674 
Extracts from British and Foreign Journals. 
THE LOCAL ACTION OE PUS. 
Dr. S. Samuel, of Konigsberg, gives the following as the 
results of his experiments on the local action of pus : — 1. 
Putrid material introduced subcutaneously into the ears of 
rabbits, to the extent of from ten to fifteen drops, occasions a 
more or less rapidly developing putrefactive process to take 
place in them, accompanied by swelling, green discoloration 
of the part, and intense putrefactive odour. These effects 
not only constitute the most characteristic reaction of putrid 
matter, but they also serve to detect the existence of a putre- 
factive process when the matter possesses no odour and has 
no chemical reaction. 2. This local process of putrefaction, 
which for the most part extends in only a slight degree 
beyond the part originally affected, is the more distinctly cir- 
cumscribed by a well-defined line the longer the time the 
local process has for its development. 3 . For, coincidently 
with the local putrefactive process septicaemia is developed, 
apparently by absorption of the injected material, which leads 
sooner or later, according to its intensity, to death. 4. The 
putrid material, when introduced in smaller quantities or in 
more diluted form, occasions the most varying degrees of in- 
flammation, accompanied by more or less extensive suppu- 
ration, so that even the slightest prick is followed by a certain 
amount of suppuration. The forms of inflammation thus 
excited have nothing peculiar about them, and they may in 
their progress lose the putrefactive odour of the fluid to which 
they owe their origin. 5 . The occurrence of characteristic 
symptoms of putrefaction goes hand in hand with the cessa- 
tion of the local circulation. 6. Not all putrefactive materials 
produce within the same period of time the same quantity of 
putrid poison, and their consistence occasions variations in 
the rapidity of their action. 7. On comparing the effects 
produced by the subcutaneous injection of the various sub- 
stances capable of being chemically separated in putrefying 
fluids with those of the pus itself, it was found that a satu- 
rated solution of leucin (1 to 27) was followed by very slight 
effects; carbonate of ammonia, formic, butyric, and baldrianic 
