84 
VARIETIES. 
Poisoning  bij  Oil  of  Turpentine. — Marechal  of  Tours  mentions  a  case  of 
poisoning  by  oil  of  turpentine,  caused  by  a  woman  living  for  several  days 
in  a  recently  painted  room.  The  symptoms  were  those  of  painter's  colic. 
He  considers  that  this  disease  is  not.  produced,  as  is  usually  supposed,  by 
the  white  lead,  which  is  non-volatile,  but  by  the  evaporation  of  the  oil  of 
turpentine,  whose  poisonous  action  he  has  proved  by  several  experiments. 
Revue  Medicate. 
Paper  from  Moss. — A  Dr.  Terry  of  Detroit,  who  has  been  experimenting 
on  a  half  ton  of  moss  obtained  in  Lake  Superior  region,  according  to  the 
Cleveland  Plaindealer,  affirms  that  it  makes  beautiful  white  paper  without 
any  peculiar  process.  The  moss  is  represented  to  exist  in  great  quantities 
on  Isle  Royal  and  several  other  localities  in  the  vicinity,  and  can  be  pro- 
cured at  a  very  moderate  cost. 
Cod-Liver  Oil  Chocolate. — Numerous  attempts  have  been  made  to  dis- 
guise the  nauseous  taste  of  cod-liver  oil,  and  to  render  it  more  acceptable  to 
delicate  stomachs.  The  chocolate,  it  is  said,  is  likely  to  remove  the  objec- 
tions heretofore  urged  against  its  use.  It  is  odorised  with  cinnamon,  bitter 
almonds,  peppermint,  etc.,  so  as  to  give  it  an  agreeable  flavor,  and  to  cover 
perfectly  the  fishy  taste  of  the  oil.  The  prepared  oil  chocolate,  it  is  stated, 
agrees  well  with  even  the  most  delicate  stomachs,  and  is  eminently  adapted 
to  all  diseases  of  a  debilitating  character. — Monthly  Stethoscope  and  Medical 
Reporter. 
Death  from  Drinking  Naphtha. — The  London  Lancet  records  a  case  of 
death  from  drinking  about  three  ounces  of  naphtha,  used  for  burning  in 
lamps.  The  patient  was  a  lad  twelve  years  of  age.  The  symptoms  were 
at  first  those  of  excitement,  speedily  followed  by  stertorous  breathing  and 
a  state  of  collapse.  Death  took  place  in  less  than  three  hours.  At  the 
post-mortem  examination,  the  preservative  action  of  the  naphtha  was  very 
remarkable.  The  weather  was  very  hot,  and  although  three  days  had 
elapsed  since  death,  all  parts  of  the  corpse  were  as  fresh  as  if  the  lad  had 
recently  died.  The  blood  was  everywhere  very  fluid.  The  lungs  were  not 
at  all  congested,  and  the  coats  of  the  stomach  were  found  to  be  very  little 
affected  by  the  presence  of  the  poison.  The  smell  of  naphtha  pervaded  the 
whole  of  the  tissues,  and  was  very  perceptible  immediately  on  opening  the 
head. 
Leeches. — In  the  travels  of  Joseph  Dalton  Hooker,  M.  D.,  through  Sikkim 
and  Nepaul  Himalayas,  the  following  statements  occur : — 
"  Leeches  swarmed  in  incredible  profusion  in  the  streams  and  damp 
grass,  and  among  the  bushes ;  they  got  into  my  hair,  hung  on  my  eyelids, 
