185 



wliicli is an active substance. The phosphate of lime was the most 

 constant of tliese ingredients, gener.illy averaging from 50 to 54 per 

 cent. The sesqui-oxide of antimony was tlie most variable of all, 

 there being sometimes as much as nine per cent., but in general, not 

 more than three or four. The same results were obtained from 

 Pulvis Antimonialis, the proportion of sesqui-oxide being generally 

 smaller than in true James's Powder. As it is well known that 

 sesqui-oxide of antimony, at a red heat, is converted into antimo- 

 nious acid, it seems difficult to account for its presence in these pre- 

 parations, except on the supposition, that a portion of it is united 

 with the phosphate of lime as a triple salt, and thus escapes the ac- 

 tion of the fire. Several specimens were examined of James's 

 Powder, prepared by Messrs Butler and by Messrs Newberry of 

 London, both of whom profess to follow the original recipe of Dr 

 James, and all shewed the same variability of constitution. The 

 same was found in vai'ious samples of Pulvis Antimonialis obtained 

 from different druggists in Edinburgh. From these experiments it 

 appeared, that the uncertainty of the action of these powders was 

 probably owing to the variable proportion of sesqui-oxide of anti- 

 mony which they contained, and there seemed to be nothing in the 

 composition of the true James's Powder to warrant the high price 

 at which it is sold. 



2. Observations on the Cystkercus Cellulosee inhabiting the 

 Human Muscles. By Dr Knox. 



The author commenced his memoir by observing, that about two 

 years ago, he read to the Society some observations respecting an 

 entozoon, of a very singular nature, occurring amongst the human 

 muscles, a species of minute, and indeed microscopic, vibrio. The 

 merit of the discovery was due to Messrs Hilton and Paget of Lon- 

 don. Dr Farre afterwards gave an account of its internal struc- 

 ture. Soon afterwards it was announced, that this peculiar ento- 

 zoon had occurred in other dissecting rooms — in Bristol, for ex- 

 ample, and in Dublin. It was added, that the occurrence was rather 

 frequent, in Dublin particuliirly, and that its existence amongst the 

 human muscles seemed traceable to previous debility and exhaus- 

 tion of the person before death had occurred. The author of the 

 present memoir is, however, of opinion, that neither of these points 

 has been made out clearly. 



Tlie worm, the Cysticerats Cellu/osa; which forms the subject of 

 the present memoir, is oftener met with than the preceding one : 



