Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 397 



or by agitation with water. The crystals were not sensibly soluble 

 in cold solution of ammonia or potash ; when heated they were dis- 

 solved, and the solution was not rendered turbid by neutralizing the 

 alkali ; so that these substances appear to act only by means of their 

 water of solution. The aqueous solution was neutral to test papers. 



When rectified concentrated sulphuric acid is added to a small 

 quantity of these crystals, a deep red-coloured solution is obtained, 

 which, as has been remarked by Buchner and Hofner, has a smell 

 resembling that of artificial musk; and, according to M. Brandes, 

 an odour somewhat like naphtha, and also oil of fennel. Water pro- 

 duces a white cloud in the red solution, and yellowish white flocks 

 gradually separate. 



Hydrochloric acid when cold has no sensible action on the cry- 

 stals, but when heated, a white cloud is produced ; by boiling, the 

 liquor bumps with noise : a strong odour of oil of petroleum is de- 

 veloped. After cooling, the liquor, which was milky white, becomes 

 clear, and a yellowish oil floats on its surface, which gradually 

 hardens. Acetic acid, even cold, dissolves the crystals ; the solution 

 is not rendered turbid by water, nor is it altered by boiling. Nitric 

 acid, when cold, dissolves the crystals slightly; but when heated 

 they are gradually decomposed ; a milky white cloud is formed in 

 the acid, and drops of yellow oil are observable on its surface ; it 

 then yields a very distinct odour, resembling that of a mixture of oil 

 of fennel, aniseed, and naphtha. 



Increase of temperature occasions a more vivid action ; the acid 

 becomes yellow ; nitric oxide is given out, with a smell more resem- 

 bling camphor. The smallness of quantity of the crystals did not 

 admit of their analysis ; but the facts detailed agree with those pre- 

 viously described by M. Buchner, and prove that the crystals were 

 the stearopten of turpentine. — Journal de Pharmacie, xxiv. 129. 



METALLIC PECTATES. 



The metallic pectates analysed by M. Regnault are those of silver 

 and lead. 



Pectate of Silver. The pectate of ammonia employed in forming 

 this salt was prepared by dissolving pectic acid, which had been 

 precipitated from solution by nitric instead of hydrochloric acid, in 

 ammonia ; this was done to be certain that no trace of chloride of 

 silver might exist in the pectate. 



The composition of pectate of silver is naturally variable, accord- 

 ing to that of the pectate of ammonia which is employed in its pre- 

 paration. The following were obtained : — 



1st. Pectate of silver, prepared by adding a solution of nitrate of 

 silver to a solution of pectate of ammonia, which had been boiled 

 till it ceased to yield an ammoniacal smell. It consisted of — 



Pectic acid 61*615 



Oxide of silver 3S-3S5— 100' 



In this compound the author is of opinion there was excess of 

 acid, which he thinks might happen from the mode in which the 

 pectate of ammonia was prepared. 



