194 Miscellanies. 
hydrogen. If the acid be diluted it is not so speedily decomposed, and 
the gas that comes over is spon-inflammable from the fact that it contains 
in suspension a small portion of the liquid phosphuretted hydrogen, which 
was shown to be the substance to which the gas owes its inflammability. 
Adding phosphuret of lime to dilute muriatic acid is the most convenient 
method of obtaining the spon-inflammable gas, from the fact of its readily 
dissolving the phosphate of lime contained in the mass. 
Benzoic Acid and Hydruret of Benzoile, decomposition by contact, 
by Barresuu and Boupactt, (Jour. de Pharm. April, 1844, p. 265.)—. 
If benzoic acid is mixed with five or six times its weight of pulverized 
pumice-stone, and heated in a retort to a temperature not much above 
the boiling point of benzoic acid, and the product arising from the dis- 
tillation be made to pass through a tube containing pumice-stone heated 
to redness, benzine and carbonic acids are the products. If the vapors of 
hydruret of benzoile be passed through the heated pumice-stone, benzine 
and carbonic oxide are formed. 
Hyperoxide of Silver, (Jour. fir Prakt. Chem. xxx1, p. 179.)—M. 
Wattauist prepared it by the action of a powerful galvanic battery upon 
a concentrated solution of nitrate of silver placed in a U tube. It de- 
posits itself at the positive pole in octahedral crystals of a blackish grey 
color—cold water does not decompose it; oxacids decompose it with the 
liberation of oxygen gas; the addition of hydrochloric acid liberates 
chlorine ; mixed with phosphorus or sulphur, it forms a fulminating com- 
pound detonating when struck. 
’ Maynas Resin, by M. B. Lewy, (Compt. Rend. Feb. 1844, p. 242.)— 
This resin is furnished by the Colophyllum caloba, and when purified 
can be crystallized out of alcohol in very beautiful yellow crystals. Its 
composition is— 
sh AE TES OSA Re GIy AG a Se Regi 
BS RRS ee NN Bite EE FE 720 
O MS. eee Matt moe Sl Meccan i 
100°00 
It combines with bases, its density is 1°12; it melts at 221° Fah. The 
action of nitric acid of 36° furnishes a volatile acid having the character- 
istics of butyric acid, and the liquid that remains in the retort furnishes 
oxalic acid. 
Guiac Resin, by MM. Peuterier and Devitte, (Comp. Rend. July, 
1844, p. 182.)—A volatile oil has been obtained from this resin analo- 
gous to the Spirma oil ; its composition is C28 H1® Q+, and differs from 
the hydrure of salicyle (Spirea oil) by 2 equivalents of hydrogen, and 
like it combines with bases forming crystallizable salts, This oil is call- 
