438  Varieties.  iAmh&$®T" 
so  baffling  to  the  profession.  The  first  patient  was  a  lady  who  had  fits  of 
sneezing  which  lasted  several  hours.  She  also  had  a  slight  cough,  and 
suffered  much  at  times  from  difficulty  of  breathing.  The  doctor  makes  the 
following  solution  :  Chlorate  of  potash  20  grains,  sulphate  of  morphia  4 
grains,  pure  water  2  fluidounces  ;  mix.  He  used  this  solution  by  means  of  an< 
atomizer.  Eelief  was  instantaneous.  Continued  application  kept  the  patient 
well  for  five  days.  Then  the  sneezing  returned,  and  the  doctor  ordered  the  use 
of  the  following  solution  through  the  same  instrument:  Bromide  of  potassium 
one  drachm,  water  two  fluidounces.  This  also  stopped  the  paroxysms.  She 
was  ordered  to  use  these  preparations  alternately,  from  six  to  ten  inhalations- 
three  times  daily,  or  about  one-fourth  of  a  drachm.  She  continued  to  improve 
till  she  discarded  the  spray,  being  entirely  well.  Several  other  cases  were- 
similarly  cured,  some  in  a  short  time. — Scientific  American,  Aug.  8th. 
Absorption  of  Oxygen  and  Emission  of  Carbonic  Acid  by  Leaves  Kept  in 
Darkness. — MM.  Deherain  and  Moisson. — (1)  The  quantity  of  CO2  emitted- 
increases  with  rise  of  temperature  (as  previously  observed).  At  7°  100  grms. 
of  tobacco  leaves  gave  in  ten  hours  0  031  gr.  of  CO2  ;  they  gave  0*193  gr.  at 
18°,  and  1-132  gr.  at  41°.  The  increase  varies  with  the  species.  It  is  greater, 
e.  g.,  with  Pinus  pinaster  than  with  Ficus  elastica.  (2)  The  quantity  of 
CO2  emitted  is  comparable  to  that  furnished  by  cold-blooded  animals.  Thus, 
taking  Regnault  and  Reiset's  data,  frogs  give  in  respiration  weights  of 
CO2  much  less  than  leaves  of  tobacco,  mustard  or  sorrel.  At  15°  the  respira- 
tory activity  of  silkworms  is  comparable  to  that  of  caducous  leaves  observed 
at  30°,  but  notably  greater  than  they  manifest  at  15°  to  20°.  (3)  Leaves  kept 
in  the  dark  absorb  more  O  than  they  emit  CO2.  For  example,  30  grms.  of 
leaves  of  Pinus  pinaster  absorbed  in  twenty-four  hours  7*7  c.c.  of  O,  and  emit- 
ted only  3'9  c.c.  of  CO2.  The  effect  is  most  sensible  at  low  temperatures.  The 
branches  of  some  fatty  plants  (Agave,  Opuntia)  sometimes  absorb  O  without 
emitting  CO2-  The  O  fixed  is  utilized  for  formation  of  vegetable  acids.  (4) 
Leaves  continue  to  emit  CO2  in  an  atmosphere  deprived  of  O.  The  resistance 
to  asphyxia  is  various.  Pine  leaves  continue  four  or  five  days  to  emit 
CO2,  while  those  of  tobacco,  sorrel,  Ficus  elastica,  Begonia,  soon  wither.  (5). 
Hypothesis  on  the  physiological  utility  of  the  internal  combustion  produced  in. 
leaves.  Obscure  heat  is  peculiarly  favorable  to  energy  of  respiration,  and 
there  seems  to  be,  between  rapidity  of  growth  and  energy  of  respiration,  a* 
connection  which  may  be  understood  if  we  suppose  that  a  certain  quantity  of 
heat  must  be  called  into  action  in  order  that  the  immediate  principles  may 
form.  The  internal  combustion,  shown  by  absorption  of  O  and  emission  of 
CO2,  is  the  origin  of  a  part  of  the  heat  necessary  to  elaboration  of  new  imme- 
diate principles. —  Chem.  News,  June  12,  from  Compt.  Rend. 
Jalap  Biscuits.— M.  Tambureau,  a  pharmacien  residing  at  Guelma,  Algeria, 
publishes  the  following  directions  for  the  preparation  of  biscuits  containing  the- 
