158 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



mixture had the same properties as the supposed cholesterine of the 

 blood. M. Boudet admits, however, that further experiments are 

 required to ascertain positively that the serum of the blood con- 

 tains cholesterine. 



After the separation of this supposed crystallized cholesterine, the 

 alcoholic solution was evaporated to dryness : it furnished a viscid 

 residue, of an acrid taste, and soluble in alcohol. It still, however, 

 retained cerebral fatty matter, which was separated as much as pos- 

 sible by alcohol, of sp. gr. 091 5, this appearing to have scarcely any 

 action upon it: lastly, it was dissolved in aether, which separated 

 from it traces of saline matter. 



Thus purified, this new product was soft, somewhat transparent, 

 of an acrid and soapy taste, slightly altered by phosphorized fatty 

 matter, very soluble in alcohol and aether, and sensibly dissolved in 

 water either cold or hot, and rendered it frothy like a true soap. 

 Lastly, it restored the blue colour of litmus reddened by an acid; it 

 appeared therefore to be a true soap. To decide this question, it 

 was dissolved in hot water, and a few drops of muriatic acid were 

 poured into the solution : abundant flakes were separated from a 

 transparent liquid, and melted at the surface with the appearance 

 of an oil. This oil after washing with hot water, retained no muriatic 

 acid, reddened moistened litmus paper strongly, made no emulsion 

 with water, and dissolved rapidly in alcohol and aether, rendering 

 them acid : it immediately combined with soda, and reproduced a 

 solution resembling common soap : it was probably a mixture of 

 oleic and margaric acid. 



M. Boudet remarks, that numerous attempts have been made to 

 discover bile in the blood, and he further states that the existence 

 above described of an alkaline soap, and probably of cholesterine, 

 show that bile, or the various substances of which it is composed, are 

 actually found in the blood. — Ann. de Chim. el de Phys., t. lii. p. 337. 



ROYAL OBSERVATORY OF OUDE. 



It will give pleasure to our readers, and to all who view with in- 

 terest the progress of science in India, to learn that the King of 

 Oude is about to found an Observatory in his capital of Lucknow. 

 The building was commenced in November 1832, and the work 

 is altogether under the superintendence of an English gentleman, 

 Captain Herbert. 



The principal instruments for this establishment, which Messrs. 

 Troughton and Sims are now constructing in London, are a mural 

 circle of six feet diameter and a transit instrument of eight feet 

 focal length. The apartment in the Observatory intended for their 

 reception is fifty- four feet long, twenty -five wide, and twenty-five 



high. 



FRESH- WATER LIMESTONE BETWEEN THE SEAMS OF COAL JN 

 THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF SHREWSBURY. 



Mr. Editor, 

 With infinite pleasure I learnt, through the medium of your 

 Journal, of the important discovery made by Dr. Hibbert, of a 



