Under a pressure of 300 atmospheres, and the influence of intense cold, the oxygen became a liquid. Hydrogen and nitrogen are now the only remaining elemental gases which have not been reduced to a liquid form.

Female Students in Russia.-It is stated in Nature that on the reopening of the St. Petersburg Ladies' High Medical School, October 13, 1877, 118 students were admitted. A much larger number passed the examination, but could not be admitted for want of room. A fifth class has been added, and the students now receive the degree of surgeon at the completion of the course of study.

Antiseptic Chambers.-Mr. W. Thompson, F. R. S., of Manchester, England, proposes the construction of a room, or series of rooms, for surgical purposes, that shall contain only air that has been so thoroughly filtered through layers of cottonwool as to be entirely free from germ-life. His experiments have satisfied him that such a plan is feasible.

Number of Medical Students in Paris.-The total number of medical students registered on the books of the Paris Faculty of Medicine, December 1, 1877, was 4,817 (Medical Times and Gazette). Of these, 21 were females, 11 of whom were from Russia. During the year ending November 1, 1877, 550 degrees of M. D. were conferred.

Murder of a Polish Surgeon.-The Times and Gazette of December 22d announces the death of Dr. Girsztorot, Professor of Surgery in Warsaw, and editor of a Polish medical journal. He was attacked by a journeyman printer, and severely wounded with a knife. He died from gangrene on the eighth day.

The Berlin Medical Society.-At the last annual meeting of this society a report was read, stating that 22 meetings had been held during the year and 30 papers read and discussed, and that the number of members had increased to 414. Prof. von Langenbeck was elected president for the ensuing year.

New York Ophthalmological Society.-The following gentlemen were elected officers of the Society for the year 1878, at the annual meeting, January 14: President, Dr. H. C. Eno; Vice-President, Dr. C. S. Bull; Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. G. R. Cutter; Committee on Admissions, Drs. J. D. Rushmore, E. G. Loring, and Edward Curtis.

A New Work on Pathology.-A work entitled "Studies in Pathological Anatomy," by Francis Delafield, M. D., is in course of publication by William Wood & Co., of this city. It is to appear in monthly parts, each containing from two to four lithographic plates, in color, with explanatory text. The first part is now ready.

Wheel-barrows for the Sick.-The Police Commissioners of Dundee, Scotland, have supplied each police station with a double-springed wheelbarrow, for the transportation of drunk and incapable persons. The new vehicles are said to be more convenient and easily managed than any other conveyance that has been tried for the same purpose.

California Medical College.-At the graduation exercises of the Medical College of the Pacific, held November 6, 1877, 13 diplomas were conferred.

At the exercises of the Medical Department of the University of California, held the preceding day, the graduating class numbered 15.

Dissection of a Gorilla.-The body of the Berlin gorilla Pongo has been carefully dissected by Profs. Virchow and Hartmann. The cause of death was found to be acute peritonitis. Pins, iron wire, and a button-glove, were found in the stomach.

A Preparatory Medical School.-We learn from the Cincinnati Lancet and Observer that a school of medicine has been established in Toledo, in connection with the St. Vincent's Hospital. The design is merely to furnish preparatory medical education, and not to confer degrees.

Death from Chloroform.-The Canada Lancet of January 1st reports the death, at Ancaster, Ontario, of an elderly lady from a small quantity of chloroform, given for an intended operation on a tumor in the axilla. Death was sudden. The post mortem revealed fatty degeneration of the heart.

Public Museums of Anatomy.-We are glad to see that the Boston authorities persistently refuse to license the so-called "Museums of Anatomy." These institutions are sources of unmixed evil, appealing to the lowest passions, and gratifying only a morbid and prurient curiosity.

Double Uterus and Vagina.-In the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of December 20th, Dr. J. R. Chadwick reports four cases, and Dr. J. S. Sullivan one case, of double uterus and vagina.

The late Dr. Buck's Contributions to Surgery.-At a meeting of the New York Academy of Medicine, held January 3d, Dr. Alfred C. Post read an eloquent memoir of the late Dr. Gurdon Buck, and mentioned the following as his principal contributions to surgery:

In 1846 he published a paper in the American Journal of Medical Sciences, entitled, "An Operation for Anchylosis of the Knee-Joint." The operation was an original one, and consisted in removing a wedge shaped portion embracing the condyle of the femur, the patella, and the articular surface of the tibia.

In 1848 he read a paper before the American Medical Association, in which he brought forward "Scarification as a Means of Treatment in Edematous Laryngitis."

In 1853 he read a paper before the same Association, "On the Surgical Treatment of Morbid Growths within the Larynx."

In 1855 he read an elaborate paper before the New York Academy of Medicine, "On Badly-United Fractures of the Thigh."

In the same year he published a paper in the New York Medical Times, "On the Treatment of Deep Wounds of the Parotid Region." The operation resorted to for the control of hæmorrhage in the case reported was an original one, and consisted in ligation of the primitive and also the internal carotid arteries.

In 1857 he published a paper in the New York Journal of Medicine, "On the Treatment of Post-Facial Abscess in the Iliac Fossa."

In 1861 he read a paper before the New York Academy of Medicine, "On an Improved Method of Treating Fracture of the Thigh." The method brought forward was that of continuous extension by means of adhesive plaster, weight and pulley, and commonly known as "Buck's Extension Appa

ratus.

In 1867, at the International Exhibition at Paris, a model of this apparatus was entered, and Dr. Buck received a diploma and medal as a testimonial to its great value as a means of treating fracture of the thigh. The idea, however, did not originate with Dr. Buck. The principle of continuous extension had been illustrated by Dr. H. G. Davis, in his apparatus for the treatment of morbus coxarius, and it was through him that Dr. Buck became acquainted with the appliance. To Dr. Buck, however, the credit should be given for utilizing the principle in the treatment of fracture of the thigh, and for bringing it prominently before the profession.

In 1869 Dr. Buck read a paper before the Medical Society of the State of New York, "On Lithotomy and Lithotrity,' and gave the results of operations for the relief of fifty cases of stone in the bladder.

In 1872 he published a small volume upon the same subject.

In 1876 he published a small-sized octavo volume "On Reparative Surgery," in which is given his experience in treatment and the operations performed for the relief of deformities produced by burns, gunshot-wounds, and other injuries.

Spencer Wells's Farewell. Our London correspondent, whose letter appears elsewhere, refers to the retirement of Dr. T. Spencer Wells from the Samaritan Hospital, where he has achieved perhaps the most brilliant surgical record of the age. He has performed in that hospital 408 ovariotomies, with 309 recoveries. Of the last 29 performed in 1877, 26 recovered. Dr. Wells's remarks on his retirement are worthy of reproduction, though largely quoted from another eminent surgeon. He concludes as follows:

A long while ago I was deeply impressed by some remarks made by Sir Benjamin Brodie on his retirement from St.

George's Hospital, after 18 years' service as surgeon. I forget the exact words, but he has reprinted something very like them in the conclusion to his 'Autobiography.' He says: 'It was not without a painful effort that I made up my mind to resign an office to which I had been sincerely attached. In doing so I was influenced by various considerations. One of them was, that I began to feel the necessity of diminishing the amount of my labors. Then, I had long since formed the resolution that I would not have it said of myself, as I had heard it said of others, that I retained a situation of such importance and responsibility when, either from age or from indifference, I had ceased to be fully equal to the duties belonging to it. And lastly, when I saw intelligent and diligent and otherwise deserving young men around me, waiting their turn to succeed to the hospital appointments, it seemed to me that there was something selfish in standing longer in their way, when, as far as my own mere worldly interests were concerned, I had obtained all that I could desire.'

"When I first heard these sentiments of Sir Benjamin Brodie, I determined that, if I should ever be placed in any like position, I would do my best to follow the example set by so wise and good a man; and, in carrying out that determination now, I trust that, while I am thus enabled to devote more time and attention to my private practice, I shall still be of some use to the suffering women in the hospital, without standing in the way of ambitious and deserving juniors, who have worked long and hard for the position they have now attained, and which, I sincerely hope, they may enjoy for many years to come."

Army Intelligence.

Official List of Changes of Stations and Duties of Officers of the Medical Department, United States Army, from December 14, 1877, to January 13, 1878.

MURRAY, R., Colonel and Surgeon.-Announced as Medical Director of the Division. G. O. 1, Division of the Missouri, January 2, 1878.

ALEXANDER, R. H., Major and Surgeon.-Granted leave of absence for four months, from January 1, 1878. S. O. 1, A. G. O., January 2, 1878.

BAILY, J. C., Major and Surgeon.-Assigned to duty at the Presidio of San Francisco. S. O. 158, Division of the Pacific and Department of California, December 12, 1877.