GOLD-DUST AND IRON-FILINGS AS ANTIDOTES. 337 
kindly offered his assistance; but owing to the late illness of 
this gentleman, our plan was defeated. For the purpose, 
however, of ascertaining how far the proposed antidote can be 
depended on, when brought to the test of positive experi- 
ment, and to be assured that no deleterious compounds result 
from this method of decomposing the salts of mercury, we 
procured four half grown rabbits, on which the following ex- 
periments were performed, assisted by Mr. D. Stewart, one of 
the ablest chemists and pharmacologists of our city, and well 
known to the profession generally on account of his valuable 
contributions to the American Journal of Pharmacy. 
Experiment 1st. — Injected into the stomach of a half 
grown rabbit, one grain of the peroxide of mercury in 3ii of 
water, and shortly after, five grains of iron-filings and the 
same quantity of gold-dust, in half an ounce of water. This 
rabbit manifested no pain or distress of any kind; began to 
eat shortly after the experiment was perfomed, and has not 
since appeared the least sick. 
Experiment 2d. — Gave in like manner, to a rabbit of the 
same size and strength as the preceding, three grains of the 
deuto-iodide of mercury in §ss of water, and used as an anti- 
dote, gold-dust and iron-filings, each six grains: result the 
same as in the preceding experiment; this rabbit is now thriv- 
ing. 
Experiment 3d. — Injected into the stomach of another 
rabbit of the same size and age, three grains of the white 
oxide of mercury, and some minutes after, administered four 
grains of finely divided gold and five of iron-filings: the rabbit 
appeared perfectly well until the next day, when it lost its 
with partial paralysis of one side, which induced him, so soon as he had 
sufficiently recovered, to abandon the arduous duties of his occupation 
here, and seek repose at home. We rejoice to hear that he is rapidly 
convalescing, and we sincerely hope that he may soon regain his health, 
and be enabled to reap the ripe harvest of his well spent time, in the con- 
tinued pursuit of a science to which his talents promised to lend important 
aid. 
vol. v. — NO. IV. 
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