Miscellanies. 191 



Jackson County, by Mr. Briggs and myself. A more particular de- 

 scription of these bones is contained in this Journal, Vol. xxxiv, pp. 

 358-9. They were found in the blue clay before spoken of, which is 

 lower in the geological series than the fresh-water marl. 



The bones of the Mastodon and elephant have been found in jux:ta- 

 position, at Nashport, in Muskingum County, which establishes the 

 fact, that they existed contemporaneously ; but whether they disap- 

 peared from the face of the earth at the same epoch, is a matter of 

 'doubt. Yours, truly, 



J. W. Foster. 

 Zanesville, Ohio, 14tli Feb, 1839. 



15. Notice of the use of the fumes of Nitric Acid in Pulmonary diseases. 

 [Extract of a letter to the senior Editor.] 



Dear Sir — I cheerfully comply with your request, to make a statement 

 of the facts in my possession, with regard to the use of nitric acid for 

 pulmonary diseases. In the spring of 1833, Mr. Edwin E. Wells, now 

 Rev. Mr. Wells of Huntington, U. C, had a severe cold upon his lungs, 

 accompanied with a violent cough. The various prescriptions he em- 

 ployed, failed to afford relief, until at the earnest solicitation of a friend, 

 he was induced to use the nitric acid. This removed the disease, and in 

 a few days his health was perfectly restored. 



The same spring, I was attacked in a manner similar to Mr. Wells, 

 and being afraid of the acid, it was not until the usual remedies had 

 failed, and my friends had become alarmed at my condition, that I con- 

 sented to use it. When I did so, I found immediate relief 



In 1827, Mr. James H. Trowbridge of Plattsburgh, under similar cir- 

 cumstances experienced like happy results from the use of the acid. 



The most remarkable case is, that of Mr. Gray of Utica ; who first re- 

 commended the use of the acid to Mr. Wells. The account he gave of 

 it was as follows. He had a cough with frequent and copious discharges 

 of mucus and blood ; he became much reduced, and it was thought that 

 he was in the last stages of the consumption. At this time he com- 

 menced the use of the nitric acid, and immediately his health began to 

 mend. When he related to me this fact, he was in perfect health. 



The following is the mode of using the acid : Pour a small quantity 

 upon a hot iron and inhale the fumes as they rise. Repeat this several 

 times a day, until the disease is subdued. Mr. Gray said, that he, in ad- 

 dition to this, used to fill his bedroom with the fumes before going to 

 bed. The immediate effect is to produce a spasmodic action of the throat 

 and glottis, so that I suppose but a small part of the fumes enter the 

 lungs. 



After the first application, I experienced relief; the cough began to 

 subside, and expectoration became free and easy. I believe I applied it 



