AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 449 



form of bromide of gold, and administered in epileptic cases. In his own 

 practice he uses it with excellent effect. 



The Chairman recollected that bromide of gold had been used in a case 

 which came under his observation. 



Dr. Deck did not know that bromide of gold was used out of his own 

 practice. Iodide is dangerous in the system. 



Dr. Vanderweyde said it had gone out of use, for it was found that 

 though under its influence, symptoms disappeared, they reappeared again 

 after some time. It should therefore be disused. 



Dr. Reuben. — In surgery, gold is found to be a good caustic. What is 

 the action of a caustic ? In answer to this we may say a caustic is any- 

 thing which acts like the bichloride of mercury, which will enter into 

 chemical union with the fibre of the muscle, or which when taken into the 

 stomach, will reduce the organic tissues to the state of inorganic matter. 

 To understand its action, let us remember that chloride of gold is a mix- 

 ture of chlorine and gold. When a compound of chlorine comes in contact 

 with hydrogen, muriatic acid is formed, and thus destroys the tissues. 



Mr. Veeder suggested the continuation of the subject " Grold," in its 

 applications in the arts and social economy. 



This suggestion being accepted the Association adjourned. 



Polytechnic Association, American Institute, ) 



June 2Sd, 1859. ( 



Professor Mason, chairman. John Johnson, Esq., Secretary, pro tern. 



Professor Mason, on taking the chair, read a brief but interesting paper 

 on the importance of the benefaction conferred by Peter Cooper, Esq., 

 upon the public, in conveying to trustees by deed, for the use of the citi- 

 zens of New York, the magnificent building known as the " Cooper Union," 

 together with the apparatus, furniture and endowments belonging to it. 

 He then introduced the subject of the evening, " Gold" by asking, " Why 

 should Gold be esteemed so valuable as to be selected for a measure of 

 value and a medium of exchange." 



Mr. S. D. Tillman answered that gold, among the ancients, was highly 

 prized on account of its beautiful color, and its quality of not rusting, or 

 in modern terms of resisting oxydation. Very little known, in former 

 times, about chemistry, indeed, there was then no such science. Of the 

 sixty odd elementary substances now known not a dozen were recognized 

 by the ancients. Air and water were simple bodies. They had seven 

 metals, gold, silver, mercury, copper, iron, tin and lead, which they named 

 after the sun, moon and planets; gold being of course then Sol. They had 

 made brass by compounding the ores of copper and zinc, yet zinc, in a sep- 

 arate state, is not described in any accounts which have reached us. The 

 quality of gold to resist oxygen is very important. It is not confined to 

 gold, but belongs to the whole class of noble metals. Oxygen forms more 

 than one-half of the whole earth, as far as known to us. When isolated, 



[Am. Inst.J 29 



