112 Progress in Science. [January, 
MM. Montéfiore-Lévi and Kiinzel have published a work on the use of divers 
alloys, and more especially of phosphorus-bronze, for the casting of ordnance 
and other purposes. In it is given a detailed account of an extensive series of 
experiments made on the large scale on the preparation of various alloys of 
copper and tin, and the effe& produced thereon by the addition of phosphorus 
in small quantity. It appears, on the whole, that the addition of this element 
is of great value in producing alloys possessed of excellent properties, especially 
for the manufacture of bronze guns. The Academy has appointed a committee 
of six of its members, among them MM. Dumas and Frémy, to study this 
important matter, and report thereon. 
The extraction of animal fats to be used either as food or for cosmetic 
purposes forms the subject of a memoir by Dr. H. Vohl. The fresh fat is first 
as much as possible freed from membranes and flesh, next cut up either into 
small discs or cubes, and then thoroughly washed with cold water, which 
should contain the least possible quantity of lime, until all blood is entirely 
removed. The fat is next put into a cylindrical stoneware vessel, 1°25 metres 
high and 0°5 metre inside diameter, this vessel being placed in a water-bath 
and provided with a tap at the bottom, so placed that the vessel may be 
emptied without removing it from the water-bath. The vessel having been 
three-fourths filled with fat, there is placed on the top of it a stoneware per- 
forated disc, and next very dilute pure hydrochloric acid is poured over it. The 
stoneware vessel is then closed with a well-fitting cover, and the water- 
bath heated. From the fat, while melting, the perforated cover carries, by 
slowly sinking downwards, all the impurities, as far as they are not dissolved 
by the acid, which at the end of the operation is run off by aid of the tap. 
The fat is then, while molten, washed several times with warm water, to 
which, for the last washing, some carbonate of magnesia is added. The fat is 
next treated with refined petroleum spirit, and the solution separated by 
decantation from any membranes, &c. which may remain. The solution of 
the fat is freed by distillation in a water-bath from the petroleum, and the 
result is the production of a very superior fat, which being absolutely free from 
water and other nitrogenous organic matter, is not liable to become rancid, 
and may be preserved for many years. 
CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 
Dr. J. Lefort has made some important observations on the alteration which 
well-water undergoes by the proximity of burial-grounds. The contents of 
this paper bear more especially upon the effect of a decree, dated March 7th, 
1808, whereby it was enjoined that no wells should be bored or dug out at aless 
distance than 100 metres in direction from any burial-ground. The author, 
having found that not only in many country villages, but also in several towns 
this regulation was not observed, has made some experiments on the water of a 
well at Saint Didier (Départment de l’Allier). This locality is situated on an 
alluvial soil; the water is used for drinking purposes by the parish priest and 
a portion of the inhabitants, and, on examination, the author found it to 
contain not only a large proportion of ammoniacal salts, but also, on evapora- 
tion, to leave a very large quantity of a dark-coloured organic matter mixed 
with carbonated salts, which, on being mixed with some hydrochloric acid, 
gave off an offensive carbonic acid gas, the smell being somewhat akin to a 
mixture of a concentrated solution of glue and butyric acid. The well is very 
deep, and the water is quite clear and bright, but exhibits, especially in summer 
time, a very vapid taste, while, in the warm season of the year, it rapidly 
becomes putrid. The author comes to the conclusion that in any soil a well 
dug at the distance of 100 metres from either burial-grounds or battle-fields 
is certain to be so contaminated with organic and other injurious matter as to 
make it imperatively necessary to make new and sound regulations on this 
subjeét, so as to prevent wells (for obtaining potable water for domestic use) 
being sunk without a stringent inquiry as to where the water comes from, and 
through what strata of soil it may have to pass. 
