Chemical Science, 



Calais drew up a cannon, of very ancient form, from the bottom of 

 the sea, by means of his nets. M. de Rheims has since removed 

 the rust from it, and on takings off the breech, was much surprised 

 to find the piece still charged. Specimens of the powder have 

 been taken, from which, of course, all the saltpetre has disappeared, 

 after a submersion of three centuries. The ball was of lead, and 

 was not oxidized to a depth greater than that of a line. — Journal 

 des Debuts. 



16. On the Active Principle of Hemlock (Conium maculatum).— • 

 According to MM. Brandes and Giseke, the best method of obtaining 

 this vegeto- alkali consists in digesting the fresh plant for several 

 days in alcohol, filtering and evaporating the liquid, mixing the 

 residue with water, and acting either by alumina, magnesia, or the 

 oxide of lead ; the whole is then to be evaporated to dryness, and 

 the substance obtained acted upon by a mixture of alcohol and 

 ether ; the solution being evaporated, yields the principle now dis- 

 tinguished by the name of Conin (ConiaJ. This principle is said 

 to possess decided alkaline properties; its aqueous solution forms an 

 abundant red precipitate, with tincture of iodine. Half a grain of 

 the substance will kill a rabbit, the symptoms being the same as 

 those produced by strychnia. — Bull. Univ., c. xii. 253. 



17. On the Identity of Althea and Asparagine. — Mr. Bacon, 

 some time since, announced the discovery of a new vegeto-alkali, 

 to be called AUheine, or Althea, in the roots of the marsh-mallow. 

 He obtained it as an acid malate of althea. An examination of 

 the facts, however, by M. Plessin, leads him to conclude, 1st, that 

 the fine green colour of Mr. Bacon's salt is not essential to it ; 2d, 

 that his altheine is a malate; 3d, that the acid malate of althea is 

 not a salt, but a particular azotated substance, having the properties 

 of asparagine ; 4th, that this substance, by treatment with hydrate 

 of lead, produces ammonia and a new acid ; 5th, that magnesia 

 produces the same change, forming, ultimately, a salt, with appa- 

 rently alkaline properties; 6th, that the asparagine of marsh- 

 mallow can assume several different forms by crystallization. 



- 1 8. On Solanic Acid, by M. Peschier. — Solania, which is prin- 

 cipally contained in the berries of the common nightshade fSolanum 

 NignimJ, is combined with a particular acid. This acid may be 

 separated by means of ammonia, which precipitates the vegeto-alkali. 

 It has a crystalline form, is soluble in water, and produces crystal- 

 lizable combinations with potash and soda, the first in acicular 

 crystals, the second in quadrilateral prisms, with a sweet taste. — 

 Solanic acid has no action upon the salts of lime, baryta, mag- 

 nesia, iron, zinc, and copper ; and only a feeble action upon those 

 of lead, silver and mercury. This acid has been found also in other 



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