[ 308 ] 

 LII. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



NEW ALKALIES. 



1. Daluriam. — iVl. Brandes has given the name Daturium 

 to a substance supposed to be an alkali obtained by him from the 

 seed« of the Daturium Stramonium. It is combined in the seeds 

 with malic acid, and is separated in the usual manner. In water 

 and in cold alcohol it is nearly insoluble, but is soluble in hot 

 alcohol, from which it precipitates in flocculi on cooling. It 

 crystallizes with difficulty in quadrangular needles. It forms 

 neutral salts with acids, but requires to be added in great quan- 

 tity. Its sulphate is crystallizable, soluble in water, efflorescent, 

 and decomposed by fixed alkalies : the muriate forms square 

 plates easily soluble in water: the nitrate is crystalline and so- 

 luble: the acetate deliquescent. It acts on iodine in the man- 

 ner of other alkalies, but freely. — Journai de Physique, xci. 

 p. 144. 



2. Atrop'ia. — This name is given to an alkali, found by 

 M. Brandes in the Belladonna Atropia, which owes its pecu- 

 liar properties to this substance. It is white, shining, crystal- 

 li.^es in long needles, insipid, and little soluble in water or in al- 

 cohol ; forms regular salts with the acids, and neutralizes a con- 

 siderable quantity of them. The sulphate oi Atropia contains 



Atropia . . . . 3S'93 



Sulphuric acid . . 36"52 



Water 24-55 



100-00 



When mixed with potassa and raised to a red heat, if mingled 

 with muriate of iron it produces a brilliant red colour. 



3. Hyoscyama is extracted from the Hyoscyamus niger, and 

 is not easily altered even by a red heat. It crystallizes in long 

 prisms, and forms very characteristic salts when saturated with 

 sulphuric or with nitric acid. 



Great caution is required in examining the constituent alkaline 

 principles of narcotic plants, as their poisonous properties reside 

 concentrated in the alkaline substance. The vapour is very in- 

 jurious to the eyes, and the most minute fragment placed on 

 the tongue is highlv dangerous. — Journal de Physique, xci. 

 p. 239. ' 



STEAM-ENGINES AT CONSOLIDATED MINES *. 



At the latter end of December last, the third of the Hew steam 



* Aiuicils of Philosupliy, No. 3. 



engines 



