Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

servations of Berzelius possesses at once the characters of an acid and a base. Hence it is capable of combining with bases and forming salts, while at the same time it unites with acids, and forms another kind of saline compound. On that account it may be either called telluric acid or oxide of tellurium.

Sulphite of Copper.-There are two oxides of copper, the red and the black; the first composed of 1 atom of metal and I atom of oxygen, the second of 1 atom of metal and 2 atoms of oxygen. The red oxide refuses to combine with sulphuric acid. When the two substances are brought in contact, the red oxide of copper divides itself into two equal portions, one of which gives all its oyxgen to the other; so that one half of the oxide is reduced to the metallic state, and one half converted into black oxide. This last half unites with the sulphuric acid, and forms common sulphate of copper. The black oxide refuses to combine with sulphurous acid. When the two substances come in contact, the black oxide gives out half its oxygen, and by this means is changed into red oxide, while a portion of the sulphurous acid is changed into sulphuric acid.

Sulphite of copper is of a red colour, and crystallizes. It may be obtained by mixing sulphite of potash and sulphate of copper together, or by passing a current of sulphurous acid gas through water, in which black oxide of copper is suspended. It is decomposed by heat and by boiling in water. According to the experiments of Chevreul, it is composed of

Red oxide of copper
Sulphurous acid

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Dr. Thomson observes, that, this analysis cannot be accurate. It gives us, he says, 100 acid + 176.549 oxide. Now the weight of an integrant particle of sulphurous acid is 4, and of red oxide of copper 9. Hence if the two substances unite particle to particle, the compound must consist of 100 acid + 225 oxide. We learn from the experiments of Berzelius that sulphuric and sulphurous acids unite with the same weight of base. Now, according to him, 100 sulphuric acid unite with 183 of red oxide of copper. (Ann. de Chim. lxxvii. 83.) Hence 80 sulphurous acid would unite with 183 red oxide. This gives us 100 acid + 228.75 red oxide, which agrees very nearly with an atom of acid and an atom of oxide. Hence Dr. T. conceives it to be indisputably much nearer the truth than Chevreul's analysis. For Chevreul's experiments see Ann. de Chim. vol. lxxxiii. p. 181.

Chevreul obtained likewise a triple salt, composed of sulphurous acid, potash, and red oxide of copper. He procured it by mixing a cold solution of sulphite of potash with nitrate of copper. The triple salt precipitated of a yellow color. According to his analysis, it is composed of

Red oxide

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

A simple mode of obtaining a very intense heat.-Dr. Marcet, of Guy's Hospital, has lately discovered an easy and convenient method of producing, on a small scale, a degree of heat which has hardly ever been exceeded. The process consists in urging the flame of a lamp of spirit of wine by a current of oxygen gas. The apparatus required for the purpose consists of a tin vessel, or gas holder, from which a small jet of oxygen gas is forced out, with some degree of violence, by the introduction of water through a funnel one or two feet in length. If a diamond be exposed to the flame of a lamp, thus acted upon by the jet of gas, it burns, and disappears in a few minutes. Platina wire of moderate thickness, is instantly melted; and globules of this metal, weighing as much as four or five grains, can thus be obtained in quick succession. During this process of fusion, a scintillation of the metal is observed, as if it was undergoing combustion; but this appears to be owing to minute particles of melted platina, which are simply dispersed by the intensity of the heat. Iron wire is burnt by this means with a degree of rapidity and brilliancy which even exceeds that of Ingenhouz's striking mode of burning iron wire in oxygen gas; and small needles of quartz are readily melted and vitrified by the same means.

Officers of the Massachusett's Medical Society, elected at the annual meeting in June, 1812.

John Warren, M.D. President.

Joshua Fisher, M.D. Vice-President.

David Townsend, A.M. ̄

[blocks in formation]

William Spooner, M.D.

Thomas Welsh, M.D. Corresponding Secretary.
John C. Warren, M.D. Recording Secretary.

John Fleet, M.D. Librarian.

John G. Cotten, M.D. Treasurer.

Hon. Oliver Fiske, Drs. Jonathan Osgood, Thomas Babbit, Abraham Haskell, Austin Flint, Censors of the District Society in Worcester.

The Medical Society of London resumed its sittings for the season on Monday the 27th instant.

A medical practitioner of great respectability, and extensive prac tice in a central part of London, has requested, through our medium, to make known his wish to form a partnership, with a view of entirely relinquishing business at the expiration of a period thought sufficient for establishing his successor. A premium adequate to the advantages will be required, and to prevent unnecessary trouble, no gentleman need apply unless he can command 1800l. in the first

instance.

Particulars may be known by applying to Mr. Royston, Princes'street, Cavendish-square, either personally, or by letters post paid.

Dr.

Dr. Barton, whose Elements of Botany have been most favorably received in America, is preparing for the press, a Flora of the State of Virginia; a Prodromus of a Flora of the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia; a work on the Geography of North American Trees and Shrubs; an elementary work on Zoology; a volume on the Indians of North America; and on the third part of Collections towards a Materia Medica of the United States. Some of these works are speedily to appear!

Mr. Singer has in the press," Elements of Electricity and ElectroChemistry, being a synopsis of the existing state of electrical knowledge. It will appear at the commencement of the ensuing year.

Mr. W. Henley, Member of the London Philosophical Society, is preparing for the press a series of Chemical Tables, intended to exhibit the properties of all the present known bodies, the result of their union, the composition of the oxides, acids, and their compounds, with the effects produced by the action of heat, light, and electricity; the whole forming a complete abstract of the science of chemistry.

The following gentlemen have obtained the degree of Doctor in Medicine from the University of Glasgow within the last twelve months:-Mr. Rowland Lawrence, from England.-Mr. William George Burrell, from Scotland.-Mr. James Tennant, from Scotland. Mr. George Forsyth, from Ireland.-Mr. William M'Keowan, from Ireland.-Mr. Alexander Brown, from Scotland.—Mr. William Penman, from Scotland.—Mr. James Kennedy, from Scotland.-Mr. Thomas Coulson Carpenter, from England.-Mr. William Walkinshaw, from Scotland.-Mr. Thomas Stoddart, from Scotland.

-

Medical School of St. Thomas's and Guy's Hospitals.—The Winter Course of Lectures at these adjoining hospitals, will commence the beginning of October, viz.

At St. Thomas's.—Anatomy and the Operations of Surgery, by Mr. Astley Cooper and Mr. Henry Cline.-Principles and Practice of Surgery, by Mr. Astley Cooper.

At Guy's. Practice of Medicine, by Dr. Babington and Dr. Curry. -Chemistry, by Dr. Babington, Dr. Marcet, and Mr. Allen.Experimental Philosophy, by Mr. Allen.-Theory of Medicine, and Materia Medica, by Dr. Curry and Dr. Cholmeley.-Midwifery, and Diseases of Women and Children, by Dr. Haighton.-Physiology, or Laws of the Animal Economy, by Dr. Haighton.-Structure and Diseases of the Teeth, by Mr. Fox.

N.B. These several Lectures are so arranged, that no two of them interfere in the hours of attendance; and the whole is calculated to form a complete course of medical and chirurgical instruction. Terms and other particulars may be learnt at the respective hospitals.

Anatomical Theatre, London Hospital.-On Friday, October 1, at twelve o'clock, Dr. Dennison, F.A.S. member of the Royal College

Y y 2

of

of Physicians, London, will recommence his Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery, and the Diseases of Women and Children.

Anatomical Theatre, Bristol.—Mr. Thomas Shute will commence his Winter Course of Lectures on Anatomy, Physiology, and the Principles of, and Operations in, Surgery, on Friday, October 1, at eight o'clock in the morning.

University of Glasgow.-The Medical Lectures in the University of Glasgow, will begin on Monday, the 1st of November, at the following hours:-Institutions of Medicine, by Dr. Freer, at half past eight in the morning.-Surgery, by Dr. Jeffray, at ten. Midwifery, by Mr. Towers, at eleven.-Practice of Medicine, by Dr. Freer, at twelve.-Anatomy, by Dr. Jeffray, at two o'clock in the afternoon.— Dietetics, Materia Medica, and Pharmacy, by Dr. Millar, at three.— Chemistry, and Chemical Pharmacy, by Dr. Cleghorn, at seven.

Clinical Lectures on the cases of patients in the Royal Infirmary, the first Lecture on Thursday, the 11th of November, at six o'clock. Dr. Brown will commence his Lectures on Botany, about the beginning of May next.

Mr. T. J. Pettigrew, F.L.S. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of London, will commence a Course of popular Lectures on Human Anatomy and Physiology, on Wednesday the 20th of October, at eight o'clock in the evening precisely, and they will be continued every Wednesday and Friday at the same hour.

Theatre of Anatomy, Windmill-street.-Plan of a Course of Lectures on Chemical Philosophy, by William Thomas Brande, F.R.S. Prof. Chem. R. I.-These lectures commence on the second Tuesday in October, at nine in the morning, and are continued every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday throughout the season, terminating in May, The subjects comprehended in the course are treated of in the following order:

Division I. Of the Powers and Properties of Matter, and the general Laws of Chemical Changes.

§ 1. Attraction, crystallization, chemical affinity, laws of combination and decomposition.

§ 2. Light and heat, their influence as chemical agents in art and

nature.

§ 3. Electricity, its laws and connection with chemical phenomena. Division II.-Of Undecompounded Substances, and their mutual Com

binations.

§ 1. Substances that support combustion, oxygene, chlorine. §2. Inflammable and acidifiable substances, hydrogene, nitrogene, sulphur, phosphorus, carbon, boron.

3. Metals, and their combinations with the various substances described in the earlier part of the course.

4

Division

Division III.-Vegetable Chemistry.

§1. Chemical physiology of vegetables.

2. Modes of analysis, ultimate and proximate elements.
3. Processes of fermentation, and their products.

Division IV.-Chemistry of the Animal Kingdom.

§ 1. General views connected with this department of the science, §2. Composition and properties of the solids and fluids of animals products of disease.

§ 3. Animal functions.

Division V.-Geology,

§ 1. Primitive and secondary rocks, structure and situation of veins. § 2. Decay of rocks, production of soils, their analysis, and principles of agricultural improvement.

§3. Mineral waters, methods of ascertaining their contents by tests and by analysis.

§ 4. Volcanic rocks, phenomena and products of volcanic eruptions.

In the first division of the course, the principles and objects of chemical science, and the general laws of chemical changes, are explained; and the phenomena of attraction, and of light, heat, and electricity developed, and illustrated by numerous experiments,

In the second division, the undecompounded bodies are examined, and the modes of procuring them in a pure form, and of ascertaining their chemical characters, exhibited upon an extended scale. The lectures on the metals include a succinct account of mineralogy, and of the methods of analysing and assaying ores.

This part of the course will also contain a full examination of pharmaceutical chemistry: the chemical processes of the pharmacopoeia will be particularly described, and compared with those adopted by the manufacturer.

The third and fourth divisions of the course relate to organic substances. The chemical changes induced by vegetation are here inquired into; the principles of vegetables, the theory of fermentation, and the characters of its products, are then examined.

The chemical history of animals is the next object of inquiry: it is illustrated by an examination of their component parts, in health and in disease; by an inquiry into the chemistry of the animal functions, and into the application of chemical principles to the treatment of diseases.

The course concludes with an account of the structure of the earth, of the changes which it is undergoing, of the objects and uses of geology, and of the principles of agricultural chemistry.

The applications of chemistry to the arts and manufactures, and to economical purposes, are discussed at some length in various parts of the course; and the most important of them are experimentally exhibited.

Dr. Ramsbotham will commence his Lectures on the Science and

Practice

« ElőzőTovább »