French National Institute* 3 IS 



parts of oxygen gas and azotic gas, as M. Gay Lussac had 

 already demonstrated, we shall have a complete history of 

 the combinations of oxygen and azote. 



M. Guyton de Morveau, in a course of experiments on 

 the diamond and the substances which contain carbon, has 

 endeavoured to determine the action of the diamond on 

 water at a very high temperature. The water was decom- 

 posed, and carbonic acid produced. 



M. Sage has connnunicated to us his researches on the 

 revivification of silver by mercury in the nitrate of silver; 

 on an acetate oF ammonia, extracted from wood by distilla- 

 tion ; on the analysis of the calcareous stone, called the 

 printing stone; on the magnesia contained in shells, madre- 

 pores, limestone and the arratronite ; on an ore of arena* 

 cemis \xQii 'y on an unknown petrifaction ; and on the ana- 

 lysis of a petrified wood which was both cupreous and fer- 

 ruginous. We regret that our limits do not permit us to 

 enter more into the details of these numerous inquiries. 



When chemistry descends from crude to organized bodies, 

 the phaenomena which come under its observation are more 

 complex, and the. results obtained more obscure. Thus 

 has this branch of chemistry been neglected until lately ; 

 and most of the observations and discoveries with which 

 it is enriched are undoubtedly owing to the labours of 

 M. Fourcroy, (whose loss we have now to deplore,) and to 

 his distinguished friend M. Vauquelin. 



This last chemist has lately been occupied with the ana- 

 lysis of tobacco, with a view to ascertain the principles 

 which characterize this plant, and which have recommend- 

 ed it to general use ; and^ finally, with a view to a[)preciate 

 the modifications which it undergoes, in order to prepare 

 it for becoming an article oF commerce. It results, from 

 M. Vauquelin's inquiries, that the broad-leafed tobacco 

 plant (ISlicotiana latifotiaj contains an animal matter of an 

 albuminous nature, some malate of lime, with an excess of 

 acid, acetic acid, nitrate and muriate of potash, a red mat- 

 ter the nature of which is unknown, muriate' of ammo- 

 niac, and, lastly, an acrid and volatile principle, which 

 seems to be different from all those known m the vegetable 

 kingdom. It is this principle which gives to tobacco the 

 qualities which we know it possess ; we may separate it 

 from the plant by distillation, and employ it separately. 

 Prepared tobacco presented more sensibly, than when un- 

 prepared, carbonate of ammonia and muriate of lime. 



M. Vauquehn, thinking that the juice of bclla donna, 

 from having effects on the animal oecouomy analogous to 



those 



