154 Scientific Intelligence. 



of alumina 2 parts, nitrate of potash 1 part, water 16 parts. M. 

 Vinet, keeper of the museum, has also used it for tanning skins which 

 are to be piled up. It is particularly useful in preserving the brain. 

 — (Journ. de Chim. Medic, i.) 



3. Caustic powder of Vienna. — This consists of caustic potash 

 with lime 5 parts, pulverized quick-lime 6 parts. When it is to be em- 

 ployed, it is mixed with a little alcohol so as to form a liquid paste, 

 which is spread between two pieces of cerecloth, one of which has an 

 aperture in it of the size and form which we wish to give to the es- 

 char. The action is rapid but not painful, and always terminates in 

 less than half an hour. — (Ibid.) 



4. Hydro-ferro-cyanate of Quinin. — Ferrari forms this prepara- 

 tion by employing equal parts of pure quinin and Prussian blue in 

 fine powder. The quinin is dissolved in alcohol, hydro-cyanate of iron 

 is then added, and the whole is boiled for some minutes. The boiling 

 liquid is then filtered. It has a greenish yellow tinge, is soluble in 

 water, and presents all the characters of hydro-ferro-cyanate of 

 quinin. In this process, the Prussian blue employed has lost the 

 fourth of its weight, so that if 4 parts of quinin are employed, the 

 new product weighs five. — (Ibid. i. 360.) 



5. White lead Plaster. — Ferrari recommends that this plaster 

 should be made by boiling together 6 lbs. of olive oil and 3 lbs. of 

 lead. During the boiling, acetic acid is to be added. This will be 

 decomposed and form carbonic acid, which will combine with the 

 oxide of lead. Instead of acetic acid, sugar of lead, with a smaller 

 proportion of lead may be employed. — {Gazetta eclettica di Far- 

 mac, iii. 166.) 



II. — Progress of Science. 



The year 1833 furnished important descriptions of the 3 peninsulas 

 of Southern Europe, Mexico, South America, and Hindostan. Eng- 

 land afforded 45 publications of this kind, France 46, Germany 31, 

 Italy 19, Russia 15, and the United States 16. During the same 

 year, there appeared in the Physical and Natural Sciences, 144 

 treatises, and 276 memoirs in the whole ; and in Geology and Pa- 

 laeontology 61 treatises and 414 memoirs ; or, in the whole, 205 

 treatises and 690 memoirs ; or, 895 publications. In comparing the 

 number of works of 1833 with those of 1830, 1831 and 1832, the 

 ratio is expressed by the following figures : 300, 450, 500 and 900. 

 — (Silliman's American Journal, xxviii. 294.) 



III. — Carices common to North America and Great Britain. 

 Professor Dewey received a collection of 190 Carices which had 

 been collected in the voyages and tours in Arctic America, from Dr. 

 Hooker through Dr. Torrey. Those common to America and this 

 country are : C Dioica, Rocky mountains ; Davalliana ib ; Ca- 

 pitata ib ; Incurva, ib ; Carta ib ; Saxatilis Bear Lake ; Acuta 

 Columbia river ; Ccespitosa rocky mountains ; Atrata ib ; Vahlii 



