366 Scientific Intelligence. 



taper into ajar of the gas, the light was extinguished ; but the gas itself 

 was set on fire, and the taper might be rekindled by passing through the 

 flame of the burning gas. 



, 3. On agitation with lime water, the solution became turbid, and the 

 gas lost three-fifths of its original volume. By the action of ammonia it 

 underwent the same diminution. 



4. The gas remaining after the action of lime water or ammonia burn- 

 ed slowly with a blue jflame, and extinguished a lighted taper as before. 



5. With atmospheric air it formed a mixture, which was not explosive, 

 but burned tranquilly with a blue flame. Mixed with oxygen gas, it is said 

 to have afforded a similar result, and that the product of the combustion 

 rendered lime water very turbid. 



6. A mixture of 100 measures of the gas and fifty of oxygen, fired by the 

 electric spark, yielded 100 measures of carbonic acid gas. 



From these experiments it is inferred by M. Pluger, that the gas extract- 

 ed from the cow consisted of three-fifths of carbonic acid, and two-fifths 

 of carbonic oxide gas. The air procured from another cow similarly affect- 

 ed, was found to contain four-fifths of carbonic oxide, and one-fifth of car- 

 bonic acid gas. 



The Editors of the Annals from which this note is taken remark, that 

 the results of M. Pluger differ entirely from those obtained by MM. Fre- 

 my and Lameyran, and published in the Bulletin de Pkarmacie, (t. i. 

 p. 358.) According to their experiments, the gas procured from a simi- 

 lar source is composed of 



Sulphuretted hydrogen gas, 80 



Carburetted hydrogen, 15 



Carbonic acid, 5 



100 

 We agree with the editors that this subject requires further elucidation. 

 A mixture of carbonic acid and carbonic oxide gases could not occasion 

 the very disagreeable odour ascribed to the gas by M. Pluger, nor does that 

 gentleman appear to have tested for the presence of sulphuretted hy- 

 drogen. — Annales des Sciences Naiurelles for June 1827. 



15. Singular action of Phosphoric acid on Albumen.-^Iti his essays on the 

 animal fluids Berzelius stated, that a solution of albumen is not precipi- 

 tated by phosphoric acid ; whereas Engelhart, in his interesting researches 

 on the colouring matter of the blood, found that albumen is coagulated 

 even in a dilute solution by phosphoric acid. As Engelhart was at Stock- 

 holm last winter, he and Berzelius inquired into the cause of difference 

 in their statements, and discovered that they were both right. A solution 

 of phosphoric acid, which had been kept some time in the laboratory, did 

 not precipitate a solution of albumen ; but phosphoric acid, recently pre- 

 pared either by the action of nitric acid on phosphorus or by direct combus- 

 tion, caused an abundant precipitate. On further examination, it was 

 found that phosphoric acid, recently ignited, always throws down albumen ; 

 but that after being kept in solution for a few days, it loses that property. 

 The coagulating power is restored by heating the acid to redness, but dis- 

 appears again after the interval of a day. 



3 



