164 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



Cannel Coal gave, 



11 atoms carbon 8.25 64.72 



22 hydrogen .. 2.75 21.56 



1 azote 1.75 13.72 



12.75 100. 



The singular relation observed between the carbon and 

 the hydrogen surpasses all expectation. It is perhaps the first 

 instance offered to us, where these general elements of animal 

 and vegetable substances, combined in such different propor- 

 tions, give such similar substances as the four varieties of 

 pit coal; and what increases the wonder is, that Dr. Thomson 

 seems inclined to think that coal is a direct combination of these 

 elements, and not any compound of bitumen, ^c, as has been 

 supposed. 



7. Analysis of the Water of the Dead Sea, by M. Gay-Lussac. — 

 The water had been preserved in a vessel of tinned iron, herme- 

 tically closed. When poured out it had no bad or bituminous 

 smell : it was slightly turbid, but soon became perfectly clear. 

 M. Bose could not discover any microscopical animals in it. 

 Its taste was very saline and bitter. 



Its specific gravity at 17° (62°. 6 Fahr.) was 1.2283. This is 

 sufficient to enable a man to float on the surface of the Dead Sea 

 without motion; but it contradicts the statement of Strabo, who 

 says, that a man may remain upright in it, without sinking be- 

 low the navel. At present 81 hundredths of his volume would 

 be submerged, and it is not probable that the Dead Sea was 

 more saline formerly than at present 



The water, exposed to a temperature of 7° below freezing 

 (19°.4 Fahr.) did not deposit any salt : so that it is not sa- 

 turated: it however deposited muriate of soda, at the tem- 

 perature of 15° (59° Fahr.) when it had lost 4.71 hundredths of 

 its weight. 



Saussure's hygrometer, placed in the air in contact with 

 this water, indicated about 82°; so that the air contained only 

 two-thirds of the moisture it would have taken up, if it had stood 



