The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-04 00:00:00

CROUP.

Our readers are awa the have at different times
touched upon the subject of this dangerous disease, describ-
ing the most recent endeavours of distinguished practi-
tioners to rid the trachea of the false membranes which.
encumber it, either by mechanical or by chemical means.
Dr. Ozanam has now communicated to the Academy of
Sciences a series of numerous experiments made with diffe-
rent chemical agents not hitherto tried, and from which we
select the following :—The chloride of potassium dissolves
the false membranes completely in 24 hours; chloride of
sodium in 36 ; a solution of one-hundredth part of bromide
of potassium in water in 12 hours; a mixture of bromine
and bromide of potassium is more powerful still. One part
of chromate of potaSsium in 10 of water will harden the
membranes in the course of two days. The sub and bi-
carbonates of potash, in concentrated solutions, will
dissolve the membranes in 12 hours. Phosphate
of soda is less active; the cyanide of potassium in
a concentrated state 'will dissolve the membranes in 15
hours; pure glycerine will soften them in 24 hours; but
the mother-water of wrack soda will effect a complete solu-
tion in four or five hours. Dr. Ozanam concludes from his
experiments that, if it be intended to attack the membranes
by dissolvents, alkalies should be preferred ; and from what
we have quoted above it will appear that the sub-carbonate
and chlorate of potash and the phosphate of soda, so long
advocated, are the lowest on the list in point of efficacy.
If, on the contrary, segregation or separation be aimed at,
then chloride of bromine, bromine itself and chlorine, or
else iodine, perchloride of iron'and chromium, should be
resorted to, since they harden the membrane and make it
detach itself. These conclusions acquire great value front
the fact that Dr. Ozanam has been pursuing these researches
since 1849. He quotes a singular instance of a cure which
occurred in 1860. A country physician having in a case of
croup attempted to cauterise the false membrane by stick-
caustic, the patient somehow or other swallowed the wholes
piece. In an agony of terror the practitioner forced a con-
centrated solution of kitchen salt (hydrochlorate of soda)
down the patient's throat by way of antidete ; and, to his
surprise, not only saved him from the effects of the caustic,
but also cured him of his croup by the same simple remedy.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1862.—The Royal
Charter incorporating the Commissioners of the Great Ex-
hibition of 1862 has been drawn, and is at this moment
before her Majesty for signature. " By the time," says the
.Athenceuna of Saturday, " these words come under the eyes
of our distant readers Earl Granville, the Marquis of Chan-
dos, Mr. Baring, Mr. C. W. Dilke, and Mr. Fairbairu will
have received from the Queen full powers to proceed with
the building and arrangements."
THE ROYAL HOUSE OF SAVOY.—As regards the
House of Savoy, originally German, though the state it
small and poor, its history is important as being at once re-
markable for its antiquity and its many illustrious princeet
its good and bad fortune, the warlike and chivalrous g
bear-
in of its princes (Prince Eugene amongst the rest), don
to the noble and unfortunate Charles Albert,
coews a
at
' hero and the martyr of Italian liberty I
leencroach-
series of fights, either at one time seokingsnte
ments, or at another supporting souse, has change&
avoy,reopre seeking to.
recover some contested inheritancerv-,.°
conquered it, but it,
masters more than once. Louis
mlrrrick.
Again Savoy anti
f al, and restored to Piedmont'
was restored at the Peace
Nice were added to Free
e otCharles Albert against Aus-
in 1814. The sr eat strop- g3O March, 1849, at Novara
tria 'aided With his defeat,
dying the 29th of July in the same year
Emmanuel succeeded him, and it is to,
wathOen 11e t
p° victor
retain the liberty of his own state, and ob..
be hop
of the Italian peninsula.—Once a Week,
tan it for oa.thb de i
wc a.
h t
teoodl
CAMBRIDGE WRANGLERS.—Anon, Malthus and.
Richard PM= become man-marks in the tripes; an&
ed
he
on
after tg Joe Littledale's" seniority in 1787, quite a spring-.
tide of wrangler success sets in for the lawyers, with Lynd*
burst, Tindal, and Wensleydale. Two bishops become,
seniors in turn ; and then four judges, Pollock, Langdale,
Alderson, and Maule, in five successive years win the same
honour. Herschel, Peacock, and Fellows make up a bril-
liant first three ; and the Duke of Devonshire, Airey,
Whewell, Goulburn, and Adams earned their Commence-
ment cheer as senior or second. Among the Optimes, we
find Thirlwall, Praed, the three brothers Kennedy (alt
heads of the classical tripes), and Lord Lyttelton and
Vaughan, the most famous bracket that Cambridge ever
knew. Tennyson was quite content with his two Chan-
cellor's Verse medals and his poll degree ; for Sir Alexan-
der Cockburn's honours we have to look to the Civil Law
Classes; and for Lord Macaulay's best achievement to the
Craven Scholars' roll.—Once a Week.
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