REVIEW OF BIOLOGY. 
279 
operated on for ossification of the arytenoid cartilages, and had 
an electrician make an electric lamp, the globe of which was 
only one-fonrth of an inch in diameter and affixed to the end of 
a hard black-rubber handle twelve inches long, through which 
passed two fine copper wires connecting with the platinum loop 
in .the globe. At the other end of the handle was a thumb- 
press so placed that the light might be turned on and off at will 
of the operator. The wires were then connected to three dry 
batteries, and we were prepared to illuminate the laryngeal 
cavity. The mare was prepared, thrown, and placed upon her 
back ; a tracheotomy-tnbe inserted midway down the trachea ; 
trachea was opened just below cricoid cartilage, by separating 
muscles and cutting six rings, and the parts held open by 
two spoon-shaped blunt tenacnlums,' especially made. The 
trachea between the upper opening and the tracheotomy-tube 
was filled with soft sterilized sponges, to which cords were at¬ 
tached and fastened outside, so that sponges could not slip down 
into cavity of lung. The lamp was theji inserted into laryngeal 
cavity and light turned on, when all parts were distinctly seen, 
and each cut of knife or scissors could be followed, and forceps 
placed exactly where operator wished ; the whole ossified car¬ 
tilages were enucleated and the mncons membrane taken up 
with catgut sutures and properly tied, each cartilaginous ring 
drawn together with catgut sutures and the muscles with silver 
sutures. The only interference with operation was at times the 
accumulation of blood in laryngeal cavity and on the globe of 
lamp. Mare made rapid and complete recovery, and three 
weeks later could be speeded without any noise or emphatic 
breathing, and was then turned out.— (Jo?ir. Comp. Med. and 
Vet. Arch.') 
REVIEW OF BIOLOGY. 
Parathyroid Function \^By Prof. Monssec of Alforf \.— 
In 1892 and 1893, after a series of communications upon the 
thyroid function, the author had expressed the idea that two 
functions had been destroyed when the ablation of the thyroid 
glands and of the parathyroid glandules were made together. 
However, the doctrine became classic of the supply existing 
between the two .sorts of organs. Mr. Moussec presents the re¬ 
sults of a new series of observations : He has performed 55 
parathyroidectomies ; 32 have died, 23 have resisted. From these 
the opinion is given that these two organs have evidently a dis- 
