MISCELLANEA. 
5 9 9 
present may be still more distinguished hereafter, we record them in alphabetical 
order:—W. Butcher, A. E. Cumberbatch, C. Davis, Alban Doran, T. Hendley, H. 
Smith, and W. Walsham.— Athenceum. 
[We may add that two of the above-named, Mr. H. Smith and Mr. Walsham were 
formerly lecture and laboratory students of the Pharmaceutical Society.] 
MISCELLANEA. 
Fallacy in Testing 1 for Albumen. —Mr. Fox, Finsbury Pavement, in a commu¬ 
nication to the ‘ Medical Times and Gazette ’ of March 7, notices the following fallacy, 
—“ In testing the urine of an elderly gentleman, I obtained a very distinct white cloud 
on boiling, and a very positive white stratum on being poured above nitric acid. Of 
course I included albuminuria in my diagnosis ; this, however, was happily corrected 
soon after by the very intelligent resideut practitioner who watched the case. The ni¬ 
tric acid used contained silver iu some considerable amount, and gave a chloride cloud 
on mingling with the urine. The fact that a large quantity of acid so contaminated 
was supplied to the London Hospital, to be used for testing, as well as for other pur¬ 
poses, proves our liability to this fallacy, and justifies me in bringing it before the 
notice of your readers.” 
The Nature of Vaccine Matter. —M. Chauveau, of Lyons, has separated by 
dialysis the various elements which constitute the fluid contents of the vaccinal pustules. 
It consists of, first, an albuminoid plasmic matter, relatively abundant: this does not 
include the vaccine ; secondly, of white globules equally inert; thirdly, of solid mole¬ 
cular granules, which alone are active. Mixed even with ten times their volume of 
water, they give rise to legitimate and active vaccinal effects. 
Death from the Ignition of a Liniment. —The following case came before the 
Coroner’s Court at Liverpool on Saturday, February 15Peter Bragan, an old man 
troubled with rheumatism, had obtained a colourless liniment, which on Sunday last 
he gave to his wife and asked her to rub it upon one of his hips. She poured some of 
the liquid upon her hands, and after rubbing her husband for some time, iu order to 
increase its efficacy, she warmed her hands at the fire. The liquid on her hands became 
ignited, and she was very severely burned. Her husband approached to render her 
assistance, and the liquid upon his hip became ignited also, his clothes were burned, and 
he sustained such serious injuries that he died in the Northern Hospital on the follow¬ 
ing Thursday. A verdict of “ Accidental Death ” was returned. No evidence was 
given as to whence the rubbing-mixture had been obtained. 
Fatal Explosion. —On Saturday evening, April 4th, a fatal explosion took place at 
the shop of Messrs. Fletcher, Brothers, chemists, Nottingham. About half-past eight 
o’clock, a porter, named John Noble, was in the shop powdering chlorate of potash iu a 
mortar for the purpose of mixing it with other chemicals, to make what is called “red 
fire.” While doing this a terrific explosion followed. Noble was killed on the spot, 
one of his arms being completely blown off. An apprentice, who was standing close 
by the deceased, was also severely injured on the head and face. A man named Swann 
received severe injuries, and was at once conveyed to the General Hospital. Several 
other persons who were in the shop were more or less wounded. The shop was com¬ 
pletely gutted by the force of the explosion, the windows, doors, etc., being blown into 
the street, and several persons passing by were hurt. From the evidence of Mr. Fletcher 
at the inquest it would appear, that the boy was never allowed to mix the ingredients, 
but was merely employed in powdering the chlorate of potash ; but as the other ingre¬ 
dients—the sulphur, nitrate of strontium, and antimony—were by the side of the mortar, 
it was conjectured that the deceased had mixed some of the sulphur with the potash. 
The jury were of opinion that no blame attached to any one, and returned the following 
verdict:—“ That deceased was accidentally killed by an explosion of chlorate of potash 
mixed with some other ingredient.” 
