548 PROPOSED INVITATION TO BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
dead. Not long afterwards he became drowsy, and mentioned the occurrence to one of 
his mates. The latter immediately set about procuring medical assistance, but by the 
time it arrived the man was comatose, and his lower extremities paralysed. Galvanism 
and other U'ual remedies were applied, but without effect. In this extremity the medi¬ 
cal man first called in caused Dr. Halford to be telegraphed for. The case was the first 
opportunity he had had of applying his new treatment to a human being, and he at first 
felt some hesitation in resorting to it. An incision, however, was made through the 
skiu, exposing the superficial radial vein, and the point of the syringe being introduced 
info the vein, the injection (of ammonia) was completed. The beneficial effect was 
immediate. From an almost pulseless state, and from a stupor verging on death, the 
paiient speedily became conscious. He has been steadily recovering since, and he is 
now reported to be nearly well. Whether the earlier treatment in any way contributed 
to the cure cannot, perhaps, be certainly known, but there appears to be little doubt— 
medical men entertain none—that the case must have ended fatally but for Professor 
Halford’s treatment. We require, of course, some further cases before the merit of the 
discovery can be determined. Ammonia is not a new remedy for snake-bites, but Dr. 
Halford has the credit unquestionably of having applied it in a direct way by injection 
into the blood, so that its effects should be immediate and general. Its application in 
this way could only be safe in skilled hands. The discovery was not fortuitous, but re¬ 
sulted from a consideration of the microscopical alterations which he found taking place 
in the blood-vessels of animals subjected to the snake-poison. It is only right to add, 
however, that the observations of Dr. Fayrer and others have failed to verify the state¬ 
ments made by Dr. Halford on the altered condition of the blood-corpuscles. We learn 
from a letter which Dr. Halford addressed to the ‘ Melbourne Argus,’ that he had pre¬ 
viously instituted a series of experiments on the lower animals, and he publishes five of 
them which he performed on dogs. In four instances the treatment was successful. 
To carry out the treatment a solution of ammonia—of the strength of one part of 
strongest liquor ammonhe to two parts of distilled water—and an ordinary hypodermic- 
syringe are required. The ammonia is thrown directly, but gradually, into the blood 
by puncturing any superficial vein, and may be repeated as its beneficial operation 
ceases.— Lancet, January 30, 1869. 
With reference to the above, “a late resident in India” observes (‘Times,’ February 1) 
that the attention of Indian residents is not needed, as the Bombay Government, up¬ 
wards of six years since, ordered the following remedy, with directions for its use, to be 
kept at every police-station throughout the Presidency; “ a late resident in India” 
thinks that instead of having to apply to a surgeon to inject the liquor into the veins, 
this remedy, which is given internally, can be applied by any one, and, in his opinion, 
is equally efficacious. 
Liquor Ammonia: Fortis for Snake-Bites. — Doses. For an adult, 35 drops in 4J 
tolas of water (a wineglassful); 12 to 15 years old, 20 to 25 drops in2|- ditto ; 8 to 12 
years old, 15 to 20 drops in 2 ditto; 4 to 8 years old, 10 to 15 drops in 14 ditto; infants 
to 4 years old, 3 to 10 drops in 14 ditto. 
ACCIDENTAL POISONING BY CARBOLIC ACID. 
At the Derby Infirmary on Friday, January 22nd, a female nurse supplied one of the 
patients, John Waite, with what she thought was his medicine, but which proved to be 
a lotion ordered to be applied to his thigh. The man took a dose of this lotion, and 
several hours elapsed before the mistake was discovered. The remedies tried were of no 
avail, and the poor fellow died. The jury returned a verdict that “the deceased died 
from the administration of carbolic acid and oil taken in mistake.” 
SELLING POISON WITHOUT A LABEL. 
On Wednesday, at the Bingley petty sessions, before Mr. W. Dunlop (chairman), and 
Sir. J. Craven, Mr. George Gill, druggist, Chapel-lane, Bingley, was charged (under the 
