278 
VARIETIES. 
Analysis of Bedford [Pennsylvania] Spring Water. — By J. Cheston 
Morris.— One pint of the water evaporated at 240° F., yields of solid 
residuum . . . . grs. 22.201 
CaO, C0 2 Carbonate of Lime 2.120 
CaO, SO Sulphate of Lime 11.274 
MgO, S03 Sulphate of Magnesia 3.974 
(Al 2 3 4. Fe 2 3 ) S0 3 Sulphates of Alumina and Iron 1.280 
NaO, S0 3 Sulphate of Soda 3.092 
NaCl Chloride of Sodium 0.343 
S0 3 Free Sulphuric Acid 0.128 
Si0 3 &c. Organic matter and Silica trace 22.201 
" In the estimation of the iron as a persulphate, there is probably an 
error, which would, if corrected, increase slightly the amount of free sul- 
phuric acid. The quantity of iron and alumina is so small as to render it 
almost impossible to separate them correctly."* 
Medical Examiner, June 1852. 
The Voltaic Pile. — The President of the French Kepublic has published a 
decree offering a reward of 50,000 francs (2,000Z.) to such persons as shall 
render the voltaic pile applicable with economy to manufactures, as a 
source of heat, or 'to lighting, or chemistry, or mechanics, or to practical 
medicine. Persons of all nations may compete for this prize, and the com- 
petition is to be open for five years. — Ibid. 
On the Hydrated Peroxide of Iron and Magnesia as Antidotes in poisoning 
with Arsenic. By J. Haidlen. — The author has satisfied himself by experi- 
ments, that to completely precipitate 1 part of arsenious acid within five mi- 
nutes by hydrated oxide of iron, 22 parts of the latter are required. Some 
which had been kept for a year had lost more than two-thirds of its power ; 
in another case it had lost one-third of it. As it is well known on acconnt 
of this property of the hydrated oxide of iron, Fuchs has recommended the 
mixture of a solution of persulphate of iron, which yields from 17 to 18 per 
cent, of the hydrated peroxide dried at 212° F., with excess of caustic 
magnesia. In the Wurtemberg Pharmacopoeia the mixture of perchloride 
of iron with excess of magnesia is prescribed. The author finds that both 
mixtures precipitate the arsenious acid equally as well as the pure hydrated 
peroxide of iron, so that there is no chemical objection to their use. — 
Chem. Gaz., May 1852, from Jahrb. fur PraJct. Pharm., vol xxiii. pp. 196. 
*Can sulphuric acid exist in a free state in the presence of an excess of car- 
bonate of lime? 
