Chemical Science, 1 79 



the copper liad been absorbed, and liad undoubtedly proved 

 fatal to the life of the tree. — Ann. Phil. ii. p. 77. 



9. On Succinic Acid, by M. Julien. — The distillation of this 

 acid from amber in the general way produces it in a very small 

 quantity; by coarsely powdering the amber, and then mixing 

 with it previous to distillation J^ part of sulphuric acid, di- 

 luted with an equal weight of water; the succinic acid will be 

 produced in about twice the quantity got in the old way. The 

 acid is easily purified by crystallization 'from sulphurous 

 and sulphuric acids with which it will be found contaminated. 

 I believe the adding of sulphuric acid, in order to increase the 

 production of succinic acid was flrst noticed in a late German 

 pa]ier ; I have forgotten by whom it was there advised, that the 

 diluted acid after being mixed with the amber should be eva- 

 porated : tliis makes the process tedious, and is not necessary ; 

 the distillation of the mixture without any previous evaporation 

 will be found more advantageous. — Annals of Phil. ii. p. 76. 



10. Woulfes Apparatus improved. — The following form of 

 Woulfe's apparatus is due to the Marquess Ridolfi. The bot- 

 tles have three apertures as usual, and the middle one intended 

 for the purpose of cleaning the bottle, or the introduction of 

 materials, is closed either by a cork or a stopper ; tubes de- 

 scend by the other two into the bottles, as is usual, one a little 

 way in the other nearly to the bottom ; these tubes are small, 

 they are fastened into the neck of the bottle and do not rise far 

 above, perhaps three inches, before they terminate: each of 

 these tubes is surrounded on the exterior of the bottle by a 

 considerably larger tube as high as themselves, and fastened 

 by cement on to the top of the necks or tubulars, so as to form a 

 little vessel to receive mercury round the outside of the smaller 

 tube. The connexion is then easily made between one or more 

 of these bottles by glass tubes bent twice at right angles, and 

 of such size as easily to slip in between the two tubes before 

 described : when the lower ends are immersed in the mercury 

 all is tight, and the apparatus may be set to work. This con- 

 trivance allows a little motion to the bottles without endanger- 

 ing them ; they are instantly connected or unconnected at plea- 

 sure, and they act to a certain extent as tubes of safety. 



11. Prize Question. — The Society of Apothecaries of Paris 

 have olfercd a prize of 600 francs for — 1. The best determina- 

 tion in what manner charcoal acts in discoloration, and what are 

 the changes it undergoes during the action. 2. VVhat is the in- 

 fluence exercised during the operation by any foreign substances 

 which the charcoal may contain. And, 3. To eslablisli whether 

 the texture of auiniul charcoal is not one of the essential causes 



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