FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 667 
largely used, both for fuel and for the distillation of gas to 
fill balloons. — Journal of the Society of Arts. 
Iodine and Milk. — It is well known that milk takes up 
iodine, disguising its taste, smell and colour completely ; 
and, as iodine is antiseptic, iodized milk keeps for some time. 
Dr. Hagar calls attention to this fact, and suggests that this, 
perhaps, is the mildest form of administering iodine. Its 
therapeutic effect seems to be equal only to about one fifth 
of the iodine. — New York Druggists ’ Circular. 
Coal. — Mr. R. Hart, F.R.S., has published in the Popular 
Science Review a calculation, showing that one pound of pure 
coal yields, in combining with oxygen in combustion, theo- 
retically, an energy equal to the power of lifting 10,808,000 
lbs. one foot high. The quantity of heat necessary to raise 
a pound of water one degree will raise 772 lbs. one foot; a 
pound of coal burning should, therefore, yield 14,000 units 
of heat. 
Bromide of Potassium in Poisoning by Strych- 
nine. — Dr. Herbert contributes a paper on this subject to 
the New York Medical Journal. He gave the agent in a case of 
poisoning by strychnia as a dernier ressort , in doses of ninety 
grains or more, every half hour. Dr. Herbert says that “ in 
twenty minutes after the administration of the first dose there 
was perceptible improvement, which continued. In two 
hours the patient could move his arms. The bromide was 
then given at the rate of one drachm every hour ; but, 
the convulsions coming on again with greater severity, the 
remedy was given for one hour every fifteen minutes. At 
the end of that time the patient felt easier again, and the 
bromide was continued in smaller doses, at intervals of a 
half-hour to two hours, according to circumstances, during 
the day and following night. In thirty-six hours from the 
time that the bromide was first given the man was walking 
about, feeling a little weak, and having occasionally a slight 
twitch. Concerning this case there are several important 
points that it would be well to note : — 1. The length of time 
that elapsed before the effect of the poison was manifest. 
2. A very marked tolerance of opium. 3. Vomiting afforded 
great relief. 4. The antidotal power of bromide of potas- 
sium. The naked facts only are presented; my professional 
brethren, says the Dr., may draw their own inferences.” — 
Popular Science Review. 
The Effect of Iodate of Potassium on Animals. — 
