232 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



the solution of hyposulphite has been previously diluted with water, there is 

 no danger that the hyposulplmrous acid will be immediately decomposed in 

 consequence of the slight excess of sulphuric acid added. 



This hyposulphite is also an excellent antidote of bromine and iodine, which 

 are largely in use in the operations of photography. 



ATOMIC WEIGHT OF LITHIUM. 



Prof. J. W. Mallet has, during the past year, accurately re-determined the 

 atomic weight of lithium, heretofore a not fully settled point. Prof. M., by a 

 series of analyses, has shown, beyond a doubt, that 86.89 must be taken as 

 the equivalent of this metal, a number corresponding to 6. 95 upon the hydro- 

 gen scale. 



ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE PHOSPHATE OF LIME FOUND IN 



WATERS NATURALLY. 



In the Scientific Annual for the year 1855, an investigation of a guano 

 of remarkable composition by Dr. A. A. Hayes, is given. The restriction 

 imposed on him by those having an interest commercially in monopolizing 

 the article being removed, we can now state that the remarkable body 

 named by Dr. Hayes rock guanc^ abounded in Monks Island off the coast of 

 British Guiana. In the experimental course adopted for the purpose of 

 explaining how comminuted fish bones and animal matter could form a solid, 

 compact, and hard rock, which some persons considered as a lava, it was 

 demonstrated that the decomposition of organized bone in pure or saline 

 water, offered points of great interest to chemists and geologists. The fol- 

 lowing is a brief abstract of the results obtained: 



"Where bones immersed in water, either pure or saline, are exposed to the 

 temperature of 80 F., a fermentative decomposition of the tissues of the bones 

 commences tvad continues for some time. The gases evolved are mixed with 

 the acids and ethers usually produced in the decomposition of muscle, and 

 the sulphur compounds are also present, air being freely admitted. The fat- 

 cells of the tissues become broken, fats and oils are separated, while a super- 

 ficial breaking up of the structure of the bone occurs ; translucent bones, like 

 fish bones, become more opaque, and an evident chemical change of composi- 

 tion advances. 



The water becomes greyish in color from suspended matter, and contains 

 the whole series of acids known to attend organic decomposition in presence 

 of azotized compounds, but most remarkably it is alkaline in its action on test 

 papers. At a certain stage of the action, no ammonia is present as a base. 

 The fluid either from pure water, or saline, or sea water, will bear heating to 

 200 F., and a coagulation of albuminous compounds ensues, the fluid remain- 

 ing alkaline. 



Tested for bone phosphate of lime, this salt is found to -be present in the 

 same proportion as we find dissolved from recent bone by warm water diges- 

 tion, and without further examination the case might be passed as one of 

 simple solution of bone phosphate in a gelatinous solvent. 



If an excess of ammonia be used to separate the bone phosphate dissolved, 



