Portion soluble in water. < 



S26 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 



Heated to 100° C. in a water-bath in a litre of water, 100 grms. 

 of the matter gave a solution which, filtered and evaporated on a 

 vapour-bath, left a residue weighing 0*866 gr., and contained, as 

 ascertained by calcination, 23 per cent, of its weight of organic 

 matter; 0'237 of dried matter, analysed by combustion with oxide 

 of copper, gave a volume of gas equd to 5'^'=, under a pressure 0'7608 

 millim. at 19°, which corresponds to 0-00573 gr. of nitrogen, or 

 0*0109 gr. for 0*866 gr. of soluble substance contained in 100 grms. 

 of dried matter. 



The matter of this second analysis thus contains 2*19 per cent, 

 of nitrogen, and the organic matter contained in 1000 of the dry 

 mud represents 1*7 of nitrogen. 



Lastly, it may be concluded from this experiment, that the organic 

 matter of the mud of Egypt represents the whole of the nitrogen 

 contained in this mud. 



Mineral Analysis. 



rSilica 0*05 



J Water 4*75 



Organic matter 4*85 



Alkaline chlorides .... 0*65 

 Peroxide of iron .... 11*90 



Portion soluble in hydro- J Alumina 21*65 



chloric acid. ] Carbonate of lime .... 3*85 



(^Carbonate of magnesia 2*05 



Matters insoluble in water f Silica 46*55 



and acid. \ Alumina 3*70 



100*00 

 Second Analysis of the Mud of the Nile, by MM. Payen and Poinsot. 

 —The specimen was given by MM. Brongniart and Decaisne. This 

 specimen had the form of a fine powder containing scales of yellow 

 mica ; when mixed with water it absorbs a certain quantity of it, and 

 forms a paste possessing some plasticity. 



When calcined in close vessels, it immediately yields alkaline va- 

 pours ; when calcined in the air it leaves a reddish residue. 

 Its composition in 100 parts was found to be — 



Water 3*25 



Organic matter soluble in water 0*35 



Organic matter insoluble in water .... 4*46 



Alkaline chlorides 0*07 



Sulphate of lime 0*37 



Carbonate of lime 6*33 



Carbonate of magnesia and magnesia . . 4*09 



Silica 54*27 



Alumina 10*7 7 



Peroxide of iron 13*18 



Lime 2*86 



100*00 

 It is very remarkable that the mud of the Nile contains no trace 

 of phosphate. Regnault in 1842, and M. Lassaigne in 1844, did not 

 find any. — Journ. de Pharm. et de CMm,, Janvier 1850. 



