In a single extraction of hard cataract a 4 per centum solution was brushed over the ocular and palpebral conjunctiva, with the eyelids freely everted. Three applications were made at intervals of ten minutes, and the operation was performed at the lapse of twenty-five minutes. The patient asserted decidedly that she felt no pain whatever. Preparatory to the operation for uterine procidentia and rectocele, the vaginal and labial mucous surface was wiped dry, and a 4 per centum solution of the hydrochlorate of cocaine was thoroughly brushed over it. The sensitiveness was tested at three intervals of ten minutes each, and the application was repeated three times. There appeared to be at no time any decided loss of painful sensibility, and the operation was finally performed under the anæsthesia of sulphuric ether. For the removal of a rather large tarsal tumor, the ocular and palpebral conjunctiva and the exterior of the eyelids were brushed with the solution as previously used, at intervals of ten minutes, and the excision was performed at the lapse of forty minutes. The operation seemed to be as painful to the patient as if performed without an attempt at anæsthesia. For the operation for lachrymal obstruction the application was made in the same manner and at the same intervals. The slitting of the punctum and caniculus gave no pain, but the passage of the dilating probe down the lachrymal canal seemed to produce some uneasiness. Prior to applying nitric acid as a caustic to a syphilitic ulcer on the tongue, the same manner and number of applications were repeated, the tongue having been wiped dry and held protruding between the teeth. No pain was produced on the thoroughly benumbed tongue.--_Med. News._ ON SEWAGE DISPOSAL.[14] By Professor HENRY ROBINSON. [14] By Professor Henry Robinson. Paper read Oct. 2, 1884, at the Congress of the Institute held at Dublin.--_Building News_. The outcome of several public inquiries which have taken place during the last year or two, and of much valuable data derivable from other sources, establishes, we think, a well marked advance with reference to sewage disposal; and it may be of use, as well as of interest, if we lay before this Congress the conclusions which, we conceive, are deducible therefrom. We propose to deal with the subject under the following heads: 1. Sewage disposal on land. 2. Sewage disposal by chemical treatment. 3. Sewage disposal by discharge into a tidal river, or into the sea, without treatment. 1. SEWAGE DISPOSAL ON LAND.