The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-06 00:00:00

PARIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

SITTING OF JANUARY 29.
One of the first papers read was an account of a recent
series of experiments, by MM. Flandin and Danger, on
metallic poisons. Their last experiments were on the
Compounds of lead. They have ascertained, by the pro-
cess of carbonisation, which consists in operating suc-
cessively upon organic matter by sulphuric acid, chlor-
hydrie acid, and water, the presence of lead can be de-
tected, even in the smallest proportions. By studying
the toxical action of the compounds of lead, theTiuthors
have convinced themselvei, in conformity with the
opinion expressed by MM. Dupasquier, and Rey,
of Lyons, that soluble , compounds alone are poi-
sonous, and that, to.. be fatal, they must be
taken in large doses. The symptoms of saturnine in-
toxication have been carefully studied by MM. Flandin
and Danger, who have never found any traces of in-
flammation. The anatomical lesions are described by
them in detail. In searching for the metal, in the
organs of persons who had sunk under the-=erects of
saturnine intoxication, they found it excitiVilVely in the
digestive tubes and in the lungs. This iitAy fact, which
agrees with what they had ascertained in the course
of former experiments on other metals, has led them to
put the following questions :—How are we to
explain • the partial passage of the poisons
into certain organs to the: exclusion of others?
How are we to account for. the difference which
is perceived in the action of metallic poisons as regards
the organs towards which they are conveyed and the
excretory passages by which they disappear ? The
authors reserve their answer to the second part of their
problem for a future day. With respect to the first,
they are of opinion that the passage of the poison to-
wards the organ in which it locates itself is effected
either by the lymphatic vessels, or by the venous chan-
nels : venarum porta, porta malorum, as Stahl has ob-
served in his aphoristic language.—Messrs. Roset and
Hassard presented a paper on the causes of the in-
equalities of the solid and liquid surface of our globe.
Their paper is of too complicated a character for
us to give an analysis of it ; we must, therefore,
merely state that they attach great importance to
the known variations of density in the terrestial
covering. A communication was received from MM.
Chatty and Godier, on the mechanical and surgical
trettiment of deformities, According to these gen-
tlemen, their mode of treatment has been successful in a
great riuf lber of cases. M. Chaussenot, an engineer,
already Weil known by his inventions for the application
of heated air in the burning. of gas, so as to diminish the
consumption withoui diminishing the quantity of light,
communicated an account of an apparatus which he has
invented, as a security against the explosion of steam-
boilers. It would appear that he has been very success-
ful, and that a great number of manufacturers, who
have steam-engines, have adopted his apparatus, and
have hitherto been perfectly satisfied with it. It is also
stated that the Russian Government has ordered that it
shall be used throughout Russia, in all public or private
establishments where there are steam-boilers.

THE WILL OF EARL FERRERS.—The will and
three codicils of the Right Hon. Washington Earl Ferrers
and Viscount Tamworth has recently been proved. In his
will, he appoints W. Matthews, Esq., sole executor ; but, in
a codicil, revokes that appointment, and names his Royal
Highness the Duke of Sussex (since dead) and P. S, Shir-
ley, Esq., executors, to whom he bequeaths 1001. each to
purchase a ring; to his grandson he gives 500/. ; to another
a full length portrait of himself; and directs his executors
to offer his library to his grandsons, at a fair valuation, and,
in case they should not become purchasers, to sell the same
by auction. His conservatory is to be pulled down and dis-
posed of in the same manner. To his late wife's sister 100/. ;
to his adopted child, Eliza Davey, 1,000/. ; to two of his
servants legacies of 200/., free of legacy duty. The property
is sworn under 30,000/. From the effects of a paralytic
woke, the deceased was unable to sign his will, and made
his mark instead; but he appears to have recovered from
its effects, for the codicils are signed "Ferrers" in a firm
bold hand.
Earl Jermyn, M.P., Treasurer of her Majesty's House-
hold, transacted business yesterday afternoon at the
lion-office,