396 • Miscellaneom biteiligence. 



The second is obtained from the residue of the distillation of, 

 ether, treated many limes with alcohol, this residue is saturated , 

 with chalk or carbonate of barytes, filtered, and the salt obtained 

 as before ; the third acid is procured by exposing the second . 

 acid, or the residuum of ether distillation, to the air for some 

 time, and then saturating and separating- as before. The salt is 

 obtained, and from that the acid. A translation of this paper 

 has been published in Thomson's Annals, Vol. XIV. p. 44. 



M. Vogelhas, since these experiments were made, read a pa- 

 per to the Academy of Sciences at Munich on the same subject. 

 His object was to repeat the experiments of M. Sertuerner, but 

 he does not, in conclusion, admit the existence of three new acids, 

 but of one only, and that appears to be the same as the one de- 

 scribed by Dabit. 



To obtain it, equal parts of alcohol and sulphuric acid were 

 mixed together, and distilled until all the ether had come off. 

 The residuum was saturated with carbonate of lead, filtered, and. 

 a soluble sulpho-vinate of lead was obtained. Sulphuretted hy-, 

 drogen was passed through this solution, which precipitated the 

 lead, and the acid was left pure. The new acid may also be 

 obtained by saturating with carbonate of barytes in the first in-j 

 stance, and then adding sulphuric acid to the salt. 



The sulphovinous acid cannot be concentrated by heat, for 

 when heated sulphuric acid is formed in it. But it may be con- 

 centrated under the receiver of the air-pump, until it appears as 

 dense and adhesive as sulphuric acid. The specific gravity is 

 then 1.319. If it be left for a long time in the receiver, it decom- 

 poses ; sulphurous acid is disengaged, and concentrated sulphuric 

 acid, with a few drops of an ethereal oil, are left in the glass. 



The sulphovinous acid and the sulphovinates are not decom- 

 posed by nitric acid when cold ; but, if heated, nitrous acid is 

 disengaged, and sulphuric acid formed. The acid cannot re- 

 main pure in its concentrated state for any length of time : after- 

 14 or 15 days, sulphuric acid forms in it. 



The sulphovinateof lime when crystallized, is in quadrangular 

 tables, unalterable in the air, but if the salt be obtained in a mass' 

 by evaporation, It attracts water. The crystals are slightly- 



