FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
85 
causes and origin of disease in animals, in whom they can be 
most advantageously studied by methods calculated to shed 
light on the mysteries of disease in man . — British Medical 
Journal. 
The Metropolitan Cattle Cordon. — The Times 
reports that memorials praying for the immediate removal of 
this cordon have been forwarded to the Privy Council from Can- 
terbury, Folkestone, Horsham, Chatham, Ipswich, Brighton, 
Kingston, Hounslow, Dover, Maidenhead, Gravesend, Gos- 
port, St. Alban’s, Windsor, Dorking, Hastings, Chelmsford, 
Ramsgate, Tunbridge, Eastbourne, Reading, Guildford, Aber- 
deen, Norwich, and Northampton. 
Conjointly with the forwarding of these memorials, a de- 
putation from the Metropolitan Cattle Market waited upon 
the Earl De Grey, on Monday, January 16 th, to urge the 
removal of the existing regulations. The deputation was 
introduced by Mr. Torrens, M.P. 
Alluding to this subject, The Echo justly observes that, “ If 
the restrictions on the home meat trade are sufficiently irk- 
some to induce salesmen and butchers to interview the Go- 
vernment with a view 7 to removing them, we may be quite 
sure that the public are still more interested, for it is the habit 
of such men to make the public pay for their inconveniences. 
But if dear meat be, as it doubtless is, a consequence of 
these restrictions, have v T e good security that people in general 
will get the benefit of their removal ? And we w ould also 
suggest that, as the rinderpest is as near to us as France, the 
present may not be the most opportune moment for relaxing 
precautions.” 
Koussin in Taenia Solium. — Professor Ditterich, of 
Munich, states, in the Allg. Med. Cent. Zeit., Dec. 28th, 1870, 
that he has been very successful w ith koussin, the alkaloid of 
kousso, discovered by Pavet. It is a pity that this alkaloid 
is so very expensive, as no more than 3 per cent, can be ob- 
tained. The author has found it act in forty-grain doses, 
divided into two powders, to be taken in a wafer; and he 
thinks that none of the precautions customary w T ith kousso 
are necessary. Koussin seems to have an aperient effect, and 
carries off the worm with the stools in three or four hours. 
Hence no castor oil is required. Professor Ditterich does not 
say a word about the head, but principally dwells upon the 
small dose necessary, and the absence of vomiting and nausea. 
The price of the dose is Os., which certainly is not extrava- 
gant, when it is considered that, originally, the dose of kousso 
was advertised in Paris at 16s. — Lancet. 
