PUTTY POWDER Is a pulverised oxide of tin, or of tin and lead, used in polishing. The metals arc exposed to heat and to the admission of air In a furnace, or muffle of peculiar form ; and the oxide is taken out in pampa about as hard as marble. The lumps are ground to powder under a runner, and the powder is sifted through lawn. The putty powder mostly used is an oxide of the mixed metal, or rather a mixture of two oxides, and is largely used as glass and marble polish, and as platepowder. For the liner kinds of work, such as polishing lenses, the tin alone is used, without admixture with lead. The late Mr. Andrew Ross, the eminent optician, adopted a special anode, devised by himself, of making putty powder for polishing the exquisite lenses of his telescopes and microscopes. [Tie ; 1)1ETATANNIC ACID.] PUZZUOLANO. [Pozzroesso] PY.inlIA (pus in the blood), is a peculiar and dangerous state of the system, supposed to be produced by the introduction of pus into the blood. The symptoms connected with this state of the blood may occur in the course of other diseases, or they tray come on without any previous attack of disease. The more characteristic symptoms are generally ushered in by more or less violent fits of shivering. When it as accompanied with any external suppurating surface, as Is frequently the case, the discharge from this surface gradually dries up or becomes thinner and excessively fetid, and the wound assumes a flabby and unhealthy aspect. The patient becomes exceedingly languid and ex hausted, avid stupor or delirium comes on. The respiratory function is increased and the breath exhales a faint sickly odour. The hinge become congested, and the skin assumes gradually a yellowish tinge. Pains, with swelling, occur in the joints, and in the course of a little time effusion takes place in the synovial membrane and under the skin.
The pulse is quick, tremulous, and rapid ; the tongue, at first loaded with n yellowish fur, quickly becomes brown and dry, and the teeth and lips are covered with sorties. The abdomen becomes tender, and Is frequently distended with flatus. The eye is dull, partial paralysis presents itself, the voice becomes feeble, and the patient sinks from the fourth to the tenth. day from the first appearance of these symptoms.
After death the most conspicuous lesions are largo accumulations of pus and puriform matter in the various parts of the body. These are found in the lungs, liver, spleen, brain, kidneys, heart, blood-vessels, pleura, joints, muscles, and the subcutaneous connective tissue. On examining the blood under the microscope, an increase in the white cells of the blood, which are not to be distinguished from pus-cells, has been observed. This, however, has not been observed in all eases; hence,
perhaps, the impropriety of calling this disease by its present name.
The symptoms of this disease are generally the mine as those which occur In inflammation of the veins or phlebitis. This state Is again supposed to be identical with the disease occurring in puerperal women, and known by the name of phlegmasia dolens. [PUERPERAL DISEASES ; Verss, Dasestses OF.] The 'anthological state in which these syrup. toms come on has excited much discussion. Dr. Bennett gives the following : I. That this condition is owing to an admixture of the blood with pus (pyohenuia of l'iorry), and that the pus corpuscles being larger than the coloured ones of blood, are arrested iu the minute capillaries, and give aise to secondary abscesses.
2. That it Is owing to the presence of any irritating body which cannot be eliminated from the economy, producing capillary phlebitis.
3. That it is dependent ou a property possessed by pus of coagula ting the blood.
4. That it is produced by the presence of a peculiar poison which contaminates the system.
The first view has been most generally held, but the fact that pus globules cannot be distinguished from the white cells of the blood would clearly indicate that they could nut be retained in the capillaries as required by that theory. It is also found that In leucocythemia the blood is crowded with white cells without producing any of the above symptoms. Dr. Bennett also injected pus into the blood of an ass without producing any ill effects on the auirnal. These objections are also fatal to the second and third theories. The last view is that which is most consistent with the whole of the phenomena, and is alone applicable to those cases of pyiemia in which there is no wound or ulcerated surface, and no indication of the presence of pus cells in the blood. From the fact that this disease occurs where persons are exposed to poisonous exhalations from decomposing animal and vege table matter from without, or to the absorption of decomposing animal secretions upon the body, it would appear that the blood becomes vitiated, and that the presence of pus cells in the blood, and deposi tions of pus in the various organs of the body, are but the results of this condition of the blood.
This disease Is most frequently fatal, and each ease requires to be treated according to the symptoms it presents. Local wounds must be :attended to, and accumulations of pus should be rcinoved by free incisions. The symptoms from the first indicate the necessity of stimulants, as wine and =molds, and the introduction of nutritive and digestible food into the system. Quinine in large doses has been recommended.