92 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Deaths from Chloroform. —An inquest was held on Friday, June 24th, at King's 
College Hospital, on the body of Mrs. E. Ruth, aged 29, who died from the effects of the 
vapour of chloroform during an operation for removing a tumour in the urethra. A 
question arose as to the quantity administered to her on a former occasion, and the ab¬ 
sence of books of reference in such cases in the hospital. The following verdict was re¬ 
turned :—“ That the deceased died from the effects of the vapour of chloroform,” and the 
jury expressed their opinion that proper case-books for reference should be kept in the 
hospital. Another fatal case occurred at Middlesex Hospital on Tuesday, July 5th. This 
was an operation for the removal of a large tumour from the face, during which the 
patient died on the operating table. A third fatal case occurred at St. Mary’s Hospital, 
where an inquest was held on Monday, July 18, on the body of James Birch, aged 56, 
who expired while under the influence of chloroform, administered previous to an ope¬ 
ration for the removal of the bone of the great toe. A post-mortem examination showed 
that there was extensive disease of the heart. 
Poisonous Sheep Dressings. —Mr. Gamgee, in a letter to the ‘Lancet,’July 23, 
draws attention to the evils arising from the use of arsenic and mercury in sheep-dress¬ 
ings, and states that these, and other agents poisonous to man and animals, can be en¬ 
tirely superseded by products alone destructive to parasites. Mr. Gamgee states that 
“ thousands of sheep, poisoned with mercurial ointment, are sold annually in the meat 
markets, and cases of injury to man and animals by arsenic and mercury, direct and 
indirect, are by no means uncommon,” and suggests that analyses of sheep-dips, and cases 
of poisoning should be published in the ‘ Lancet,’ with the view of inducing some legis¬ 
lative enactment for the purpose of preventing the evils referred to. 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
The Chemical Processes of the British Pharmacopoeia, and the Behaviour, 
with Reagents, of tiieir Products. By Henry J. Church. London: Robert 
Hardwicke, Piccadilly. 1864. 
Half-Yearly Abstract of the Medical Sciences. January to June, 1864. John 
Churchill and Sons, New Burlington Street. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Mr. RastricJc, of Southsea, has called our attention-to the fact that the characters of 
the two species of Sanguisuga have been transposed in the British Pharmacopoeia. 
Herbarium (Lowestoft).—See ‘Pharmaceutical Journal,’ vol. v. 2nd series, p. 434; 
Bentley’s ‘ Manual of Botany. 
A Registered Apprentice (Newcastle).—Fownes’s ‘ Manual of Chemistry,’ Babington’s 
‘ Manual of British Botany.’ 
Medical Student (London).—An abridged edition of Pereira’s ‘ Materia Medica and 
Therapeutics ’ is advertised to be ready in October. It will be edited by Dr. Farre, Pro¬ 
fessor Bentley, and Mr. Warrington. 
Chemicus (Chester).—The cost of a licence for the sale of Methylated Spirit in quan¬ 
tity of less than a gallon, is £2. 2s. per annum. A separate licence is not required for 
the sale of Finish. 
A Correspondent wishes for a good formula for making Blacking. 
Mr. II. George is thanked for his communication. 
Erratum.—For “ William Griffiths, Jersey,” read “ Swansea.” 
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the transmission of the 
Journal before the 25th of the month, to Elias Bremridge, Secretary, 17, 
Bloomsbury Square, W.C. 
Advertisements (not later than the 23rd) to Messrs. Churchill, New Bur¬ 
lington Street. Other communications to the Editors, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
