394 Cevadic Acid. — Galvanic Magnetism. — Statistics^ (^c. 



Iodine with Veratrine produces a hydriodate and an iodate j 

 Chlorine, a muriate and a chlorate. 



Cevadilla was found ultimately to contain elaine, stearine, ce- 

 vadic acid, wax, acid gallate of veratrine, a yellow colouring mat- 

 ter, gum, lignin, and ashes. White hellebore analysed in the 

 same maimer, gave nearly the same results ; but was found to 

 contain also starch, and the ashes varied a little in the salts they 

 contained. Both contained carbonates of lime and of potash, 

 also silex : the Cevadilla contains also muriate of potash; and the 

 white hellebore sulphate of lime. 



The Colchicum, examined in precisely the same manner, gave 

 the same results, but with the addition of inuline. The ashes 

 were in so small a proportion as not to call for attention. 



CEVADIC ACID. 



This acid is obtained by distilling the greasy, unctuous acid 

 substance (mentioned in the preceding notice), saturating what 

 passes over with barytes, and evaporating to dryness, which pro- 

 duces a white salt. An addition of phosphoric acid caused the 

 appearance of crystals ; and distilling at a low heat made the 

 acid pass over. This acid is crystallizable, soluble in water, fusi- 

 ble, and volatile at a low temperature ; soluble in ether and in 

 alcohol, and capable of forming salts with bases. 



GALVANIC MAGNETISM. 



In our notice of the proceedings of the Royal Society (p. «381 

 of the present Number) we have given a brief account of Sir 

 Humphry Davy's recent interesting electro-magnetic experi- 

 ments. We have here to notice also an important result ob- 

 tained bv Professor Oersted. He states that a plate of zinc 

 (about three inches high and four inches broad) placed in, and 

 by an arch of small wire connected with a trough nearly fitting 

 it, made of thin copper and containing a mixture of one part of 

 sulphuric acid, one part of nitric acid, and 60 pans of water, 

 forms an apparatus, which, being suspended by a very small wire 

 (only sufficiently strong to bear its weight), will, if a powerful 

 magnet be presented to it, exhibit magnetic polarity — turning 

 its corresponding pole to the pole of the magnet. The suspend- 

 ing wire is attached to the apparatus by a thread rising from one 

 side of the trough to the wire, and descending to the other side 

 of the trough ; and the plate of zinc is kept from coming in 

 contact with the copper case, by a piece of cork interposed on 

 each side of the plate. 



STATISTICS, ETC. 



France. It appears from a late publication of the Academy 

 of Sciences, that Paris contains 714,000 inhabitants, of whom 



25,000 



