432 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



sulphuric acid and the sulphate formed given to a dog, it killed him 

 in less than an hour. Most of these compounds crystallize regularly, 

 and have particular characters. They are all decomposed by acids. 

 — Bull. Univ. C. xviii. p. 289. 



19. Impure Common Salt in France. — An account has been given 

 to the Academy of Medicine of certain impurities in common salt. 

 M. Cosmeuil, of Uheims, had written to M. Planche, stating, that 

 the salt used at Fere-Champenoise and the neighbourhood had 

 caused serious injury to the inhabitants, and that, in a population 

 of 2400 persons, 400 were ill. These patients were afflicted with 

 violent cholic, accompanied by swelling of the face. M. Cosmeuil 

 examined the salt, and, according to his experiments, found in it 

 bromine, bromide of sodium, iodine, and iodide of potassium. 



At the same sitting M. Laugier said, that whilst preparing muri- 

 atic acid, in one of his lectures, from common salt, he obtained a large 

 quantity of iodine upon the addition of the sulphuric acid of com- 

 merce. M. Orfila also had met with the same circumstance. 



Several of the members have been charged with the examination 

 of the salt used in Paris. M. Baruel had met with some containing 

 iodine. His process of detection consisted in diluting a little flour 

 paste with water in a glass, adding to it a drop of chlorine solu- 

 tion and a drop of sulphuric acid, and then putting some of the 

 suspected salt into the mixture. If iodine or its compounds were 

 present, a more or less intense blue or violet colour was produced. 



M. Chevallier had examined many specimens of salt which had 

 been seized, but had not found iodine in any of them. Some of 

 the specimens had been adulterated by the admixture of sulphate of 

 soda. — Bull. Univ. C. xviii. 472. 



20. Application of Iodine to Scrofula. — The following is part of 

 a report by MM. Majendie, Serres, and Dumeril, on a me'moire by 

 M. Lugol : " M. le Dr. Lugol has treated 109 scrofulous cases, at 

 the Hospital St. Louis, within 17 months, with iodine alone ; at the 

 end of the last year 39 still remained under superintendence, 30 

 had left the hospital very much improved, 36 had gone away com- 

 pletely cured, and in four cases only did the remedy seem quite in- 

 efficacious. The author concludes, from this mass of experience, 

 that iodine should be considered as the most powerful and effica- 

 cious remedy in scrofulous cases, since it has constantly arrested 

 the progress of the disease, or at least has exerted a salutary ac- 

 tion upon the tuberculous tumours where it has not decidedly pro- 

 duced their cure ; and therefore, that in that point of view only its 

 introduction into medicine is one of the most valuable acquisitions 

 the healing art has made in late times." The reporters say they 

 are able to bear witness to the curative power of iodine in these 

 cases, and consider the memoir and exertions of Dr. Lugol as 

 highly useful. — Revue Ency. xliii. 767. 



