Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 397 



istic properties, even in those cases which would be the most likely 

 to separate its elements, if it were not a simple body. 



Cyanuret of bromine is extremely deleterious. A grain dissolved 

 in water and given to a rabbit, instantly killed it ; the inconveni- 

 ence produced by its deleterious properties, as well as the scarcity 

 of bromine, induced M. Serullas to discontinue his experiments 

 upon it.— Ann. de Chim. et Phys. torn, xxxiv. p. 95. 



NEW THEORY OF CRYSTALLIZATION. 

 Accident has within the last few days thrown in our way a volume 

 on Mineralogy, by Mr, Beudant, published in 1824-. On looking 

 through it, we have been surprised to observe a statement which is 

 as wholly inaccurate in fact, as it is inconsistent with theory. 



In page 60, Mr. B. states, that " in all crystals of which the com- 

 position^'is identical, the angles are the same ; but if the crystals con- 

 tain accidental mixtures, the angles are sensibly and constantly dif.^ 

 ferent." He says, " the angles we find in these cases are generally 

 the mean of the angles of each of the mixed substances taken pro-'^ 

 portionally to the quantity of each. 



" Thus if 10 particles of carbonate of lime be mixed with one of 

 carbonate of magnesia, the angle of the compound will be the 1-1 1th 

 part of the sum of 10 angles of 105° 5' and one of 107° 25', which 

 would be 105° 24' 10". 



" I have," he Adds, " observed these angles for these composi- 

 tions, and Mr. Mitscherlich has made similar observations." And 

 he adduces in support of this statement the known angle of " car- 

 bonate of lime and magnesia, 106° 15', as the mean of 105° 5' and 

 107° 25'." 



But it unfortunately happens that the carbonate of magnesia 

 from diflerent localities distinctly measures 107° 30'. 



The statement therefore fails in the only instance in which its 

 correctness otherwise could be ascertained ; that is, in the case of a 

 definite compound. And there can be no doubt that both Mr. B. and 

 Mr. M. have been deceived by their goniometer in the measurements 

 of merely mixed minerals which Mr. B. supposes he has obtained. 



The instances in which mere mixture does not alter the crystal- 

 line form of a mineral are too numerous to admit of doubt as to the 

 fact ; and carbonate of magnesia is known to exist with various 

 proportions of carbonate of iron, yet without the slightest appreci- 

 able variation in its angle of 107° 30'. 



If the fact were as Mr. Beudant supposes, where in the crystal 

 does he imagine the single atom of carbonate of magnesia should 

 be placed, supposing 10 atoms of carbonate of lime, or 20, or 100 

 atoms, so as to affect the angular measurement of the crystal ? 



NEW PATENTS. 

 To Aristides Franklin Mornay, of Ashburton House, Putney 

 Heath, for improvements in preparing for smelting and in smelting 

 ores, or in extracting metals from such ores. — Dated the 27th of 

 March 1827.— 6 months allowed to enrol specification. 



To 



