In poisoning by the barium salts the symp toms resemble those seen in poisoning by other metals. In the acute forms there is pain and burning in the mouth and stomach, nausea, vomiting and chills. These are followed by diarrhcea, dizziness and chilly feelings. The pulse is slowed, at first large and full, later small and scarcely. recognizable. Muscle paral ysis supervenes with dyspncea, loss of conscious ness, convulsions and death. The remedial treatment consists of prompt washing of the stomach with a solution of Glauber's salts. This fonns the insoluble barium sulphate, which is inert.
Previous to the European War there was no barite industry in the United States. The entire supply was imported from Germany at a price with which the American manufactur ers could not compete, although many attempts were made to do so. Within a few weeks after the war began, an idle plant at Sweetwater, Tenn., had started up, and has been worldng night and day ever since. Mines are in opera tion in southeastern Missouri, northwestern Georgia, central and western Kentucky, north eastern Alabama, southwestern North Carolina, northwestern South Carolina and southwestern Virginia. The production in 1915 amounted to 108,547 short tons—more than twice the pro duction of 1914. For 1916 the output was double that of 1915, and reached a value of $1,000,000. Barite mines were opened in 1916
in Colorado, Nevada, California and Alaska. The only deposit of witherite of commercial value known in the United States is in Mari posa County, Cal.
About 10 per cent of the output is used in the manufacture of barium salts— the carbon ate, nitrate, chloride, chlorate, hydrate and bin oxide; all heretofore imported from Germany. Of the barium chemicals the most important is the binoxide on account of its use in the prep aration of hydrogen peroxide.
or ELYMAS, a Jewish sor cerer who opposed Paul before Sergius Paulus at Paphos in Cyprus and was smitten with blindness (Acts xna, 6-12). There is difficulty in regard to his name, as in verse 6 he is called Bar-Jesus and in verse 8 Elymas. By some Elymas is explained by an Arabic root as ((the Wise Man)) Others regard Elymas as his name and Bar-Jesus as a Christian name desig nating him after his conversion to the new reli gion. In regard to the entire story considerable difficulty is experienced in its interpretation. It is closely similar to the story of Simon Magus in Acts viii, and many commentators see in it a defense of Paul against his identification with the Magian then so common among Juda izing Christians. For a full discussion of Bar Jesus and the passage in Acts xiii consult Krenkel, Josephus und Lucas) (Leipzig 1894).