518 OUTLINES OF PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 
properties, by M. Pelouze; M. Lassaigne’s remarks on the determination of 
iodine and kelp; MM. Matteucci and Schcenbein on the polarization of pla- 
tina electrodes; Mr. Henry on sulphocyanide of potassium as a test for 
strychnia; M. Regnault on pectic acid, and the pectates of potash, soda, and 
ammonia; M. Brunner on the decomposition of siliceous minerals by means 
of hydrofluoric acid, and on the separation of compounds of the oxides of an- 
timony and lead; Prof. Johnston on the analysis of the resins; M. Melly on 
the composition of comptonite, which he proves to be a hydrous silicate of 
alumina, lime and soda; M. Dumas on the action of chlorine on acetic acid, 
and M. Masson on the action of chloride of zinc on alcohol; M. Pfaff on the 
combination of azote with metals; M. Boudet on the solubility of binoxide 
of mercury in water; MM. Weehler and Liebig on the decomposition of li- 
thic acid by nitric acid; MM. Cap and Henri on lactate of urea; Mr. Grif- 
fith on the existence of caoutchouc in plants; and Dr. Natterer on the Le- 
pidosiren paradoxa, which he describes before leaving you to examine the 
meteorological observations and tables. 
JANUARY, MDCCCXXxIx.—First in the commencing volume, Dr. Turner’s 
chemical examination of the Fire-Damp from coal-mines, aftords results that 
may prove conducive to the safety of miners: it includes a tabular view of 
the composition of all the gases which have been analysed. With meteorolo- 
gical observations instituted in Colombia between 1820 and 1830, Col. Wright 
combines much various information: he distributes the temperatures 
through the vast territory of Colombia into five zones—the level of the 
ocean ; the small elevations, from five hundred to fifteen hundred feet ; the 
slopes of the Cordillera, from two thousand to seven thousand feet; the ta- 
ble-lands, from eight thousand to ten thousand feet ; and the paramos, from 
eleven thousand feet to the limit of perpetual snow. Mr. Talbot’s article on 
-‘ Analytic Crystals” is illustrated by six beautiful coloured figures: he dis- 
covered this class of crystals, during a course of experiments with his polariz- 
ing microscope. J.S. W. propounds some remarks on certain conditions 
under which light is received from the heavenly bodies: he is desirous of 
seeing this question put to extensive scientific investigation. An account of 
a remarkable heat observed in masses of brine kept in large reservoirs, is fur- 
nished by Mr. Prinsep, with details of ten experiments: he acknowledges 
his inability to offer any explanation of the cause of this heat. Sir J. Her- 
schel describes a chemical examination of a specimen of native iron from S. 
Africa: and, from the results, he judges that this specimen has equal claims 
to a meteoric origin with any other masses of native nickeliferous iron. Suc- 
cessively come six articles, a supplementary note to Dr. Faraday’s researches 
in electricity; Mr. Ivory’s remarks on the equilibrium of fluids ; Mr. Birt’s 
observations on shooting stars, with his table of the constellations arranged 
according to their relative positions in the heavens. Prof. Schcenbein’s let- 
ter on the voltaic polarization of certain solid and fluid substances. Mr. 
Phillips’s desiderata with respect to the formule representing Chabasie ; and 
Prof. Sylvester’s note on his paper inserted in the preceding number. Of 
the geological, royal and astronomical societies, the reported “ Proceedings” 
are interesting and valuable: they are followed by eight miscellaneous arti- 
cles intituled, silicates of soda, respiration of plants, valerianic ether, action 
of sulphate of ammonia on glass, aconitic acid, separation of copper from ar- 
senic, method of distinguishing strontian from barytes and lime, and instru- 
