NEW METHOD OF OBTAINING IRON. 
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only partially soluble in sulphide of carbon. When heated 
in a crucible, it almost entirely disappears, leaving only a 
slight trace of a blackish substance, which is insoluble in r.itric 
acid, and gives the reaction of silica before the blowpipe. 
Dr. Phipson gives the following analysis of it: 
Sulphur ..... 87'600 
Arsenic ..... 11*162 
Selenium ..... 0*264 
99*026 
CARBONIC ACID AN ANAESTHETIC. 
We have long been of opinion that the action of anaes¬ 
thetic agents depended upon carbonic acid being generated 
in the blood, all of them being rich in carbon. This appears 
to be confirmed by experiments performed by Dr. Ozonam, 
who states that, after forty trials with delicate animals, he had 
prolonged sleep in them for one or two hours at a time 
without accident, by means of diluted carbonic acid gas. He 
also operated upon a human being having a deep abscess in 
the thigh, without consciousness being evinced. 
Dr. Ozonam claims for his method greater safety than 
belongs to chloroform, and states that consciousness is 
recovered as soon as the process of inhalation is suspended. 
Caution, however, is called for in the employment of diluted 
carbonic acid gas, as when it is mixed with atmospheric air 
beyond three or four per cent, it acts as a narcotic poison. 
NEW METHOD OE OBTAINING IRON. 
Mr. R. W t . Sievier has invented a process for obtaining 
iron in a very pure state without ee puddling.” It is stated 
to be the reverse of the method usually adopted, for, instead 
of drawing a blast of air into the furnace, he withdraws that 
which is therein contained, by means of a fan of a peculiar 
construction; and as the atmosphere rushes in to fill the 
vacuum, the oxygen thereof has such an effect on the molten 
metal that the latter falls drop by drop, as a stiff, pasty fluid, 
which needs no puddling, and, accumulating at the bottom of 
the furnace, it may at once be submitted to the hammer and 
converted into wrought iron. 
The puddlers and their companions have struck, alleging 
that the process will take the bread out of their mouths. A 
mistaken notion, too common with the labouring classes, 
since they forget the more an article is cheapened the greater 
will be its consumption, and thus labour will be promoted. 
