173 Foreign Literature and Science. 



marched in column on the left wing manoeuvered so as to 

 turn the hostile army, and advanced with a hurried march 

 to the hillock of the formica rufa, and took it by assault. 



The two armies attacked each other and fought a long 

 time without breaking their lines. At length disorder ap- 

 peared in various points and the combat was maintained in 

 detached groups ; and after a bloody battle which continued 

 from three to four hours, the formica rufa were put to flight 

 and forced to abandon their two hillocks and go off to estab- 

 lish themselves at some other point with the remains of their 

 army. 



The most interesting part of this exhibition, says M. Han- 

 hart, was to see these insects reciprocally making prisoners, 

 and transporting their own wounded to their hillocks. Their 

 devotedness to the wounded was carried so far, that the 

 formica rufa in conveying them to their nests, allowed them- 

 selves to be killed by the little blacks without any resistance 

 rather than abandon their precious charge. 



From the observations of M. Huber, it is known that 

 when an ant hillock is taken by the enemy, the vanquished 

 are reduced to slavery, and employed in the interior labors 

 of their habitation. — Bull. Univ. Mai. 1826. 



29. Action of Barytes, Strontian, Chrome, fyc; by C. G. 

 Gmelin. — Experiments made upon animals have furnished 

 the following results. 



1. Bodies similar to each other in their chemical proper- 

 ties may have a very different action upon the animal organ- 

 ization, such are barytes and strontites. 



2. Muriate of barytes, oxide of uranium and oxide of pal- 

 ladium, coagulate the blood when they are injected into 

 the vessels of circulation. These three metals are the only 

 ones which produce this phenomenon. 



3. Chromate of Potash applied to the cellular tissue acts 

 upon the bronchia, and augments the secretion of saliva, 

 which becomes thick. It produces only inflammation of the 

 conjunctiva. 



4. The oxide of osmium acts upon the stomach, produces 

 vomiting and excites in the lungs the exudation of a serous 

 liquid. 



5. Sulphate of magnesia, injected into the vascular system, 

 acts evidently upon the face, producing inflammation, and 



