84 
VARIETIES. 
The Artesian Well of Bavaria. — A correspondent of the National Intelli- 
gencer, writing from Paris, says. "The famous Artesian well at Kissengen, 
in Bavaria, commenced eighteen years ago, and which it was feared would 
have to be abandoned as a failure, has jusl given the most satisfactory results. 
The town is located in a saline valley, 984 feet above the level of the Baltic 
sea. Last June, the boring had reached a depth of 1837 feet, and several 
layers of salt, separated by a stratum of granite, had been traversed, when 
carbonic acid gas, followed again by granite, was found. Finally, on the 
12th inst., at a depth of 2067 feet, perseverance was rewarded by complete 
success. A violent explosion burst away the scaffolding built to facilitate 
the operations ; and a column of water four and a half inches in diameter 
spouted forth to the height of 98 feet above the surface. The water — clear 
as crystal — is of a temperature of 66 Fahrenheit, and is abundantly charged 
with salt. It is calculated that the product will be upwards of 6,000,000 lbs. 
per annum, increasingthe royal revenues by 3.000.000 florins, after deducting 
all expenses." — Boston Med. and Surg Journal. November 27, 1850. 
Prussiate of Potash in Asthma. — It is understood that much relief has been 
obtained from the use of prussiate of potash in the paroxysms of asthmatic 
breathing. The dose, during a paroxysm, is one teaspoonful of a saturated 
solution. The principle upon which its remedial properties are based, is 
that of its being an arterial sedative. It is a ferro-cyanuret of potassium, and 
probably the hydrocyanic acid is the medicant after all. — Ibid. 
On Kermes Mineral as an Antidote to Strychnia. By M. Thorel. — M. 
Thorel. taking advantage of the practice of the municipal authorities in des- 
troying stray dogs periodically by means of strychnia and nux vomica, in- 
stituted some experiments upon the antidotal power of kermes, having 
already observed the reactions which ensue on bringing a sulphuret in con- 
tact with strychnia. Although dogs commencing to exhibit the symptoms 
of strychnia poisoning cannot, if they have been fasting, be made to vomit 
even by large doses of tartar emetic; yet by combining with it some ker- 
mes, free purging and vomiting are produced, and if the space of time has 
not been too prolonged the animal recovers. He believes that the instances 
in which he tried it justify him in recommending, that in cases of poisoning 
by strychnia in the human subject, the following dose should be given: — 
Kermes 15 grains, Tart. Emet. gr. 1^, water and syrup of buckthorn, 2 oz. A 
second or even a third may be given. 
A series of chemical experiments lead him to the conclusion lhat the 
action of the substance is twofold. A portion is decomposed, and forms, 
with the strychnia existing in the stomach as a lactate of strychnia, an in- 
soluble sulphuret, while the undecomposed portion aids the tartar emetic in 
inducing expulsive action. 
MM. Bouchardat and Gobley, reporting on this paper, regard it as of some 
importance. They observe, however, that experiments out of the body show 
that the iodated iodide of potassium [iodure de potassium iodurte) exerts a far 
more powerful effect in precipitating an absolutely insoluble compound with 
