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only take fire from the heat pro.-duced, but continue burning untilthe whole is consumed. Now,during this process, the metal isgradualty d’ecomposing the waterand mixing with its oxygen whichexists in the liquid, if not solid,state, and, in consequence of thisdecomposition, the hydrogen (alsoin the same state) is set at libertyand obliged to assume the gaseous,form-; we ask, whence comes theheat which sets fire to the potas-sium ? .

We might extend these ex-

periments to considerable length ;we deem it unnecessary, how.ever,- to do so ; for when the rea-der recollects the facts we sta-ted in our previous numbers,and observes the result of the

experiments now detailed, we

imagine, -he must be convincedthat the notion of latent heat is

altogether chimerical, and. moi-t

probably, either the effect oflimited or prejudiced experiment.

ltis stated, in - proof of the

materiality of heat, that the sunis constantly sending caloric tothis earth, in combination withlight ; which may be detected,by placing a delicate thermometerjust beyond the red side of a rayor rays, of light when divided bythe prism; a fact discovered byDr. Herschel. We admit thefact, and for this specious reason- because we have seen it-Yet ,we do not believe that this heat,or the heating rays, as they arestated to be, emanate originallyor directly from the sun ; in fact,we have no belief that the sunitself is either nre or bi-itristoneneither do we believe that thisearth was intended to contain suchimmense quantities of the " matterof heat" as must have inevitably

accumulated here since the crea-tion, and as every body knows thereis not really more matter of heatnow present than there was twentyyears ago, it is ingeniously saidthat " Radiation is constantlygoing’ on, which sends it backagain as fast as it arrives ;" averybeautiful arrangement for gettingrid of the matter of heat, andonly needs truth to be more inte-esting. Agreeably to this idea,the atoms of the " matter" of heatare -like 4o many foot-balls orshuttlecocks between these twogreat orbs, or perhaps like a bun-dle of pith balls suspended betweenthe positive and negative con -due- -tor of an electrical machine, ,pass-ing i api dly from one body to theother: if this be the case theyappear to us to take long journeysfor nothing. The truth is, we

have not wisdom enough to believein the materiality of heat, or faithenough to satisfy our minds agree-ably to the principles of this theo-ry, from the result of cur own,ex-periments.

ERRATA.[In our last week’s notice of the tests

for morphine, we observe the words"soda water" used for solution of soda,and " hydrosulphate" for hydrosul-phuret.]

HOSPITAL REPORTS.

GUY’S HOSPITAL.THOMAS B. set. 34, labourer,

was admitted into accident wardof this hospital, on Thursday(May 13th), with concussion -6tthe brain. Whilst ascending aladder, he slipped his foot, andfell from a height of nearly six-teen feet. The accident hap-

248

pened at Newington, and hewas immediately carried to a

respectable surgeon in the neigh-bourhood (Mr. GALE). At thistime his pulse was sixty, andsmall-body cold-pupils notdilated-face turgid—a little

- spirits and water were givenhim, and he revived a little, hispulse becoming fuller and body

. warmer. About six or eightounces of blood were then ab-stracted from the arm, and,the patient was brought ina coach to the hospital.-On the road there was a con5i-derable variation in the state ofhis pulse, sometimes it was full

and quick, 104; and at others,small and slow. On his arrivalat the hospital (2 o’clock, p:m.)about two hours after the acci-dent, the breathing was sterto-rous, the pupils dilated, but onexposure to the light of a can-dle contracted ; the pulsebetween 60 and 70, but small.The patient was nearly insensi-ble, and unable to answer anyquestions that were put to him ;he vomited a little, and his urinepassed off involuntarily.The head was shaved, and

wet cloths applied to it, butwere discontinued towards even-

ing. The man was ordered tobe bled in the evening- if his

pulse rose, and at 9, p.m. it be-ina- near 80 and full, elevenounces- of blood were takenfrom the arm.

’

’. May 14th, 10, a.m.—Blooddark but not innamed ; appear-ed relieved by the bleeding ;breathing natural; pupils less

dilated; pulse 112, strong* ;tongue covered with a thickwhite fur, edges clean ; skinhot. He was bled- again, and

during the flowing of the bloodopened his eyes, and answeredone or two questions that wereput to him ; an aperient injec-tion was also thrown up therectum. In the afternoonthe bleoding was repeated,to twenty-six ounces, and sevengrains of calomel, together withthe same quantity of compoundextract of colocynth were givenhim. After the bleeding, he wasvery restless, tossing himself toand fro in the bed. In the eveningthe pulse became strong and hewas again bled--obliged to bestrapped down-feet cold, warmbricks applied to them-has hada motion under him. Duringthetwo following days, he conti-nued nearly in the same state,pulse often varying’ ; he was

again bled from the arm, andalso cupped, after which he

appeared relieved, but only fora short time. On Monday morn-ing, (May 17th), he was bledfrom the temporal artery to theamount of twelve ounces ;in the course of the daythe pulse became extremelyquick, one hundred and fifty-six small ; -respiration frequent,42 and hurried ; extremities werewarm; bowels opened by some(five grains) calomel which hehad taken the preceding’ day.In the evening his Dulse in-creased a little in quickness;his countenance was pale andsallow ; constantly groaning;mucous rattle. He continuedin this state till three the nextmorning when he became quiet,and remained so for three hourswhen he expired. The patienthad a slight paralysis of theright side, for whenever it was

attempted to move the lower

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extremity it might be done withgreat facility, but when the leftwas touched, great resistancewas offered. During his illnessthe patient was allowed to takecream of tartar drink, a littlebroth, or lemonade ; but nothingmore stimulating was given.The head was examined six

hours after death in the presence Iof -several pupils. CRANIUMperfectly natural, with the ex-ception of that portion just abovethe right t superciliary ridge whichwas a little depressed, and on thispart he is supposed to have pitch-ed when he fell. DURA MATER

healthy. Sinusses nearly full ofcoagulable blood. PIA MATER ra-ther vascular anteriorly, but thatpart covering the upper and pos-terior half of the hemispheresof the cerebrum was quite scar-let arising- from blood extravasa-ted between it and the brain.-Brain itself tolerably firm, andstudded with minute red points,but in several places, particularlythe right hemisphere) there weresmall perforations some of whichwould admit a probe. Ventriclescontaining rather more fluid thannatural, which was of a darkcolour. No disorganization of

any part at the base of the brainobserved, but the tunica arach-noides’ in several parts was

opaque.No other part of the body was

examined.The principal accidents’admit-

ted this week are three injuriesto the head, and a fracture of theribs. No operations have beenperformed.

ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.

Amputation case continued.May 20.-The’ man whose case

we detailed in our last is going on-very well. The stump is nearlyunited. The ligatures are come-

away, and the patient’s general-health is considerably improved.The accidents admitted this week

are a fractured tibia and fibula. afracture of the tibia. -Do. of the.fibula.—Case of concussion.

This hospital is at present un-dergoing considerable repairs, andwe think the present a fit oppor-tunity to recommend to the man-aging officers of this institution topay some attention to its ventila-tion ; we are fully aware that con-siderable difficulfy will attend theadoption of an improved systemof ventilation, but it is not im--

practicable, and the benefit thatwould arise from it will be incal-culable. We do not think it ne-

cessary to go at length into the

subject, for we hope that the

suggestion will be attended to.

Erratum in our last report: for-fluxus purulentus read fluxopurulento.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’SHOSPITAL.

Jane B. ætat. 59, of rather animpaired constitution, was admit-ted last Thursday, (May 13th),with a compound fracture ofthe tibia, as mentioned in ourlast t report.

Friday, 14th.-Passed a veryrestless night, and disturbed thelimb and splints a goad deal.Pulse 55, small, and Weak ;