Scientific Intelligence. — Chemiatry. 18S 



resting paper is printed in the present Number of this Journal, 

 p. 109, et seq.'\ 



The Doctor hkewise read a notice on the existence of ciHae 

 in the young of the Buccinum undatum, Purpura Lapillus, and 

 some other molluscous animals ; and also on the mode of gene- 

 ration of the Pontobdella muricata of Lamarck. 



A beautiful model of the tigress and cubs at present exhibit- 

 ing in Edinburgh, was exhibited to the meeting. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



CHEMISTRY. 



\. Brome in Salt Springs. — Professor Stromeyer has de- 

 tected Brome in the mother-water of the Springs of Luneburg, 

 Pyrmont, Helden, and Sulbeck. He also detected it in the 

 water of the North Sea. 



% On the Taste of Arsenic. — At the trial of Mrs Smith for 

 poisoning her servant, held in the Justiciary Court here in Fe- 

 bruary last, the professional gentlemen, who were examined, 

 differed as to the taste of arsenic. It is singular, that a difference 

 of opinion should exist on a fact of so much importance and ap- 

 parently so easy to settle ; yet this is not the first occasion on 

 which scientific men have differed regarding it. On referring 

 to systematic authors in chemistry and medical jurisprudence, 

 it will be found, that arsenic is invariably said to have an acrid 

 taste. But it is well known that systematic writers are too apt, 

 especially on points apparently so simple and trivial, to quote 

 from one another, without personal experiment, i^nd, accord- 

 ingly, when a reference is made to such medico-legal authors as 

 have written specially on arsenic, or to the evidence of persons 

 who have taken it when administered with articles of food, 

 we find that some say tlie taste is sweetish, others that it is 

 first sweetish and then acrid, others that it is sweetish and 

 acid, others that it has no taste at all. The natural in- 

 ference is, that the taste, whatever it actually is, must be 

 weak ; so that, in fact, the poison may be swallowed without 



