376 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



An account of these results was read before the Royal Society 

 of Edinburgh, on the 3d and 17th of March. — Edin. Phil. Jour. 

 viii. 400. 



[\Ve have seen a most curious and satisfactory specimen of 

 amethyst quartz, containing the fluid above described by Dr. 

 Brewster, in the collection of Thomas Allan, Esq. of Edinburgh. 

 It exhibits three distinct oblong cavities, which, when the crys- 

 tal is very slightly warmed, are to all appearance empty, but, 

 upon cooling it by immersion in water, or by holding it against 

 any cold substance, a portion of liquid is immediately perceived 

 in each of the cavities, which gradually disappears as the crys- 

 tal becomes less cold. The appearances are such as one might 

 expect would arise from very highly condensed carbonic acid 

 contained in the bubbles, assuming alternately the liquid and 

 gaseous form, by very slight elevations and depressions of 

 temperature. — Ed.] 



2. Crystallized Deposit in the Essential Oil of Bitter Almonds. 

 Mr. Hendrie has just put into my possession a considerable 

 portion of white crystalline matter, which, he observes, always 

 separates from the above oil, when it is kept for some time, 

 partially exposed to air. The crystals are flattened rhombic 

 prisms. When cleared of the adhering oil, they are transpa- 

 rent, somewhat acrid and gritty upon the tonguf., fusible and 

 volatile at a heat of about 300° — insoluble in water, but readily 

 and abundantly soluble in ether and alcohol ; the latter depo- 

 siting a white powder, when mixed with water. They dissolve 

 in solutions of ammonia, potassa, and soda, and are not de- 

 composed when boiled with nitric acid. Their further proper- 

 ties I have not yet had an opportunity of examining, but the 

 above shew that they are peculiar. — W, T. B. 



3. On a new Compound of Iodine. Iodide of Carbon ?— 

 I Signori Ferrari e Frisiani, whilst preparing the iodate and 

 hydriodate of potrssa, observed the production of a new com- 

 pound of iodine. It may be obtained thus : — Heat an ounce of 

 iodine, with a little water, on a sand-bath, and add to it, by 

 degrees, about two ounces of potash ; when the two salts above 

 mentioned will be formed. In order to saturate the excess of 

 alkali, pour in, by degrees, a tincture composed of one ounce 

 of iodine to six ounces of alcohol, specific gravity .837, When 

 the re-action of the tincture on the potash is finished, pour the 

 hot liquor on a filter, and the liquid which passes through will, 

 as it cools, deposit yellow crystals, of the substance ; they 

 should be carefully washed in cold water, to remove all the 

 iodate and hydriodate of potash. Another method is, to take 

 the alcoholic solution of the two salts, prepared as above, and 

 distil it; and when the fluid which comes over ceases to be 

 coloured, to change the receiver; the colourless liquor then 

 obtained, upon cooling, deposits very pure crystals, of the sub- 



