SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
325 
The Vitality of the Blood- Cells is the title of a memoir presented to the 
Academy of Sciences of Vienna, by Herr Ed. Ilering. The author’s obser- 
yations have been conducted on the blood-globules of Batrachia, and they 
haveshown him the passage of these blood-cells from the blood-vessels into 
the lymphatic canals. Herr Hering discusses fully the results obtained by 
Cohnheim and Eechlingshausen, results which have lately received so much 
attention in our Medical Journals — aud he concludes that the swelling of 
the Ivmphatic glands provoked by phlegmonous inflammation is not due, as 
Cohnheim alleges, to a hyperplastic operation for the production of new 
lymphatic cells, but is the result of the accumulation in the glands of the 
white cells which pass into them from the blood-vessels. — Vide V Institute 
May 6. 
The Strenyth of Batfles}iake-poison. — Dr. Mitchell, who has conducted 
numerous experiments upon the strength and properties of this poison, states 
the following conclusions : — 1. One-fourth of a drop of the venom is fatal 
to pigeons under the age of four months. One-eighth of a drop is frequently 
a fatal dose. 2. The venom is absolutely harmless when swallowed, because 
(«) it is incapable of passing through the mucous surfaces; (b) it undergoes 
change during digestion, which allows it to enter the blood as a harmless 
substance, or to escape from the digestive canal in an equally innocent form. 
3. Twenty-four hours after it has been swallowed, the contents of the bowel 
contain no poison. 4. The rectum of the pigeon does not absorb the venom, 
and it causes no injury when placed on the conjunctiva of animals. 5. The 
venom passes through the membranes of the brain, and more swiftly through 
the peritoneum and pericardium. G. "When the venom passes through the 
peritoneum it so aflects the walls of the capillaries as to allow of their 
rupture, and of the consequent escape of blood. The same phenomena ap- 
pear on the bare surface of muscles thus poisoned. 
A Gennan Preservative against Cattle Plague. — An alleged preservative 
against this disorder is said to be now employed in Germany. The follow- 
ing are the prescription and the directions for using it : Take green crystal- 
lised chloride of ccpper, 8 grm., spirits of wine, 2 kilog., and dissolve. With 
this solution impregnate a pad of cotton, lay it on a plate, and set fire to it 
in the centre of the stable, turning the animals’ heads towards the flame, 
so as to make them breathe the fumes. This operation is performed morn- 
ing and evening, burning one pad for every three heads of cattle. At night, 
a spirit-lamp, filled with the solution, is lighted in the stable. To prevent 
accidents, the flame is surrounded with wire-gauze. The liquor is also ad- 
ministered internally, with the addition of 15 grm. of chloroform for the 
above quantity. A tea-spoonful of this is put into the animal’s drink three 
times a day. As a further precaution, the litters are watered with the same 
solution. 
The Value of Water -filters. — In the course of his recent admirable lecture 
on “ Water-supply,” at the Boyal Institution, Professor Frankland made 
the following remarks on the efficacy of filters in the removal of organic 
germs from drinking water : — These refuse animal matters are known to 
contain that which is hurtful to human life. This hurtful matter is believed, 
on very strong evidence, to consist of spores, or germs of organisms, which 
are capable, under favourable circumstances, of producing in man such 
