Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 233 



ligot was crystallized in transparent prisms ; it is readily soluble, 

 and is decomposed by a large quantity of water. 



The quantity of water in this salt appeared to vary from unknown 

 causes, but apparently dependent on the temperature at which the 

 salt crystallizes. The formula appeared to be 70^ O', Sb^ 03, 3K0, 

 6H0. This gives as the composition of 100 parts of the salt — 



Carbon 13-9 



Water 90 



Oxide of antimony 25*7 



Potash 23-5 



M. Peligot obtained — 



Carbon 13-7 14-3 14-4 14-0 



Water 9-7 9-2 lO'l 8-9 



Oxide of antimony 25-7 26-2 24-8 



A7in. de Ch. et de Phys., Juillet 1847. 



ACTION OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID IN THE FORMATION OF 

 OXALIC ACID. 



M. Kopp states that the presence of hydrochloric acid in nitric acid 

 is peculiarly favourable to the formation of oxalic acid. The resins of 

 benzoin andTolu, treated with pure nitric acid, yield no oxalic acid ; 

 but with an impure acid it is obtained. Pure nitric acid occasions 

 the formation of terebic acid only, in acting upon oil of turpentine, 

 and to oxypicric acid, in oxidizing the gum-resins. By using nitric 

 acid containing much hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid only is obtained 

 under the same circumstances. — Ibid, Juillet 1847. 



PROJECTION OF ALDEBAKAN ON THE MOON. 

 At the British Association in Oxford a question arose respecting 

 the apparent projection of Aldebaran on the disc of the moon in 

 occultations. Pi-of. Airy and Dr. Forster stated having seen this 

 phaenomenon, which Prof. Struve seemed disposed to attribute to 

 to some mal-adjustment of the telescopes. On looking back, how- 

 ever, to the Philosopliical Magazine, it will be found that this ap- 

 pearance has been three or four times recorded ; as well as some 

 other circumstances calculated to show that the light of different 

 stars is very differently refracted. See Phil. Mag. for April and 

 May 1824. 



THE PUFF PARLIAMENTARY:— DISINFECTION. 



The art of puffing has not yet exhausted its resources ; and a 

 Parliamentary Report well got up, printed at the expense of the 

 public, and from which extracts may go the round of the news- 

 papers, seems to be the last and boldest device for the purpose, 

 which however has been fearfully exposed in the Dublin Quarterly 

 Journal of Medical Science. 



The Times newspaper in a leading article of the 20th of August, 

 felicitates itself on having " the pleasant task of giving what publi- 

 city it may to a discovery made by a French gentleman, M. Ledoyen, 



