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OXYGEN AN ANTIDOTE FOR ETHER AND CHLOROFORM. 
Though not coming strictly under the denomination of 
organic chemistry, we may as well notice here the experi¬ 
ments of M. Ozanam, on the use of oxygen as an antidote 
to ether and chloroform. In all the experiments, M. Ozanam 
found that the animals awoke in half the time after inhaling 
oxygen than they did with simple atmospheric air. The 
result was just the same whether ether or chloroform had 
been used. Several animals were placed under the influence 
of chloroform until the beating of the heart was impercep¬ 
tible, and death imminent ; but on inhaling oxygen they 
quickly awoke. In one experiment the animal respired at 
the same time the vapour of ether and pure oxygen. It was 
twelve minutes before the animal slept, and then the sleep 
was so 'light that it awoke in a minute and a half, without the 
continuation of the oxygen. When chloroform and oxygen 
were breathed together, the animal became drowsy after eight 
minutes, but did not sleep, and after the inhalations were 
stopped perfectly recovered in a few seconds. M. Ozanam 
believes that so long as respiration has not entirely ceased, 
the revivifying effects of oxygen will be produced, and recom¬ 
mends that the surgeon should always have at his command 
a supply of oxygen, to reanimate his patient, in case of acci¬ 
dent .—Chemical News. 
PRUSSIC ACID IN TOBACCO. 
According to Vogel and Reischaner, prussic acid and 
sulphuretted hydrogen are generally to be found in tobacco- 
smoke. Except in one instance, they discovered prussic 
acid in all the samples of tobacco they experimented upon. 
To detect it, they passed the smoke into a strong solution of 
potash, and then made use of the ordinary iron test. The 
sulphuretted hydrogen they discovered by exposing to the 
action of the smoke paper moistened with acetate of lead, 
or nitro-prusside of sodium and ammonia, on which they 
oblained the characteristic reactions. 
