251 



view |)aralJel to t^e fact geuerttlly admitted on the authority of 

 isoemeririg, that spirit becomes stronger when coiitiiied in bladder, 

 or in a vessel covered with bladder, in consequence of the water 

 passing out by elective exosmose. 



T'w! author, however, on repeating the experiments of Soeme- 

 riiig, as related by various writers (for he could not obtain access 

 to tiie original account of thera), was unable, by any variation of 

 the process he could devise, to obtiiin the results indicated by the 

 German anatomist. Coustantly the spirit, whatsoever its strength, 

 whether proof spirit or rectified spirit, became weaker. It was ob- 

 served at the same time, that, if the bladder containing spirit was 

 enclosed in a confined space with quicklime, the spirit slowly be- 

 came absolute alcohol of the density 796, in consequence of a per- 

 manent atmosphere of alcohol being speedily formed, while the 

 watery atmosphere was absorbed by the quicklime as fast as it was 

 produced. Subsequently it was proved that the bladder was not 

 essential to the process : for an open cup of recti6ed spirit, inclosed 

 in a confined space with quicklime, to absorb the water which arose 

 from the spirit, became in two months absolute alcoliol of the den- 

 sity 796. Professor Graham of London some time ago proved the 

 analogous fact, that spirit might be thus rendered pure alcohol in 

 the air-pump vacuum. A vacuum, however, is, upon principle, as 

 well as in fact, not necessary for the process ; it merely accelerates 

 it. The new method is obviously applicable on the great scale for 

 obtaining absolute alcohol, wherever time may be allowed. 



Mondaij^ \9>tli March. 

 Dr ABERCROMBIE, V. P., in the Chair. 



The following Donations were presented : — 



Abhandlungen der Koniglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften za 

 Berlin. Aus dem Jahre, 1833. — By the Academy. 



Uber die Landerverwaltung unter dem Chalifate. Von Joseph 

 von Hammer. — By the Royal Academy at Berlin. 



Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Setmces de I'Academie des 

 Sciences, 1839. I"" Semestre. Nos. 7, 8 By the Academy. 



The American Journal of Arts and Science. Conducted by Ben- 

 jamin Silliman, M. D., LL.D. Vol, xxxv. No. 2, for January 

 lSS9.~By the Editor. 



