517 ame 
OUTLINES OF PERIODICAL LITERATURE, 
RELATING TO THE NATURAL SCIENCES & PHILOSOPHY. 
(Continued from Vol. 9, page 356, of this Journal), 
TueEsE “ Outlines,” on the present occasion, are necessarily extended so as 
to embrace the Periodical Literature of four months, including the last for 
mpcccxxxviu1. They commence with 
The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science ; 
conducted by Sir David Brewster, F.R.S. Richard Taylor, F.G.S. and 
Richard Phillips, F-R.S. 8vo. London, 1838-9. 
DecrempBer.—Here, for a first article, you meet with a concise experimen- 
tal paper by Dr. Jacobi on the galvanic spark. Professor Johnston then ad- 
duces remarks on some apparent exceptions to the law that like crystalline 
forms indicate like chemical formule: his object, in other words, is to exa- 
mine certain cases of isomorphous coincidence between substances of which 
the chemical formule, according to received views, are wholly irreconcilable; 
and, in an elaborate table, he arranges all the cases which have hitherto 
come to his knowledge. Inan eleventh series of his experimental researches 
in electricity, Dr. Faraday treats of specific induction or specific inductive 
capacity ; and his subjects are, shell-lac, glass, sulphur, spermaceti, rectified 
oil of turpentine, naphtha, rare and dense air and the different gases, with a 
summary on the nature of inductive action. Mr. Grove describes a new 
voltaic combination, which; he expects, may possibly throw some light upon 
the organization of the torpedo : his main object is, to direct attention to the 
porous filter as likely to form an important element in the analysis of the 
voltaic trough. A paper, by Mr. Nevins, on the reduction of the chlorides 
of mercury when mixed with organic substances, is followed by Mr. Craig’s 
notes on the process for obtaining bichromate of the perchloride of chrome, 
as viewed under the microscope; by Mr. Gregory’s on the experiments de- 
tailed in Mr. Waldie’s paper on combustion and flame; by Z. Y.’s on a cer- 
tain difficulty connected with the demonstration of Euclid, 8. 1, prob. 29; and 
by Mr. Gassiot’s on a remarkable difference in the heat attained by the elec- 
trodes of a powerful constant battery. Dr. Kane’s analytical investigation 
into the composition of essential oils, embraces those of rosemary, marjoram, 
peppermint, penny-royal, spearmint, and lavender, with explanatory re- 
marks; and Prof. Sylvester concludes his observations on the motion and 
rest of fluids, with the statement—that he looks for the true explanation of 
the phzenomena of capillary attraction “to the non-applicability of the equa- 
tions for free fluids to the case of fluids confined at the boundaries, and to an 
independent investigation upon the minimum of principle for this class of 
problems.” An original theorem of the same writer’s on an extension of 
Sir John Wilson’s theorem to all numbers whatever, carries you to the Pro- 
ceedings of the Royal Society ; and, from these, to the notes of intelligence 
and miscellaneous articles. Here, you have an account of xyloidine and its 
