834 SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



Iiosed he hstd obtained the same principle. Mr. Gay 

 Lussac finds it likewise in ivory, as well when fresh as 

 ^hen in ^he fossil state, and also in the tusks of the 

 boar. 



Messrs. Fourcroy and Vauquelin have repeated these 



experiments, and have, in fact, obtained this acid from 



f tusks and teeth altered by their continuance in the earth, 



but not from the same parts when fresh, nor even in 



those which were fossil and had undergone no change. 



The experiments of Vauquelin upon hair have already 

 appeared in our Journal. Vol. XV, 141. 

 The nature of Clement and Desorraes have made experiments to imi* 

 Homan alum tate the Roman alum, in which they have perfectly suc- 

 ^ ^'^^ ' eeedetl in the large way. Their method consisted in 

 caleiaation and recrystallization, which afforded an alum 

 deprived of part of its superabundant acid, Curaudeau 

 asserts, that it is also necessary that the small quantity of 

 iron usually contained in alum should be oxided to 

 the maximum for this purpose. But in a later memoir 

 Thenard and Roard appear to have completely disposed 

 of the subject. They have ascertained that one thou- 

 sandth part of iron has an influence on the effect of alum 

 in dying ; that the cfltbrts of the alum maker ought to be 

 directed to clear this salt from that minute quantity ; that 

 the oxygenation produces this effect by rendering the iron 

 insoluble; and lastly, that well purified alum is of equal 

 value for manufacturing processes with that of Rome. 

 Fumigation by l'^^^ application of the oxygenated muriatic gas to pre, 

 oxi-muriatic vent the eft'ects of contagion, as pointed out by Guyton, 

 ^ has been strongly confirmed in the hospitals of France; 



and it is asserted to have produced the liappiest effects as 

 a preservative against the yellow fever in Spain. 

 Anatomical Many interesting anatomical researches by Turpin^ 



notices. Cuvier, Tenon, Laumanier, Pictet, Duvernay, Daroas, 



and others, have enriched the year preceding the session 

 of July last. 



The report concerning the mathematical transactions of 

 the Class of Science was given by Delambre. 

 The anticnt In the question which has arisen on the subject of the 



de?rce7n^LaD- "^^ measure of a degree in Lapland, in which the cause 

 land was erro^ of the error committed in 1736 is required to be ascer- 

 «cou»;— taincd. 



