Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 237 



to the alcoholic extract of the urine an alcoholic solution of chloride 

 of zinc ; in a short time a deposit is formed, which contains the 

 creatine in combination with the chloride of zinc, together with a 

 small quantity of phosphate of zinc. These two substances are sepa- 

 rated by boiling water, which dissolves the first, but is without action 

 upon the latter. The pure creatine is obtained from the aqueous 

 solution of its combination with chloride of zinc by precipitating the 

 zinc with hydrosulphate of ammonia ; after having evaporated the 

 filtered liquid as far as possible without a precipitate being formed 

 in the boiling solution, absolute alcohol is added to it, when the 

 creatine is immediately deposited in the form of small crystals, 

 resembling those obtained in operating upon the alcoholic solution 

 of the aqueous extract of meat. 



After having washed these crystals with alcohol, I recrystallized 

 them from water. The elementary analysis of the pure crystals led 

 to the following formula, C^ H" N^ O* + 2HO, which is the same as 

 that advanced by M. Liebig. 



When creatine enters into combination with chloride of zinc, it 

 parts with 2 atoms of water besides the water of crystallization, and 

 in exchange takes up 1 atom of this salt. This combination is repre- 

 sented by the following formula, C H^ N^ O^ + ClZn, and the atomic 

 weight of creatine is consequently 1412*5. 



From the experiments of M. Liebig it results, that of all the 

 organs of the animal body it is only the muscles which yield crea- 

 tine. Now, as I have proved its presence in the urine of man and 

 animals, it appears placed beyond all doubt that this substance is 

 formed in the muscles, that it is absorbed by the lymphatics or 

 blood-vessels, and is finally secreted by the kidneys, like urea, &c. 

 We may therefore conclude that creatine should henceforth be 

 placed amongst the excrementitious substances ; and consequently it 

 is barely probable that it constitutes one of the most important ali- 

 mentary principles of meat broth, as M. Liebig is inclined to think. 

 Is it not rather one of the ultimate products of the chemical actions, 

 the presence of which we have great reason to suspect in the act of 

 muscular contraction? — Comptes Rendus, March 22, 1847. 



THE NEW PLANET IRIS. 



The following letter to The Times appeared on Wednesday, 

 Aug. 18th. 



Sir, — In addition to the Berlin maps, which we have revised, and 

 in some instances corrected, ecliptical charts of stars down to the 

 tenth magnitude have been formed for some of the hours of right 

 ascension, which it is Mr. Bishop's intention to publish as soon as 

 they are completed. On the 13th of August I compared Wolfer's 

 map with the heavens, and was surprised to find an unmarked star 

 of 8"9 magnitude in a position which was examined on June 22 and 

 July 31 without any note being made. The mere existence of a 

 star in a position where before there was none visible, would not 

 have been sufficient to satisfy me as to its nature ; because during 

 an eight months' search I have^met with very many variable stars, — a 



