tion, the head declined on one side, violent spasms supervened, while the eye

lost its lustre, and the animal died in dreadful convulsions. On dissection after death, the lobes of the lungs appeared paler than usual, coagulable lymph was found lining the trachea, as in Cynanche Trachealis, and the stomach was found inflamed near the pylorus. The brain was not examined.

The muscular fibre was still excitable by voltaic agency, but the excitability soon declined.

A drop or two of hydrocyanic acid on the head of a frog soon proved fatal. The colour promptly changed to an unwonted paleness.

The sciatic nerves of the prepared limbs were moistened with hydrocyanic acid, but no suspension of the voltaic excitement supervened. It was accompanied by a tremulous movement of the muscular fibre, connected with the lines of the nerves; and this spontaneous irritability seemed increased by the application of alcoholic solution of iodine.

It is a singular fact, that not unfrequently an alcoholic solution of iodine, dropped on the muscular fibre of a frog, excited phenomena similar to the action of the voltaic apparatus. It seemed also to renew excitability when the susceptibility had declined or was lost.

When the symptoms were verging to a fatal issue in a frog, a drop or two of ammonia on the head effectually restored the animal.

A greater quantity of hydrocyanic acid was given to a young rabbit than proved fatal in the case detailed. Ammonia was occasionally applied to the mouth on a sponge. The animal exhibited no unhealthy symptom whatever.

A considerable quantity of the hydrocyanate of ammonia with excess of base, was administered to another rabbit, but without any deleterious effect.

Half a drachm of hydrocyanic acid was given to a healthy young rabbit. The effects were prompt. Respiration became laborious and difficult, with a grating in the throat,--the eye lost its brilliancy,—the head dropped, -it raised a sharp cry, and was convulsed. Strong ammonia was dropt into the animal's mouth, and it was repeatedly moistened with a sponge dipped into ammonia. It almost instantly revived, and even licked repeatedly the finger which sometimes applied the ammonia, apparently quite sensible of the instant and continued relief it afforded. The animal effectually recovered. Its lips were excoriated by the ammonia.

Conscious of the complete antidote to this formidable poison found in ammonia, I took a quantity of hydrocyanic acid, sufficient to produce violent headach, stupefaction, &c. but diluted ammonia afforded me instant relief. I occasionally applied it to the olfactory organs, and bathed the forehead.

Since hydrocyanic acid has been introduced into our pharmacopgia, and employed in phthisis pulmonalis, and accidental poisoning may be anticipated, it is of much moment to know an effectual barrier to its virulence; and such is my complete conviction of the antidote, that I would feel no hesitation whatever in taking a quantity sufficient to prove fatal, provided there stood by a skilful hand to administer the remedy.

It is admitted that morphia is the active principle in opium. Morphia dissolved in alcohol, in which, however, it is sparingly solu

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ble, produced, on the sciatic nerves of a prepared frog, effects analogous to those of the tincture of opium. Acetic acid restored the vol. taic excitability.

The sciatic nerves were moistened with superacetate of morphia, but the excitement was the same as if none had been applied.

A frog's head and abdominal viscera were steeped in superacetate of morphia, but the voltaic action remained unchanged.

Half a drachm of superacetate of morphia was given to a young rabbit, but no apparent derangement of its healthy functions took place: it rather seemed to act as a stimulus to appetite.

These experiments pointed out acetic acid as the counter-poison to opium, and from its volatile properties, and other characters, in which it differs almost essentially from acetous acid, having no affinity with it except in an acid character, and having much of the features of an ether, I am of opinion acetic acid may prove serviceable where acetous acid would not prove effectual.

Two and a half drachms of tincture of opium were given to a rabbit. In a short time the eye became more opake, the pupil dwindled to a mathematical point and was insensible to the stimulus of light, the head fell to the floor, and the breathing was difficult and loud, and there supervened a fatal prostration of strength. Acetic acid was then administered through a quill, and applied to the mouth on a sponge repeatedly. The head was also bathed with acetic acid, and it was also applied to the extremities, and in the direction of the spine. The whole quantity of the acetic acid used was about a fluid ounce. The animal was also frequently roused, and finally kept warm. The animal effectually recovered.

These experiments were repeated with uniform success on other rabbits. Several days have elapsed, and they continue in the most healthy condition.

I much regret that these experiments have been so painful to me, as to cause for some time an interruption of my researches on Hyoscyamus niger, Atropa Belladonna, Cicuta virosa, and other vegetable poisons, and nothing but the high importance which might attach to the discovery of an antidote to their fatality, could have induced me to commence the inquiry.

I have no hesitation to pronounce, with positive certainty, that in ammonia will be found a complete antidote to hydrocyanic acid, and in acetic acid an effectual counter-poison to opium. The

agency of voltaic excitement holds out a method to discover the comparative sedative or narcotic properties of vegetable juices, as well as their counter-agents. It unfolds all those that are stimulating and those that are not, with their relative correctives. By this means, we are prepared by well grounded anticipation for the successful application of an antidote.

FROM THE SAME.

Analysis of a Paper on the Finite Extent of the Atmosphere. By W. H.

Wollaston, M. D. V. P. R. S.* Ir air consists of ultimate particles, whose divisibility has a limit, an atmosphere composed of such particles must have a finite extent,

* Read before the Royal Society, on the 17th January, 1822.

because it cannot expand beyond that distance at which the force of gravity upon a single particle is equal to the resistance arising from the repulsive force of the medium. In order to ascertain whether or not this is the constitution of our atmosphere, Dr. Wollaston considers what would be the effect of an unlimited expansion of an atmosphere, and finding that no such effects are exhibited in any of the bodies of the planetary system, he concludes that these bodies have not an atmosphere of indefinite extent; that the earth's atmosphere is also limited, and consequently, that matter has a finite divisibility, and that the doctrine of ultimate atoms is thus indirectly established.

If the expansion of any atmosphere is unlimited, the same kind of matter must pervade all space, and the sun, moon, and all the planets must have this matter condensed around them in quantities dependent on the force of their respective attractions. For the purpose of determining if such an accumulation of matter does exist round any of the planetary bodies, he begins with the Sun, which, on account of its having the greatest mass, ought to accumulate round it the greatest quantity of atmospherical matter.

Assuming the sun's mass as 330,000 times that of the earth, and his radius 111.5 times that of the earth, he finds that the distance from the sun's centre at which his atmosphere will have a density fully equal to our own, and therefore capable of refracting a ray of light more than one degree, is = V 330,000 = 575 times the earth’s radius, 575

= 5.15 times the sun's radius; that is, a point whose angular 111.5 distance from the sun's centre is 15' 49" X 5.15 = 1° 21' 29".

Now, if any of the planets or stars, in approaching the sun's disc, suffer no refraction at all, when carefully observed at the above distance, or at less distances from the sun's centre, we may safely conclude that no such atmosphere exists.

In order to determine this point, Captain Kater made a series of observations on Venus on the 18th and 19th of May, 1821, when she was on the eve of her conjunction with the sun, and Dr. Wollaston made similar ones after her conjunction. Captain Kater's last observation was made when Venus was only 65' "50" from the sun's centre; and Dr. Wollaston's when her distance was only 53' 15"; and at both these times, neither her motion nor her position were in the least affected by a solar atmosphere. In 1805, M. Vidal of Montpellier observed Venus when her distance from his centre was only 46', and Mercury when his distance was only 65'; and in both these cases, the observed and the calculated positions agree exactly,

These arguments receive, if they require it, additional strength from the phenomena of the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites. These bodies advance regularly, and without any retardation from refraction, to the very disc of the planet; so that Jupiter cannot possess that extent of atmosphere which he is capable of attracting to himself from an infinitely divisible medium filling space. For, taking Jupiter's mass at 309 times that of the earth, and his diameter at 11 times that of the earth, then ✓ 309 = 17.6 times the earth's radius, 17.6

1.6 times his own radius, which will be the distance from 11 his centre at which an atmosphere equal to our own should produce a VOL. I. No.1.-Museum.

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refraction of one degree. To the fourth satellite this distance would subtend an angle of about 3° 37'; so that an increase of density to 34 times our common atmosphere, would be more than sufficient to render the fourth satellite visible to us when behind the centre of the planet, and consequently, to appear on both (or all) sides at the same time. The space of about six inches in depth within which this increase of density would take place, would not subtend so much as sögth of a second.

Hence, Dr. Wollaston concludes, that all the phenomena accord entirely with the supposition that the earth's atmosphere is of finite extent, limited by the weight of ultimate atoms, of definite magnitude, no longer divisible by repulsion of their parts.

FROM THE BRITISH CRITIC,

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Memoir of Richard Roberts Jones, of Aberdaron, in the County of

Cærnarvon, in North Wales; exhibiting a remarkable Instance of a partial Power and Cultivation of Intellect. 8vo. 50 pp. Portrait. Cadell & Arch. 1822.

The extraordinary subject of this very interesting little memoir, is the son of a carpenter, residing in a small sea-port on the wildest part of the coast of Wales. His father is in circumstances of extreme poverty, and occasionally employs himself in fishing, or in voyages from Aberdaron to Liverpool, in a small boat. Richard was born in 1780, and, by certain constitutional defects, particularly weakness of eye-sight, was disqualified from the more robust bodily labour in which the situation of his parents made it desirable he should be employed.

At about nine years of age, he was instructed by his mother and his younger brother, to read the Bible in Welsh. He then attempted the acquisition of English, in which however he is far from a proficient. The reasons which he assigns for the difficulty of this language, is that the orthography is unfixed, and that the pronunciation changes every ten years. By the aid of a boy in the parish-school, he commenced Latin at fifteen; and, though unable to attend this school himself at the stated hours, he frequently made use of the books which he found in it, during the absence of the other boys, and thus added largely to his stock of information. About the same time he acquired a mode of writing, which though evidently self-taught, is particularly legible.

When nineteen he purchased a Greek grammar of a Welsh poet; and, in the following year, accident threw in his way an Epitome of... Buxtorf's Hebrew Grammar.

Poor Richard's inaptitude to labour, and the total ignorance of the remainder of his family as to the object or the value of pursuits so widely differing from their own, brought down upon him, very frequently, anger, remonstrances, and blows. Having accompanied his father to Liverpool in the year 1804, he wandered into a bookseller's shop. Here the singularity of his appearance soon attracted notice, and by a casual bounty he was presented with a few books; amongst which were the Analecta Græca Minora, Schurhardii Horologium teTræum, Virgil and Blair's Grave. The greater part of his library,

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however, was unfortunately lost or damaged by the upsetting of his boat in his voyage

home. Fresh severities awaited his increase of learning; but it was not until his shoulders bore the marks of an iron poker, that he determined to quit his paternal hut. Having collected his few books, he took the road to Caernarvon, wholly unprovided with money. His burden, like Æsop's, grew lighter as his journey lengthened ; for board and lodging could only be purchased by the disposal of part of his literary stock; so that when he arrived at Bangor, he possessed nothing but some fragments of a Latin and Greek, and a Welsh and Latin dictionary.

Bishop Cleaver was struck by his appearance; clothed him, encouraged him in his pursuits, employed him in his garden, and presented him with some useful books; among which were Schrevelius's Lexicon, and Robert Stephens's Greek Testament. After about two months he betook himself, without assigning any reason, to the Isle of Anglesey; where he remained about half a year under the roof of the Rev. John Williams, principally employing himself in the study of Greek. His departure hence also is involved in some mystery:

Some French refugees, whom he met in Anglesey, supplied him with a grammar: and by some farther assistance from them, he not only reads their language, but speaks it with a good accent. He has since acquired an equal knowledge of Italian.

From 'Treffos he repaired again to Liverpool : where his appearance is thus described.

“ His person and dress at this time were extremely singular : to an immense shock of black hair he united å bushy beard of the same colour. His clothing consisted of several coarse and ragged vestments, the spaces between which were filled with books, surrounding him in successive layers, so that he was literally a walking library. These books all occupied their proper stations, being placed higher or lower, according as their sizes suited the conformation of his body: so that he was acquainted with the situation of each, and could bring it out, when wanted, without difficulty. When introduced into a room, he had not the least idea of any thing that surrounded him; and when he took his departure, he appeared to have forgotten the entrance. Absorbed in his studies, he had continually a book in his hand, to which he frequently referred, as if to communicate or receive information, and apparently under a conviction, that every person he met with was as much interested in such studies as himself.--His sight was imperfect, his voice sharp and dissonant; and, upon the whole, his appearance and manners grotesque in the highest degree; yet, under all these disadvantages, there was a gleam in his countenance which marked intelligence, and an unaffected simplicity in his behaviour, which conciliated regard.” P. 13.

It was necessary however for his support, that he should be permanently employed; and as he professed to have been brought up a sawyer, he was engaged by a person in that trade. When put into the pit, he worked at first with extraordinary activity; but his efforts by degrees relaxed, till he fell breathless and exhausted at full length on his face, piteously calling for help. It seems that he had worked at the full extent of his arms' length, without being aware of the necessity of advancing his feet. When lifted up, he complained bitterly of his evil treatment, and of being put under ground." Upon farther inquiry, it was found that the only sawing to which he had been used, was that of the branches of timber fallen in the Weish woods.

For the next six months he appears to have been comfortably posted, by some benevolent persons in Liverpool, in a situation in which he