844 
Facts and Observations. 
New Anesthetic Compounds. — In the Physiological 
section of the British Association, Dr. Richardson read a 
report on methyl compounds. He finds that it is becoming 
possible to predict the action of new compounds with great 
exactness from their chemical composition, and also, by 
modifying the composition, to remove sources of incon- 
venience or of danger. By this line of work he hopes 
to arrive ultimately at an agent that will supersede chloro- 
form and its analogues; one that will suspend sensation 
without danger to life. As a step in this direction he 
announced his discovery of “ tri-ethylic ether,” a new sub- 
stance which had already been used as an anaesthetic, and 
from which excellent results were to be expected. 
On Street Dust as a Ferment. — Mr. C. R. Tich- 
borne, F.G.S., stated that his researches agreed with some of 
the ideas put forward by Professor Tyndall in his lecture at 
the Royal Institution, wherein he pointed out how the par- 
ticles floating in the atmosphere might assist in the spreading 
of contagious diseases. Mr. Tichborne gave some analyses 
of various kinds of street dust, which were found to consist 
chiefly of stable manure and stone finely ground. Some dust 
taken from theatres and public buildings in Dublin was found 
to consist of from thirty to fifty per cent, of organic matter, 
and the inorganic matter was rich in iron. He found out 
that dust acts as a ferment in various solutions, and gave the 
particulars of experiments made by him to prove this point ; 
the most interesting circumstance he made known was that 
the street dust, which enters the throats and noses of dwellers 
in town, is half stable manure, a substance not conducive to 
health when taken internally .—Journal of the Society of Arts. 
Agricultural Statistics of Great Britain. — The 
Agricultural returns for the year 1870, issued by the Statis- 
tical Department of the Board of Trade, give the following 
results : — The acreage, on the 25th June, under wheat was 
3,493,131; barley, 2,368,626; oats, 2,761,707; potatoes, 
587,304 ; hops, 60,138. Compared with 1869, there is a 
decrease in the acreage under wheat of 195,226 ; an increase 
in barley of 117,146; a decrease in oats of 21,013; an in- 
crease in potatoes of 2093 ; a decrease in hops of 1654 acres. 
Under the same collection there was as follows: — Cattle, 
5,394,756; sheep, 28,350,417; pigs, 2,168,387. Compared 
with 1869, there is an increase in cattle of 81,283 ; a decrease 
in sheep of 1,187,724; an increase in pigs of 237,935. — Ibid. 
Prevention of Exports of Cattle from France. — 
Letters received by special messenger from Honfleur state 
