It is generally understood that the stings of some insects are essentially poisonous in a greater or less degree, aud must, therefore, be early and carefully treated. Pain alone in such cases will suffice for a danger signal, and few when thus warned would care to neglect the puncture made by a hornet, a wasp, or even a bee. The fact that other insects, like some species of fly, are capable of equal or even greater mischief, is not so commonly known as it ought to be. The recent death of a woman at Kingston from septic erysipelas thus caused may be quoted in illustration. In accounting for such occurrences two points are specially note worthy — namely, the condition of health of the person attacked, and the previous habitat of the assailant. In no case pro bably is it possible to define exactly the influence exercised by each of these con tributing factors. This much we know, however, that no matter how trivial or how great the effect of the conveyed poison, it is much enhanced by all conditions of weak ness or blood impurity existing in the sufferer. A mere midge or gnat-bite in one person will prove almost as serious in its effect as a septic wound in another. There are in the system all the materials for a con flagration, and a spark may light it up as well as a firebrand. The habits of insects afford a clue to the seeming vagary of their occasional and accidental virulence. The sting or the mandibles, which perhaps were buried an hour previously in some putrid sore, excreta, or offal, cannot penetrate a living tissue without leaving in it something of the same putrid character. It is safer, therefore, for the medical practitioner to regard each and every injury of this kind, however slight, as a possible source of ill ness, and at once to contrive its relief by poulticing, antiseptic compresses, or like means. — * Lancet-

[Per Monowai at Auckland.] The first of the series of races between the English challenging yacht Valkyrie 111., owned by Lord Dunraven and a syndicate, for the America Cup, and the Defender, owned by E. D. Morgan, C. Oliver, J. Selin, and William K. Vanderbilt, was sailed on Saturday, September 7, over a course off Sandy Hook, fifteen miles to windward, and thirty miles in all. 