The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-31
FOREIGN SCIENTIFIC NOTES.


DR.. Poulet OF Plancher-les- Mines (Haute Saonel
France, has sent in paper to the Academy Of Sci
ences to show that alcohol taken In large doses Is
sure specific in cases OF poisoning by mushrooms
especially by those Of the amante genus He further
states that mere boiling In and vinegar Is by no
means sufficient to render the poisonous kinds
inocuous. *,
NJ. Sllvestri observed the eruption Of vesuvius IN
December last at its maximum activity and analysed
many OF its volcanic products. The lava dark gray,
and sometimes greenish reddish on the surface.
has q crystalline structure and cxerts an energetic
action on the magnetic needle. He classt1es the lava
in three kinds, varying in density from 248 to ISL
One compact variety contained about two per cent
OF water Three distinct sublimates were found,
composed mainly OF chloride OF potassium and sodl
um and traces Of copper. The greenish brown sub
Innate contained SIS per cent OF copper.
The Journal de Medicine OF Paris, commenting Ons
the general state OF health in Europe mentions thar
at the present moment there Ia not trace OF any
epidemic on that continent. The predominant ele-
ment Is that OF rheumatic catarrn. me inilamma-
tory and conVesve diseases that predominant during
the great heats give way to afectiOns less decided
In nature and slower in progress that attack more
III eruptive fevers are less frequent they will give
place to typhoid affections OF generally moderate
character, In ermtting fovers OF or less de-
cided nature, erysipelas and numerical eruptions
The Humboldt Medical Arcatpss mentions severa,
cases Of tetanus vulgarly called lockaw) which hau
choroiorm to the entire spinal COLUMN 5y means Of
cloth saturated with it, and evaporation prevented
by covering the cloth with oiled silk. The applica-
paroxysm. AS a result OF the application
the paroxysm was averted, and the patient fell
into calm and natural sleep. On feeling return
ing paroxysm the same application was made, and
the paroxysm again averted. For forry-eight hours
e e yeded 70 te 81
and the subsequent convalescence was very rapid
The Medcal Press and circular OF Paris states
that NJ. Trecul and others have lately been engaged
In investigating the cause OF the autumnal stripping
or trees and then researches would seem to point
to the conclusion that IN MANY plants phenomenon
just before the al OF the ieai Wnlcn Is not
unlike the process which accompanies the. shedding
OF horns III animals. 1t consists in the obstruction
OF the proper vessels ut the base Of the petioe, or
leaf stalk. This obstruction, according 10 an Ameri
writer is caused by the multiplication or cells,
Which FIRST occurs IN the r o. t6 Ssss Ias
completely choked up IN the neighDorhood or the In
sertion Of the leaf and thus Differentiated plane IL
formed, which the leaf stalk breaks aud the
leaf accordingly falls.
At Forces In scotland, the Ordnance Survey
officers have discovered an extraordinary detection
or the plumb line. There are no mountains near TO
cause this and II is believed that there Is mass Of
unusually solid matter beneath the surface OF Forces
large cavity in the sea. which Ia not far dis
tant. To ascertain this two clocks are about to be
placed east and west, one at Forres, forty miles
distant; by the side OF each clock there viii be .
Magnet connected with the opposite clock by an
electric wire The magnet will be made to click, 50
distant clock, and the difference in the vibrations Of
the penduums will reveal the force aud direction OF
the detection OF the plumb line, and thus the cause
or the curious phenomenon at FOrres will then be
certained. :, thi
The Society OF Arts Of London recently received q
communication from the Duke or buckingham re-
specting some Interesting experiments on new ar
tcial Iue made board OF the Cannot at trinidad,
West Indies. The chief composition fs the asphalt
taken from the lakes OF that island, mixed with
certain proportion Of charcoal and earth and pressed
between common bricks, which absorb any moisture
Una. may r DC ae Win e mxtnre 81 LEVINE ner
cent of small coal added to the composition, which
gave the same amount OF heat and steam - the fun
amount OF steam COAL thereby proving consider
able economy. The trials also proved that the fuel
does not cake clog the rebars and leaves little or
no ash. Further trials were ordered to be made,
which, II cnectual, VIII be Of vast Importance to the
West Indian and South American trade. ae
statue was recently inauguratei at birmingham,
tor ~ the 20 seam enRne This work is from mt The stu
do OF Mr.. Munro The size Is larger than lie, ana
Il y chiselled from solid block 81 CarraTa marble.
has achieved an admirable likeness. Some question
may perhaps, be raised about the pose OF the figure;
but in that respect II Is fidelity itself-Wat to the
hie-just rs he moved about ut soho and at Hamp-
stead. As embematic OF the great achievement
with which this iustrious mans name Is indis5ou-
bly, connected portions OF the steam engine skill
fully introduced without disturbing or detractng
from the statue as an accurate work OF art. The
figure rests on an unpretendinx plntl OF freestone.
The cost OF il has been betrayed 10y public subscrp-
ton no small share OF which was subscribed by the
Under the name OF apanatic lens Mr.. steinhclI.
of Berlin, has invented new camera lens for use In
photography, which has gwen the most ex .raordna-
~ elects. TWO varieties or fint glass different In
density, used to form two eniscus lenses, which
are male achromatic aud placed symmetrically 60
does not give rise to s'giosts.n IL furnishes sharp
pictures with the diaphragm stops, and can be used
door views and Copying, being entirely free from dis
torton. In this respect IL Is superior 10 Dalmeyer
trpet and Is but little inferior to the latter In pro-
n In Pa 4 a m In
double the light OF Dameyer OF the Old construc
tion lts simplicity OF construction enables the ma
ker to sell at Berlin an apanatic Of ten seconds 10
Gus, giving picture OF eight and nalf inches. for
twenty dollars and thirty-tw0 cents while tripet
al s sa viii eos das and
cents. gsF
In the Journal des Comndissonces Mcdiod,es, Of
the treatment Of diph,hena, attended with The lorna
tion OF adventurous membranes The specific ne uses
Is bromine which has On elective acton on the pha-
ryx, the relsln pendulum and the iaynx; 80 also has
bromide ofpotassiuin. Three German experimental
lists, Frantz, Schmidt and Toubc were the first TO
organs caused false membranes to be formed IN the
larynx Of pigeons. From this they concluded, &C
illus euranimMthat his element would cure Group
and membranous diptheria. Dr. 0zenam took up
the matter allopathically and by experiment found
braDe, and then reduced It 10 dust. This led him
to conclude that both the homeopathic and alo-
his researches have gone further and show that
bromne destroys oontagon as well ~ chlorine,
and prevents the spreading OF epidemics. This fact,
OF course, became stepping stone to using br0mlno
as curative medicine and neary ali the cases treated
with IL have been successful As prcsefvative from
epidemic diphtherla. DIR. ozenam administers from
ten to twelve drops Of bromne In the course OF the
day IN sugar and water, in tile proportion OF from
twenty-five to nifty guns. OF the latter per drop This
liquid solution must he kept IN the dark, since glt
would canse the formation Of hydrobromic acd. The
vial must be kept well stopped and Its contents
must he changed rs soon as the light amber color
has disappeared. To the patient the solution IS adj
mlnistered In drops, hourly. In Tablespoonful OF
suqar and water, so as 70 give from
one "a two eramn,es OF the former in tho
course OF twentyfour hours. In cases OF
Group, Dr. Ozenam prescribes fuingatlons OF bro
mine a basin with hot water IL placed before the
patient large pinch OF bromide OF potassium or
else common kitchen salt IL thrown in, and then In
The course OF We minutes, tltee teaspoonfs OF the