668 
FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
In a recently published paper, read before the Royal Academy 
of Belgium, Dr. Meslen, the author, gave the record of some 
experiments upon dogs, to which this salt was given along 
with their food. He concludes from his experiments that 
iodate of potassium is a violent poison. The paper is, how- 
ever, only a preliminary one, it being the author’s intention to 
publish an exhaustive account of his experiments, and of the 
effects of this salt on the blood and internal organs of the ani- 
mals experimented with. — Ibid. 
Contagion by Volatile Virulent Matter. — 
The Academy of Sciences of Paris heard (July 10th, 1871) 
a paper of M. Chaveau, of Lyons, the eminent veterinarian, 
describing experiments which prove that the fluid evaporated 
from virulent matter fails to convey disease by inoculation, 
whilst the matter itself succeeds. M. Chauveau concludes 
that the contagious principles are not floating in the atmo- 
sphere in the shape of gas or vapour, but that they are always 
adherent to some solid matter which is taken up by the 
gastric mucous membrane. Contagion at a distance takes 
place in this manner. In the rinderpest, for instance, the 
conveyance of the disease is more frequent and more rapid in 
confined spaces than in the open air. One of the experi- 
ments is performed thus : — Virulent matter is poured into a 
capsule, which is placed on a piece of glass, and the whole 
covered with a transparent bell. Under the glass is a sand 
bath, which promotes gentle evaporation. To facilitate con- 
densation, the bell is covered with cotton wool, on which ether 
is now and then dropped. Some fluid now fixes on the inner 
aspect of the bell, and is obtained by means of a pipette. The 
liquid is then inoculated, as also the actual virulent matter in 
the capsule. The effects with the latter are positive, and 
negative with the former .—Lancet. 
SuLPHOCARBOLATE OF ZlNC IN OtORRHCEA. At a 
recent congress of German surgeons in Prague, Dr. Zaufal 
said that he had used solution of the sulphocarbolate of 
zinc in fourteen cases of otorrhcea, with satisfactory re- 
sults. The strength of the solution was one or two grains to 
the ounce . — The British Medical Journal. 
