380 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
with all the portions of the solution the power of producing electrical 
currents ceases.—Ann de Chim. xxv. 413. 
11. Odour of Hydrogen Gas extraneous, Inodorous Hydrogen Gas. 
—When hydrogen gas, obtained from a mixture of iron filings and 
diluted sulphuric acid, is passed through pure alcohol, the hydrogen 
loses its odour in a great measure; and if water be added to the 
alcohol it becomes milky; if enclosed in a flask and left for some 
days, an odorous volatile oil is deposited, which was contained in 
the gas, and which contributed to its well known odour. 
Perfectly inodorous hydrogen gas may be obtained by putting an 
amalgam of potassium and mercury into pure distilled water, but if 
an acid or muriate of ammonia be added to the water, which accele- 
rates the development of gas, it gives it the same odour as that re- 
marked in the solution of zinc by weak sulphuric acid. ‘This 
odour, therefore, does not belong to the hydrogen gas, but is given 
to it by impurities. — Berzelius. 
12. Inflammation of Sulphuretted Hydrogen by Nitric Acid.— 
When a few drops of fuming nitric acid are put into a flask filled 
with sulphuretted hydrogen, the hydrogen is oxidized by the nitric 
acid, and the sulphur is disengaged in a solid form. If the flask be 
closed with the finger, so that the gas which becomes heated cannot 
escape, its temperature is raised so much as to produce combustion 
with a beautiful flame, and a slight detonation which forces the finger 
from the mouth of the flask. ‘This experiment may be made with- 
out the least danger, with a flask containing four or five cubical 
inches of gas.—Berzelius. 
13. Artificial Chalybeate Water.—If a few pieces of silver coin, 
(says Dr. Hare,) be alternated with pieces of sheet iron, on placing 
the pile in water it soon acquires a chalybeate taste and a yellowish 
hue, and in twenty-four hours flocks of oxide of iron appear. 
Hence by replenishing with water a vessel, in which such a pile is 
placed, after each draught we may obtain a competent substitute for 
a chalybeate spring. 
14, Mercurial Vapour in the Barometer.—M. Billiet observes, that 
“ for a long time past it has been known that during hot seasons mer- 
curial vapour has formed spontaneously in the upper part of the baro- 
meter tube, which condenses in minute drops on its inner surface. It 
is sufficient for the observation of this phenomenon at pleasure to apply 
a small tin vessel, filled with ice, to this part of the tube for an hour 
or two, On removing the cooling vessel there may be perceived on 
the internal surface of the tube a dimness about six lines in diameter, 
and by means of a lens it will be found that this is nothing but a 
