crystallised ioduret of lead
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One essay, however, deserves especialnotice, namely, that by M. Olivaud de Sa-venay on the use of turf, or peat, as fuel.The remarkable point connected with this is,the immense quantity of sulphate of sodaobtained from the turf ashes. Twentybarrels of these ashes yield by lixiviation,-100lbs. weight of the sulphate of soda. Theresiduum of the lixiviated mass is also used
in the glass-houses. We wish our Irish
friends would turn their attention to the
subject, it might open another source of
employment to the famished peasantry inthe south-western counties.
CRYSTALLISED IODURET OF LEAD.
M. CAvENTOu, of Paris, has discoveredthe following simple method of obtainingthis valuable medicine in a crystalline form.On adding any solution of lead to a solutionof the hydriodate of potassa, a canary-colour-ed precipitate of a minutely crystalline tex-ture is thrown down. This precipitate hashitherto been considered as insoluble inwater. M. Caventou has found that it isabundantly dissolved in hot water, and fromthis solution it crystallises on cooling in
crystals of considerable size and of the ut-most beauty. We have, on repeating thisprocess, been astonished at the singularsplendour of the product thus obtained. Itso strongly resembles highly-polished gold,that several persons have mistaken it forthat metal. No satisfactory analysis hasyet been made of the respective quantitiesof iodine and lead in this compound. Bycalculation, it is believed to be composed ofiodine 100, lead 85-5. M. Caventou’s im-
provement is described in the Lancette
Française.The clinical experiments now perform-
ing by MM. Cottereau and Verdet do Lisle,at the Hopital de La Pitie, appear to indi-cate, that of all the preparations of iodine,this possesses, in the highest degree, theproperty of resolving scrofulous and scir-rhous engorgements : at least this may beinferred from the remarkable and rapid im-provement experienced by the patients inwhom it has been tried, and who had allbeen previously using iodine and the hydrio-date of potassa, both internally and exter-na1l v. without success. 1B1. Guernsont hasalso found it of the most signal advantage inseveral cases at the Hôpital des Enfans.—Journal Hebdomadaire.
DESTRUCTION OF THE UPPER PART OF THE
HUMERUS BY A BULLET - ARM PIlE-
SERVED.
- M., a private in the 3rd regiment, re-ceived, during one of the battles of July, agun-shot wound in the left arm. The ball,impelled from before backwards, had splitto minute fragments the superior extremityof the humerus in the entire thickness ofits cylinder. The artery and brachial nervesescaped injury. The chief surgeon deter-mined, nevertheless, on making an attemptto save the limb, and having divided theplace of exit and entrance of the bullet to asufficient extent, he extracted a large quan-tity of bony scales, equal to a loss of sub-stance of an inch and a half. Suitabledressings and bandages were then applied,moistened with camphorated vinegar, and acQnical cushion placed in the axilla, so as tokeep the arm at a considerable distancefrom the side. The forearm was also re.tained in a state of flexion by a sling. Noaccident occurred until the twenty-fifth day,about which time the itching round thewound was so intense, that the dressingswere necessarily removed, and it was foundto. have been occasioned by a multitude ofworms engendered on the edges, and at thebottom of the wound. In many analogouscases observed in Syria, M. Larrey had con.stantly found that the presence of worms isnot only unattended by any injury to thewound, but that they are rather favourableto its cure, perhaps on account of the aviditywith which they attack and eat putrescentmatters, while they seem to abstain from sub.stances endowed with life. Their increaseis effectually prevented by the applicationof compresses steeped in camphorated vine-gar, or any such antiseptic fluid.The dressing of the wound having beenvery carefully performed, was renewed but
three times till the end of August, whenthe motions of the arm were free, the woundshealed, and the strength of the limb con.siderable. By the middle of October, theonly inconvenience resulting from this largewound, was a shortening of the limb to theextent of an inch and some lines.—M. Hip-polyte Larrey, in the Gazette Medicale.-(Hopital Gros Caillou.)
TREATMENT OF POISONING BY ALCOHOL, OREXCESSIVE INTOXICATION.
- CHARLES, aetat. 44, of sanguine tem-perament, and addicted to excess in spiri-
tuous liquors, swallowed at a draught, on the18th of February, four wine pints of spirits(eau-de-vie) at 18Q. He immediately fellsenseless, and was carried to the Hotel-Dieu.His face was purple; he was entirety insen-sible ; his limbs flexible; respiration diffi.
cult, loud, and stertorous ; his breath sour