234 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
Vegetables.—M. Planche suspended a piece of rag, impregnated 
with acetate of lead, and also a plate of clean copper, within 
the capital of an alembic in which he was drawing off distilled 
waters from plants, and found that the above re-agents were 
powerfully acted on, as if they had been exposed to a stream of 
sulphuretted hydrogen. He found, moreover, that water and 
sulphur boiled together, as also roll sulphur heated, without 
the addition of water, evolved sulphuretted hydrogen; and from 
the two latter experiments he infers, that in plants the sulphur 
is in its simple state, 
According to MM. Thibierge and Robiquet, the oil of mus- 
tard contains a pretty large quantity of sulphur; and from some 
comparative trials, it seems there to be in the state of sulphu- 
retted hydrogen. In fact, distilled water, saturated with the 
essential oil of mustard, blackens the solution of nitrate of sil- 
ver, Oil of caraways absorbs a very large quantity of sulphu- 
retted hydrogen gas, when it is passed through it; and assumes, 
in consequence, a very fetid odour. He supposes that the sul- 
phur which exists as such in the mustard-seed, is converted 
into sulphuretted hydrogen during distillation with water, and 
in this state unites to the oil. A portion of the sulphur is de- 
posited at the end of some days. The following plants yielded 
much sulphur: the flowers of the elder, linden, and orange- 
tree; the whole plant of pellitory and mercury; the flowering 
tops of hyssop, melilot, tarragon, and rue; the seeds of dill, 
caraway, cummin, and fennel; and clove-buds. — (Journal de 
Pharmacie, Aug. 1822.) 
13. Action of Salts on Turmeric Paper.—Among the salts not 
alkaline, which have the power of affecting turmeric paper like 
alkalies, (see page 315, last No.), those of uranium are perhaps 
most powerful. The muriate, sulphate, and acetate affect tur- 
meric paper strongly, even when considerably diluted; but the 
nitrate is the most powerful. A strong solution scarcely seems 
to have its power diminished by dilution with ten or twelve 
times its weight of water; and even when the solution contains 
only <4, of dry nitrate of uranium, it sensibly browns turmeric 
aper. 
The muriate of zirconia also possesses this property to a con- 
siderable degree.—M. F. 
14. Detection of Poisons.—A paragraph has appeared in the 
papers, recommending blue sugar-loaf paper as a test of dis- 
tinction between oxalic acid and, Epsom salt; it is reddened 
by the former, but not affected by the latter. This is perfectly 
true ; but a simpler test consists in wetting the tip of the finger, 
applying it first to the supposed salt, and then to the tongue— 
