1822.] Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 151 



Article XVI. 



Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



The following papers have been read since our last report : 



Jan. 10. — A letter from Capt. Hall, containing Observatioas 

 on a Comet seen at Valparaiso. 



Elements of the above Comet, by Dr. Brinkley. 



Jan. 17. — On. ultimate Atoms of the Atmosphere, by Dr. 

 Wollaston. 



On the Expansion in a Series of the Attraction of a Spheroid, 

 by James Ivory, Esq. 



Jan. 24. — On the late Depression of the Barometer, by Luke 

 Howard, Esq. 



On the anomalous Magnetic Attraction of Hot Iron, by 

 P. Barlow, Esq. 



Article XVII. ^ 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGIiNCE, AND NOTICES OF SUBJECTS 

 CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE. 



I. Preparatioyi of Quiiiine. 



M. J. Voreton, of Grenoble, employs the following method in pre- 

 paring Quinine, by which he says he is enabled to procure about two 

 ounces and a half of Quinine from eleven pounds of Cinchona, in- 

 stead of an ounce and a half, or an ounce and three quarters procured 

 by the common process. The Cinchona reduced to a coarse powder 

 is to be digested in water, acidulated with about one hundredth of its 

 weight of muriatic acid. At the expiration of 2i- hours, the Cinchona 

 is to be strongly pressed, to be again treated vv^ith dilute muriatic 

 acid, and the processes are to be repeated, till the Cinchona loses its 

 bitterness. The filtered infusions are to be mixed and treated with 

 excess of pure magnesia, the mixture to be boiled for a short time 

 and then suffered to cool. The magnesian precipitate is to be washed 

 with cold water, dried, and digested in alcohol : by distilling this solu- 

 tion the Quinine is obtained. — (Annales de Chimie.) 



II. Improvement in Stringed Instruments. 



M. Fischer of Leipsic, recommends the use of plrttinum wire, as a 

 substitute for brass and steel, in the strings of musical instruments. 

 He describes the tone as much finer than in instruments in which the 

 usual metals are employed, and it certainly posseses the almost unique 

 advantage of preserving its metallic brillancy, though surrounded 

 by the continued deposit of a damp atmosphere. — (Rev. Ency. 

 Oct. 1821.) 



