1835.] Improvements in Science, 281 



Eaine, — Hermann, 1 * of Moscow, examined a substance 

 termed inflammable snow, which fell on the 11th April 

 1832, thirteen versts from Wolokalamsk, and covered a 

 considerable space of ground, to the depth of 1 to 2 inches. 

 Colour, wine-yellow, transparent; soft and elastic, like 

 gum; sp. gr. 1*1; smelling like ranced oil; burns with a 

 blue flame, without smoke ; insoluble in cold water ; soluble 

 in boiling water, upon which it swims ; soluble in boiling 

 alcohol; dissolves also in carbonate of soda, and acids 

 separate from the solution a yellow viscid substance, soluble 

 in cold alcohol, and which contains a peculiar acid. Ana- 

 lyzed ,by oxide of copper, it gave 



Carbon . . 61*5 

 Hydrogen . 7*0 

 Oxygen . . 31*5 



100-0 

 Hermann calls it JSaine, signifying oil of heaven. 



MINERAL WATERS. 



1. Saline Springs. — Boussingault has observed numerous 

 springs of this nature among the Andes, with iodine in 

 solution, and has remarked that the inhabitants who em- 

 ployed the water of such springs for domestic purposes were 

 free from goitre, a disease extremely prevalent in the ele- 

 vated parts of South America. They appear indiscriminately 

 in the ancient and modern strata. The most remarkable 

 are those of Guaca, near Medellia, in Antioquia, where 

 the water proceeds from a micacious syenite, covered 

 occasionally by quartzose sandstone, containing layers of 

 pyritic lignite. At the village of Samson, on the Rio Negro, 

 there is a spring which contains so much glauber salt that 

 it is little used. It consists of 



Chloride of sodium - - 43* 

 Sulphate of soda - - - 53* 

 Carbonate of soda - - - 1*0 

 Carbonate of lime - - - 3*0 

 Iodine a trace 



1- 

 The district of Vega de Supia contains many saline 

 springs. The principal rock is syenitic porphyry, which 



* Pogg. Ann. xxviii. 566. 



