Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 399 



Some specimens of renal capsule contain but a small proportion of 

 alkaline salts, and will not so easily produce the yellow colour which 

 first attracted my attention, unless an alkaline matter be supplied to 

 them. I have examined several specimens of the salts contained in 

 these glands, and have always procured similar precipitates and re- 

 actions, which, when compared side by side with those produced by 

 titanic acid, show a most unequivocal and perfect resemblance. 



It would appear that these salts contain an alkaline titanate, be- 

 sides a portion of free titanic acid, there not being sufficiency of alkali 

 to act on all the acid present. 



In two or three specimens which I have examined the salts have 

 appeared quite black and carbonaceous in appearance ; but fusion 

 with phosphate of soda or carbonated alkali has always rendered the 

 yellow colour visible. These black ashes exert an alkaline reaction on 

 reddened litmus paper. 



It may be noticed that the precipitate procured with infusion of 

 galls is influenced in its colour, not only by the quantity of acid pre- 

 sent, but very materially by the degree of concentration of the infusion 

 and solution. 



From other experiments lately made, I have reason to believe that 

 titanium exists in other structures besides the renal capsules. 



G. O. Rees. 



Guy's Hospital, Oct. 3, 1834. 



CRYSTALLIZATION OF KALIUM OR POTASSIUM. 



Upon unscrewing the lid of a crucible from which a portion of 

 kalium had been distilled, Professor Pleischl found a fragment of 

 kalium lying upon the remaining carbonaceous mass, curved in such 

 a manner as to lead to the conclusion that it had fallen out of the 

 gun- barrel used in the operation. The concave side of this frag- 

 ment when examined with a powerful lens under a layer of naphtha, 

 exhibited small projecting crystals, the faces of which were all at 

 right angles to each other, strongly resembling those of artificially 

 crystallized bismuth. Professor Pleischl convinced himself that 

 the crystals were kalium by throwing some of them into water, upon 

 which they immediately took fire, burning with a violet flame. — 

 Baumgiirtner's Zeitschrift, band iii. S. 1. 



SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 



Just published, 

 A Guide to Geology. By Prof. Phillips. 



The Calendar for 1834-35 of the Meetings of the Scien- 

 tific Bodies of London, showing the Time and Place of the 

 Meetings of the principal Learned Societies, — with their Anni- 

 versaries, and the Hours at which their Libraries and Museums 

 are open. To be had at the Office of the Lond. and Edinb. Phil. 

 Mag. and Journal. 



