Dr Davy's Miscellarieous Chemical Observations. 133 



mits. Do not these results seem to indicate that there are more 

 than two distinct combinations of ammonia and carbonic acid ? 



13. Test for distinguishing Adulteratedjrom Pure Mu^k. 



The musk of commerce, which I have examined, when mixed 

 with lime, has emitted a strong ammoniacal odour. To ascer- 

 tain if this was owing to the formation of ammonia from the 

 «low decomposition of the musk, or to adulteration with some 

 ammoniacal salt, after washing the musk first with dilute muria- 

 tic acid, and afterwards with water, and after drying it perfect- 

 ly, it has been divided into two portions, and put into phials 

 well closed, to one of which a few drops of water have been 

 added. After several months, the perfectly dry musk has been 

 found unaltered, and, in consequence of its dryness, almost 

 without smell ; whilst that very slightly moistened was covered 

 with a kind of mildew, and emitted a powerful smell of musk, 

 but none of ammonia ; nor could any be detected by triturating 

 the musk with lime. Hence it may be inferred, that when 

 musk, in admixture with quicklime, smells of ammonia, it is im- 

 pure or adulterated ; and, farther, that, to preserve it well, it 

 should be made perfectly dry, but that when it is to be used as 

 a perfume, it should be moistened. 



14. Formation of a New Species of Ether. 

 Alcohol saturated with sulphurous acid gas, kept many months, 

 and then agitated with bary tes in powder, decanted and distilled, 

 has afforded a fluid more oily to the feel than alcohol, and of a 

 peculiar acrid and etherial smeD, seeming to indicate the pro- 

 duction of a new compound, perhaps a new species of ether. 



Malta, 

 October 15. 1828. 



A Memoir regarding the Natural HisUrry of the District of AU 

 ford in Aberdeenshire. By Alexander Murray, M. D. 

 Communicated by the Author. 



1 HE district to which the following observations relate, lies in 

 a westerly direction from Aberdeen ; the nearest part being 



