112 
FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
Carbolic Acid in Snake-bite. —Dr. Weir Mitchell, 
from observations on the bite of the rattlesnake, and MM. 
Gicquian and Viaud Grand-Marais, from observations on 
that of the viper, have arrived at the conclusion that the 
application of carbolic acid immediately on the receipt of the 
injury prevents both local and general poisoning. The pure 
acid, however, if applied in too great quantity, is liable to 
produce sloughing, and even dangerous symptoms: hence it 
is best used in the proportion of two parts of acid and one of 
alcohol. Given internally, or applied to the wound at a late 
period, it produces no effect. It is believed to act, not by 
neutralising the poison, but by causing contraction of the 
small vessels, and thus preventing its absorption.— 
Journal cle Mod. de V Quest., and Bull. Gener. de Ther. 
Cholera and Copper. —It is well known that during the 
epidemics of cholera which have occurred in this country, 
Birmingham suffered little or nothing in comparison with 
other large towns. The cause of this immunity from the 
disease was variously accounted for. One of the most pre¬ 
valent opinions was, that it was dependent mainly on the 
extent of the workings in copper carried on in the town and 
neighbourhood. It would appear from a late publication of 
Dr. Burg's that there is some ground for believing that that 
opinion is the correct one. Dr. Burg, in revising the dif¬ 
ferent statistics of deaths from cholera during its last outbreak 
in Paris in 1864 and 1865, finds that, out of 26,332 artisans 
in brass and copper, there were only 16 deaths—viz., 6 per 
1000. In other statistics he finds, among 5650 copper¬ 
smiths, founders of bronze, and manufacturers of brass instru¬ 
ments, not a single death is recorded from cholera. In the 
Society of the “ Bon Accord," formed in Paris in 1819, and 
composed only of workers in bronze, there has not been a 
single member attacked by cholera since the foundation of 
the Society; and we may add to these curious and interesting 
facts that the city of Mio-Tinto, protected as it is by the sur¬ 
rounding copper mines, has never been visited by the epi¬ 
demic, although it ravages all the surrounding provinces.— 
Med. Times and Gazette . 
