32 Dr. Meade's Notice of the Tioga Coal. 



stand how laudanum should contain this principle, when it is 

 prepared with nothing stronger than proof spirits, and the al 

 cohol of this menstruum is nearly saturated by the gum, resin 

 and other soluble matter of the opium. I am about institu- 

 ting some experiments on the residue of opium, from which 

 laudanum has been made, also on that matter which is pre- 

 cipitated from laudanum by long standing, and which is so 

 extremely active in its effects ; all of which I shall be pleased 

 to submit in a future number of this journal. 



The several preparations of opium as above described, 

 may be had from Charles Marshall, Druggist, No. 221 Mar- 

 ket street, Philadelphia. 



Art. IV. — Chemical analysis and description of the Coal 

 lately discovered near Tioga River, in the State of Penn- 

 sylvania ; by William Meade, M. D. 



In a message from Governor Clinton, to the Legislature of 

 the State of New York, at their last session, it is observed that 

 " Bituminous coal of good quality had been found in the 

 State of Pennsylvania, within twenty miles of the line of this 

 State, near Tioga River, which, when the communication 

 with Seneca Lake shall be opened, can be delivered at Alba- 

 ny, by means of the Western Canal, on very reasonable 

 terms." 



On hearing of this discovery so important to the State of 

 New York, in every point of view, I was anxious to satisfy 

 myself of the nature and qualities of the coal, as well as to 

 ascertain its geological situation, particularly as I had ventu- 

 red in the last number of your journal to state an opinion, 

 that the anthracites or non-bituminous coals of this country 

 were confined to a particular district, to the east of the Sus- 

 quehannah River, and were to be found exclusively in the 

 transition formation, a class of rocks nearly allied to the pri- 

 mitive, and no where to be found to the west of that river. 



An opportunity was soon given me to make the necessary 

 experiments, having been favored by Mr. Knapp the proprie- 

 tor of the mine with a sufficient quantity of this coal ; but 

 from the very limited mineralogical knowledge which this 

 gentleman possesses, I have been as yet only able to learn 

 that the country in which this coal is found is decidedly 

 secondary, and that the veins of coal are very extensive, de- 



