SCIENTIFIC SUMMAKY. 
401 
rience of all races of mankind, from the time of Noah downwards. It 
has at last been proved that all forms of alcohol are useful as articles of 
food. This was demonstrated beyond all question by the recent researches 
of M. Baudot, who draws the following conclusions from the results of his 
investigations : — (1.) Alcohol, when taken in moderate quantity, in the 
form of wine, brandy, rum, is not eliminated by the urine. (2.) In 
certain cases, scarcely appreciable traces of it may be found in this fluid. 
(3.) In some exceptional cases an appreciable quantity is detected, but it 
is always found in very small proportion to the amount swallowed. (4.) 
The Alkalimetry system may be employed to detect the alcohol, when this 
latter is present in small quantities, (5.) The solution of bi- chromate of 
potash in sulphuric acid is a much more sensitive test than is required in 
these operations. (6.) It may then be concluded that alcohol is destroyed 
in the economy, and that it fulfils the part of an element, as has been said 
by Liebig. — V Union Medicale , 135, 140, 141, and 142. 
The new Pharmacopoeia. — This long-expected work has at last appeared, 
and like most things of which a great deal has been anticipated, has 
given rise to much disappointment and dissatisfaction. It would be 
impossible in our limited space to undertake an analysis of this work, 
but we can conscientiously affirm that there never has been a work upon 
which so much money was expended with so inadequate a result. The 
compilation and arrangement of the new Pharmacopoeia cost several 
thousand pounds, and might have been turned out better if placed in the 
hands of a single individual, and at a cost of a few hundreds. The 
omissions it exhibits are numerous. We think that in regard to this 
production, the expression employed by Lord Derby to designate the 
foreign policy of the present Government, may be fairly applied to the 
Medical Council. Their proceedings maybe truly styled “ meddle and 
muddle ! ” 
Is Carbonic Acid formed exclusively in the Tissues ? — -This question is 
answered in the negative by Herr J. Sachs, who, from the results of his 
investigations, avers that carbonic acid is being constantly generated in 
the blood at the expense of the oxygen which it contains. He draws the 
following general conclusions 1. The gases contained in the blood after 
its removal from the body, at ordinary temperature, undergo marked 
changes in their relative proportions : the oxygen gradually disappearing, 
and the carbonic acid taking its place ; the quantity of the latter being 
always greater than that of the oxygen which has disappeared. 2. The 
quantity of carbonic acid that is chemically combined increases with the 
interval at which it is examined after removal from the body. There is 
always a greater quantity of chemically combined carbonic acid in venous 
than in arterial blood. 3. It seems probable that after forty-eight hours, 
the quantity of oxygen remaining in the blood is reduced to a mere trace. 
4. It is difficult to draw accurate conclusions regarding the proportion of 
nitrogen. 5. It is absolutely necessary that fibrine be present, in order 
that carbonic acid may be formed ; but it is impossible to say in what 
manner the fibrine acts in assisting the formation of the gas. — Vide 
Medico- Chirurgical Review , No. 65 ; and Reicherts & Dubois- Reymond's 
Archives . 
