Chemical Science. ] 77 



The cystic oxide is insoluble in the other vegetable acids. Being 

 analyzed by combustion with oxide of copper, it gave as its ele- 

 ments. 



Carbon ....... 36.2 



Nitrogen ...... 34. 



Oxygen lj. 



Hydrogen 12.8 



100 

 Ann. de Chim. xxiii. 329. 



. 29. On Prussian Blue in Urine, by Dr. Julia. — A gentleman of 

 sanguine temperament, aged eighty-two, was attacked with an acute 

 disease of the urinary passages. He had previously enjoyed perfect 

 health. On the second day of the disease, the urine was of a deep 

 blue colour, glutinous, frothed on agitation, and deposited blue fila- 

 ments. Dr. Sernin, who attended this gentleman, sent a portion of 

 the urine to M. Julia for examination, and the latter ascertained that 

 it contained very little urea, was charged with albumen and gelatine, 

 and that the blue colour arose from hydrocyanate of iron, probably 

 in the form of a triple salt with soda. The cause of the solubility of 

 the substance in the urine is unknown at present. — Archives Generate. 



30. Excrement of the Boa Constrictor, Urate of Ammonia. — Pro- 

 fessor Pfaff states, that the excrement of the Boa Constrictor contains 

 so much ammonia as to be a suburate of ammonia. When distilled 

 with weak solution of potash, ammonia is condensed in the receiver ; 

 uric acid so treated, yields no ammonia. When evaporated with 

 nitric acid to a certain point, before the formation of purpuric acid, 

 the solution deposits crystals of nitrate of ammonia; if all these be 

 separated, no purpuric acid is furnished by further evaporation, but if 

 allowed to remain, the purpuric acid is produced. 



31. Prize Questions. — The following prize questions are offered by 

 the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris. 



" To determine by a series of chemical and physiological experi- 

 ments. What are the phenomena which succeed one another in the 

 digestive organs during digestion r" For the year 1825, the reward a 

 gold medal of 3000 francs value. 



" To determine, by various experiments, the density which liquids, 

 and especially mercury, water, alcohol, and sulphuric ether, acquire 

 by compression, equal to the weight of several atmospheres ; and to 

 measure the quantity of heat produced by such compression." For 

 the year 1824, the prize a gold medal of 3000 francs value. 



Vol. XVI. N 



