804? Supposed Connection of Meteoric Phenomena^ 



This substance was analysed by M. V. MariawiefF of Asta- 

 schava, near Wolokolansk ; and it appears that the matter in 

 question contains a new meteoric substance, which Dr. Her- 

 mann calls uranelain ; from ouranos, heaven, and elaion, oil. 

 Dr. Hermann asks how it came in the air, and suggests that it 

 must be resolvable from the elements of the atmosphere, since 

 it could not come from storm or electrical attraction, as there 

 is none on the earth's surface. He also notices the coinci- 

 dence of this phenomenon with the outbreak of the cholera at 

 Paris ; " die die Cholera in der Hauptstadt Frankreichs an- 

 richtete, die Aufmarksamkeit der Naturforscher in arhohten 

 Grade auf Erscheinungen hinzulenken geignet sind, die auf 

 Verijnderungen in dem gewohnlichen Mischangs- Verbal tnisse 

 der Atmosphare deuten." {Bulletin de la Societe des Natu- 

 ralistes de Moscou, v. 45.) 



An occurrence similar to that of October 20. 1824, took 

 place on July 4. 1833, when a cloud from the west passed 

 over Nakratchine in Tobolsk, at about 3^ p. m., discharging 

 at the same time cubical aerolites and hailstones as large as a 

 goose's egg.* The windows of the village were broken, and 

 vegetation destroyed. [Petersburgh Journal.) 



red powder, at Idria in Carniola, which coloured the snow for several 

 hours, after which the usual tint remained ; but, a few hours afterwards, 

 the powder, which was in a stratum from 1 to 2 in. thick, was obtained by 

 melting the snow. This powder was extremely fine, and of a reddish 

 yellow : it contained some specks like mica. Boiling water separated a 

 yellow vegetable gummy matter. By calcination it became black, and lost 

 0'20 of its weight; it was dissoluble by muriatic acid, and contained 

 silica 0'3675, alumine 01 175, carbonate of lime 0'1750, oxide of iron 

 0-00125, oxide of titanium 00875, organic matter 0*2400 = I'OOOO. The 

 extraordinary part of this is the occurrence of titanium, a very rare metal 

 at the surface of the earth, {Annates des Mines y v. 282.) 



While writing the above, my attention was drawn to the following ex- 

 tract of a letter from Rodelheim, near Frankfort, dated May 3. 1834: — " We 

 had, yesterday and to-day, a most extraordinary phenomenon of nature. 

 During very heavy showers of rain, which fell, yesterday from half-past 

 eleven till twelve, and to-day between twelve and one o'clock, the water 

 contained so great a mixture of sulphur, that, as it ran down the streets, 

 it was covered with a yellow crust, and quantities of sulphur might be 

 scraped off the pavement." {St. James's Chron.y May 15. 1834.) 



The only solution of this is, that sulphuric fumes, from some volcano in 

 action, were condensed and mingled with the steam, which probably 

 ascended at the same time. Sulphur, however, is carried up frequently in 

 storms, as proved by Fusinieri, by its deposit by lightning on a house at 

 Vicenza, in 1829; as well as iron, in 1827, and 1831, at Vicenza and 

 Padua. {Encyc. But., viii. 620, 621., 7th ed.) 



* Three days previous (July 1.), hail storms of unusual fury desolated 

 the whole province of Liege, doing incalculable damage, and ruining the 

 crops. (Journat de la Belgique.) See the account of the hail storm at 

 Tussi, July 24. 1832 (which, by the way, was contemporaneous with 

 volcanic action), in Encyc. Brit., viii. 622., 7th ed. 



