THE ARROW POISON IN THE NEW HEBRIDES.

320 the universe is indissolubly connected with its minutest parts-that "the simple germination of a lichen is, if we apprehend it rightly, linked directly with the grandest astronomical phenomena, nor could even an infusory animalcule be annihilated without altering the equilibrium of the universe ’’ ? The congenial gifts that made him one of the profoundest Platonists of his time doubtless prepared him for the teaching of the "Philebus " that the world is one huge animal organism, ’’ the manifestation of some transcendent life, with which each separate individual life is related as is the part to the whole. " It is the undeveloped potentialities of his rich and many-sided nature that make his career and his writings at once so interesting and so tragically pathetic, and that qualify the physician, even more than the votary of any other calling, to share with special sympathy in the memorial tribute intended to "perpetuate his name and inspiration in the locality of his birth."

deep wells bored through it or by surface ponds. The latter are all failing. The springs at Danbury would supply a large number of hamlets if the water were impounded. This would necessitate some twenty miles of piping, but the boon con. ferred would be immense and the outlay doubtlessly in the end remunerative. Dr. Thresh has often given sound advice which has been followed with the best results, and we trust that his counsel in this important matter of a pure water-supply for the Maldon villages will receive the favourable consideration which it so evidently calls for.

TREATMENT OF HABITUAL ABORTION.

ASSAFCETIDA has been recently recommended in cases of habitual abortion. Dr. Turazzo gives it in pills con. taining a grain and a half as soon as it becomes clear that a new pregnancy has commenced. At first only two pills are prescribed, but later on the number is gradually increased to ten daily. The treatment is continued until the THE FLY PLAGUE OUT OF DOORS. labour is over, and then the daily dose is gradually diminished. LAST week we had occasion to discuss briefly some of the By this method cases where as many as five successive aborcontrivances usually employed to combat the annoyance caused tions had occurred have been successfully treated, and where by house flies. We also noticed the fact that out of doors in one instance a miscarriage appeared to be imminent during during the present hot weather a similar pest has to be the seventh month it was averted and the patient was delivered encountered in a pre-eminent degree. Road, pasture, at full term. wood and mountain-side swarm with insects which attack the unprotected face the live-long day. The traveller THE ARROW POISON IN THE NEW HEBRIDES. M. DANTEC has examined and experimented with the cannot rest, the fisher cast his line, or the sportsman set himself to shoot but this Musca volitans, half a dozen arrow poison used by the natives of the New Hebrides. He How best can the plague finds that it contains neither vegetable poison nor serpent at a time, is on his eyes. be met ? Perpetual movement is impossible, and no degree virus, but consists of earth impregnated with vegetable of facial mobility would secure immunity; the hands have matter taken from marshy places and containing Pasteur’s other duties. By common consent the veil, in one or vibrion septique, or bacillus of malignant aœdema and also the other form, has been accepted as the surest and most ready bacillus of tetanus. If the arrows have been kept a long A correspondent mentions a visor of this time or have been much exposed to the sun the vibrion means of defence. kind as a suggested remedy. We cannot remember having septique may have been destroyed ; the danger then is from met with this invention, but there seems to be no reason tetanus. When the arrows have been freshly prepared and why it should not satisfy the needful requirements. Sup- the vibrion septique is still active a wound from them causes ported on a light wirework and made large enough to cover death in a guinea-pig from septicaemia in from twelve to fifteen both head and neck, it could hardly fail to prove efficient. hours; tetanus, which takes longer than that period of time to Still more simple is the contrivance adopted by our soldiers develop, does not under these circumstances show itself. It in Egypt-namely, a circular veil attached to the rim of the is interesting to remark that the horse is unknown in these helmet, and falling down over the chest and shoulders. islands, consequently the theory of the equine origin of Health and convenience alike would gain by such additions tetanus would seem to be negatived by these researches. to the armoury of comfort. That the bites of flies, in one at THE VALUE OF NOTIFICATION. least of its species, may be the source of more than mere inconvenience has been already shown in our columns ; and THE rural sanitary authority of the Newton Abbot Unim we record this week another example of the fatal results have been urged by a deputation from the inhabitants of sometimes attending the attacks of these noxious pests. Ashburton, and Paignton, St. ____

Torquay,

SEASONABLE SANITARY WARNINGS. A NUMBER of cautions are

Marychurch,

Cocking-

ton to adopt the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act, The matter was referred to their medical officer of health, Mr.

just now being issued by medical Harvey, who advised against it. He may have excellent reasons for this advice. Thus, the authority may have no

officers of health. Dr. Sedgwick Saunders in the City of London urges that care be taken as to water-supplies and as to milk. Diarrhoea is steadily on the increase, and in infants this often means contamination of milk in the wretched places in which it is stored-such as pantries opening out near dustbins. In the Trent Valley, certain inhabitants of the Gainsborough rural district are, notwithstanding the protests of Mr. H. Wright, the local health officer, and of the Local Government Board, still obliged to drink from the polluted river. In Essex Dr. Thresh issues notices of warning to the Maldon rural authority. In their district Latchingdon, Purleigh, Tiptree, Tillingham, and At Purleigh other places are in considerable difficulty. to for a who bucketful of water cannot are pay willing people and the while a all 40,000 gallons get it; day of excellent at are water near Danbury by running to waste. spring At Latchingdon the water is described as being like pea soup and as stinking. The truth is that many of the parishes in question are on the London clay, which is some 300 to 400 feet thick, water being procurable only by

of isolating cases of infectious diseases when they hear of them, or their sanitary staff may be insufficient to do the work which would become necessary as the result of the increased sources of information as to disease in their midst. But the reasons which have been published in the local press appear to be singularly defective. One is that a subordinate inspector of nuisances would be more useful than the knowledge which the Act would provide; another seems to be that "notification meant quarantine." We assume this to imply that an extra inspector might prevent disease, whereas notification would only give information after its occurrence. There is of course some reason in this;y but everyone who has knowledge of a rural district must be aware that there are a number of diseases which are terribly fatal, which no action of a sub-inspector of nuisances can prevent. At all events, Mr. Harvey, knowing what is the state of the sanitary administration of this rural district, declares that notification would hardly be effective, and that it would lead

means