382 Miscellaneous InteUigence. 



time, the alcohol will be found rectified to 40° (S.G. ,817); and 

 thus may all the water be evaporated, without losing any of the 

 alcohol. If water be added to make up the diminished weight, 

 the alcohol will return to 30° ; and this may readily be done 

 by hanging the bladder in a humid place, as a cellar, for the 

 alcohol which was at 40° will then return to 30°. The bladder 

 is, in fact, a filter which allows the passage of the water, but 

 retains the alcohol. 



17. Phosphoric Acid in Vegetables. — Mr. Barry, who has lately 

 applied evaporation in vacuo to the preparation of pharmaceu- 

 tical extracts, has observed during a comparison of the prepa- 

 tions made in this way with those commonly prepared, " that 

 phosphoric acid, in a soluble state, is to be found in all the 

 extracts. On further extending the investigation, it was ascer- 

 tained that this acid, besides that portion of it which exists as 

 phosphate of lime, is contained in a vast variety of vegetables." 

 " I may just mention, that all those vegetables which are culti- 

 vated, seem to contain phosphoric salt in great abundance." ' 



18. An hydrated Carbonate of Copper. — M. M. Colin and 

 Taillefort find that if any of the blue or green carbonates of 

 copper are heated to the temperature of boiling-water, they lose 

 their water, and become brown. Thus rendered anhydrous, 

 it constitutes a body of such good colour as to promise to be 

 useful as a pigment. 



19. Explosion from Fire-damp. — On Saturday, Oct. 30, three 

 explosions took place in Kell's pit, near Whitehaven, and oc- 

 casioned the death of twenty out of the twenty-two unfortunate 

 colliers who were working in it. The occurrence was entirely 

 unexpected. The explosion proceeded from a part of the 

 workings where the pillars are removed, and where ventilation 

 was carried on as perfectly as possible. The overlookers and 

 workmen examined daily whether any fire-damp existed in this 

 part of the pit, and had on no occasion perceived any. The 

 workings there were left on Friday evening, as supposed, in 

 perfect safety. The explosion happened in consequence of 



