330 
this disease with impure water used for ablution purposes 
by the troops. He shows that dogs who drink this water 
get boils on their noses, while human beings are affected 
at the points where the skin is rubbed in the process of 
ablution. Microscopic preparations of the boil appear to 
show the presence of ova of distomata similar to those 
detected long ago in London waters by Dr. Hassal. 
Professor Longmore furnishes some valuable remarks 
on the Prussian arrangements now in actual operation 
for transport of wounded in time of war. These remarks 
have a special interest at the present time, and they are 
illustrated by Professor Longmore’s own personal experi- 
ence, Ordinary railway-carriages and goods-waggons have 
been selected by the Prussians for the conveyance of 
wounded by rail. In ordinary fourth-class carriages hooks 
are screwed into the opposite sides of the carriage, and the 
field-stretchers with wounded are carried inside and sus- 
pended by elastic rings on the hooks. The operation is 
facilitated by the lower class carriages having a door at 
each end. When goods-waggons are used, the stretchers 
are either suspended or, which is far better, they are placed 
on poles laid on semi-elliptical steel springs inserted in the 
floor of the waggon. Professor Longmore prefers the 
arrangements in the fourth-class carriages, as being easier 
in practice. 
There is in the Prussian army a complete organisation 
of medical officers, bearers, stretchers, field ambulances, 
&c., for collecting the wounded, dressing them on the spot, 
and conveying them either to the railway or to hospital, 
where, as we are glad to learn, they are now meeting with 
every care and kindness at the hands of humane men 
and women, whose motto may well be that adopted by one 
of the societies—“ Point d’ennemis pour nous.” * After 
describing the exercises he witnessed, Professor Longmore 
very properly suggests whether we in this country might 
not do something in the way of organising a suitable am- 
bulance corps? This was one of Lord Herbert’s proposed 
reforms, but we are afraid little has been done in giving 
effect to it. 
Another subject discussed is the method adopted for 
identifying the bodies of the killed by means of tickets 
attached to the clothes or worn round the neck. 
There are several other papers, including monthly 
meteorological abstracts for stations scattered over the 
whole British Empire, which we should have gladly 
noticed had our space permitted. But we have said 
enough to show that, in scientific advantages, the 
Army Medical Department, with its efficient school at 
Netley, stands second to none in Europe. It is for those 
who have the direction of the army to see that there is 
an organisation provided to give practical effect to it in 
the field where its services are most required. 
~ 
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ROYAL 
COLLEGE OF SURGEONS 
ek some years past it has been a custom at the College 
of Surgeons for the Conservator to collect the various 
specimens that have been mounted during the preceding 
twelve months into one room; enabling not only the 
Museum Committee, but the members of the medical pro- 
* Contributions in aid of this great work may be sent to the National 
Society for the Aid of Sick and Wounded, 2, St. Martin’s Place, Trafalgar 
Square, S.W, 
NATURE 
[ Aug. 25, 1870 
fession, or visitors introduced by them, to see at a glance 
the additions that have been made during that period. 
We consider the plan to be an excellent one. It is a 
powerful incentive to the Conservator to work so that each 
year’s results may surpass the previous one ; whilst it calls 
forth gifts from those who have the opportunity of ob- 
taining rare or valuable specimens, when they see what 
loving care and diligence are spent on their preparation 
and exhibition, and to how large a number they afford 
instruction. We had recently an opportunity of minutely 
inspecting these additions, and must express our warm 
admiration at their number and beauty. The Museum, as 
every naturalist knows, was commenced by the genius of 
Hunter, who, recognising the value that would attend the 
comparison of the same organ in the different groups of 
animals in enabling us to acquire precise knowledge of its 
function, and to penetrate the mysteries of disease, collected 
from all quarters typical specimens which he carefully 
dissected and described ; but worker as he was the pre- 
parations he left have constituted but landmarks for the © 
direction of succeeding observers. Although neither 
his time, strength, nor opportunity permitted that he 
should bring home more than a few examples displaying 
the wondrous fertility of the new region he had discovered, 
his success stimulated others to do their utmost. Pre- 
paration after preparation of every organised being that 
could be obtained by purchase or gift was rapidly 
added, and many times it has been found necessary to 
enlarge the receptacle for the sake of the new and im- 
portant preparations that had been obtained, till at length 
it has attained its present lordly dimensions, and stands 
without a rival in the world. Nothing, perhaps, could 
give such an idea of the vast increase it has undergone 
—which would surely have well pleased its founder, could 
he have seen how his small though valuable begin- 
nings had increased and multiplied—as the fact that a 
roomful of preparations that would handsomely furnish 
forth an entire country museum, is year by year absorbed 
into it, and scarcely appreciably augments its size. 
The additions are divided into six classes—1, The 
Pathological Collection ; 2, The Osteological; 3, The 
Physiological; 4, The Teratological; 5, The Dermato- 
logical ; and 6, Anatomical preparations. The first of 
these has received many additions, and in particular one 
very important one, in which the carotid and subclavian 
arteries were tied by Mr. C. Heath for aneurism, and i 
which life was preserved for four years, and would 
probably have been considerably prolonged but for the 
extremely unsteady habits of the patient. The duration 
of life after the operation has permitted the collateral 
circulation to be fully established, and all the parts have 
been beautifully dissected out by Mr. Mosely. | 
In regard to the osteological collection, a large collec- 
tion of ancient and modern Italian and Greek skulls nal 
been purchased from the well-known Italian ro hse 
Dr. G. Nicolucci, of Isola di Sora, The number of these 
skulls was 166, and the entire number in the museum now 
amounts to 795, the great proportion of them being well 
authenticated and characteristic examples. 
It is one thing, however, to have fine specimens, and 
another to display them tothe best advantage ; and often the 
chief value of a specimen, oreven of a collection, is spoiled 
by the slovenly manner in which the mounting is effected, 
