308 A new salifiable Base. : 
“« Jt suddenly occurred to me that I might fulfil the purpose f 
had in view, by a process which was entirely new, and could be 
more speedily completed. This led me to suppose that the 
wire-gauze which has been long used in England, for making . 
sieves, might fulfil to a certain point the ends | had in view, pro-= 
vided it were coated with a substance that was transparent and 
impervious to the air.” Page 209. 
It is then recommended, when tinned and painted, to be plunged 
into a tub filled with melted glue, very pure and transparent, the 
heat of which should not be great, nor the consistency too thick 
Then (page 211) to be defended from moisture by drying lin- 
seed oil, and at page 214 isinglass is stated to be preferable to, 
glue. 
<Tn trying to discover a fit varnish to protect my new kind of 
lantern from moisture, I did not make use of copa! or any other 
resin, as the varnish made with them is always more or less brit- 
tle, but employed a perfect solution of the elastie gum in drying 
linseed oil.” Page 123.—The Repertory of Arts and Manu- 
Juclures, vol. x. First Series. London 1799. 8vo. 
ON A NEW SALIFIABLE BASE DISCOVERED BY DR. G. BRUGNA= 
TELLI. 
[From the Giornale de Fisica, t. iii., p. 464) 
The new substance is produced by the action of liquid acids 012 
uric acid. Those that have been used are the sulphurie, nitric, 
muriatic, and aeetie ; and the uric acid may be either that of 
calculi or of birds or snakes. It is formed by adding concen~ 
trated sulphuric acid, for instance, in small quantities at a time, 
to uric acid, until a thick paste is formed; it will occasion swell - 
ing, the liberation of gas, and a particular odour. When these 
signs hare ceased, add water, the mass will become very white 5 
and, on standing, will separate into two parts. The solid portion 
is a neutral combination of the new base with sulphuric acid. 
The fluid is a portion of this compound dissolved in the excess 
of acid, and containing impurities. Fhe sulphate is but hetle 
soluble in water; but the solution, decomposed by alkaline sub- 
carbonates, yields a white ight flocculent substance, which is the 
base in question. Muriatic acid is, perhaps, better than the sul- 
phuric for the preparation of this substance, inasmuch as the 
muriate is more soluble. Acetic acid requires boiling to form it, 
and nitric acid produces it among other products at the time of 
its violent action. 
The flocculent matter collected on a filter, appears like gelatine ;, 
in drying it contracts and splits, and when pulverized has the ap- - 
pearance 
