AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 333 



Where did tlie chalks of England come from ? We suppose them 

 all to be either coralline or fossiliferous ; and hence to have occu- 

 pied organic life perhaps millions of times before they found their 

 place in those soils. Perhaps we may trace them thus : — -The 

 decay of organic life caused the primaries to be yielded up in a 

 state more readily soluble than before. Large proportions of 

 these jjrimaries are carried by the streams into the ocean. There 

 the lime may have been appropriated to forming the bones of 

 fishes, shells, etc., and perhaps this process was repeated millions 

 of times before the coral insect appropriated the lime to the con- 

 struction of its habitation. Finally an upheaval exposed it to 

 atmospheric and other influences, and thus formed the chalk-soils 

 of England, which, although isomeric with the soil containing a 

 disintegrated marble, is far different from it for all practical pur- 

 poses ; and this difference arises mainly from the progression of 

 the primaries it contains. We find these views confirmed by the 

 materia medica. 



The magnesian rock at Hoboken, contains veins of carbonate of 

 magnesia. Treat this with sulphuric acid, and crystalize it, and 

 the result will be sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts.) Take this 

 to the chemist, let him analyze it — he will pronounce it sulphate 

 of magnesia, and if carefully made, will find it pure. Use this as 

 a medicine, and if it does not take life, it will cause griping, so as 

 to give great pain, in addition to its action as a cathartic. Dissolve 

 these crystals in water and re-cry stalize them. Do this one hun- 

 dred times, and take them again to the chemist for analysis, and he 

 will again inform you that it is sulphate of magnesia, (Epsom salts) 

 and does not at all differ from the first crystals he analyzed -, but 

 use it as a medicine, and nature will inform you that the con- 

 tinued re-crystalization has progressed the primaries it contains; 

 that it will now act as a cathartic without griping you at all. 



For more than a century a medicine has been manufactured in 

 London, known as Pulvis Jacobi (James' PoAvders). For a long 

 time its composition was a secret. The medicine, however was 

 in general use, and large quantities were annually sent to the 

 East Indies by the East India company, for the use of its medical 

 department. It was very effective in the treatment of fever, and 

 its action always found to be uniform. The Messrs. James, the 



