[ 595 ] 
the public in the Memoirs of the Bononian Aca- 
demy *, fufficiently prove, that the ore and filings of 
iron, finely levigated, enter the blood in confiderable 
quantity ; as does alfo the crocus , calx , or earthy pait 
of the metal, tho’ in lefs proportion than the two 
former, which were found to aCt with a violent fa- 
mulus on the veffels, and to have diffolved and broke 
the crafis of the blood of different animals, that had 
ufed them for fome weeks in large dofes mixed with 
their ordinary food. Tho’ it muft be allowed, that 
thefe experiments are very curious,, yet the fubjedt 
feems to require a further inquiry, viz. Whether iron 
is capable of entering the blood in a fate of folut ion , 
or under a J'aline form : for, from the violent Jlimulus, 
as well as from the diffolution of the blood, and 
other fymptoms brought on by the ufe of the ore and 
filings, thefe fubftances (not being properly diffolved) 
appear to have aCted in a manner fo grofsly mecha- 
nical, that, whatever Signor Menghini may think, 
very little is to be concluded from them, with regard 
to the aCtion of iron on the human body, in fuch 
cafes, as indicate its ufe, and where a rational phy- 
fician would think proper to preferibe it as a medi- 
cine. . . 
Having read Signor Menghini s memoir, I recol- 
lected, that in the year 17*3 I had, with the affift- 
ance of two friends, made the following experiment, 
in order to difeover, whether iron, in a faline form, 
is capable of entering the ladteals. 
An ounce and a half of fait of fteel diffolved in a 
fufficient quantity of water, filtrated and mixed with 
* Vincentius Menghinus de Ferrearum particularum progrejfu 
ift Sanzuinem . Comment. Acad. Bonon. T. 11 . P. 2 . p a g- 475’ 
6 4G 2 about 
