made for the crucible furnace stand, as a rule, exceed ingly well; but with alterations in form great difficul ties are introduced, more especially with Uluffles, which, as at present made, will not stand any sudden heat, nor will they hold their shape at any temperature ap proaching whi telless. The burner alone will be useful in heating many su bstances in the open, but, owing to the broad and diffused flame, it is of little practical value for blow·pipe work. perimented upon parts connected

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... ith the body only in the other. We need say nothing about the possi by nerve continuity carefully dissected out, and found bility of stomachic and intestinal absorption, as that nervous structure incapable of transmitting toxic ac-fact is well established. The mucous membrane of the tion. Other experimenters, as Emmer, Robinson, etc., small intestines is covered by small projections, called have confirmed this latter experiment with the most villi, the function of which is the absorption of fatty violent of poisons, prominent among which is prussic substances which have been taken into the alimentary acid. canal and reduced to a state of emulsion by the action 3d. The circulation of the blood is sufficiently quick of the pancreatic juice. According to Bernard, and to account even for the operation of those poisons others, the villi of the small intestines never absorb which act most rapidly by influencing the nerve cen-medicinal substances not of an oily or fatty nature, tel's. Experiments have proved that a substance will but that substances reduced to solution in the intes traverse the whole circulation of a dog in nine seconds, tines are absorbed directly into the blood. Magendie and of a horse in twenty seconds, while in an adult demonstrated that a ligature placed around the thora man the time required is 65'76 seconds. This is suffici-cic duct will not affect or prevent the toxic influence ent to account for the mode of action of that most t)f poisons introduced into the body, Experiments rapid and fatal of all poisons, viz., prussic acid. Be-have been made to discover the presence of medi sides, if a medicine acted by nervous transmission, it cinal substances in the chyle ducts, but so far they would act as soon as it touched the stomach or injected have failed ; so that we may reasonably conclude that into the tissues. Animals will sometimes live for thirty medicines are not absorbed in this way. The special ad vantages of the apparatus are that it is entirely self·acting, requires no attendance, and that it greatly increases the range of temperatures which can be obtained by allY simple apparatus. The larg est size at present made takes crucibles not exceeding three inches high.-Natul'e. THE ACTION OF MEDICINE. minutes after being poisoned with cyanide of potas· The process by which fluids pass and repass through A K�OWLEDGE of the modus operandi of medicine sium. animal membranes is known as endosmosis and ex oswhen introduced into the organism is the most essen-4th. The great majority of medicin13s have been demosis, according as the current tends inward or out tial element of therapeutics. In order that the physi-tected in the blood or the secretions formed from it. ward. There are fluids on both sides of the membrane, cian may make a rational application of remedial We have proved that poisons act'when introduced into so t,he following laws regUlate the direction of its pas agents for the cure of disease or alleviation of pain, it the organism at any point; that vascular connection sage: 1st. The densities of the liquids. The lighter is necessary that he be possessed of a knowledge. to is required for this action; that nervous connection is of the two tends to pass through the heavier, other some degree, of the method of action, when introduced wholly insufficient; and that the circulation is suf· things being equal. 2d. Their attraction for the inter into the body, of the agents which he is using; and ficiently rapid to account for the action of the most vening mem brane. The one passing the more rapidly the more he knows of such action, the more rational rapid of poisons. Now, if our last affirmation can be having the greater affinity for the membrane. 3d. will be their application and the more successful will proved, we will have carried our first proposition close The affinity of the fluids for each other. That one be his practice. to certainty. In 1847, Mr. Allen detected daturia in passing through more rapidly which is readily taken We will admit that the manner of action of many the urine of a man poisoned by stramonium. In up and dissolved by that on the opposite side. 4th. therapeutic agents in the organism is obscure, and in 1824, M. Runge discovered the principles of henbane The motion of the fluid Oil one side prevellts the pas· some instances impossible of detection and apparently and belladonna in urine. Kletzinsky finds that if the sage from the other. 5th. Pressure of the fluid on one inconsiHtent, as is instanced in the action of carbo· throat be gargled for five minutes with a solution of side tends to hasten its passage to the other. veg. It is an admitted fact, among those who have any soluble mineral salt, its presence may be detected All soluble mineral substances are absorbed in the specially experimented with this agent, that it is-in-in the urine next evacuated. Chloroform has often stomach and intest.ines. Precipitations alld re·solutions capable of absorption when introduced into the organ-been detected in the blood. Indigo, logwood, and occur between SOUle of the minerals and the salts of ism in the natural way, regardless of the amount in-many other substances have been found in the urine. the digestive fluids, but in no case is there absolute fix· troduced or the high degree of subdivision; still it is a Alcohol, prussic acid, etc., have been found in the blood at ion of the foreign agent, from its chemical incompati· well· known fact that this is an agent used exstensively of persons dying shortly after the ingestion of such sub-bility with animal fluids. Mineral acids, salts of metals, by the best physicians of OUI' school and of other stances. Sulphur has been detected in the perspira· alum, and the tannic