"^^^2 MiaceUaneu^i Inlc/ligence. 



8. New Lamp. — A new lamp lias been invented by Mr. Parker 

 of Argyll-street, which removes u general objection to lamps 

 now in use. It casts no shadow, and can increase its light on 

 the lower or upper part of the apartment at pleasure. Its ap- 

 plication is either for reading or general illumination. 



II. Chemical Science. 



§ Chemistry. 



J. On the Action of Sulphuric Acid on Animal Substances. — 

 M. Braconnot has continued his researches on the action of 

 sulphuric acid on organic substances, and has obtained some 

 other interesting results in addition to those already published. 

 The following are the most important of them very briefly 

 stated. 



12 parts of powdered glue were mixed with 24 of concen- 

 trated sulphuric acid. In twenty-four hours the liquor had not 

 increased in colour ; about thrice as much water was added, and 

 the whole boiled for five hours, adding water at intervals. The 

 solution was then saturated with chalk, filtered and evaporated 

 spontaneously. In the course of a month it yielded crystals 

 of a very sweet taste, which when washed in weak alcohol, 

 pressed in a cloth, re-dissolved and re-crystallized, were mode- 

 rately pure. 



This sugar crystallizes much more readily than cane sugar. 

 Its solution evaporated by heat forms crystals on the surface. 

 When they are obtained by slow evaporation they form flat 

 prisms or tables grouped together, are hard, and break be- 

 tween the teeth like sugar-candy. They are equal in sweetness 

 to grape sugar, and are not more soluble than the sugar of 

 milk. Their solution does not ferment with yeast. Boiling 

 alcohol does not dissolve them. They are less fusible than 

 cane-sugar, and resist decomposition more strongly. When 

 distilled, an ammoniacal product is obtained. Though it re- 

 sembles sugar of milk in some points, it differs from it in others. 

 By the action of sulphuric acid sugar of milk is converted into 

 a sugar very soluble in water, whereas this sugar is compara-j 



