THE OPHTHALMIC DOUCHE BATH.
1
531 ham, and its freedom from choleraic and other epidemic poisons, are due, in a great measure, to the constant diffusion i of the mineral acid gases into and through it. There are five or six establishments for the manufacture of sulphuric and nitric acids in the town, which are computed to produce up- Tpards of one hundred tons of these acids per week. Mr. Bodington believes that the vapours from these establishments, although fatal to vegetable existence, are not unfavourable to animal life, and that the workmen employed in them are in general very healthy. There are also at least five hundred manufacturers in metals of one kind and another throughout the town, who use sulphuric acid in large quantities. From these sources, as well as from the sulphuric acid manufacturers, there is a constant evolution of sulphurous acid gas and nitrous oxide, which, being diffused throughout the atmosphere of the place, operate as great purifiers, by neutralizing every ammoniacal or other alktloicl emanation injurious to animal life. The author, in conclusion, states that the question is one of incalculable importance as regards the health of our fleets and armies. The diffusion of a certain amount of binoxide of nitrogen, or of sulphurous acid gas, through the compartments of a ship or an hospital, and other crowded situations, would tend to purify their atmosphere, and thus render them whole- some to the inmates. A discussion followed, in which Dr. SNOW, Dr. W. LEWIS, Dr. GREENHOW, Dr. WEBSTER, and Dr. GAVIN took part. Dr. SNOW then exhibited to the meeting an interesting Map of the Parishes of St. Anne and St. James, showing the pro- gress of, and mortality from, cholera in these districts during the months of September and October last. The thanks of the meeting were then given to the authors of the communications. The PRESIDENT announced that the next ordinary meeting of the Society would be held on Monday, February 5th, 1855. Reviews and Notices of Books. Chemistry, Theoretical, Practical, and Analytical, as applied to the Arts and Manufactures. By Dr. SHERIDAN to the Arts and Manufactures. By Dr. SHERIDAN MUSPRATT, M.R.I.S.A. William M’Kenzie, London- street, Glasgow, and Paternoster-row, London. THE application of chemistry to arts and manufactures has, within the last few years, led to the most important results, and this in consequence of the great progress made in the science of chemistry within that period. There is now scarcely an art or a manufacture in which chemistry does not play a most prominent part. The only work, until the publication of Dr. Muspratt’s "Dictionary," which treated of chemistry in its manufacturing and commercial bearings, was that of Dr. Ure. It is evident, therefore, that in a subject of such magnitude and interest there was room for a second production, and this more particularly since the latter work in some respects scarcely kept pace with the progress of science. In a previous notice of Dr. Muspratt’s serial, we took exception to the way in which it had been brought forward; this need not prevent us from acknowledging the great utility and importance of the work. The subjects are treated of in alphabetical order, with con- siderable detail and completeness; and they are, moreover, profusely illustrated with well-executed woodcuts, portraying the apparatus and machinery employed in the several arts or manufactures. The cost of the getting-up must have been very considerable, and great credit is due to the publisher for incurring so large an outlay. We trust that he will be recompensed by the full success of the work. What is some- what unusual with serial publications, the numbers of this book appear with praiseworthy regularity. The Book of Prescriptions; containing 2900 Prescriptions, collected from the Practice of the most eminent Physiciarzs and Surgeons, English and Foreign. By HENRY BEASLEY, London: John Churchill. 1854. THE object and scope of this little work are best expressed in the words of the author himself :— " The editor trusts that this work will supply a want which has long been felt. Carefully selecting from the mass of materials at his disposal, it has been his aim to compile a volume, sufficiently comprehensive and yet sufficiently por- table, in which both physician and druggist, prescriber and compounder, may find, under the head of each remedy, the manner in which that remedy may be most effectively ad- ministered, or combined with other medicines in the treatment of various diseases." - The alphabetical arrangement adopted renders this easy, and the value of the volume is still further enhanced by the short account given of each medicine, and the lists of doses of its several preparations. This is really a most useful and important publication, and, from the great aid which it is capable of affording in prescrib- ing, it should be in the possession of every medical practitioner. Amongst other advantages is that, by giving the prescriptions of some of the most able and successful practitioners -of the day, it affords an insight into the methods of treatment pur- sued by them, and of the remedies which they chiefly employed in the treatment of different diseases. The volume is small, and its cost trifling. Nem Inventions IN AID OF THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY. THE OPHTHALMIC DOUCHE BATH. BY DR. MARGULIES. Dp. MARGULIES presented to the Imperial Academy of Medicine, in Paris, (Session of October 17th, 1854, see Gazette des Hôpitaux, and Moniteur des Hôpitaux, October 19th, 1854,) a new apparatus, of his invention, for the application of a simple or medicated douche bath to the eyes, which he had found very useful in many cases of congestive amblyopia, of subsiding and chronic inflammation, asthenopia, anæsthesia of the optic membrane, and in certain cases of circumorbital neuralgia. The apparatus is composed of a reservoir, of vulcanized india-rubber, surmounted by a metal funnel, from which proceeds a bifurcated tube, each branch of which is furnished with a tap, A A, and terminates in an oval cup, C C, having the edges rounded, and so disposed as to be applicable to the eye with sufficient accuracy to prevent the liquid from escaping. This kind of bath may be applied to both eyes at once, or to one only, by closing one of the tap,. After the application the liquid passes away from the cups down a waste tube, B D. The patient may regulate the force of the douche by pressing the reservoir with more or less force. As the increasing use of the douche bath in ophthalmic practice has led to the invent-ion of several instruments which appeared to Dr. Margulies to be defective in several points, t-e was lead to the contrivance of the one described.
Transcript of THE OPHTHALMIC DOUCHE BATH.
531
ham, and its freedom from choleraic and other epidemic poisons, are due, in a great measure, to the constant diffusion iof the mineral acid gases into and through it. There are fiveor six establishments for the manufacture of sulphuric andnitric acids in the town, which are computed to produce up-Tpards of one hundred tons of these acids per week. Mr.Bodington believes that the vapours from these establishments,although fatal to vegetable existence, are not unfavourable toanimal life, and that the workmen employed in them are ingeneral very healthy. There are also at least five hundredmanufacturers in metals of one kind and another throughoutthe town, who use sulphuric acid in large quantities. Fromthese sources, as well as from the sulphuric acid manufacturers,there is a constant evolution of sulphurous acid gas andnitrous oxide, which, being diffused throughout the atmosphereof the place, operate as great purifiers, by neutralizing everyammoniacal or other alktloicl emanation injurious to animallife. The author, in conclusion, states that the question is oneof incalculable importance as regards the health of our fleetsand armies. The diffusion of a certain amount of binoxide ofnitrogen, or of sulphurous acid gas, through the compartmentsof a ship or an hospital, and other crowded situations, wouldtend to purify their atmosphere, and thus render them whole-some to the inmates.A discussion followed, in which Dr. SNOW, Dr. W. LEWIS,
Dr. GREENHOW, Dr. WEBSTER, and Dr. GAVIN took part.Dr. SNOW then exhibited to the meeting an interesting Map
of the Parishes of St. Anne and St. James, showing the pro-gress of, and mortality from, cholera in these districts duringthe months of September and October last.The thanks of the meeting were then given to the authors of
the communications.The PRESIDENT announced that the next ordinary meeting
of the Society would be held on Monday, February 5th, 1855.
Reviews and Notices of Books.
Chemistry, Theoretical, Practical, and Analytical, as appliedto the Arts and Manufactures. By Dr. SHERIDANto the Arts and Manufactures. By Dr. SHERIDANMUSPRATT, M.R.I.S.A. William M’Kenzie, London-street, Glasgow, and Paternoster-row, London.THE application of chemistry to arts and manufactures has,
within the last few years, led to the most important results,and this in consequence of the great progress made in thescience of chemistry within that period. There is now scarcelyan art or a manufacture in which chemistry does not play amost prominent part. The only work, until the publication ofDr. Muspratt’s "Dictionary," which treated of chemistry in itsmanufacturing and commercial bearings, was that of Dr. Ure.It is evident, therefore, that in a subject of such magnitudeand interest there was room for a second production, and thismore particularly since the latter work in some respects scarcelykept pace with the progress of science. In a previous noticeof Dr. Muspratt’s serial, we took exception to the way in whichit had been brought forward; this need not prevent us fromacknowledging the great utility and importance of the work.The subjects are treated of in alphabetical order, with con-siderable detail and completeness; and they are, moreover,profusely illustrated with well-executed woodcuts, portrayingthe apparatus and machinery employed in the several arts ormanufactures. The cost of the getting-up must have beenvery considerable, and great credit is due to the publisherfor incurring so large an outlay. We trust that he will be
recompensed by the full success of the work. What is some-what unusual with serial publications, the numbers of this bookappear with praiseworthy regularity.
The Book of Prescriptions; containing 2900 Prescriptions,collected from the Practice of the most eminent Physiciarzsand Surgeons, English and Foreign. By HENRY BEASLEY,London: John Churchill. 1854.
THE object and scope of this little work are best expressedin the words of the author himself :—" The editor trusts that this work will supply a want which
has long been felt. Carefully selecting from the mass ofmaterials at his disposal, it has been his aim to compile a
volume, sufficiently comprehensive and yet sufficiently por-table, in which both physician and druggist, prescriber andcompounder, may find, under the head of each remedy, themanner in which that remedy may be most effectively ad-ministered, or combined with other medicines in the treatmentof various diseases." -
The alphabetical arrangement adopted renders this easy,and the value of the volume is still further enhanced by theshort account given of each medicine, and the lists of doses ofits several preparations.
This is really a most useful and important publication, and,from the great aid which it is capable of affording in prescrib-ing, it should be in the possession of every medical practitioner.Amongst other advantages is that, by giving the prescriptionsof some of the most able and successful practitioners -of theday, it affords an insight into the methods of treatment pur-sued by them, and of the remedies which they chiefly employedin the treatment of different diseases. The volume is small,and its cost trifling.
Nem InventionsIN AID OF THE
PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY.
THE OPHTHALMIC DOUCHE BATH.BY DR. MARGULIES.
Dp. MARGULIES presented to the Imperial Academy ofMedicine, in Paris, (Session of October 17th, 1854, see Gazettedes Hôpitaux, and Moniteur des Hôpitaux, October 19th,1854,) a new apparatus, of his invention, for the application ofa simple or medicated douche bath to the eyes, which he hadfound very useful in many cases of congestive amblyopia,of subsiding and chronic inflammation, asthenopia, anæsthesiaof the optic membrane, and in certain cases of circumorbitalneuralgia.
The apparatus is composed of a reservoir, of vulcanizedindia-rubber, surmounted by a metal funnel, from which
proceeds a bifurcated tube, each branch of which is furnishedwith a tap, A A, and terminates in an oval cup, C C, havingthe edges rounded, and so disposed as to be applicable to theeye with sufficient accuracy to prevent the liquid from escaping.This kind of bath may be applied to both eyes at once, or toone only, by closing one of the tap,. After the applicationthe liquid passes away from the cups down a waste tube,B D. The patient may regulate the force of the douche bypressing the reservoir with more or less force.As the increasing use of the douche bath in ophthalmic
practice has led to the invent-ion of several instruments whichappeared to Dr. Margulies to be defective in several points, t-ewas lead to the contrivance of the one described.
