fever and hooping-cough; and in regard to these results he expressed the opinion that they might be followed up with the help of more numerous data, and perhaps by the aid of other methods of inquiry, until they yield results of real importance.

Dr. Buchanan proceeded to discuss the question he had proposed to examine by a different standard with substantially the same results.

NOTE ON THE HEALTH ASPECTS OF SEWAGE

IRRIGATION.

WE have been favoured by Dr. R. Boyd with the following note on this subject:

"The following statement of sewage irrigation, extending over a period of twenty years' residence and upwards in the Somersetshire County Asylum, may perhaps be considered of sufficient interest for insertion in the Practitioner, à propos of the article in the May number.

"The architect of the Somerset Asylum, the late Mr. Moffat, who was specially interested in sewage arrangements in London and its neighbourhood, took advantage of its sloping site and had a large brick tank built; it was situated 141 yards distant from the front of the house, and the sewage was carried into it by drains. About twelve acres of land adjoining and below this tank were irrigated with the sewage. Trunk drains were made through the land, with hatches at certain distances, and these drains were again carried into smaller tanks, from which the sewage could be pumped or drawn as required. The high road ran through part of the land, and a pipe was laid underneath by which the sewage was again carried into meadow land on the other side of the road. The crops thus produced were most exuberant, especially cabbages, of which some were five feet in diameter and from fifty to seventy pounds in weight; in one season Italian rye-grass was cut seven times, so rapid was its growth. These crops were found to increase the quantity and improve the quality of the cows' milk.

"The food was varied, and it was ascertained that the quantity consumed by one cow, on four days respectively, was 150 lbs. of cabbages the first day, 160 lbs. of turnips the second day, 40 lbs. of hay the third day, and 155 lbs. of mangoldwurzel the fourth day.

"A double-barrel liquid manure lifting pump with iron pipes was subsequently provided, by which the sewage was raised to small tanks in the garden behind the house; this sewage was found especially useful in dry seasons. During my resi dence no case of enteric fever ever occurred, or no epidemic or disease of any kind which could be attributed to the sewage irrigation. The vegetables and milk thus produced were all consumed in the establishment. On the greater part of the land under sewage, cultivation by spade labour was employed, and no complaint was made by the labourers, attendants, or patients employed under

them, of whom the number was very great. The sewage became deodorised when it came in contact with the soil, which was a red loam on clay.

"The sewage of the farm-yard was also collected in a tank and was carried by means of a water-cart and distributed on the grass land: this was occasionally offensive at the moment, when the weather was dry and earth hard. There was an escape to the high road from the overflow of the tank when neglected: this was complained of, and upon one occasion the occurrence of malignant scarlatina in a family was attributed to this cause; it was subsequently ascertained that the well which supplied their house was close to and below the level of the churchyard."

THE PRACTITIONER.

AUGUST, 1873.

Original Communications.

THE VALUE OF SODIC BROMIDE AS A NERVOUS SEDATIVE.

BY W. AINSLIE HOLLIS, M.D.

SODIC bromide, or, to use its vulgar name, bromide of sodium, although for some years known to have a therapeutic action somewhat similar to its analogue, the potassium salt, has, I consider, been lately somewhat unfairly" shelved" by pharmaceutists, whilst its more highly favoured rival has been introduced to the profession as the remedy for nearly every ailment flesh is heir to. Of late years, however, Dr. Richardson (in the pages of this journal and elsewhere) has shown the value of other combinations of bromine than the potassic salt alluded to; and Hammond, Nunneley, Lavallée, and others have also investigated the action of the alkaline salts of bromine. The last gentleman has observed the action of the sodic salt in the treatment of spermatorrhoea.1 Hammond showed that the calcium salt was of great use in allaying nervous excitement arising from excessive mental anxiety, and that it induced sleep when the potassic bromide in large doses failed to do so. I need not here allude so.2

1 "Bromures alcalins dans le Traitement des Affections génito-urinaires," noticed in "Annuaire de Thérapeutique pour 1873," par A. Bouchardat. Paris p. 230. 2 New York Medical Journal, 1871, II. p. 594.