1822] 
so truly ctrcumstantial is the nature of me- 
dical evidence. 
_ Consamption is, a, term too, indiscrimi- 
nately perhaps employed; even by the pro- 
fessors of medicine; and we are much in- 
debted to the recent researches, of the 
French pathologists for tracing minutely the 
different modes in which pulmonary disor- 
ganization may be induced. The writer 
has lately lost a patient wliose dissolution 
was in) the first instance menaced by a 
cancerous breast; but, the cancerous-dis- 
order suddenly subsiding in that part, was 
followed by a species of asthmatic breath- 
ing and general derangement, such as to 
shew that the schirrous or cancerous dia- 
thetis was, as it were, transferred from the 
exterior to the air-vessels of the Inngs ; and, 
had dissection been permitted, the bron- 
chial cells would most likely have been 
fouad in \a schirrously disorganized condi- 
tion. , Here all medicinal treatment would 
have proved equally unavailing, aa in ge- 
nuine consumption, but the pulmonary 
Report of Chemisiry and Experimental Philosophy. 
359 
state was not such as to justify an applica- 
tion to it of the term consumption. 
Salutary effects: continue to be experi- 
enced in protracted disorders of the stomach 
from the use: of oxyd of bismuth, com- 
bined with equal: quantities of powdered 
rhubarb anda double quantity of traga- 
canth powder: ‘This formula has been 
employed repeatedly by the writer with the 
happiest results; but, when obstinate dys- 
pepsia is complained of, which has resisted 
almost every remedial) trial, let the prac- 
titioner be careful to institute such enqui- 
ries as shall lead to the detection, if it ex- 
ist, of a contraction in some portion of the 
intestinal tube: violent stomach ‘derange- 
ments are often mere sympathetic expres- 
sions of organic ailment, and the physician 
is sometimes sought after when the ‘case 
does not admit of radical relief, except 
fiom the art of surgery. 
D. Uwins, M.D, 
Bedford Row, April 20, 1822. 
REPORT OF CHEMISTRY AND EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY. 
—_ 
HE world are well acquainted with the 
ijurious etfects of the escape of the 
vast quantities of arsenic and other dele- 
terious substances from the copper smelt- 
ing furnaces in the neighbourhood of Swan- 
sea. » These substances falling on the sur- 
rounding country, have not only greatly 
injured, but almost totally destroyed, vege- 
table and animal life in that vicinity. 
Thousands of acres are rendered useless 
entirely from the arsenic falling in showers 
upon the surface of the land ; and, indeed, 
nuberless instances have occurred of the 
teeth dropping from the mouths of cattle 
that bave grazed in the neighbourhood of 
these furnaces, and, upon examination of 
such teeth, they have been found to be 
coated with a strong crust of copper. Se- 
veral chemical and mechanical projects 
have heen adopted to prevent the escape 
of these substances from the chimney of 
the smelting furnace, and although their 
effects Ihave been confined within the 
works, yet it has been found attended with 
considerable trouble and expence, which 
the copper smelters seem unwilling to 
adopt in their daily practical operations. 
“ The Cadoxton experiments,” as stated in 
this report, seem fully to remove the objec- 
tions of the smelters, and yet obviate all 
the imconyenience to the surrounding 
country. The discovery was first ‘an- 
nounced, by the following paragraph in 
the Swansea paper :—~ 
“ An experiment has been made at Cadoxton, in 
pe eh cel for obras the inconveniences 
pgs | rom the calcining and smelting of copper 
ores, by destroying the noxious ‘qualities of the 
smoke from, the furnaces upon the whole process, 
and by destroying or reducing as much as possible 
the bitominous sinoke; wpon a’ plan adapted to the 
present practicn! operations of copper-waking, and 
without increased expence to the manufacturer.”— 
Cambrian, Nov. 24, 1821, 
The principle aimed at in this experi- 
ment is simple prectpitation; the mode of 
effecting it by gaining as much time as 
possible between the production of the 
smoke in the furnace and its final exit into 
the atmosphere ; in short, by imitating as 
nearly as possible the condensation of 
vapour in a still, where the worm (pre- 
senting the greatest possible surface in the 
smallest possible space) may be considered 
the flue : if the flue in this case could be 
conveniently passed through a cold me- 
dium (as the worm of a still), the imitation 
would be still nearer; butit should seem, 
from the result of this experiment, that it 
is not necessary. ‘The experiment was as 
follows :— 
A calcining furnace (which throws out 
the greatest portion of noxious ingredients) 
of the ordinary dimensions has been erect- 
ed ; instead of a short perpendicular flue, 
an horizontal flue was carried from it on 
the surface of the ground, or rather a set 
of connected flues, 24 in number, consist- 
ing of straight parallel lines rounded off 
at the ends, and furnished with doors for 
the purpose of observation, each line being 
34 feet in length; from the end of this 
line the flue was continued for some dis- 
tance to the pits of a neighbouring lime- 
kiln %2 feet deep, which was furnished 
with a brick cap in the shape of a cone, 
terminating at the top like a common 
chimney, and making an upright vent of 
50 feet, the whole length of the flue being 
950 feet ; the bottom of the fine rises about 
an inch in every 34 feet, upon the principle 
that a regular ascent was necessary to in- 
dulge the propensity of the hydrogen to 
ascend, and thus facilitate its passage 
foyward, whilst it was at the same time de- 
sirable 
