152 Scientific Intelligence, ^c. 



Thus there is only a difference of 73 deaths for 1 million of in- 

 habitants. The following shews the influence of the same cause 

 upon the births : — 



Mean Price. Aunual Births. 



24 fr. 68 c. 30647 



16 44 31047 



In 1817, the number of marriages diminished 918 per million. — 

 L'Institut., 164. 



V,— Impurity of Sulphuric Acid. 



It has been already stated, that English sulphuric acid contains 

 arsenic {Records, ii. 73.) I have found it easy to prove that it con- 

 tains muriatic acid, by placing a small portion of it in a tube with a 

 vegetable substance, such as an oil, and applying heat ; speedily a 

 very strong odour of chlorine is perceptible. The methods by which 

 these two acids may be removed are sufficiently obvious. But, be- 

 sides these, it is well known to contain nitric acid, which is more 

 difficult of separation. Barruel (Jour, de Chim. 3fedic.y ii. 184.) 

 proved the presence of this acid, by its power of dissolving platinum. 

 This effect, I have no doubt, was the consequence of the action of 

 muriatic and nitric acids, 1000 grs. of sulphuric acid dissolving 0'16 

 of platinum, and was not owing to the sulphuric acid assuming the 

 function of muriatic acid as Barruel seems to think. He found also, 

 that if 2 ounces of sulphuric acid were heated for 2| hours with 3 

 grammes of sulphur at a temperature of about 300°, no nitric acid could 

 be detected on cooling the acid, shewing that it had been all decom- 

 posed. Hence, an obvious method of removing nitric acid, which is 

 absolutely necessary when working with indigo, especially in manu- 

 factures. Barruel conceives that the acid may be hyponitrous and 

 not nitric acid. — Edit. 



VI. — Test for Strychnin. 



Artus recommends sulphocyanodide of potassium as a test for stry- 

 chnin. The resulting salt consists of fine crystals. Unfortunately, 

 however, quinin affords a similar product; Winckler recommends, 

 therefore, corrosive sublimate as a more distinctive test. The mercury 

 can readily be separated from the precipitate by a current of sulphu- 

 retted hydrogen, the muriate of strychnin remaining in solution. — 

 Sv^hne7''s Repertorium iii., 397. 



VII. — Fossil Flowers. 



Professor Goppert, of Breslaw and Hrn-Keferstein, have obtained 

 flowers from the brown coal of Wetterau in which the anthers and 

 pollen are distinct. These will be described in the next number of 

 the transactions of the Leopold Academy. — Poggendorff's Ann. 

 xxxvi., 066. 



