he
deemed to be less hazardous, of holding the fragments close together by
means of a strong silver wire passed round them vertically by a large
needle without actually laying open the joint. But experience has shown
that in the hands of careful and skilful surgeons Lister's operation of
openly wiring the fragments gives a perfect result with a comparatively
small risk. Other surgeons secure the fragments in close contact for
bony union by passing a silk or metal suture around them
circumferentially. Many years ago Lister remarked that the careful
selection of one's patients is an antiseptic measure--by which he meant
that if a surgeon intended to get the most perfect results for his
operative work, he must carefully consider whether any individual
patient is physically adapted for the performance upon him of any
particular operation. This aphorism implies that not every patient with
a broken knee-cap is suited for the opening of his knee-joint, or even
for the subcutaneous adjustment of the broken fragments. An operative
procedure which is admirably suited for one patient might result in
disaster when adopted for another, and it is an important part of the
surgeon's business to know what to advise in each individual case.
(E. O.*)

_Industrial Applications of Bones._--By the increasing inventiveness
of man, the industrial utilization of animal bone has been so
developed that not one of the constituents fails to reappear in
commerce. Composed of mineral matter--phosphates, &c.--fat and
gelatinous substances, the phosphates are used as artificial manures,
the fat is worked up by the soap-maker and chandler, and the
gelatinous matter forms the basis of the gelatin and glue of commerce;
while by the dry distillation of bones from which the gelatin has been
but partially removed, there are obtained a carbonaceous
residue--animal charcoal--and a tarry distillate, from which "bone
oil" and bone pitch are obtained. To these by-products there must be
added the direct uses of bone--for making buttons, knife-handles,
&c.--when an estimate is desired of the commercial importance of these
components of the animal frame.

While most of the world's supply of bones goes to the glue and gelatin
works, the leg and thigh bones, termed "marrows" and "knuckles," are
used for the manufacture of bone articles. The treatment which they
receive is very different from that practised in the glue-works.