MISCELLANY. 
239 
On M. Roux asking what was the cause of the presence of* arsenic in 
cemeteries, M. Ollivier referred him to M. Chevalier, who had written 
an important memoir on the subject. 
M. Chevalier stated that in the department of the Vosges, where the 
fact mentioned by M. Ollivier had occurred, there are many mines of 
arsenic. The presence of arsenic in the ground of the cemetery is, 
therefore, to be attributed, probably, to the geological constitution of the 
soil. This is not the case with the ground of the Parisian cemeteries. 
A fact with which he had only recently became acquainted, confirmed 
M. Orfila's views. All the bones of the work-people of a small town 
in which copper is wrought, found in the cemetery, contain copper ; 
but copper is also found in the ground in which they lie. In order to 
ascertain whether the copper was primitively contained in the bones, or 
whether it was communicated from the soil, he sent for bones from 
other localities where copper is wrought, but where the earth does not 
contain'that metal ; he found that they were likewise impregnated with 
the metal. 
M. Orfila recalled to the recollection of the Academy that in his me- 
moir he had proposed two questions: first — Can a body impart to the 
earth the arsenic it contains 1 ? Secondly — Can earth, containing arsenic, 
poison, as it were, a body] The first question he then answered af- 
firmatively, the second negatively. The fact related by M. Ollivier d' 
Angers proved that the results at which he had arrived were correct. — 
Chemist. 
Formulae for some Trnchisci. By M. Schmitz, 
Trochisci Althxaz. — R Rad. Alth. Pulv. gij.; Rad. Glycyrrhiz. gss.; 
Rad. Iridis Sacch. Albi.dbij,; Mucil. Tragac. q. s. 
Trochisci Bechici (according to Vignier.) — R Succ. Glycyrrh. Pulv. 
^xx. ; P. Gum. Acaciae ^v. ; P. Sacch. Alb. gxx. ; Opii pulver. gr. 
Ixxxiv. 
Mix with about 10 oz. of water to form a mass, from 6 drms. of which 
thirty lozenges are to be made. 
Trochisci Catechu, — R P. Catechu ^vij.; Rad. Iridis 5ij.; P. Sacch. 
Alb. §iij.; 01. Rosar. mjv.; Mucil. Tragac, q. s. 
Either 2-grain pills or small lozenges are to be made from this, and 
sprinkled with powdered violet-root. The oil of roses may be replaced 
by oil of cloves, cinnamon or peppermint. 
Trochisci Gummi.—Yk P. Acaciae Gum. Sacch. Albi aa, giv.; Aq, 
Rosae ^ix. 
