13(3 YEAR-BOOK OP TACTS. 



quantities of oxamide. On distilling the liquid some more oxamide 

 separated, and it appeared as if the aldehyde had formed a combina- 

 tion with oxamide which was decomposed by boiling. The aldehyde 

 which distilled over contained some acroleine. The mother-liquor, 

 from which the oxamide had deposited, contained oxalate of 

 ammonia. 



The aldehyde in this experiment, either by its mere presence or 

 by its co-operation, promotes the combination of cyanogen with 

 water, to form, according as it combines with two or four equivalents 

 of water, oxamide or oxalate of ammonia. The aldehyde acts as a 

 sort of ferment: while any other affinity of the cyanogen, for the 

 hydrogen or for the oxygen of the water, appears to be quite sup- 

 pressed. — Liebig's A nnalen ; Philos. Mag., No. 128. 



PHOSPHATE OF LIME IN URINE. 



Dr. Hassall has communicated to the Eoyal Society a paper 

 " On the frequent occurrence of Phosphate of Lime in the crystalline 

 form in Human Urine, and on its pathological importance." 



The author concludes from his observations and investigations : — 



First. That deposits of crystallized phosphate of lime are of 

 frequent occurrence in human urine, much more so, indeed, than 

 those of the amorphous or granular form of that phosphate. 



Second. That the crystals present well-marked and highly charac- 

 teristic forms, whereby the identification of this phosphate by means 

 of the microscope is rendered easy and certain. 



Third. That there is good reason to believe that deposits of phos- 

 phate of lime arc of greater pathological importance than those of the 

 phosphate of ammonia and magnesia. 



CURE FOR HYDROPHOBIA. 



The Prcssc Medicate Beige states, on the authority of Father 

 id de la Liray, one of the oldest missionaries in Tonquin and 

 Cochin China, that in those ooantriea Hydrophobia is cured with 

 complete success by boiling a handful of the leaves of Datura 

 Stramonium, or Thorny Apple, in a litre of water, until reduced to 

 one-halt, and then administering the potion to the patient all at a 

 time. A violent paroxysm o which lasts but a short 



time, and the patient is cured in the course of twenty-four hours. 

 For the benefit of our readers we may state that the I i of Stra- 

 monium are highly narcotic, and as such are recommended in asthma 

 under the form of cigars, to !"■ Bmoked as usual : but ' 



quantities, whether in powder or under the 



form of a deooction, will produoe temporary idiocy. \ to its 



* in confirmed hydrophobia it seems to be very earnestly re- 



oomm ud, who declares he has tried it several 



invariably with success. The ■■> • Ity will of 



oonsist in administering the remedy to the patient, which 



probably mu t be dons by main force, with the aid of a horn; but 



on this subject the PfttU Midirali is silent. 



