188 Foreign Interatire and Science. 
- The regularly increasing ratio, which the tables present, 
authorize the opinion of a sensible amelioration in the vitality 
of our population, and even in our morality; for in reality, 
among the causes of this amelioration, may be reckoned the 
perfection of physical and moral education, which has in a 
great measure expelled the vices and excess to which an ig- 
norant population is ever prone. . To this must be added.the 
increase of wealth and ease which is favorable to a more 
wholesome style of living, and contributes to that tranquility 
of mind which has a powerful influence on the health. The 
progress of Medicine and Hygiene, especially by the intro- 
duction of inoculation and vaccination has done much to 
promote longevity.—Jbid. . 
_ 39. A simple process for discovering and separating anti- 
mony Jeonetocihs tater, oe other metals soluble in nitric acid ; 
by M. Bussoxin.—If an alloy which contains no antimony 
be dissolved in sulphuric acid, all will be dissolved, except 
the tiny the white oxide of which wil] be precipitated; but if 
the alloy contain a very small quantity of antimony, the 
oxide of tin will become of a yellowish hue. Besides, the 
tin has the property of drawing away all the antimony by 
its precipitation in the nitric acid. These two facts have 
been usefully employed by the author, for the discovery of 
antimony, and the separation of it from the lead.—Ferru- 
sac’s Bull, Jan, 1828. 
40. Note upon the spontaneous combustion of Cobalt; by 
M. Bovutray.—Very recently, some cobalt, pulverised by 
mechanical means, became so strongly heated as to take fire. 
The combustion slow at first, and was not perceived till the end 
of two or three days; it was then very hot and luminous, if 
ever so little stirred. It was covered and set to'cool. Some 
days after, twenty pounds of it, were packed up without any 
renewal of the combustion, and nevertheless, on the follow-- 
ing night, the package of cobalt set fire to the objects with 
which it was in contact, and afterwards to the warehouse.. 
Ibid. ee : 
The fire was extinguished.— rs 
_ Al. Note upon the Toduret of Lead ; by M. Bertuenot. 
—Tron and zine decompose the induret of lead, by simple 
ebullition in water ; the carbonates of soda, barytes,_ stron- 
tian, lithe and magnesia, as well as the oxides, have also the 
property of decomposing the ioduret of lead.—. 
rs 
