378 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



10. New Vegetable Alkali. — M. M. Pelletier and Caventon, 

 give the following account, in a note, of a new alkali, discovered 

 in the seeds of the Veratrum Sabadilla : — 



" Whilst pursuing our researches on those vegetable sub- 

 stances, which have a marked action on the animal system, we 

 were induced to examine the Ciradille, and we found in them a 

 crystallizable alkaline matter, extremely acrimonious. We as 

 yet are only imperfectly acquainted with this substance; but 

 being aware that many chemists are engaged at present in the 

 analyses of vegetable substances, we have thought right to an- 

 nounce this particular principle. 



" We have not been so fortunate in the analyses of hemlock, 

 on which we have lately been engaged ; this plant has not of- 

 fered any thing particular. We have not been able to isolate its 

 active principle, which appears extremely fugacious. Some 

 traces of it may be found in the ethereal tincture of hemlock. 



11. Acids of Arsenic. — The last determination of M. Berze- 

 lius, respecting the composition of these acids, is as fol- 

 lows : — 



Arsenic Acid. Arsenious Acid. 



Arsenic 65.283 100 75.81 100 



Oxygen 34.717 53.179 24.19 31.907 



The proportions of the oxygen in the two acids being as 

 5 to 3. 



Some other results are as follows : — 



Arseniate of lead .... 100 arsenic acid. 



192.91 oxide of lead. 

 Sub-arseniate of lead . . 100 arsenic acid. 



296.04 oxide of lead. 

 Arseniate of barytes . . 100 arsenic acid. 



132.88 barytes. 

 Sub-arseniate of barytes 100 arsenic acid. 



199.04 barytes. 

 Arsenite of lead 100 arsenious acid. 



111.17 oxide of lead. 



Annates de Chimie xi, 225. 



