Miscellanies. 157 
12. Potash obtained from felspar.—According to M. Fuchs, this 
important alkali may be extracted from minerals containing it, by the 
following method ;—they are to be calcined with lime, then left for 
some time in contact with water, and the liquor filtered and evapor- 
ated. M. Fuchs says he has-thus obtained from nineteen to twenty 
parts of potash from felspar, and from fifteen to sixteen from mica, 
per centum.—Jdem. 3 
2 la 
13, Action of the Pile on living animal substances.—(Ann. de 
Chim.)—-M. Matteuci found that the poles of a Voltaic pile of fifteen 
pairs, applied to two wounds made on the lateral parts of the abdo- 
men of a rabbit, so as to leave the peritoneum bare, soon occasioned 
a yellow alkaline liquor, containing many bubbles of air, to collect at 
the negative pole, while a yellow liquid, with few bubbles and slightly 
acid, collected at the positive pole. The poles were of gold. The 
same results were obtained on other parts of the body, as the liver, 
intestines, &e. ‘The substance obtained at the negative pole, besides 
alkali, contained much albumen coagulated by heat; the fluid at the 
positive pole also contained a highly azotated substance. 
These experiments are considered by M. Matteuci as supporting 
the opinion that secretions in the living body are the result of elec- 
trical decomposition. —Jbid. 
14, Chlorine an antidote to prussic acid.—By dropping prussic 
acid upon the eyes of three dogs and dividing the symptoms into 
three stages, 1, uneasiness, 2. tetanus, 3. interrupted respiration, 
the experimenters, Persoz and Nonat, found that chlorine applied 
at these different stages produced, in the first stage, immediate relief; 
Vomiting and alvine discharges occurred, and the animal in half an 
hour was ag lively as at first. Applied at the second stage, the rest- 
lessness Continued a while, as also the convulsive movements, then 
Vomnitings, &c. ag before, and at the end of an hour the animal was 
Perfectly well, The same two dogs being treated the next day with 
: © same quantity of prussic acid, without chlorine, died in a few 
minutes, In the third case, before the chlorine was applied, the res- 
ee ceased for twenty five seconds, and the animal me saps 
idly Perishing. The chlorine recalled it to life, and ultimately restor- 
ed it to full Vigor. 
bid terwards two dogs of equal strength were taken, the crural veins 
bare and separated from the accompanying nervous fibres, and 
