Notes. 
348 
[May, 
According to the “ Apotheker Zeitung ” Dr. Offenberg has 
cured a woman who had been severely bitten by a mad dog, and 
who showed unmistakable symptoms of hydrophobia. He in- 
jected curare (woorali) under the skin, to the extent of 3 grains 
within five hours. The hydrophobic symptoms were overcome, 
but the specific action of the curare threatened to produce para- 
lysis of the heart and respiratory organs, which was combatted 
by artificial respiration. Thus Waterton’s anticipation of the 
remedial action of this drug has become a reality. 
The Irish Anti-Vivisedlion Society is making capital out of a 
letter received from R. G. Butcher, an eminent surgeon, but who, 
as the <£ Medical Press ” points out, has neither time nor dispo- 
sition for biological research. 
Dr. A. Vans Dunlop has bequeathed about £50,000 to the 
University of Edinburgh. 
We learn from the “ Medical Press ” that the “ Exchange and 
Mart ” is opening a department for the sale of “ charity votes.” 
Thomas Bell, F.R.S.,well known for his treatises on “British 
Reptiles” and “British Quadrupeds,” died on March 17th. He 
was at one time Professor of Zoology at King’s College. From 
1848 to 1853 he was Secretary of the Royal Society, and from 
that date to 1861 he held the presidency of the Linnean Society. 
The remainder of his life he spent at Selborne, in the very house 
once occupied by Gilbert White. 
According to official returns three hundred persons are killed 
yearly by lightning in the island of Java. 
M. Hospitalier, in the “ Lumiere Eledlrique,” subjects the 
electric light of M. Tommasi to a very severe criticism, and 
pronounces its success hopeless. 
Mr. D. Brooks concludes, from extended observations, that 
lightning is more rare in high mountain chains than in compara- 
tively level districts. 
According to Mr. Alexander Watt a vast amount of eledlricity 
is generated by railway locomotives, but is at present permitted 
to escape without utilisation. 
We learn from the “ Electro-Metallurgist ” that two Ameri- 
cans, Messrs. Prescott, profess to have discovered that under- 
ground currents of eledlricity, flowing in all directions, form the 
true “ earths ” of lightning discharges. They assert that all 
houses, trees, &c., struck by lightning are underflowed by these 
currents, and that no houses, &c., standing on spots where there 
are no currents are ever struck. In protecting a house from 
lightning stroke, therefore, their method is to test the ground 
underneath, and if there are no earth-currents below to take no 
fu rther trouble ; but if these currents are present, to earth the 
