1820.] Sdentijic IntcUigeme. 391 



leaves behind it a light, spongy charcoal, difficult to incinerate. 

 Gliadine, in some respects, approaches the properties of resins ; 

 but difters from them in being insoluble in sulphuric ether. It 

 is rcry sensibly affected by the infusion of nutgalls. It is capable 

 of itself of undergoing a slow fennentation, and produces fer- 

 mentation in saccharine substances. 



VII. Properties of Zimome. 



The gluten, thus treated by alcohol, is reduced to the third part 

 of its former bulk. This diminution is owing not merely to the 

 loss of the gliadine, but likewise to that of water. The residue 

 is zimome, which may be obtained pure by boiling it repeatedly 

 in alcohol, or by digesting it in repeated portions of that liquid 

 cold, till it no longer gives out any gliadine. 



Zimome thus purified has the form of small globules, or consti- 

 tutes a shapeless mass, which is hard, tough, destitute of cohe- 

 sion, and of an ash-white colour. When washed in water, it 

 recovers part of its viscosity, and becomes quickly brown when 

 left in contact of the air. It is specihcally heavier than water. 

 Its mode of fermenting is no longer that of gluten ; for when it 

 putrefies, it exhales a fetid lu^inous odour. It dissolves completely 

 in vinegar and in the mineral acids at a boiling temperature. 

 AVith caustic potash it combines and forms a kind of soap. 

 When put into lime-water, or into the solutions of the alkaline 

 carbonates, it becomes harder, and assumes a new appearance 

 without dissolving. When thrown upon red-hot coals, it exhales 

 an odour similar to that of burning hair or hoofs, and burns with 

 flame. 



Zimome is to be found in various parts of vegetables. It 

 produces various kinds of fermentation, according tu the nature 

 of the substance with which it conies in contact. 



VIII. Prusm- Acid in Consumptions. 



Most of our readers are aware that M. Magendie some time 

 ago proposed prussic acid as a remedy in incipient consumption. 

 In a disease of so desperate a nature, and which has hitlierto 

 bafHed all the efforts of medical men, every new proposal is 

 entitled to attention. This induces me to lay M. Magendie's 

 formula beibre my medical readers. 



He mixes one part of pure prussic acid (or hydrocyanic acid) 

 prepared according to Gay-Lussac's method, with H-o parts of 

 water by weight. To this mixture he gives the name of medi- 

 cinal prussic acid. The state in which this substance is given 

 to patients \\ill be seen by the lullowing formula : 



}}. Medicinal prussic acid . . 1 gros, or 59-00 grs. troy 



Distilled water 1 lb, or 75bO-OU grs. 



l^ure sugar 1 J oz, or 708-75 grs. 



Mix these ingredients, and let the patient take a table spoon- 

 t ul every morning and evetiing, 



