Meteorology— Chemistry. 177 



of this fountain may be explained by the periodical admission of a current 

 of gas directed obliquely towards the current of water which supplies the 

 fountain, and traversing its course during regular intervals. It is, he con- 

 ceives, a confirmation of this opinion, that there is a very sensible disen- 

 gagement of carbonic acid gas during the period of intermittence. M. 

 Dutrochet does not inquire into the cause of this disengagement of gas, 

 but he considers it sufficient for his purpose, that carbonic acid gas is dis- 

 engaged in all the springs of Jura. — Le Globe, torn. iii. No. 82, July 1st 

 1826. 



METEOKOLOGY. 



9. Meteoric Stone containing many substances — There was laid be- 

 fore the Academy of Sciences a. meteoric stone which fell in the principali- 

 ty of Ferrara on the 19th January 1824. This fragment is remarkable 

 from the diversity of substances which the eye can discern in it. It will 

 be examined microscopically by M. Cordier, and chemically by M. Lau- 

 gier. 



10. Great Variation of the Barometer in 1822. — On the 3d July 1836, 

 M. Arago communicated to the Academy of Sciences some of the details 

 which he obtained respecting this phenomenon. It took place over a very 

 considerable extent ; but, contrary to the general opinion, it did not show 

 itself simultaneously in every direction. There was no sensible interval, it 

 is true, over an immense line extending from east south east, to west north 

 west, but, in the direction perpendicular to this, the phenomenon was 

 transmitted at intervals very appreciable, and even of such length, that a 

 day and a half elapsed between the time when it took place at Paris, and 

 the time when it happened at Moscow and St Petersburgh.— Le Globe, 

 torn. iii. No. 84, July 6th 1826, 



II. CHEMISTRY. 



11. Brome, a neio substance, supposed to be simple, contained in sea water. 

 (Extract from the Annates de Chimie et de Physique, for August 1826.) 

 — As M. Balard has published his memoir on the new substance Brome, 

 (from ^eefAot a bad odour) of which we gave a short notice in the last 

 number of the Journal under the name of Muride, we lose no time in 

 laying before our readers a more complete account of this interesting body. 



At common temperatures brome is a liquid, the colour of which is black- 

 ish-red when viewed in mass and by reflected light, but appears hyacinth- 

 red when a thin stratum is interposed between the light and the observer. 

 Its odour, which somewhat resembles that of chlorine, is very disagreeable, 

 and its taste powerful. It acts with energy on organic matters, such as 

 wood or cork, and corrodes the animal texture ; but if applied to the skin 

 for a short time only, it communicates a yellow stain, which is less intense 

 than that produced by iodine, and soon disappears. It is highly destruc- 

 tive to animals, one drop of it placed on the beak of a bird having proved 

 fatal. Its specific gravity is about 3. Its volatility is very considerable , 

 for at common temperatures it emits red coloured vapours, which are very 



VOL. VI. NO. I. JAN. 1827. M 



