148 Intelligeyice arid Miscellaneom Articles, 



ought then to diminish, and this explains the increased breathing of 

 air. The blood there is then determined in larger quantity to the ar- 

 terial system, and especially to the brain. The imagination becomes 

 active, the thoughts are accompanied with a peculiar charm, and 

 some persons are affected with symptoms of intoxication. The 

 power of the muscular system is increased. The weight of the body 

 appears to diminish. 



When a person is placed in the receiver and the pressure of the 

 air is diminished one fourth, the membrane of the tympanum is mo- 

 mentarily distended ; the respiration is inconvenienced, the inspira- 

 tions are short and frequent, and in about 15 or 20 minutes there is 

 a true dyspncea. The pulse is full, compressable and frequent ; the 

 superficial vessels are turgid. The eyelids and lips are distended with 

 superabundant fluids, and haemorrhage and tendency to syncope are 

 sometimes induced ; the skin is inconveniently hot, and its functions 

 increased in activity ; the salivary and renal glands secrete their fluids 

 less abundantly. — Joiirn. de Chim. Med., June, p. 13. 



GASTRIC JUICE. 



Mons. H. Braconnot considers the gastric juice obtained from dogs 

 to be composed of 



1st. Free hydrochloric acid in considerable quantity. 



2nd. Hydrochlorate of ammonia. 



3rd. Chloride of sodium in large quantity. , 



4th. Chloride of calcium. 



5th. Chloride of iron. 



6th. Chloride of potassium, a trace. 



7th. Chloride of magnesium. 



8th. A colourless and pungent oil. 



9tb. Animal matter soluble both in water and alcohol, in consider- 

 able quantity. 



10th. Animal matter soluble in dilute alkalies. 



Dth. Animal matter soluble in water, but insoluble in alcohol; 

 (the salivary matter of Gmelin). 



I'Jth. Mucus. 



13th. Phosphate of lime. 



INI. Blondelot has endeavoured to produce artificial digestions, at 

 the temperature of the human body, by filling glass tubes, some with 

 a mixture of bits of meat and gastric juice, and others with meat and 

 water slightly acidulated with hydrochloric acid : in both cases the 

 flesh preserved its primitive form and fibrous texture whilst quiescent, 

 but by the slightest movement it was converted into a homogeneous 

 mass precisely similar to chyme produced in the stomach. — Journal 

 de Pharm.,Feh. 1836. 



BIBROMIDE OF MERCURY. 



M. Lassaigne informs us that bibromide of mercury is less soluble 



in water than the bichloride, 105 parts of the former salt requiring 



10,000 parts of water at 48° Fahr. to dissolve it, or rather more than 



1 of salt to 100 of water J also that albumen forms with the bibromide 



