January 17, 1890.] 



SCIENCE. 



45 



other, he perceived the one or the other smell, but that when both 

 were in exact equiUbrium, either no odor at all was perceived, or 

 at most a very weak and uncertain impression was made, which 

 partook of the qualities of neither of the two substances employed. 



But as some sort of union of the gaseous molecules could not 

 be altogether excluded by this method, such as an indifferent 

 osmotic or physical combination preventing sensory perception, it 

 was deemed expedient to make use of a double olfactometer in 

 experiments of this character. The instrument consists merely of 

 two of the olfactometers described above, one for each nostril. By 

 the use of the double olfactometer one may easily convince him- 

 self that even in this procedure one odor will overwhelm another, 

 rubber, for instance, causing the smells of paraffin, wax, and tolu 

 to disappear. Even with very strong excitants there is never a 

 mingling of sensations. Either the one or the other odor is dis- 

 tinguished by one or the other nostril, until, by careful equilibra- 

 tion of the two, no sensory effect is at all perceived. Sensibility is 

 absolutely eliminated. Each nasal half becomes in this manner 

 completely insensible to the odor inhaled through it, although its 

 sensitiveness is really the same as before. 



We are constrained to believe that there is something in the 

 vibratory theory already applied to sight and hearing, to account 

 for these remarkable facts in the domain of smell, and that is the 

 interference of molecular waves with each other, producing in the 

 former cases darkness and silence, and in the latter temporary 

 anosmia. 



Neutralization of the Bacillus gf Tetanus. — In 

 June last Professor Sormani of Milan announced to the Lombard 

 Institute of Sciences the results of his experiments on the neutrali- 

 zation of the tetanigenous microbe — results which seemed to justify 

 his conclusion that iodoform, iodol, and corrosive sublimate are ab- 

 solutely destructive to the bacillus in question. To these disinfecting 

 agents he has, says the Lancet, as the result of further experiments, 

 added three more — namely, chloroform, chloral hydrate, and cam- 

 phorated chloral, the latter being, he alleges, in a marked degree 

 efficacious ; while camphor and camphorated alcohol he found in- 

 ert. On a general review of the whole, however, he gives the pref- 

 erence to iodoform. Seven rabbits were inoculated with materials 

 charged with the tetanigenous virus. From six of these, after an 

 interval of twelve hours, the foreign body was removed during the 

 period of incubation ; from the seventh the substance was removed 

 only when the first symptoms of local tetanic convulsions had de- 

 clared themselves. In all these animals the wound was scraped 

 and thereafter freely medicated with iodoform. The seventh rab- 

 bit died of tetanus. Of the first six five were saved. From this 

 Dr. Sormani concludes that medication of wounds with iodoform 

 ought to be practised before the setting in of the first tetanic symp- 

 toms. Nevertheless, even during declared tetanus, the applica- 

 tion of iodoform to the wound is capable of disinfecting it and of 

 removing from it all trace of virulence. Wounds and sores treated 

 with iodoform, especially wounds or sores contaminated with 

 earth, yield results highly welcome to the surgeon — such medica- 

 cation preventing the access of that fatal tetanic symptom which, 

 having once declared itself, leaves but little chance for skilled in- 

 terference. Dr. Sormani gave confirmatory proof of his thesis by 

 cases of tetanus in hospital, where iodoform opportunely applied 

 saved the patients, and where, from its use having been unfortu- 

 nately suspended, two lives were sacrificed. 



Boxing the Ears and its Results. — We would fain hope 

 that, in deference to repeated warnings from various quarters, the 

 injurious practice of boxing the ears, once common in schools, is 

 fast and surely becoming obsolete. It is too much to say that this 

 desirable end has yet been realized. Certainly the recent observa- 

 tions of Mr. W. H. R. Stewart do not give calor to any such 

 view. In a pamphlet on " Boxing the Ears and its Results," lately 

 published, and referred to in the La?icet, Dec. 21, 1889, he briefly 

 summarizes his own experience in the matter. Notwithstanding 

 the toughness of the aural drum head, its tense expanse will rup- 

 ture only too readily under the sudden impact of air driven inward 

 along the meatus, as it is in the act of cuffing ; and Mr. Stewart 

 shows that in one instance at least this injury resulted from a very 

 slight though sudden blow. Given early and skilled attention the 



wound may heal very kindly, but if the beginning of mischief be 

 overlooked, as it often has been, further signs of inflammation soon 

 follow, and a deaf and suppurating tympanum is the usual result. 

 There is practical wisdom in the statement that this consequence 

 most readily follows in the case of the poorly developed and under- 

 fed children who abound in every board school. In them an ear- 

 ache would probably receive no very strict attention, and disease 

 might for a time work havoc unimpeded. Where chronic suppu- 

 ration exists already, and it is only too common, a random knock 

 on the ear may, and has resulted, in fatal brain complications.- 

 The close connection between ear and brain should never be for- 

 gotten, and the reflection that injury to the former organ most eas- 

 ily terminates in total deafness, and in suppuration which may any- 

 day take a fatal coiirse, should assist in the preservation of a some- 

 times difficult patience. 



BOOK-REVIEWS. 



First Lessons in Political Economy. By Francis A. Walker, 

 New York, Holt. 12°. 



President Walker in this work has undertaken to bring eco- 

 nomic science down to the comprehension of a younger class o£ 

 students than have hitherto pursued the subject, those from fif- 

 teen to seventeen years of age. To accomplish this task is not 

 easy, and the author himself expresses some misgiving as to the 

 success of his undertaking ; for he has not treated his theme in a 

 childish, or so-called popular, way, but in a thoroughly scientific 

 manner and with the same closeness of reasoning that is employed 

 in larger treatises. How far his book is adapted to its purpose 

 only actual trial, as he says, can tell ; but if the subject can be- 

 made comprehensible to such young pupils, we should think this- 

 work well fitted to do so. It is perhaps as simple in style as a. 

 treatise on economics can be, and it is in the main free from con- 

 troversial matter. It contains, however, some things that might 

 better have been omitted ; such, for instance, as the discussion 

 of the multiple standard of deferred payments, which is of no- 

 practical importance, and is out of place in an elementary work. 



The book is divided into two parts, the first treating of produc- 

 tion and exchange, the second of distribution and consumption, and 

 the various subdivisions are in general well made. President 

 Walker's views are so well known that we need not state them,- 

 and in most cases we find ourselves in accord with them. His 

 theory of profits, however, we cannot agree with, and we fail to see- 

 the cogency of the reasoning by which he endeavors to support it. 

 He holds that " prices are determined by the productive capability 

 of the lowest class of employers who are actually producing for the 

 supply of the market ; and all excess of those prices, over the cost 

 of production in the hands of the more capable men of bufiness, 

 goes to these latter, individually as profits " (p. 222). But it seems- 

 to us that prices are determined rather by the higher class of employ- 

 ers, who by superior ability or larger command of capital often 

 force prices down so that the lower class of employers are driveri- 

 out of business. Moreover, President Walker, like other econo- 

 mists, overlooks the fact that the highest profits, as a rule, are not 

 made in production at all, but in exchange. But though we can- 

 not agree with all the author's views, we shall be glad if his work 

 should be successful in teaching economics in the high schools. 



AMONG THE PUBLISHERS. 



The fourth volume of M. Grandeau's " Etudes Agronomiques," 

 just issued, contains a review of British and American agriculture, 

 as represented at the Paris Exhibition. 



— M. Victor Giraud, the African explorer, has just published the 

 narrative of his explorations in the African Lake Region from 1883. 

 to 1889. The work contains many illustrations. 



— The fifth part of the second volume of the Lnternationales 

 Archiv far Ethnographie has been issued. It maintains in all re- 

 spects the high level reached by previous numbers. Among the 

 contributions are an article in German, by F. Grabowsky, on death. 



