RECRUITING FOR THE ARMY.

536 microbe. The problem is rendered more difficult from the fact that hitherto cancer has never been successfully inoculated upon the lower animals. Weall know how the inoculability of tubercle was proved long before the bacillus tuberculosis was discovered; and the failure of such experiments with respect to cancer (which Dr. Senger himself has repeated with equal non-success) affords additional evidence of the difference between tubercle and cancer as regards their respective degrees of infectivity. It may be that the failures depend on the inability to select an appropriate locality in the body for inoculation of cancer, or to employ cancer of a special histological kind or in a special stage of growth, as being more virulent in the one than the other, or, what is very probable, upon the animals selected being insusceptible to cancer. These and other explanations may be proffered to explain the very limited infectivity that cancer seems to possess. As to Scheurlen’s bacillus, Dr. Senger repeated the experiments upon which that discovery was based, making numerous cultures of portions of cancerous tumours upon various media (gelatine, agar, blood serum, and ascitic fluid), without obtaining a micro-organism which could be recognised as specific; and although in one instance he did encounter a bacillus having characters similar to those described by Scheurlen, he proved satisfactorily that this bacillus was due to the potato upon which the culture was made. He did not think the question would be solved until new methods of cultivation were introduced, and he discountenanced bacteriological study

cannot, therefore, be assumed

to have been in all

respects

eligible. No doubt a proportion of them would have been rejected for other medical reasons. It would be manifestly wrong, therefore, to assume that only 204 per 1000 of the reCIuits who presented themselves for enlistment were ineligible on medical grounds. COCAINE IN TOOTH EXTRACTION.

THE employment of certain salts of cocaine, and even the alkaloid itself, in dental surgery, has now received a fairly wide trial. It must be confessed that authorities here and abroad have arrived at very various results, some averring that cocaine is in all cases successful, while others have relinquished its use. To reconcile these discordant statements is at present quite impossible; we can only indicate the best means of applying this anaesthetie, and warn against its indiscriminate use. As a rule, from half a grain to a grain of the hydrochlorate dissolved in ten minims of water, and injected into the tissue of the gum by two punctures, one on the lingual and one on the buccal aspect of the tooth, ensures a painless extraction. It is best to inject very slowly, and to wait from five to ten minutes after the completion of the last injection before extracting, However, in some persons cocaine fails entirely; nor is it possible to anticipate in whom it will succeed or in whom prove abortive. Simply painting the gum is valueless in tooth-extraction, except as a preliminary before the transmissibility of cancer was proved. to the punctures of the hypodermic syringe, for some persons are as much afraid of the pain incident to the pricking the hyperaomic gum as they are of the more severe RECRUITING FOR THE ARMY. operation. Although many persons experience no unTHE annual report of the Inspector-General shows the pleasant effects from the injection of one grain, yet a certain number of recruits who joined in 1887 to have been 31,225. proportion are painfully and alarmingly upset by its action. This was 8684 less than in the preceding year, but was the extreme respiratory distress, feelings of complete full complement required. In consequence of this reduction Syncope, prostration lasting for hours, vomiting, great nausea, facial in the numbers to be raised, the authority given in 1886 to paralysis, muscular paresis, and swelling of the tongue may enlist eligible recruits under twenty years of age who were ensue; thick utterance has been present in many cases; one inch below the minimum standard of height, or within while vertigo, headache, and hallucinations are not uncommon an inch of the prescribed chest measurement provided they sequoias of cocaine given hypodermically. As a rule, these were not less than thirty-three inches, was cancelled. No symptoms, although very alarming at the time, pass off ina information is given as to the number of recruits rejected few hours, but may persist for days. Cocaine sometimes loses in 1887. Of 31,225 who joined the service 11,506 came its anaesthetic powers after the first injection. Many do not from the militia, and of these 5778 had not served one recommend cocaine for prolonged dental operations, prefertraining. During the year 33,597 recruits joined the ring nitrous oxide gas, which is sure and safe, for short militia, of whom one-third, therefore, subsequently joined procedures, while others lean to a combination of the two the regular army. The number of soldiers invalided during the first year of service was 289, being in the proportion of agents. 9’2 per 1000 recruits joined. A table in the appendix shows GERMAN PHYSICIANS IN ITALY. the proportion invalided per 1000 men under three years’ AN Italian correspondent writes :-Increased attention to service to have been 11’65, a lower ratio than in any of the the efficiency of her medical schools was one of the first nine preceding years. From the tables in the appendix to the of Italy’s reawakening after her unity and independreport we gather that the mean strength of the army at signs ence were completed. The professorial staff in her seats home and abroad was 201,621; there were 1946 deaths and of learning was reinforced in many cases from abroad, and 2646 discharges by invaliding, being in the ratio respectively from Germany. Turin received Moleschott, Florence of 9 65 and 13’12 per 1000; but we are inclined to think chiefly Rome Boll, and Naples von Schronn; and in each of Schiff, that the numbers, especially of the invalids, are underthese schools the teaching of physiology was so enhanced stated. The mean strength of the militia was 109,603, and that their alumni in one essential branch of medical educathe deaths reported were 421, or 3’84 per 1000, probably also tion need not now fear comparison with those of any other ,under the correct amount. We observe a statement in the Death or removal has wrought report relative to the proportion of recruits rejected on Europeaninuniver&ity. this auxiliary professoriate; but while Molemedical grounds in previous years to which we take exception. changes schott has been transferred to Rome, von Schronn remains In 1886 the total rejections were 438 per 1000 examined, and at Naples, and continues the good work he has already of these 234, or upwards of one-half, were returned under the heads of " under chest measurement," " under height," achieved in that school. In recognition of his services, "under weight," " not likely to become efficient soldiers." King Humbert has just made him Commendatore of the On this the Inspector-General remarks : " From this return Order of SS. Maurice and bazarus-a rarely bestowed it will be seen that of those rejected 17,573 were physically distinction even in the political world, but merited in this fit for service, but were under the standard of size fixed for case by the great value of the scientific teaching imparted -recruits." But these lads, if we understand the system, by von Schronn in the Neapolitan University, and the consequent elevation of the standard of medical doctrine and were rejected without a further medical examination, -

and