260 Scientific Intelligence. 
prussiate of potash. The oxides of manganese, nickel, cobalt, lead, 
copper and tin, in solution, are all peroxidized by having added to 
them a mixed solution of potash and ferricyanide of potassium, which 
last-is converted into the ferrocyanide. The oxide of chrome, when 
dissolved in potash and boiled with the ferricyanide of potassium, is 
converted into chromate of potash, and if sufficient oxide be present, 
all the ferricyanide is converted into the ferrocyanide. Sulphur is 
oxidized by it, being converted into sulphuric acid; the same is true of 
phosphorous and sulphurous acids and their salts. Oxalic acid and the 
oxalates are instantly converted into carbonates, by being added to the 
solution of potash and ferricyanide. i, 14S. 
11. Action of the Bicarbonates of the Alkalies on the Vegetable 
Bases when Tartaric Acid is present; by C. Oppermann, (Comptes 
Rendus, October, 1845, p. 810.)—It is well known that the pres- 
ence of tartaric acid in solutions of the metallic salts, prevents their 
precipitation by an excess of ammonia and other reagents. M. Op- 
permann has found in his experiments, that when tartaric acid is 
present, sufficient to produce decided acid reaction, the salts of mor- 
phine are not precipitated by the bicarbonates, while those of narco- 
tine are; the salts of strychnine are precipitated, and those of brucine 
not; the salts of cinchonine are precipitated, those of quinine not ; the 
salts of veratrine acidified in the way mentioned, are precipitated by 
the bicarbonate of soda, but not by the bicarbonate of potash. The 
solutions of the salts were made with 1 part to 200 or 500 of water. 
It is seen by this, that where a plant contains two bases, the tartaric acid 
prevents the precipitation of one, but not of the other, a fact which may 
be taken advantage of in separating the two bases. J.L. 8. 
12. On a new method of forming Chloral ; by M. Srapier, (Comp. 
Rendus, October, 1845, p. 820.)—The reaction of chlorine in its nas- 
cent state upon many organic substances, is found to produce chloral ; 
starch, however, has been preferred. It is obtained mixed with formic 
acid and an oily body, which now occupies the attention of M. Stadler, 
and which is procured by submitting to distillation a mixture of starch, 
binoxide of manganese, and hydrochloric acid. J. dni 
13, Quantitative determination of Lithia; by C. RAMMELSBERG, 
(Chem. Gaz., December, 1845, p. 502, from Pogg. Annalen, 1845.)— 
When lithia and soda occur together, as is usually the case, there is, as 
is well known, no other method of estimating, except by precipitating 
the first in the form of a phosphate of soda and lithia, or by the arithmeti- 
cal method of indirect analysis, first employed in chemistry by Richter. 
Both processes are undoubtedly imperfect, especially the first. Ram- 
melsberg has found, after numerous experiments on various salts, that 
& mixture of alcohol and ether may be employed for the separation of 
