ON THE PEOGEESS OF SCIENCE. XI 



" When cast-iron (which contains carbon) is dissolved in dilute sul- 

 phuric or hydrochloric acid, there is evolved a volatile oil resembling 

 turpentine, and there is left in the vessel a small quantity of graphite, 

 and a brown mould resembling vegetable mould. Ordinary carbonate 

 of soda (washing soda) can have carbon extracted from it, and if the 

 latter is acted upon by dilute nitric acid, and the solution evaporated, 

 an artificial tannin is obtained, which has the property of precipitating 

 gelatine or glue from its solution, like ordinary tannin obtained from 

 gall nuts or oak bark. Berthelot has taken carbonic oxide and caustic 

 potash, and compelled them to produce formic acid (yielded naturally 

 by red ants) ; and with a single link of the chain awanting, he has 

 manufactured glycerine, which is the base of fatty substances, and com- 

 bining it with the fatty acids, he has prepared artificially the oils and 

 fats generally obtained from the plant and the animal, and many more 

 new oils and fats not known in nature. Berthelot has acted upon gly- 

 cerine by putrefying animal matter, and obtained artificially grape 

 sugar ; and has converted oil of turpentine into ordinary camphor and 

 Borneo camphor ; whilst, in conjunction with De Luca, he has prepared 

 artificially one of the chief constituents of oil of mustard (sulphocyanide 

 ofallyl). 



" These researches in organic chemistry may appear, at this, the mo- 

 ment of their birth, to have little influence on the arts and manufac- 

 tures and on mankind in general. But are they not researches into 

 the deep mysteries of nature ? and who can predict the influence which 

 they rnlfcy yet have on the prosperity of the human race ? " 



Change of Color in Stars. It is more than suspected by some of 

 the European astronomers that an example of a star successively 

 changing its color may now exist in the stellar body known as ninety- 

 jive Herculis. Mr. Higgins, in his observation on Spectra of Stars, 

 has had occasion to notice the phenomena, and he describes the 

 change as observable, even after intervals so brief as three or four 

 nights. 



The so-called Spiritual Phenomena. A recognition of the reality 

 of many of the phenomena physical or physiological which are 

 popularily classified under the term " Spiritual " appears to be gradu- 

 ally gaining ground among the scientific men of the United States 

 and Europe. Among the names of note who are reported during the 

 past year as having extended such a recognition, we find that of Prof. 

 De Morgan, who is confessedly one of the most distinguished of liv- 

 ing British physicists and mathematicians. The position which this 

 gentleman and others assume is probably well expressed in the follow- 



