, xi. 66.) 



18. On a new Method of destroying Calculi. 



Dr. Civiale introduces a straight silver sound into the bladder 

 through the urethra. This first sound incloses a second, also of 

 silver, and straight and hollow like the first, and furnished at 

 its extremity with three spring branches, which lie close toge- 

 ther whilst ensheathed in the principal sound, but when- pushed 

 out they separate and form a sort of cage, in which, with some 

 dexterity on the part of the operator, the stone is caught, when 

 the cage is immediately closed by his drawing the sound towards 

 him. 



The second sound, in its turn, incloses a long steel cylinder, 

 terminating, at the end next the bladder, and between the jaws 

 of the cage, in a little circular saw, or file, of such form as may 

 be most applicable, according to circumstances. When the 

 stone is well fixed, the steel cylinder is pressed against it, and 

 by means of a small pully fixed at its exterior extremity, a watch- 

 maker's turn-bench, on which it is mounted, and a drill bow, it 

 is worked like a drill for piercing a hole in a piece of metal. A 

 dull sound is immediately heard proceeding from the abrasion 

 or splintering of the stone. A spontaneous discharge of urine, 

 or an injection of tepid water into the bladder, usually termi- 

 nates the operation, and occasions the expulsion through the 

 urethra, dilated by the introduction of the large sound, of the 

 fragments of the calculus. 



This process was first tried before the Commissioners of the 

 Academy on the 13th of last January, on an individual of the 

 name of Gentil, thirty-two years old. On the 3d of February, 

 when the operation was repeated for the third time, the calculus 

 was entirely removed. The pain was almost nothing, and dur- 

 ing the progress of his cure, M. Gentil always went on foot to 

 the house of M. Civiale. 



