434 
rOPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
On the Law which regulates the Relative Magnitude of the Areas of the 
Four Orifices of the Heart. — Dr. Herbert Davies, Senior Physician to the 
London Hospital, has published a very long and important paper on the 
above subject. It was read before the Koyal Society many months since, 
and will require careful study. We quite think with the author, that there 
can be no doubt that an instrument so accurate in the adaptation of its valvular 
apparatus must reveal, on close examination, the existence of laws which 
not only determine the force required to be impressed on tbe blood traversing 
its chamber, but also the relative sizes of these apertures to one another. 
What is Vaccinine? — The answer must be that it is a crystalline principle 
extracted from the leaves of the cowberry. The amount of vaccinine in the 
shrub is, according to Mr. E. Claussen, about 1 per cent. ; it forms long 
acicular crystals, of somewhat bitter taste and devoid of smell. This sub- 
stance is scarcely soluble in ether, better so in cold water and alcohol, but 
best of all in boiling water ; a saturated solution of this substance in the 
latter yields, on cooling, a solid mass. When the crystalline substance is 
heated, it melts to a clear liquid. It is not precipitated by either sub-acetate 
of lead or tannin, is neutral to test-paper, and contains no nitrogen. — 
American Journal of Pharmacy. 
The Action of Alcohol on the Body. — Dr. Parkes and Dr. Wollowicz 
have published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society a very valuable 
paper, from which we take the following : — It appears, then, clear that 
any quantity over two ounces of absolute alcohol daily would certainly 
do harm to this man (the subject of the experiment) ; but whether this, 
or even a smaller quantity, might not be hurtful if it were continued day 
after day, the experiments do not show. It is quite obvious that alcohol 
is not necessary for him ; that is, that every function was perfectly per- 
formed without alcohol, and that even one ounce in twenty-four hours 
produced a decided effect on his heart, which was not necessary for 
his health, and perhaps, if the effect continued, would eventually lead to 
alterations in circulation, and to degeneration of tissues. It is not difficult 
to say what would be excess for him ; but it is not easy to decide what 
would be moderation ; it is only certain that it would be something under 
two fluid ounces of absolute alcohol in twenty-four houi’3. It will be seen 
that the general result of our experiments is to confirm the opinions held by 
physicians as to what must be the indications of alcohol both in health and 
disease. The effects on appetite and on circulation are the practical points 
to seize ; and if we are correct in our inferences, the commencement of nar- 
cotism marks the point when both appetite and circulation will begin to be 
damaged. As to the metamorphosis of nitrogenous tissues or to animal 
heat, it seems improbable that alcohol in quantities that can be properly used 
in diet has any effect; it appears unlikely (in the face of the chemical re- 
sults) that it can enable the body to perform more work on less food, though 
by quickening a failing heart it may enable work to be done which other- 
wise could not be so. It may then act like the spur in the side of a horse, 
eliciting force, though not supplying it. 
The Poisonous Effects of the Icaja of Gaboon. — The Comptes-rcndus of 
August 8 contnins a very valuable paper on this subject, by MM. Kabuteau 
and Pe} re. It seems that at the (jiaboon there is in use a vegetable poison, 
