150 Proceedings of the 



leaves the left ventricle of the heart than when it enters the right 

 ventricle. M. Collard supposes the proper temperature of the blood 

 to be eight degrees (?), and that the variation depends on physical 

 causes. The novelty of the theory entitles it to mention, but we shall 

 defer any more detailed account of it until after MM. Dulong, 

 Savart and Flourens have made their report upon it. 



Use of Gold in cases of Syphilis. On the 16th of May, M. Ma- 

 gendie made a very favourable report on a work by M. Legrand on 

 this subject. The author establishes that gold acts favourably on 

 the digestive organs, without weakenmg the patient, and at the 

 same time produces an exhilaration of spirits. There are four 

 methods in which it may be advantageously administered ; 1st. me- 

 tallic gold reduced to a state of extreme division ; 2d. the oxide of 

 gold with potash ; 3d. the oxide of gold with tin ; 4th. the per- 

 chloride of gold and sodium. Of these the last is by far the most 

 powerful. It is applied by mixing three parts of the perchloride 

 of gold and sodium with nine parts of ^any inert powder, and admi- 

 nistered by way of friction on the tongue, in doses, varying accord- 

 ing to circumstances, from - to J of a grain per day. As much as 

 a grain has been given with safety, but this requires care. This is 

 the least expensive of all the preparations of gold. Next to this in 

 strength is the oxide precipitated by tin, then the oxide precipitated 

 by potash, and, lastly, the gold in a state of division, which is the 

 mildest, and, at the same time, the surest form under which it is 

 administered. It is obtained by dissolving one part of perchloride 

 of gold in fifteen parts of distilled water, and then pouring into it 

 little by little a solution of four parts of proto-sulphate of iron, in 

 sixteen parts of distilled water, until there is no longer any 

 precipitate produced. The precipitates are then collected and 

 preserved for use. This is administered by friction on the tongue, in 

 doses from one quarter of a grain to four grains per day. It may 

 also be administered internally in a spoonful of conserve of any 

 kind. The oxides are employed in the same manner, but in doses 

 of -jJjy of a grain to one and a half or two grains per day. They are 

 more frequently given internally, either in pills of six grains of 

 oxide, with sixty grains of extract of mezereon, or any other 

 extract of a milder character, divided into sixty pills, of which from 

 one to ten are taken fasting in a gradually increasing ratio, or in 

 lozenges made of six grains of the oxides, with one ounce of powdered 

 white sugar, divided into sixty tablets, to be taken in the same 

 manner. The work, which makes a tolerably thick octavo volume, 

 contains very copious illustrations of the subject, and also of the 

 danger of the use of mercury, of which the examples are striking 

 and well reported, M. Magendie, in conclusion, bestowed high 

 praise on the assiduity and research of M. Legrand, and considered 

 that he had established the beneficial nature of his remedy, although 



