The Press.
London, England, 1858-11-13 00:00:00

Earl of Ducie, and a few pheasants and hares pre-
heated by the Earl of Carnarvon, Under Secretary
of State for the Colonies.
A GANNET, a remarkable bird, whose home during
the summer months is on the Bass rock, was found
in a field near Gamblesby a week ago. It was seen
by a female working in the field, and was mistaken
for a goose until it made an attack upon her. She
secured it, and kept it for two days, when it died for
want of proper food. It is a remarkably fine bird,
weighs about six pounds, and measures from tip to
tip six feet.
A STRANGE EPISTLE FROM CENTRAL AFRICA has
just been received at the office of the Illustrated
London News. It was placed in the hands of the
acting British Vice-Consul at Mourzook, the chief
town of Fezzan, by a native who had arrived there
from the Soudan. This singular paper, which is
dated " Yonda, Central Africa, March 25, 1856,"
contains the following request:—" Should this ever
fall into the bands of any white man, please publish
it in the Illustrated London News." It bears, also, a
list of the prophets, and is signed, " W. H. Clark,
missionary, U.S. America." These are all the con-
tents of the paper, which, though in places somewhat
mouldy, is in a tolerable state of preservation.
THE TERRIBLE CALAMITY AT BRADFORD has elicited
some startling information on the manufacture of the
cheap deleterious compounds sold under the name
of "lozenges." It is stated in a communication from
a firm of wholesale confectioners, that the adultera-
ting article called duft, duck, stuff, derby, plaster, or
by some more classically named terra alba, is used in
the manufacture of lozenges to the alarming extent
of 25 to 35 per cent. This article is very injurious
to the system, being indissoluble ; it precipitates in
the body and forms stone, especially if taken in large
pantities, as in the case with the lozenges that
mused this calamity. It is used in the cheap
lozenges which are largely consumed by children.
Its existence may be ascertained by dissolving three
f the lozenges in a wineglass of water, when the
terra alba will precipitate to the bottom of the glass ;
and precisely in the same manner will a large pro-
portion remain in the body, producing gravel or
stone. The temptation to use it arises from the fol-
lowing facts :-1. It makes the lozenge much harder
and whiter. 2. It enables the manufacturer to sell
a cheaper article than his neighbour who con-
scientiously refuses to use it. 3. The price. Terra
alba may be procured at 7s. per cwt. or less, while
the price of fine powdered sugar is 03s. per cwt.;
the great difference in the above prices allows a
larger profit to the dishonest manufacturer.
THE RECTORSHIP OF GLASGOW UNIVERSITY brings
three candidates into the field—namely, Sir E. B.
Lytton, Lord Shaftesbury, and the Lord Justice Clerk,
all of whom have active committees. The law and
medical students intend to support Lord Glencorse.
SNOW fell heavily at Strasburg on Saturday night,
anu continued the whole of the next morning. There
has been no fall in that city so early in the season
for many years. At Milan heavy snow fell on the 4th,
a most unusual circumstance in that part of Italy at
this season.

THE MEDICAL COUNCIL, under the new act, is now
completed, with the exception of that of the repre-
sentative of the College of Surgeons of England.
Legal difficulties exist as to whether the right of
election belongs to the executive council or to the
entire body of fellows and members. The following
is a list of the council :—Sir James Clark, Bart., Sir
Charles Hastings, Mr. Wm. Lawrence, Mr. T. P.
Teale, Dr. Christison, and Dr. Stokes, who are nomi-
nated by the Crown ; Dr. Watson, College of Phy-
sicians of London; Mr. J. Nussey, Society of
Apothecaries; Dr. Acland, University of Oxford;
Dr. Bond, University of Cambridge; Dr. Embleton,
University of Durham ; Dr. Storrar, University of
London ; Dr. Alex. Wood, College of Physicians of
Edinburgh ; Dr. Andrew Wood, College of Surgeons
of Edinburgh ; Dr. James Watson, Glasgow Faculty;
Mr. Syme, University of Edinburgh and Aberdeen;
Dr. Lawrie, University of Glasgow and St. Andrews ;
Dr. Ag. Smith, College of Physicians of Ireland ;
Dr. R. C. Williams, College of Surgeons of Ireland ;
Dr. Apjohn, University of Dublin ; Dr. Corrigan,
Queen's University in Ireland ; Dr. Leet, Apothe-
caries' Hall of Ireland. According to the act the
council have the right of nominating as president
one who is not a member of their body. Should
they elect one of themselves to the presidency a
vacancy would arise in the representative seat held
by the member so elected. Great diversity of opinion
exists as to whether the president ought or ought not
to be a member of the medical profession. When
the measure was before Parliament it was stated that
in all probability some of the nominees of the Crown
and of the universities would be laymen. It has
turned out otherwise, so that there is a chance of the
council being exclusively professional.

- -
CAN A HARE Swim ? is answered by the Lincoln,
Times, which says :-4' Only yesterday we saw one
disturbed by a dog, take the water as gallantly as a
duok, and so escape across one of our broad drains."