457 
VAPOUR OP TURPENTINE AN ANAESTHETIC. 
Mr. W ilmshursTj M.R.C.S., in a communication to the 
‘ Lancet 5 states that, in the absence of chloroform, he has 
successfully used the vapour of the oil of turpentine for the 
purpose of allaying pain, and inducing anaesthetic sleep. 
The composition of oil of turpentine, will in a great measure 
account for its thus acting, but experiments are wanting to 
confirm its perfect substitution. These, however, from the 
agent being so cheap and easy of application, might be easily 
performed, especially on the lower animals. 
ABYSSINIAN REMEDY EOR TAPE-WORM. 
Dr. Courbon, in an article on the taenifuges of Abyssinia, 
in the ‘ ’Pharmaceutical Journal ,’ states that the bark of the 
messena , an indigenous leguminose tree, is perhaps the best 
taenifuge, as it removes most completely the taenia solium , 
acting upon the parasite in a peculiar manner. After its 
ingestion, the worm is voided in fragments; and the inhabi¬ 
tants are not required to repeat the dose every two months, 
as they do the koussa. It is entirely tasteless, creates no 
nausea, nor does it produce any pain, or cause any derange¬ 
ment of the ordinary functions. The following day, either 
in the morning or evening, the greater part of the worm is 
thrown off in a sero-mucous evacuation. The quantity given 
is large—15 to 20 drachms ; but it is thought that the active 
principle resides in an alkaloid which might be extracted by 
chemical means. 
PLEUROPNEUMONIA IN AUSTRALIA. 
In our last we recorded that the government of Australia 
had introduced a bill authorising strict measures for the 
prevention of this disease. The Melbourne Herald , in its 
summary for the past month says:—“Of practical legisla¬ 
tion during the month there has been an utter void, if we 
except one bill, the Pleuro-Pneumonia Bill, which has re¬ 
ceived the Governor’s assent, and been put into operation. 
The bill authorises the destruction of diseased cattle, but if 
destroyed, and not found to be diseased, the owners can claim 
compensation under government.” 
