78 Scientific Intelligence. 



may have been originally produced by an evolution of gaseous matter, 

 whilst the rock itself was in a softened condition. 



II. — Gastric Juice. 



The experiments of Dr. Prout, and of Tiedemann and Gmelin in 

 reference to the gastric juice, are confirmed by those of Braconnot, 

 and prove that there is no peculiar substance to which this appellation 

 should be applied, but that the remarkable peculiarity of the stomach 

 is the property which it possesses of secreting a great quantity 

 of muriatic acid. The gastric juice examined by Braconnot was ob- 

 tained from a dog. He found it to contain 



1. Free muriatic acid in great abundance. 2. Muriate of am- 

 monia. 3. Chloride of sodium in very great quantity. 4. Chloride 

 of calcium. 5. A trace of chloride of potassium. 6. Chloride of 

 Iron. 7. Chloride of magnesium. 8. Colourless oil with an acid 

 taste. 9. Animal matter soluble in water and alcohol, in very con- 

 siderable quantity. 10. Animal matter soluble in weak acids. 11. 

 Animal matter soluble in water, and insoluble in alcohol (salivary 

 matter of Gmelin). 12. Mucus. 13. Phosphate of lime. He 

 found no trace of lactic acid. — (Annates de Chimie, lix. 348.) 



III. — Benzoyle, Benzimide, and Benzoine. 



In distilling the essence of bitter almonds with well water, Laugier 

 obtained a resinous substance which Laurent found to consist of 1. An 

 oil containing the essence of bitter almonds ; 2, benzoine ; and 3, a 

 crystalline body which he terms benzimide. Boiling alcohol dis- 

 solves the oil and benzoine, and on cooling benzimide falls. After 

 filtration, by evaporation, the bezoine crystallizes and the oil remains 

 in solution. The benzimide and residue are dissolved in boiling alco- 

 hol, and on cooling minute needles of benzimide separate. 



Benzimide is white and destitute of smell, insoluble, very little 

 soluble in boiling alcohol and ether. When heated, it burns with a 

 red flame, leaving a brown residue. Nitric and muriatic acids dis- 

 solve it readily. Sulphuric acid dissolves it and acquires an indigo 

 colour. When treated with pieces of potash and some drops of 

 alcohol, benzoate of potash is formed. 



It consists of carbon 74*86; hydrogen 4-94; oxygen 13-20; 

 azote 7. This composition Laurent considers equivalent to biben- 

 zoate of ammonia, with a deficiency of 4 atoms of water, or we may 

 call it CI* HH O Nj. The benzamide of Wohler and Liebig cor- 

 responds with the neutral benzoate of ammonia. 



Benzoine was previously obtained from the essence of bitter al- 

 monds from which it may easily be extracted by means of potash. It 

 consists of carbon 78*652; hydrogen 5*772; oxygen 15*577. This 

 corresponds with C^ H 6 O, and is isomeric with hydret of ben- 

 zoyle. 



Benzoyle was formed by passing chlorine over fused benzoine. 

 The product was dissolved in alcohol, and crystallized. Benzoine is 



