28 
GLEANINGS  FBOM  AMERICAN  JOURNALS. 
ble  shape.  The  method  of  Dr.  Simpson,  of  Edinburgh,  is  to 
saturate  sponge,  previously  cleansed,  with  thick  gum  mucilage, 
and  then  having  pushed  an  awl  through  its  centre,  a  cord  is 
forcibly  wrapped  around  it  so  as  to  expel  most  of  the  mucilage 
and  reduce  the  size  of  the  sponge  to  a  small  diameter,  and  dried, 
when  the  cord  is  removed  and  the  exterior  of  the  tent  rubbed 
down  with  sand  paper  to  the  proper  shape. 
Dr.  H.  Nott,  of  New  York,  ^prepares  an  antiseptic  sponge 
tent  by  saturating  the  prepared  sponge  with  an  antiseptic  paste 
composed  of  alum,  acetate  of  lead,  wheat-flour  and  gum-water 
heated  to  the  boiling  point,  and  wraps  it  with  gold-beaters  skin. 
It  is  then  punctured  with  a  small  knife  blade. 
Dr.  Bryant  recommends  that  10  or  12  grains  of  carbolic  acid 
be  dissolved  in  an  ounce  of  mucilage  before  using  it  for  the  tent, 
which  renders  it  antiseptic.  In  preparing  the  tent,  moderately 
coarse  elastic  sponge  should  be  selected.  Cleanse  it  well,  and 
while  wet  cut  it  into  the  exact  shape  and  size  that  is  needed  to 
assume  after  expanding.  Then  saturate  it  with  the  mucilage 
and  wrap  it  on  an  awl,  which  should  be  pushed  through  the  axis 
of  the  conical  piece  of  sponge  with  strong  coarse,  well-twisted 
cord,  commencing  at  the  point  and  carrying  the  cord  around 
regularly  so  as  to  form  a  close  spiral  coil.  When  dry  and  the 
cord  is  removed  the  surface  of  the  sponge  contains  a  spiral 
thread  which  tends  to  retain  the  tent  in  position. 
Catalpa  Bark. — Dr.  Joseph  Jones,  {St  Louis  Medical  Repor- 
ter., Oct.  15,  1868,)  calls  attention  to  this  bark,  about  which  but 
little  appe*ars  to  be  known,  though  it  has  been  recommended  as 
an  anti-periodic.  He  thinks  caution  should  be  used  in  its  em- 
ployment, from  its  generally  believed  poisonous  nature.  When 
the  bark  is  wounded  a  rank  odor  is  exhaled,  and  the  flowers  are 
said  to  yield  a  poisonous  honey.  The  seeds  are  said  to  be  use- 
ful in  asthma,  taken  in  decoction. 
The  alleged  poisonous  qualities  of  this  plant  deserve  investi- 
gation ;  we  doubt  its  activity,  as  the  very  great  abundance  of  the 
tree  in  many  localities  would  have  caused  some  accident  if  it 
possessed  deleterious  properties. 
India  the  great  nursery  of  Cholera. — Dr.  John  C.  Peters,  in 
