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The efficacy of the hydrated peroxide of iron in counteracting the fatal effects of poisoning by arsenic has already been made public; but a sufficient number of facts had not seen furnished so as to leave no doubt upon the certainty of its action as a specific against arsenical preparations; but the following seven cases remove all incredulity upon this important acquisition conferred by the progress of chymical science, and which for the sake of humanity cannot be made too public, as it is now incontestably proved that the peroxide of hydrated iron is the most certain, safe, and ready antidote against arsenic known.

On the 9th of October last Dr. Puchelt, of Berlin, was called to attend Charlotte Lenz, aged 35, who had been taken suddenly ill after her dinner. He found the patient of a deathlike paleness, her features contracted. She had trembling fits, her pulse was small, frequent, and almost imperceptible to the touch. She suffered also from constant vomitings, accompanied by violent spasms in the region of the stomach. The abdomen was contracted, and little affected

by pressure; the tongue pale, but slightly coated.

The patient stated that she had dined at the house of a neighbour, named Bauer, and with three of his children; she had herself cooked the dinner, as the man's wife was not at home. In a quarter of an hour after partaking of some soup, she became so ill that they were obliged to carry her home. Dr. Puchelt repaired to the house where she dined, and found the three children and the father extended on beds, and apparently in the agony of death. One of the children was 15 months old, the second 3 years, and the third 5 years. They were all seized with illness shortly after partaking of a few spoonfuls of the soup. The father who took two soup-plates full, and some meat, went to work after dinner, but was obliged to return immediately, in consequence of the violent pains and spasms with which he was seized. He as well as the children exhibited the same symptoms as the female above alluded to. After some inquiries the medical attendant ascertained that Charlotte Lenz had taken, in mistake for flour, a spoonful

of arsenic kept for destroying rats, and incautiously left in the cupboard.

Dr. Puchelt had fortunately provided himself with some peroxide of hydrated iron, and immediately administered a large spoonful to the father, and a smaller quantity to the children. He then returned to the lodgings of Charlotte Lenz, and gave her a similar portion of the peroxide of iron. Five minutes after the first dose Bauer, the father, vomited; the second dose (spoonful) was then given, and he became calmer. The children also vomited, but on taking more of the peroxide of iron, they were soon relieved, and the two youngest fell asleep. At halfan-hour after the first dose an aperient effect was produced upon the father, and the symptoms were considerably diminished, the uneasiness and violent colics ceased, and the countenance assumed a natural appearThe female Lenz was also relieved after the first few doses.

ance.

In the evening Bauer and the two youngest of the children were in a satisfactory state; but Charlotte Lenz, who had been previously ill, and the eldest daughter, who had taken very little of the antidote (having obstinately resisted), were not so much recovered as the others; another spoonful was accordingly administered to each. On the following morning Bauer was able to resume his work, and the two younger children had quite recovered. The eldest, however, was still paler and complained of uneasiness; the abdomen was swollen and tender, and the tongue coated, but what she particularly suffered from was a violent palpitation of the heart, which came on at intervals; this palpitation was easily heard by the stethoscope, but by no means in unison (synchronous) with the pulse, which continued small. sinapism was applied to the region of the heart, and another dose of peroxide of iron administered, as also to the female Lenz, who exhibited the same symptoms. Aperient medicine was given in the evening, and with effect; next morning they were both much better, the palpitations had subsided, and the pulse became strong, the appetite returned, and in the course of a few days the cure was perfected.

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On analyzing the portion of soup left, it was found to contain a quantity of white oxide of arsenic. The matter rejected from the stomach was also analyzed, and showed the presence of arsenic; in the portions mixed with the peroxide of iron (taken as the antidote) it was ascertained that the peroxide was changed into the arseniate of iron; that establishing its claims as a specific. Two other cases are detailed, in which two children, one eight years and the other ten years old, had swallowed half a

spoonful of arsenic mixed by mistake in some vegetables; they were instantly seized with symptoms similar to the above. The peroxide of iron was administered six hours after the accident, and was attended with complete success. -Medicenische Annalen.

ON PROPORTIONS INVOLVING CONSTANTS.

Every one who knows any thing about the very simple but very beautiful and useful doctrine of Proportion is of course aware that, when any proposed result is a stipulated quantity of work to be done, the product of the time and power, each estimated in some known unit, expresses the value or quantity of the work; as, for example-a certain labour to be done requires the power of a certain number of men or horses, for a certain number of days or hours, and the product of these numbers expresses the value of the work in the number of days or hours of a single man, or horse, necessary for the performance of it. When the number expressing the power and that expressing the time are equal to each other, the effect is numerically the greatest possible. Thus, for instance, 12 men in 12 days do more work then 11 men in 13 days; these, again, more than 10 men in 14 days; these more than 9 men in 15; and so on; the effects for the numbers stated above being, respectively, 144, 143, 140, 135,-the difference being the series of the odd numbers 1, 3, 5, &c.

Hence, it is easy to understand that, if the effect is to be the same in two cases, and either the power or the time different, the time answering to any power, or the power answering to any time, may at once be found by dividing the product of the power and time, in the case where both are given, by the power or time which is given in the other case.

There is, however, one form under which this problem sometimes presents itself, which is a little puzzling to those who are not familiar with the doctrine of ratios; and as the management of it is a very easy matter, though, so far as we know, not mentioned in any of the elementary books, we may give a short explanation of it. This will be best done by putting a case:-A certain mine requires to be cleared of an influx of water, which is constant at all seasons of the year; it has been twice neglected, and allowed to fill; and in the first instance, a power of 8 horses cleared it in 12 hours; while in the second instance, a power of 9 horses cleared it in 10 hours. It is required to know what power will keep the mine dry, and what power is requisite for simply discharging the accumulated water which fills it, without any reference to the influx?

LIST OF REGISTERED DESIGNS.

By the conditions, a power of 8 horses for 12 hours, and a power of 9 horses for 10 hours, both empty the mine of the accumulated water and influx. The product in the first case is 96, and that in the second case is 90, the difference of which is 6, that is, 6 hours work of 1 horse power. The difference of the times of emptying is 2 hours; and as 6 hours more work is required for these 2 hours, it follows that as much water flows into the mine in 2 hours as 6 horses for 1 hour can discharge; consequently, the power required to discharge in 1 hour the water which flows in 1 hour is that of 3 horses, or, in other words, a 3 horse power would keep the mine clear of water, on the supposition that none were accumulated.

Reviewing the steps of this analysis, we find that they involve this very simple rule; Multiply each power by its time; divide the difference of the products by the difference of the times; and the quotient will be the constant power requisite to perform the constant work.

To know the power which discharges the accumulation, subtract the constant power from each of the given powers, and the remainder in each case will be the power which discharges the accumulated quantity in the time specified in that case. Thus, in the instance which we have given, if 3 is subtracted from 8 and from 9, the remainders are 5 and 6; and as 5 answers to 12 hours in time, and

675

6 to 10 hours in time, and the product is in both cases 60, which shows that the powers, cleared of the constant 3, are true proportionals to their respective times; and that the pit, without taking the influx into account, can be cleared of water by 60 hours of 1 horse power, or in a single hour by a power of 60 horses, which in effect is just the same.-The Surveyor, Engineer, and Architect.

PATENT CASE.

Vice Chancellor's Court, April 22, 1840. Application was made to the Vice Chancellor by Mr. Jacob, Q. C., for an injunction to restrain Mr. G. Beard, of Lambeth, from using cabs of the kind invented and patented by Messrs. Gillet and Chapman. The injunction was instantly granted.

[This is one of many similar applications which (with the like success) the patentees have been compelled to make in defence of their patent right, and we understand that more are in contemplation-and all this notwithstanding two verdicts already obtained in confirmation of the patent. Certainly this is a remarkable instance, but unfortunately not a singular one, of the inefficiency of the protection afforded in many cases by the patent laws in their present state. EE. M. M.]

LIST OF DESIGNS REGISTERED BETWEEN 26TH MARCH, AND 23RD APRIL, 1840. 1840.

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NOTES AND NOTICES.

The Antarctic Expedition.-Letters have been received from the antarctic expedition, dated St. Helena, the beginning of February. Lieutenant Lefroy, of the Royal Artillery, who is to conduct the magnetic observato:y on that island, had been landed with his instruments and assistants, and occupied Napoleon Bonaparte's house at Longwood, which has been assigned as his residence, and in the neighbourhood of which his observatory is to be built. From St. Helena Captain Ross proceeds to the Cape of Good Hope, to establish Lieutenant Eardley Wilmot, R.A., and his party, in a similar observatory, where corresponding observations are to be made during the three years in which the expedition will remain in the southern hemisphere. We understand that, by adopting proper precau tions, the officers succeeded in making magnetic observations at sea with as much precision as on land, the two ships sometimes telegraphing to each other the same minute of dip. The importance of this success towards the prosecution of the objects of the voyage will be estimated when it is considered how large a portion of the southern hemisphere is covered by the sea. Captain Ross obtained soundings in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and far distant from any land, with a line of 2,500 fathoms, being, we believe, by far the greatest depth that has ever been reached by a sounding line.-Literary Gazette.

Expanding Mandrel.-The Society of Arts have awarded their large silver medal to Mr. J. Hick, jun., of Bolton, for an improved expanding mandrel for turning lathes. It is necessary that a mandrel should fit so accurately, as to bite on the inner surface with a force sufficient to counteract that of the tool, and, in the ordinary mode, the same mandrel cannot be used for two pieces which are of different diameters. Consequently, in many engineering establishments, a stock of mandrels is kept, amounting to 600 or 700. Mr. Hick purposes to do the same work with eight sizes of the mandrel, from one inch and a quarter to ten inches. He effects his object by having the spindle of the mandrel shaped on the frustrum of a cone, on the face of which are four dove-tail grooves to receive wedges. the under faces of which have the reverse inclination of the cone, so that the lines of their outside faces are always parallel with the axes of the mandrel. A nut is screwed on the spindle, which acts on the wedges through the medium of a conical cup, which drives them up to their bearings inside of the work.

Steam-boilers.-At the last sitting of the (French) Society for the encouragement of National Industry, and on the report of M. Séguier the younger, a gold medal was decreed to the elder M. Chaussenot, for an apparatus to render the explosion of steamboilers impossible. According to the report, his invention is perfect, both as regards its improvements on the safety-valve, and an ingenious contrivance to give notice to the crew and passengers of impending danger. Even the contingency of wilful mischief is provided against; as in the event of all the warnings of his machinery failing, or being disregarded, the steam flows back upon the furnace, extinguishes the fire, and destroys all possibility of an explosion. -Athenæum.

Birmingham Town Hall Organ.-This magnificent instrument (described in Mech. Mag., No. 554.) has lately received a most effective addition, which has indeed nearly doubled its power. This has been accomplished by a row of stupendous trumpets, constructed by Mr. Hill, on entirely novel principles, founded on a suggestion of J. F. Ledsam, Esq. The tone, is full, rich, mellow, and sweet; and although so powerful as to be nearly equal to the whole organ, it is not oppressive to the ear. Mr. Hollins has introduced it on Thursdays with much judgment and taste, to the astonishment and delight of his audiences. This invention is

considered as the commencement of a new era in organ building-Midland Counties Herald.

Temperature of the Ocean.-Scarcely anything is known concerning the temperature of the ocean as depending upon its depth; this part of the subject is still the prey of cosmogonical hypotheses. A considerable number of experiments, however, justify us in stating the following laws in regard to the heat of the superior beds of the sea. These experiments are very important in relation to the theory of physical climate:-1. The temperature of the ocean is generally lower at mid-day than that of the atmosphere, noticed in the shade. 2. It is always higher at midnight. 3. In the morning and the evening, these two temperatures are usually in accordance. 4. The mean of a given number of observations of the temperatures of the surface of the water and the atmosphere, taken at six in the morning, at noon, six in the evening and midnight, is constantly higher in the case of the sea, in whatever latitude the observations are made. 5. The mean temperature of the waters of the ocean, at their surface, and at some distance from any continent, is thus higher than that of the atmosphere with which they are in contact 6. The sea, over a bank, is always colder than where it is deeper; and the difference is greater, the higher the bank. This curious diminution of temperature might be very useful to the navigator; it might forewarn him of unseen danger, and prove his best sounding line.-Malte Brun and Balbi's Geography.

Steam Ploughs.- Among the premiums to be given by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland at their meeting in the present year, is one of five hundred sovereigns," for the first successful application of steam power to the cultivation of the soil." In announcing the premium on this interesting subject, it is observed by the society, that "by the cultivation of the soil are to be understood the operations of ploughing and harrowing, or preparing the soil in an equally efficient manner, and the other purposes for which animal power is now used; and the success of the invention will be judged of in relation to its applicability to the above purposes in the ordinary situations of farms in this country, and to the saving in time, labour, and outlay, which it may possess over animal power, as now generally employed in the culti vation of the soil. The merits of the invention, with reference to the conditions enumerated, will be judged of by a committee of the society, especially appointed, and the inventor will be required to exhibit the machinery, and modes of applying it, in Scotland. The secretary, on application of intending competitors, will furnish any information which may be required. The society, in offering this premium, does not feel it to be necessary to express opinions as to the probability of a successful application of steam to tillage, as to the means by which the object may be attained, or as to the effects which might be supposed to result from the application of such a power. But it has felt it to be a duty imposed upon it by its situation, to bring the subject in a proper manner before the country, to encourage those who are now engaged in this class of experiments, and to stimulate future invention, by the offer of a premium corresponding, in some measure, to the interests and importance of the subject. Looking to the greatly extended application which has recently been made of steam as a motive power, and seeing that the difficulties which are opposed to its application to the purposes of the farm have been at least partially overcome by the efforts of individuals, it has appeared to the society, that, without exciting expectations which may not be realised, a strong ground exists for having this possible application of steam power made the subject of fair and satisfactory experiment."

Errata. In our last number p. 531, col. 1, line 18, for "leaving," read "having." Page 533, et passim, for tuns" of water, read "tons."

LONDON: Printed and Published for the Proprietor, by W. A. Robertson, at the Mechanics' Magazine Office, No. 166, Fleet-street.-Sold by W. & A. Galignoni, Rue Vivienne, Paris.

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Mechanics' Magazine,

MUSEUM, REGISTER, JOURNAL, AND GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1840.

No. 873.]

[Price 3d.

Printed and Published for the Proprietor, by W. A. Robertson, No. 166, Fleet-street.

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