MISCELLANY. 
19 
Employment of Chloride of Zinc in Toothache. By Dr. Stanelli. — 
According to Dr. Stanelli, the chloride of zinc, liquified by exposure to 
the air, possesses the property of calming dental pains. 
His mode of application is most simple. By means of a small hair 
pencil, a small quantity of it is applied to the cavity of the painful tooth, 
and in the space of a few minutes it appeases the most acute sufferings, 
without causing any irritation. 
Before proceeding to the application, it is indispensable carefully to 
surround with cotton wadding, and, when the chloride has been applied, 
to well fill the cavity with this same cotton. The mouth is finally 
washed with a little warm water. 
The author affirms that he has obtained uniform success from this 
means in more than fifty cases, and that he has never observed the pro- 
gress of the caries rendered more active by it. — Chemist, from Jlnnali 
Univ. de Med, 
Case of Ergotism. By James B. Thompson, M.D. — This disease, if 
disease it may be called, is often met with amongst the natives of the 
western coast of Africa. It was remarkably well marked in the follow- 
ing case : — 
The subject was a lad of about eighteen years of age, servant to the 
brother of Governor Rankin, then residing at the Gambia. It was ob- 
served, that whenever this boy was in the act of brushing the flies and 
mosquitos from his master while at dinner, he dropped off into an appa- 
rently sound sleep, and remained fixed in his then position. He was 
often noticed to do the same, when about to get anything from off the 
side-board, or in opening a closet in the dining-room. It was often 
amusing, indeed, most laughable, to behold him during this period of 
somnolency. He was not unlike a person going about the house in his 
sleep. Indeed, there seems to be some analogy between this affection 
and that of a confirmed somnambulist; but the former cases are more 
generally followed by serious, sometimes fatal consequences, after a 
period of years has elapsed. It would appear as if the circulation in the 
brain was much engaged ; death, in such cases, mostly terminating in 
a form of asphyxia apoplexy. I am not aware that autopsies have 
thrown any light as yet on the subject; nor do I imagine we are as yet 
in possession of the mest judicious treatment for such anomalous cases. — 
Ibid, from Med. Gaz. 
Method of Removing Marking Ink from Linen. By Dr. Boettger. — 
I recollect having read some time ago, in a chemical or poly technical 
paper, an essay in reference to the foregoing question, in which the use 
