3006 Transactions of the American Institute. 



of tlie effects produced by nitrous oxyd, it is doubtful if this gas can 

 be made to replace cliloroform in surgical operations. 



Dr. D. D. Parmelee. — It is perliaps not generally known that 

 chloroform alone is not now used in our best hos|)itals. The effects 

 of cliloroform are such that the patient is frequently beyond recovery 

 before any indication is given of its deleterious effects. For pure 

 chloroform, has been substituted either ether, or a mixture of etlier 

 and chloroform. 



Extra Digits. 



Under this title. Doctor Burt G. Wilder, Professor of Zoology in 

 the Cornell UniveBsity, has presented manj- curious and interesting 

 facts concerning the occurrence of supernumerary fingers and toes. 

 In his memoir he gives an account of 152 cases, and is anxious to 

 receive any information which may be sent to him. 



Mr. A. E. Kendal remarked that he luid known a number of cases 

 of six fingers, and in the case of one family this feature seemed to be 

 hereditary. 



Dr Vanderv/eyde stated that he had known a case in wliich but 

 one finger existed in the hand, the bones having grown together. 



ZiRcoNiA Light. 



The oxyd of zirconium has been successfully substituted in France 

 for lime and magnesia pencils in the hydro-oxygen light. Zirconia 

 had been previously and often subjected to the action of the hydro- 

 oxygen blow-pipe, and as it was found to remain entirely unaltered, 

 its use for the purpose of procuring light has been patented. The 

 inv6ntor obtains his zirconia by transforming the native silicate of 

 zirconia into the chloride of zirconium, and then substituting oxygen 

 for chlorine in the latter compound. The zirconia thus obtained is 

 first calcined, then moistened and poured into moulds, with or with- 

 out other agglntinant substances, such as borax or clay. As zirconia 

 is more expensive than lime or magnesia, it is proposed to make the 

 exterior only of the pencils of zirconia, the interior being composed 

 of cheaper material. 



Dr. Feuchtwanger. — The great difliculty in this case will be the 

 expense of the zirconia. Zirconia is one of the rare minerals, being 

 found in but few localities and not very plentifully in these. 



In reply to a question relating to the quality of the light, Dr. 

 Vanderweyd© said: The zirconia light is nothing new. It is 



