450 Jolices respeciins New Books. 
and to determine the Extent and Condition of the Milky Way 
By Sir Wm. Herschel, Knt. Guelp. LL.D. F.R.S.—XXV. Some 
Account of the Nests of the Java Swallow, and of the Glands that 
secrete the Mucus of which they are composed. By Sir Everard 
Home, Bart. V.P.R.S. — XXVI. Observations on the Hirudo 
complanata, and Hirudo stagnalis, now formed into a distinct 
Genus under the Nawe Glossopora. By Dr. Johnson, of Bristol. 
Communicated by Sir Ev. Home, Bart.V.P.R.S.—XXVII. Ob- 
servations on the Gastric Glands of the Human Stomach, and 
the Contraction which takes place in that Viseus. By Sir Everard 
Home, Bart. V.P.R.S.—XXVIII. On the Parallax of the fixed 
Stars. By John Pond, Esq. Astronomer Royal. 
Sui Congiamenti di Colore della Tintura del Turnesoli,&c. Ol- 
servations and Experiments on the Changes of Colour in Tinc- 
ture of Turnsole, and other Vegetable Tinctures. By Pro- 
~ fessor Braneus of Pisa, Svo. 1816. pp. 112. 
The universal use of tincture of turnsole as a test, seems to 
have induced the universal belief that it was good and sufficient. 
Our Pisa Professor, who always ventures to think and observe 
for himself, discovered the fallacy of this notion, and on investi- 
gation found that very little was known on that subject, and that 
the opinions which have been: promulgated respecting it are re- 
markable for nothing but their contradictoriness and absurdity. 
Turnsole being a manufactured substance in which Lichen Peril- 
lus, Croton tinctorium, Variolaria orcina, or other Lichens, may 
form the hasis, it is not extraordinary that its chemieal elements 
should be different. Chevreul * found it consisted of colouring 
inatter, of muriate, sulphate, and subcarbonate of potash; of car- 
bonate of lime; of alumina and oxide of iron and of silica, The 
author analysed three different kinds, and found nearly the same 
results except the muriate of potash, of which he ouly found 
some traces. Of 288 grs. of turnsole of three different qualities, 
the first yielded a residuum insoluble in water 2264 grs.; the se- 
cond 1633, and the third 1841 grs. . Of a residuum insoluble in 
acetic acid, the first gave 2094, the second 134, and the third 
1512 grs. Of a residuum insoluble in muriatic acid, the first 
left 202, the second 1234, and the third 1824 grs. But it ap- 
pears that in turnsole of the sanre quality there is not always the 
same quantity of insoluble matter, and that the colouring matter 
is soluble in alcohol in the inverse ratio of its strength: when 
dissolved however in strong alcohol, by refracted light it had a 
blue colour, more or less violet ; with reflected it was red. The 
Professor proceeds to collate all ‘the vupinions of the different che- 
mists who have treated of turnsole, and brings them to the test of 
ee in which he evinees equal ingenuity" ‘and aaene 
: * Ann. de woe 88. 
Bus 4d Le i The 
