230 New Method of preparing 



Neither of the samples that were steeped in solution of 

 nitric acid came up, except one or two single corns ; and 

 ^vhlch, whether by having iDore room, or receiving but a 

 less degree of stimulus, grew extremely luxurious. I tried 

 the same steeps with barley, and found the same effect from 

 the nitric acid, as not a single one came up. 



The very powerlul eifect of this solution will induce me 

 to try it again in different dcgiecs of strength ; and should 

 the result be importautj I shall make it public. 



I am, sir. 



Your inost humble servant, 



B. Sevan. 



XXXVIII. Ntw ISIeihod of preparing corrosive SulUm ate 

 {/lyperoxidafed Muriate of Mercury) in the humid II ay. 

 By M.h. Von Schmidt Phiseldeck*. 



J-T is well known how much apothecaries desirous of pre- 

 paring their own medicines are indebted to Mr. Westrumb 

 for having furnished them with a method of preparing cor- 

 rosive sublimate without being exposed to the dangerous 

 vapour it emits during the sublimation. For some time 

 past I have emplovcd nivsclf, mcrelv from scientific views, 

 in preparing corrosive sublimate according to this methods 

 But however much I may be sensible of the advantages of 

 this process, I cannot help regretting the loss sustained in 

 the nitric and muriatic acicT:>, which in general cost so 

 jiRich trouble and expense before they can be obtained pure. 

 I reflected a long time on the means of avoiding this loss, 

 and at length discovered a process much more oeconomical 

 tlian that of the chemist Hameln. The question was, to 

 dissolve the mercury in the cheapest concentrated acid (this 

 acid, without doubt, was the sulphuric acid), and to present 

 to the oxide of mercury the muriatic acid without having 

 separated it from its alkahne base. I resolved then to pre- 

 pare a solution of mercury in sulphuric acid, and to decom- 

 pose the sulphate of mercury by muriate ot soda. I then 

 hoped that I could easily separate the two salts that were 

 formed bv crvstallization, as the sulphate of soda for its. 

 solution took only eight parts of cold water, wlxercas corro- 

 sive sublimate takes 162; but I found that after the first 



* From Jon>nal de Cbimie ct de Plyiiqiie, par J. B. Van Mons, 

 Pluviose 15, an. II. 



crystallization 



