88 
HORSES, SHEEP, AND CATTLE POISONED. 
more than a very small proportion of lead. Usually, it is 
more easily discovered after than before taking the iodide ; 
but sometimes none at all can be detected, when the symptoms 
are even well-marked. As the processes employed allow of 
the detection of exceedingly minute quantities of the metal, 
the conclusion cannot be avoided that, in cases of chronic 
lead-poisoning the process of elimination is very slow, and 
a long time must be required to remove any considerable 
deposit from the tissues. . . . It is evident that iodide 
of potassium, the most energetic agent known for removing 
absorbed lead from the system, is far less efficient in this 
respect than is generally believed .—Boston Journal, June, 
p. 429. 
EXPERIMENTS ON RESPIRATION. 
Dr. Edward Smith has lately read a paper before the 
Chemical Society, giving the results of some experiments 
by him on respiration. Pie was anxious to ascertain the 
average amount of carbonic acid gas and watery vapour 
expired, and how the formation of these were affected by food, 
fasting, &c. And he concludes that there is a class of foods 
to which the term excito-respiratory” may be applied. 
These contain nearly all the nitrogenous articles of diet, with 
sugar, coffee, and particularly tea. The most remarkable 
among the non-excitants are fat and starchy substances. 
Ardent spirits also increase the amount of carbonic acid, with 
the exception of brandy, which seems to lessen it, by diminish¬ 
ing the activity of the respiratory process. 
HORSES, SHEEP, AND CATTLE POISONED. 
We regret to state that Mr. Singlehurst, farmer, of Firbeck, 
near Roche Abbey, has sustained a most serious loss by 
reason of thirty-three sheep, three horses, a pony, and two 
pigs, having been poisoned at his farm at that place. On 
Wednesday morning, December 21st, the farm servants dis¬ 
covered a large number of the stock were dead ; and from the 
fact that a most violent storm of thunder and lightning had 
passed over the district early the same morning—there being 
no other accountable cause for death—the loss was attributed 
to the w r hole having been struck by the electric fluid. The 
