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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
becomes again insoluble as lignin, or cellulose ; so starch, in the animal 
digestive tract, after being acted on by the saliva (without which action 
starch is perfectly indigestible), becomes soluble sugar, preparatory to 
becoming insoluble again in the liver, as amyloid matter, or insoluble liver- 
starch. The further destination of the amyloid matter is not yet known ; 
but it probably is changed into fat. This amyloid matter is converted 
into grape-sugar only in disease, and as a result of death. The exact 
nature of the process by which amyloid is converted into grape-sugar, in 
disease, is not precisely known ; but some forms of nerve disturbance, and 
some chest’affections, will act as exciting causes : so also will the eating of 
asparagus, of carrot, and dandelion. When this change is taking place, 
of course grape-sugar enters the blood, and passes off by the kidneys, the 
symptom called diabetes being produced. As regards treatment, Dr. Pavy 
recommends — not to refrain from drinking water, not to give acids as drinks. 
The food should consist of as much animal food (which is destitute of 
starch) as possible. Farinaceous and saccharine articles of diet to be most 
scrupulously avoided. By this means, the system being deprived of its 
principal source of sugar, the disease is held in check. Claret is the 
most suitable wine ; dry sherry may also be drunk. Fat is suitable ; and 
also cod-liver oil. A great desideratum in this complaint has been a kind 
of bread, so to speak, destitute of starch; the bran biscuits and gluten 
bread being very distasteful. Dr. Pavy has invented a very palatable 
substitute for bread, which is prepared under the name of almond food by' 
a London baker, under Dr. Pavy’s instructions ; and which consists of 
eggs and blanched almonds, freed from sugar and gum, but retaining their 
oil. 
SURGERY. 
Removal of Portion of the Lower Jaw in a case of Fixed Closure. - - A 
somewhat novel operation was performed by Mr. Christopher Heath, at the 
Westminster Hospital, London. The subject of it was a y'outh of fifteen, 
who for six years had been in the following distressing state. — The jaws 
were firmly closed on each other, the teeth of the upper jaw overlapping 
those of the lower : the only way in which food (and even then only soft, 
semi-fluid food) could be introduced into the mouth, was by coaxing it 
through a small aperture between two teeth on the right side. The boy' 
was admitted on the 1st of Julyr, in a most emaciated state ; and on the 
8th, chloroform having been administered, Mr. Heath removed a wedge- 
shaped piece of bone, by means of the saw, from the lower jaw on its right 
side, and consisting of its whole thickness. By this means a false joint 
was formed ; and the operation succeeded so well, that when the boy was 
discharged in September (the wound being entirely closed), he was able 
to open his jaws to the certainly very useful extent of seven-eighths of an 
inch. 
Oakum as a Substitute for Lint. — Dr. Sayres, surgeon to the Bellevue 
Hospital, in New York, states that for many y r ears he has had a decided 
preference for picked oakum as a substitute for the much more expensive 
surgeon’s lint. His recent ample experience as an operator confirms him 
in this view. Lint, in fact, especially when composed of cotton, is rather 
