432 Miscellaneous Intelligence, 



metallic mercury that may be present separated ; from 328 to B30 

 parts of vermilion will be obtained of a colour eqalling that of 

 native cinnabar, and far surpassing that of cinnabar obtained by 

 sublimation. The mercury and the potash should be quite puWi-i*- 

 Aimalen der Physiky IS29. . ^ y* , 



32. AdtioTt'df PWifia on Silver. — According* to Lfimpadius, 

 silver, when alloyed with platina, burns and volatilizes much more 

 readily than wheod f4ised aloiie. The vapour which rises as oxide of 

 silver.=wom drf? lo <rHoi6«no3 ton 8iVff ^^ii Anrimii .t«riw«rnoa 3Bt/ 



i7H.K .hhibiHM ■•-' • '"^ •^itrtO ifof- vion. Olf J lo 10J1 ,b'3,tU'J'JZ9 »d 



ti'iBq ^snbuf'V'j . § III. "NATtmAL HisToltt. -'J<??>i"q^e^^ ^' M<^'i^^ 



1. Vroportion between the Nervous System and eih«r parts^^^m*; 

 Tiedmann has reported several cases of defective development of 

 the spinal marrow as correspondent to a congenital absence of the 

 limbs ; and on the other hand, cases of excessive development of 

 the brain and nerves, having relation to the existence of supernu- 

 merary organs. M. Tiedmann regards these phenomena as con- 

 stantly observable in such cases, and concludes that the nervous 

 system, as being the first existing part of the animal, regulates the 

 formation and ulterior development of the embryo, and determines 

 the particular form and disposition of the other organ. — Med. Jouxr. 

 nal, Ixiii. p. 358.;^ ha^inn 'doluosioin h. jurf ,&b,en 



2. Sense of Touch, — ^The presence in insects of the ganglion which 

 represents the brain, is not absolutely necessary for the existence of 

 the sense of touch. After decapitation they feel on the surface, 

 and in their limbs, by means of their other ganglions, such impres- 

 sions as may be made on them. The spinal marrow of reptiles, 

 young birds, and young mammiferous animals, seems also capable, 

 after the destruction of the brain, of being modified by irritations, 

 of feeling them, and of occasioning, in consequence thereof, durable 

 and calculated movements, which are not to be confounded with 

 those convulsive and fugacious motions that are attributable solely 

 to irritability. M. Calmeil thinks that this faculty of the spinal 

 marrow is probably diffused throughout its whole extent. Further, 

 it is probable that in the natural state of our functions the brain is 

 the sole centre of irritabihty, and that the spinal marrow only^, 

 becomes sensible when the brain ceases to exist. The co-ordina- 

 tion of our voluntary motions is doubtless attributable only to the 

 brain.-— Med Joi(f 71. l^vi. 3 5§^ ; , , , < 



3. Paralysis of om half the Body withtmi Ipssof Motion. — Few 

 cases like the following, where sensibility and voluntary motion are 

 distinguished, are upon record. M. Loriot, 73 years of age, had 

 always enjoyed good health ; for a few days he had felt occasional 

 giddiness, when on the 1 0th March he suddenly experienced a 



