UVA URSI A SUCCEDANEUM FOR ERGOT OF RYE. 453 
timately may either cause death by obstructing the passage 
of the food, or by causing a rupture of the bowel in which it 
may have been lodged. By the ancient physicians, they were 
designated 66 Bezoar stones/’ a Persian name, signifying a 
destroyer of poisons. The most miraculous properties were 
at one time believed to be possessed by these bezoars, and 
they were worn by the superstitious for the purpose of 
warding off infectious diseases, and preventing the influence 
of demons ; and it is recorded that as much as £300 has been 
given for them; and that in Holland and Portugal they where 
hired during the prevalence of an epidemic for a ducat a day. 
The nature of these calculi is very ably treated in an essay 
by Professor Morton, of the Royal Veterinary College. Ac¬ 
cording to his arrangement the one above recorded belongs 
to the triple phosphate kind .—Sheffield Independent . 
NEW TEST FOR CARBONATE OF LIME IN WATER. 
The berries of the privet —Ligustrum vulgare —furnish a 
waxy substance of a beautiful crimson colour, to which the 
name of liguline has been given by its discoverer. Professor 
Nickles. If into pure water, a drop of the solution of this 
principle be let fall, it gives to it a bright crimson tint; but 
if the water contain carbonate of lime, the colour is changed 
to blue. 
This test may be applied by means of paper saturated with 
a solution ofliguline, and dried. 
Liguline may also be used as a dye, and it is said its solution 
when viewed through glass tubes presents some singular 
optical effects. 
UVA URSI A SUCCEDANEUM FOR ERGOT OF RYE. 
It has been for some time known, that the foetus may 
suffer from the administration of ergot to the mother; and 
M. St. Claire Deville has recently brought forward statistics 
which would tend to show that the fears entertained on the 
subject are not exaggerated. He considers that one of the 
causes of so many still-born children is the use of ergot in 
parturition. 
Struck by these facts, M. Gauchet has given, with de¬ 
cided success, an infusion of Uva ursi in a case of lingering 
labour. 
