DEATH  FROM  TWO-FIFTHS  GRAIN  OF  ELATERIUM.  373 
lixiviation.  The  decomposition  of  the  tribasic  phosphate  of  lime 
into  neutral  phosphate  of  soda  may  then  be  considered  complete. 
Unfortunately  the  phosphate  obtained  in  this  process  is  mixed 
with  a  large  proportion  of  sulphide  of  sodium,  rendering  the 
separation  by  crystallization  very  difficult,  and  consequently  de- 
stroying the  industrial  value  of  the  process.  The  reaction  has 
given  better  results  in  the  preparation  of  fluoride  of  sodium.  A 
mixture  of  40  parts  of  fluoride  of  calcium,  80  of  sulphate  of  soda 
and  carbon  in  excess,  was  fused  in  a  metal  crucible.  The  mass 
exhausted  with  water  gave  a  solution  containing  sulphide  and 
fluoride  of  sodium  ;  only  a  trace  of  hydrofluoric  acid  was  de- 
tected in  the  residue,  composed  as  before  of  oxysulphide  of  calci- 
um. Another  fusion  was  made,  in  which  carbonate  of  lime  was 
added,  to  endeavor  if  possible  to  remove  the  soluble  sulphur  com- 
pounds. The  mixture  was  made  of  100  parts  of  fluoride  of  cal- 
cium, 140  of  carbonate  of  lime,  200  of  sulphate  of  soda  and  car- 
bon. In  treating  the  mass  with  water,  a  limpid  solution  of  fluoride 
of  sodium  was  obtained  quite  free  from  sulphide.  Traces  of 
hydrofluoric  acid  were  detected  in  the  residue.  By  concentration 
and  crystallization,  fluoride  of  sodium  in  great  purity  is  obtained. 
Should  the  application  of  this  salt  at  any  time  become  important, 
this  process  will  enable  fluoride  of  sodium  to  be  manufactured  in 
large  quantity  and  at  a  low  price. — London  Chemical  News, 
May  22,  1868. 
DEATH  FOLLOWING  THE   ADMINISTRATION   OF  TWO- 
FIFTHS  OF  A  GRAIN  OF  ELATERIUM. 
By  A.  G.  Craig,  M.  D„  Ghent,  Ky. 
On  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  March,  1868,  I  was  called  to 
see  Mrs.  G.  ,  aged  70  years,  whom  I  found  with  dropsy,  de- 
pendent on  disease  of  the  heart  and  liver.  Her  abdomen  was 
enormously  distended,  and  there  was  also  considerable  anasarca. 
She  had  been  for  several  weeks,  previous  to  this  time,  under  the 
treatment  of  a  homceopathist,  who  pronounced  her  case  to  be 
"  wind  in  the  intestines,"  and  promised  a  cure  in  a  few  weeks. 
I  informed  the  family  that  it  was  not  possible  for  her  to  recover; 
that  she  would  live  only  a  short  time ;  and  that  all  I  could  do 
