SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
121 
surrounded ; and the striae on the muscular fibres are imperceptible from 
the same cause. The author concludes b}' - stating— 1st, That Bacteria are 
not peculiar to animals affected by certain diseases (sang -de-rate, &c.). 
2nd, That the blood which contains them is inoculable, and that in the 
blood of animals thus inoculated, Bacteria may be found in abundance. 
3rd, That the presence of fat in the tissues and liquids of the system, and 
the resemblance of these Bacteria to those produced during butyric fermen- 
tation, favour the presumption that fat plays a very important part in the 
progress of the disease. 
Catheterism of the Duodenum . — Four cases in which this operation has 
been successfully performed, have been brought under the notice of the 
French Academy. M. Blanchet, who recommends the operation, thinks 
that it will furnish us with a means of determining the intestinal con- 
tractions, and that it will materially assist in the diagnosis of organic 
affections of the pylorus and intestine : intussusceptions, tumours, occlu- 
sions, foreign bodies, &c. By it we shall be enabled to convey nutritious 
matters, or medicines which would not be tolerated by the stomach, to 
the pyloric orifice. And we can employ it to remove gases which some- 
times accumulate in the intestine and produce serious results. 
The Poisonous Action of Thallium. — It is well that our readers should 
know that the sulphate of the new metal is a violent poison, which affects 
the stomach and intestines somewhat in the same manner as the salts 
of lead. M. Lamy records that five grammes of this salt (which is 
very soluble) poisoned no less than eleven animals, viz. : two fowls, six 
ducks, two young dogs, and a bitch. The dogs, which were more closely 
observed than the others, laboured under violent lancinating pain in the 
gastric region, which was relieved by pressure. The pains succeeded each 
other with rapidity, and produced effects like those of electric shocks, 
and then gave place to paralysis, affecting the posterior limbs. The 
post-mortem examination showed no evidence of lesion, and the only 
peculiarity observable was a very distended condition of the gall-bladder. 
The poison was detected in almost all the tissues by means of the spectro- 
scope, the peculiar green band of the spectrum being quite perceptible. 
It is remarkable that the salts of this metal are almost tasteless, a circum- 
stance which enhances their dangerous properties as toxic agents. 
Use of Oxygen Baths in the Treatment of Senile Gangrene . — Medical 
men are aware that Professor Laugier has been ever the zealous advocate 
of the oxygen bath. He has now found a formidable opponent in M. 
Demarquay, who states that on various occasions he has had recourse to 
oxygen baths in the treatment of this form of gangrene, but invariably 
without any successful result. Nevertheless, he considers that oxygen gas 
may be of some service, for in cases where the gangrene has not attacked 
the very muscular portions of a limb, the oxygen preserves the tissues, and 
prevents the exhalation of foetid liquids, and consequently of the odours 
which arise from them ; and although in many cases it increases the 
pains, yet in one instance it removed them instantly . 
Geranium Maculatum an Astringent. — The styptic properties of this 
plant, although familiar to American physicians, are little known to 
English practitioners. Its astringent powers rank very high, and from 
