202 On Mixtures of Oxpmtriate of Potass for Ordnance. [March, 



believe, the only article in which these properties are combined*.'. 

 Our country abounds with vegetable bitters and tonics, many of 

 "which are more powerful than the hop, but tliere is, perhaps, 

 none which can so properly be denominated a stomachic. That; 

 family of symptomatic diseases which are the consequence ofi 

 exhausted excitability, or more directly of an enfeebled and 

 deranged state of the stomach and bowels, are certainly much 

 reheved by this medicine, it frequently induces sleep, and quiets 

 great nervous irritation, without causing costivoness, or impi^ir- 

 ing, like opium, the tone of the stomach, and thereby increasing 

 the primary disease. As an anodyne, it will be found inefficient 

 compared with opium. The saturated alcoholic tincture, in 

 doses of from 40 to 80 drops, will induce sleep with as much 

 certainty as opium in cases of long watching from nervous irrita- 

 bility ; but the same cannot be said of its efficacy in relieving 

 pain. This substance then is not commended as a medicine 

 wh^ch ought to supersede the use of others of acknowledged 

 virtue, but as a useful auxiliar}% which undoubtedly possesses 

 properties in some respect peculiar to itself, and as the part of 

 the hop altogether preferable to any other, or to the whole as it ' 

 is ordinarily used in tincture. 



Article V. 



On vartous Mixtures of Ojcj/muriate of Potass for discharging 



Ordnance. 



(To the Editor of the Annals of PJiilosophy.) 



SIR, Feh.^O, 1821. 



Observing, in the last number of the Annals of Philosophy ^ 

 some experiments on various mixtures of oxymuriate of potass 

 for discharging ordnance according to Mr. Forsyth's plan, 1 take 

 this opportunity to suggest a mixture of Howard's fulminating 

 mercury, sulphur, and charcoal^ separately reduced to powder, 

 and afterwards intimately mixed. Several experiments on 

 various mixtures of these three ingredients were made in Paris a 

 short time since; but as they were conducted with great secrecy, 

 I was unable to ascertain the use to which they were destined. 

 I have seen some granulated after the manner of gunpowder, 

 and some made perfectly spherical, in which latter form it 

 appeared most energetic. 



If this composition is not generally known, you will, perhaps, 

 think it worthy a place in the Annals. I remain, yours, &c. 



T. N. R. M. 



P. S. The proportions of the ingredients best adapted to the 

 above purpose might easily be ascertained by a few experiments. 



