332 SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



produces the effect indicated by the quantities of azote 



and of hydrogen which enter into its composition ; but if 



the cQndensation be too great, there is some alteration 



though very small. Such is the case with water. 



Muriatic acid The examination of muriatic acid gas, made after these 



^^* principles, shews that its radical cannot be azote ; and 



also that it cannot be an oxide of hydrogen, containing 



less oxygen than water. 



The diamond The refraction of the diamond being much stronger 



inferred to ^^mn that which is isdicated for carbon by the refractions 



contain hidro- ^ , . . , , , , , , 



£en. of carbonic acid, alcohol, ether, and other substances of 



which carbon makes a part; M. Biot concludes, that the 

 diamond cannot be pure carbon, and that we must admit 

 at least one-fourth of hydrogen to satisfy the results of 

 the experiment. 



The examination of animal and vegetable products has 

 been carried on with activity and effect. 

 ^fe^v principle The crystalline and soluble principle in asparagus, 

 in asparagus, ^hich is neither acid nor neutral, and does not affect the 

 ordinary re-agents, has been discovered by Vauquelin and 

 Robiquet. The acconnt has already been inserted in our 

 Journal. VoL XV. 242. 

 Saccharine ^^- Thenard, Professor of the College of France, has 



imatter in bile, completely ascertfinod tJie existence in the bile of a 

 saccharine matter wh^ch serves to keep the oily part in 

 solution. His methods of analysis are such as do great 

 credit to his sagacity. 

 Component Seguin has made experiments on coffee, which he finds 



parts of coffee. ^^ consist of albumen, oil, a peculiar principle which he 

 calls the bitter principle, and a green matter which' is a 

 combination of this last with albumen. He finds thai 

 the proportions vary in different specimens ; that torri- 

 faction augments the proportion of the bitter principle 

 by destroying the albumen ; that these two last princi- 

 ples contain much azote; and that the bitter principle is 

 antiseptic. The oil of coffee is without smell, congelable, 

 and white. 



Mr. Seguin has discovered albumen in a great number 

 of other vegetables, and most of them contain a bitter 

 Albumen in principle, in some respects similar to that of coffee, 

 vegctz c8-r- pfom the remarkable quantity of albumen found in 



• vegetable 



