194 - Miscellaneous Intelligence, 



24 pair of plates, excited by a solution of sulphate of alumine, 

 one pole being connected with the spinal marrow, and the other 

 with a muscle of the knee. The result was, that the irritability 

 of the muscles was considerably diminished in those animals 

 killed by the poison, its duration not being more than one- fourth 

 of that of the other animals, or even one-sixth of that of the 

 decapitated birds. It was also so weak, that four times the 

 quantity of plates did not produce an equal effect in them. 



Another result was, that, when poisoned birds not yet dead, 

 were submitted to voltaic action, their death was hastened. The 

 mean of three experiments gave six minutes as the difference 

 between the death of poisoned birds electrified, and not elec- 

 trified. 



It was also ascertained that birds poisoned by prussic acid, 

 more or less strong, as laurel-water, concentrated to various 

 degrees, gave the same results, except that the duration either 

 of the pain or of the irritability of the muscles was much shorter 

 .than with the viper poison. 



5. Cure for the Hydrophobia The number of remedies for 



this dreadful malady, of which accounts have lately been given, 

 is rather remarkable. Dr. Lyman Spalding, one of the most 

 eminent physicians of New York, announces, in a small pam- 

 phlet, that for above these 50 years the Scutellaria Lateriflora 

 has proved to be an infallible means for the prevention and 

 cure of the hydrophobia, after the bite of mad animals. It is 

 better applied as a dry powder than fresh. According to the 

 testimonies of several American physicians, this plant, not yet 

 received as a remedy in any European Materia Medica, afforded 

 perfect relief in above a thousand cases, as well in the human 

 species as in the brute creation (dogs, swine, and oxen.) The 

 first discoverer of the remedy is not known ; Drs. Derveer 

 father and son,) first brought it into general use. — Phil Mag, Ivi. 

 p. 151. 



6. Substitute for Peruvian Bark. — M. Re, professor of Materia 

 Medica at the Veterinary School at Turin, has announced that 

 the Lycopvs Uuropceus of Linnseus is a complete succedaneum 



