Chemical Science, 175 



acid, or the acid itself, was the agent which prevented putrefaction, 

 Mr. Ramsey dipped haddocks and fresh beef in pure vinegar of 

 specific gravity 1009. When fish were allowed to remain in 

 the vinegar a few minutes, he observed that the muscular fibre 

 was immediately acted on, a partial solution of the fish took 

 place, and the acid became milky. When vinegar of a stronger 

 quality was used, the fish was entirely dissolved, particularly if 

 aided by heat. Both fish and beef which were dipped in vi- 

 negar, of specific gravity 1009, and which were afterwards dried 

 in a summer heat, remained for a long time after perfectly free 

 from taint. 



Mr. Stodart has repeated some of these experiments, and 

 especially those relating to the haddocks, with perfect success 

 in London. 



4. Purification of Pyroligneous Acid. — M. Stotze, of Halle, 

 has discovered a method of freeing the vinegar of wood from 

 its impurities, by treatment with sulphuric acid, manganese, 

 and common salt, and subsequent distillation. He obtained a 

 prize from the Royal Society of Gottingen for the discovery. 



He has also added to the verifications of the antiseptic 

 powers of pyroligneous acid, and has converted bodies into 

 mummies by continued treatment with it. 



5. Acids of Manganese. — The results of some experiments 

 made by Dr. G. Forshhammer, on the chamjeleon mineral, 

 induce that chemist to believe that there are two acids which may 

 be formed by the combination of manganese and oxygen. These 

 exist in combination in the green and red chaniceleon ; the first 

 being a compound of manganeseous acid, and the other of man- 

 ganesic acid. M. M. Chevillot and Edwards were the first who 

 described the property manganese has of forming an acid com- 

 pound with oxygen, but they considered the red chamaeleon as a 

 neutral salt, and the green chamseleon as a sub-salt of the same 

 acid. 



Dr. Forshhammer's experiments are published in the Annals 

 of Philosophy, 16, p. 130. Some of them have been selected and 

 abridged beneath. A solution of green chamaeleon was prepared 



