N, MATERIA MEDICA, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE. 633 



arsenic was applied "in solution to the roots of plants, it was 

 found to be more prejudicial. In continuing the experiment, 

 finely powdered lead carbonate was applied from time to 

 time for one year to a young fir. During that year there 

 was no growth ; but the next season it proved to be healthy 

 and vio-orous. The most destructive results were found to 

 be due to sulphurous oxide. Five fumigations, with air im- 

 pregnated with 1 ^l^y^) of this gas in volume, caused all the 

 leaves to fall, and killed the upper part of the tree. A still 

 more excessive dilution produced similar evils, but required 

 a longer time. Trees fumigated for a period of three 

 months were killed, even when treated wdth a mixture of 

 one millionth of the gas by volume, the moist trees being 

 first aflfected. Soot appeared to have no injurious effects ; 

 benzine was burned under a case surrounding a young fir 

 till the tree became quite black; but the tree produced its 

 annual shoots notwithstanding, and remained quite healthy. 

 The general result is that sulphurous oxide is the especial- 

 ly poisonous ingredient of the smoke from smelting-works. 

 A curious fact has been noticed in Germany in reference to 

 the action of sulphurous oxide namely, that an atmosphere 

 of 550U0 of sulphurous oxide destroys the chlorophyl grains 

 in wheat, oats, and pease in a few hours ; but, curiously 

 enough, a proportion of one in 74,000 produces no injury. 

 Cabbages, and all plants having large, strong leaves, appear 

 to be but slightly afl:ected. Wood smoke does not injure 

 vegetation ; but that of coal and of some kinds of turf is very 

 prejudicial, owing to the sulphurous oxide produced in com- 

 bustion. 21 A, December, 187 2, 1109. 



HYPODEKMIC ADMINISTRATION OF QUININE. 



According to Limousin, the best method for the hypoder- 

 mic injection of quinine is to use it in the form of a sulpho- 

 vinate. He has also used the sulphate of quinine acidulated 

 by tartaric acid in the proportion of twenty parts of water, 

 one part of sulphate, and of tartaric acid half a part, which 

 he finds to answer a very good purpose, as it does not irri- 

 tate, and produces the same eftect as doses of twice the 

 strength taken by the mouth. If the sulpho-vinate prove to 

 possess these advantages, it will be preferable, as much less 

 water need be injected. The hypodermic injection is indi- 



Dd2 



