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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
on the conjunctiva, on the ear of the rabbit, and on the vessels of the retina. 
Rarified air gives opposite effects. On the respiration, it produces a double 
effect ; 1. an augmentation of capacity of the lungs — a mechanical dilatation ; 
2. the introduction of a larger quantity of air, since not only the lung has 
greater capacity, but the air is compressed. Compressed air, the author 
thinks, therefore, a useful agent in the treatment of certain diseases 
(emphysema, atelectasis, tuberculosis, pleuritic effusions, etc.) ; and so much 
the more valuable, that no other agent is calculated to fulfil the same 
indication. — Virchow's Archiv , 1866. 
Obituary. — We regret to have to announce the death of two of the most 
illustrious members of the French profession, M. Jobert (de Lamballe), and 
M. Civiale, the inventor of lithotrity. 
Crystals in the Blood , in Leukamia . — Professor Neumann of Konigsberg, 
communicates a paper on this interesting pathological subject to Max 
Schultze’s Microscopical Journal. The formation of the crystals did not occur 
until long after the blood had been drawn. A large number of crystals were 
formed on each drop of blood. These were brilliant delicate symmetrical 
needles, which were found on minute examination to possess the form of an 
elongated octahedron. Some which appeared to be incompletely formed 
represented merely a four-sided pyramid with a rounded base. The length 
of the perfect crystals varied between 0*016 and 0*075, and the angles of the 
optical longitudinal section were between 18° and 162°. The crystals 
were insoluble in cold water; in boiling water they disappeared, but 
whether by solution or disintegration the author could not decide, but 
is inclined to think the latter, as he never observed any recrystallisation on 
cooling. Neither alcohol, ether, chloroform, nor glycerine, even after long 
exposure, had any effect upon them. Acetic, tartaric, and phosphoric acids 
slowly dissolved them, as did also very weak solutions of soda and potass. 
The action of the mineral acids was peculiar ; hydrochloric and nitric acid 
in strong solutions dissolved the crystals, which withstood the same acids 
in the concentrated form, in which, however, they become apparently softened 
and were usually bent into an S form, or became crescentic. Strong sul- 
phuric acid destroyed the crystals, which remained unaltered only in a 
moderately weak solution. Ammonia dissolved the crystals very slowly ; 
they were unaffected by the putrefaction of the blood even after several 
weeks. — Vide Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, No. xxvi. 
The Removal of Opacity of the Cornea . — Some very curious facts relative 
to the action of sulphate of soda on the cornea, are pointed out in a memoir 
just read before the French Academy by M. De Luca. This savant had 
tried the Vinum Opii and other remedies so much employed in treating 
opacity of the cornea, but found their results unsatisfactory. It then oc- 
curred to him that as sulphate of soda retains the fibrine of blood in solution, 
it might have the effect of dissolving away opaque portions of the cornea. 
At first he tried the experiment with solution of the sulphate in distilled 
water. This fluid he dropped into his patient’s eyes, and the results were 
found, to a certain extent, satisfactory. Believing that the solid sulphate 
would produce still better results, he employed it in the state of very fine 
powder; dropping it into the eye of the patient. This method proved to be 
the most effectual, and if we are to believe M. De Luca, it was most sue- 
