208 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



CommoD state. Dry state. 



Water 9.0 



Starch 77.0 84.599 



Zeine 3.0 3.296 



Albumen . 2.5 2.747 



Gummy matter 1.75 1.922 



Saccharine matter 1.45 1.593 



Extractic matter .8 .879 



Cuticle and ligneous fibre ... 3.0 3.296 



Phosp. carb. sul. of lime, and loss 1.5 1.648 



100. 99.980 



The powder of the corn is hygrometric, and the quantity of water 

 in it varies with the state of the atmosphere. Sometimes it 

 would lose 12 per cent, on drying, at other times not more than 

 half that quantity. 



In some experiments on the colouring matter of the different 

 coloured varieties of Indian corn, it was found to be soluble in 

 both water and alcohol, and to become green by alcalies, and 

 red by acids. 



A spirituous liquor may be obtained from Indian corn, in con- 

 sequence of the changes which take place in its saccharine 

 matter. 



12. Bohnenbergen's Electrometer. — This instrument is intended 

 to indicate at once the nature, as well as presence, of electricity. 

 The exterior is formed of a cylinder of glass, about two inches 

 and a half wide, and three inches and a half high : it is closed 

 at top by a brass plate, from which descend two of De Luc's 

 electric columns, each containing about 400 discs of gilt and 

 silvered paper about three lines indiameter, and terminated below 

 by brass rings ; these tubes are one inch and a half distant from 

 each other, and between them is placed a tube of glass, which, 

 passing through the cover in the manner of Singer's insulation, 

 supports a wire terminated below by two gold leaves, and above 

 by a metallic plate. It is easy, from this disposition, to perceive 

 that when the leaves are unelectrified they will hang midway be- 

 tween the tubes ; but when affected by the approach of elec- 

 trified bodies, they will diverge and indicate by the attraction 

 of the leaf on the one side, on the other the nature of the 

 charge. 



13. On the Composition ofthePrussiatei or Ferruginous Hydro- 

 ci/anates. — These compounds which have drawn the attention of 

 a great number of chemists to their examination, frequently 

 without much success, have lately been investigated with great 

 ability by M. Beszelius, and a number of very interesting points 

 with regard to them established. Without tracing what had 



