1 8 . JOURNAL OF THE 



remains were removed on the 16th of June, 1858, to the top of Mitch- 

 ell's Peak. 



Such were some of the characteristics, and principal events in the 

 life of Dr. Mitchell, one of the pioneers in Scientific research in 

 these Southern States. "His bow abode in strength to the last, 

 neither was his natural force abated." At the news of his death, 

 men of Science marked the loss of a learned associate— while mem- 

 bers of our Isational Cabinet and Ministers to foreign countries. 

 Senators and Representatives in Congress, Governors of our States, 

 with their Judges and their Legislators — Ambassadors from the 

 court of Heaven, and men of reknown in all the liberal professions, 

 distinguished Professors, with famous school-masters and hundreds 

 of other pupils in the more retired walks of life rose up, in all parts 

 of our country, to do honor to their revered preceptor. May his 

 mantle of wisdom, energy, industry, learning, charity and piety rest 

 on those at whose feet the young men of our country are now gath- 

 ered, that they too may receive the plaudit : 



" Well done! Thou good and faithful servant."' 



DECOMPOSITION OF POTASSIUM CYANIDE. 



J. F. WILKES. 



Entomologists frequently find it convenient in killing insects to 

 use a bottle containing moistened potassium cyanide over which 

 plaster of paris is spread. The insect usually dies in a few minutes 

 after enclosure in the bottle, the mixture assumes a brownish tint and 

 the odor of hydrocyanic acid can easily be detected. As no expla- 

 nation of t^his re-action could be found, some experiments were under- 

 taken with a view to deciding the effect of the plaster of paris and 

 how far it is necessary for the reaction. 



To determine the nature of the gas given off, about one grain of 

 pure potassium -yanide (only the chemically pure was used through- 

 out these experiments) was placed in a test-tube, moistened with 

 water and covered with a layer of plaster. Through an accurately 

 fitting cork two bits of tubing entered this test-tube, one extending 



