SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
245 
of the serum. All the constituents of the corpuscle — membrane, nucleus, 
and contents — dissolve readily in the serum, and in water, alcohol, solutions 
of sugar, and other fluids. 
Preparations of Cod-liver Oil. — We have received a pamphlet by Mr. 
C. C. J. Guffroy (London : Hardwicke), in which will be found some valuable 
details concerning the dragees sold by Messrs. Barr & Co., of Fleet-street, 
and which have recently been so favourably received by the profession. 
These dragees are composed of the watery extract of cods’ livers, coated with 
sugar. They contain all the valuable principles of the oil in a concentrated 
form, and whilst they are perfectly tasteless (save as far as the coating of 
sugar is concerned), they do not produce nausea. The saccharide of cod-liver 
oil, another and very different preparation, to which we some time since 
called attention, as being, according to Mr. Attfield’s analysis, a mere quack 
imposture, is declared by the maker to contain several compounds, and 
among others sulphur, bromine, and hypophosphite of lime, not enumerated 
by the chemist to the Pharmaceutical Society. 
Can the Spleen be regenerated ? — M. Phillippeaux alleges that it can. In 
several animals from which he almost entirely removed the spleen, he found 
that this organ was regenerated. When the extirpation, however, had been 
complete, no re-development took place. The researches which have been 
conducted by Signor Peyrani lead to different conclusions. This physi- 
ologist asserts most positively that under no circumstances is the spleen 
regenerated when it has been partially removed. He records several ex- 
periments tending to corroborate his opinions. “ Who shall decide V’ 
Glycogen in the Tissues of Entozoa. — Hr. Michael Foster publishes a valuable 
paper in the Proceedings of the Ployed Society , in which he states that he has 
found glycogen in the substance of the tape- worm and in that of the round 
worm of the pig. The most remarkable fact in connection with this discovery 
is the circumstance that an animal which lives in a fluid whose especial 
quality is the conversion of starch into sugar, should, nevertheless, possess 
the power of amassing glycogen within its own body. There is no sugar- 
forming ferment in the bodies of the entozoa examined by Mr. Foster. From 
this fact the writer infers, that if the animal swallows the intestinal juice in 
which it lives, the sugar-forming ferment contained therein either does not 
pass through its intestinal wall into its visceral cavity, or, if it does pass, it 
is at once destroyed. It is evident that the formation of glycogen in the 
Ascaris takes place under conditions very different from those under which 
glycogen is deposited in the mammalian liver, since there is a powerful sugar- 
forming ferment in the latter. — See also Lancet Pecord, Feb. 10. 
The Poisonous Effects of Alcohol.— - Supporters of teetotalism will be pleased 
to peruse an essay on this subject by M. G. Pennetier, of Rouen. The 
memoir we refer to is a “ Doctor’s ” thesis, and it treats especially of the condi- 
tion known as alcoholism. The following are some of the author’s con- 
clusions : — (1) Alcoholism is a special affection, like lead-poisoning ; (2) the 
prolonged presence of alcohol in the stomach produces inflammation of the 
walls of this organ and other injurious lesions ; (3) the gastritis produced by 
alcohol may be either acute or chronic, and may be complicated by ulcer or 
general or partial hypertrophy, or contraction of the opening of the stomach, 
or purulent submucous infiltration; (4) in certain cases of alcoholic gastritis, the 
