528 
FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
disorganization of the blood-corpuscles, and which was 
eliminated from the system in this form : an ingenious 
theory. 
New Source of Certain Metals. —The rare metals 
caesium, rubidium and thallium, have been discovered in a 
spring near Frankfort, the water of which leaves, on evapo¬ 
ration, a residue containing them. The first two of these 
have also been found to exist in manv articles of human 
•/ 
consumption, as beet-root sugar, tea and coffee; and thallium 
has been met with in many minerals in which hitherto its 
presence was unsuspected, likewise in molasses, yeast, chi¬ 
cory and tobacco. 
Grafting Animals.—A work has been published by 
Dr. Paul Bert on this subject, in which it is stated by him 
that he succeeded in making Siamese twins of a couple of 
rats, and also formed other monstrosities. He says, 6e It is a 
surprising spectacle to see a paw cut from one rat live, grow, 
finish its ossification, and regenerate its nerves under the 
skin of another; that when we plant a plume of feathers 
under the skin of a dog, it is wonderful to see the uninter¬ 
rupted vital phenomena resume their course, and the frag¬ 
ment of a bird receive nourishment from the blood of a 
mammal. 
New Test for Digitaline. — M. Grandeau has ascer¬ 
tained that if a dilute solution of digitaline be evaporated to 
dryness and the residue treated with sulphuric acid, a rose- 
coloured spot results, which, if exposed to the vapour of 
bromine turns to a violet colour. A great number of other 
alkaloids, similarly treated, do not give this reaction. 
A Volatile Alkaloid in Digitalis Purpurea.— 
M. W. Englehardt, by treating the leaves of foxglove in the 
same manner by w 7 hich conia is extracted from hemlock, has 
discovered that they yield a volatile alkaloid, which he has 
named Bigitalium fluidum. By experiments performed with 
it on animals he considers it to be the active principle of the 
plant. It is exceedingly volatile, of an oily consistence, an 
alkaline reaction, soluble in water with difficulty, a little 
soluble in chloroform, soluble in absolute ether, odour very 
penetrating, intermediate between that of conia and nicotina, 
but when diluted not so unpleasant. 
