CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 187 



NEW SEDATIVE. 



The Journal de Chimie Medicalc contains the following remark- 

 able account of the discovery of a powerful Sedative in cases of 

 neuralgia by Dr. Field : — Some time ago that gentleman was in- 

 duced by a homoeopath to put two drops of a solution, supposed to be 

 diluted to the first degree, on his tongue, in order to try its effect. 

 After the lapse of about three minutes he felt a sensation of con- 

 striction at the base of the neck, then violent singing in the ear, 

 while his forehead became covered with abundant perspiration. He 

 then was seized with uncontrollable fits of yawning, and remained 

 senseless for several minutes ; his head fell back, his lower jaw sank 

 down powerless, he became extremely pale, and for two minutes his 

 pulse was silent. The homoeopath, perceiving these symptoms, was 

 terrified, thinking he had unconsciously committed a murder. Sti- 

 mulants, however, brought Dr. Field to consciousness again, but he 

 continued to feel a headache for half an hour after, with a sensation of 

 pressure at the epigastrium, and general weakness. These symptoms 

 disappeared in the course of that time. It was evident that the 

 substance employed was a powerful poison, and that it had not been 

 sufficiently diluted ; and it turned out to be nitrate of oxide of 

 glycile, a substance obtained by treating glycerine at a low tem- 

 perature with sulphuric or nitric acid. One drop, mixed with 

 99 drops of spirits of wine, constitutes the first dilution. Dr. Field 

 •was immediately struck with the idea that he had experienced the 

 effects of what, in a much weaker dose, must be a useful sedative of 

 the nervous system, while the homoeopath was overjoyed at having 

 discovered what he conceived to be a powerful agent. 



SPECTRUM-ANALYSIS OF LONDON WATERS. 



MM. A. and F. DuPEfi have analysed several London Waters by 

 the recently-published method of Bunsen and Kirchoff, which adds 

 two new constituents, lithium and strontium, to those already known. 



If a small portion of the dry residue of any of the waters examined 

 is brought into the flame of an apparatus, such as described in 

 Bunsen and KirchofFs paper (Philosophiccd Mof/uzine, No. 131), the 

 lines Li a and K a. are seen with more or less distinctness as soon as 

 the first glare of the sodium and calcium spectrum is somewhat 

 diminished. After the Li, K, and Na have volatilized, the calcium 

 lines come out with increased brilliancy ; and if the wire is now 

 dipped into HC1 and again brought into the flame, the lines Sr a 

 and Sr y are seen, as well as a very brilliant calcium spectrum. 

 The strontium lines come out generally with greater brilliancy if 

 the wire, before being moistened with HC1, is held for some time 

 in a reducing flame, easily obtained by closing the air-holes of 

 the Bunsen's burner. In some of the waters, especially the deep- 

 well waters, the line Li a is somewhat masked by the bright sodium 

 and calcium spectra : it is, however, in all cases seen with great 

 distinctness if the residue of the water is treated with sulphuric 

 acid and alcohol in the manner described by Bunsen and Kirchhoff 

 under the head of lithium. The strontium lines may also be seen 



