454 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



in the laboratory. In order to reduce it economically, put' it 

 into a small vessel of zinc or cast-iron, containing a little water 

 and leave it there for a short time. If the vessel be clean, the 

 decomposition will soon be effected, otherwise a little muriatic 

 or sulphuric acid may be added. When decomposed, wash it 

 with a little muriatic acid. (See vol. viii., p. 374.) — Annates de 

 ChimiBy xiv., p. 319. 



7. Sulphate of Platinum a Test for Gelatine. — Mr. E. Davy 

 recommends the use of the sulphate of platinum in detecting 

 small quantities of gelatine. From comparative experiments 

 made with it, and astringent infusions, he found, that when the 

 quantity of gelatine was so small as not to be effected by 

 strong infusions of oak-bark, nut-galls, or catechu, still there 

 was an immediate precipitate on adding the sulphate of pla- 

 tinum. Where the proportion of gelatine was so reduced as not 

 even to affect sulphate of platinum at first, the precipitate was 

 immediately produced on boiling the fluid. 



The different astringent infusions, as of oak-bark, nut-galls, 

 catechu, &,c.f do not act uniformly on the various kinds of 

 gelatine: thus, an infusion of catechu would produce no pre- 

 cipitate in solutions of paper-hangers' size, but the sulphate of 

 platinum acts equally on all kinds of size, and throws down 

 precipitates which appear to be always similar, not being 

 affected even by the presence of free acid in the solution. 



8. Spontaneous Combustion of Oatmeal. — A gentleman re- 

 moved with his family from Glasgow to Largs, in May last, 

 and shut up his house, which was not re-opened until the end 

 of August. The house stands on the side of a steep declivity, 

 so that the kitchen, which is in the back part, though sunk 

 considerably below the level of the street, is entirely above 

 ground, and is well lighted and ventilated. In an opening of 

 the wall near the kitchen fire-place (originally intended, it is 

 supposed, for an oven) there was placed a wooden barrel, bound 

 with iron hoops, and filled with oatmeal. This meal had 



