236 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



These crystals dissolve very slowly in water, and they could be 

 obtained by concentrating the solution in vacuo. The solution re- 

 mained limpid, and gradually became thicker, and had at last pre- 

 cisely the same appearance as the concentrated lactic acid obtained 

 in the humid way. 



The liquid acid, taking the mean of two analyses, was found to 

 consist of nearly, 



Carbon 41* = 6 atoms. 



Hydrogen 6*95 = 6 — 



Oxygen 52-05 = 6 — 



10000 

 The sublimed or crystallized acid yielded nearly, taking the mean 

 of three experiments, 



Carbon 49"83 = 6 atoms. 



Hydrogen 5*60 = 4 — 



Oxygen 44--57 = 4 — 



1 00-00 

 From these analyses it appears that the two acids differ merely in 

 the fluid one containing two equivalents of water, while the crystals 

 are anhydrous. Four analyses were performed, employing lactates 

 instead of theliquid and crystallized acid. They differed but slightly; 

 one gave, 



Carbon 44*64 = 6 atoms carbon. 



Hydrogen 6'36 = 5 atoms hydrogen. 



Oxygen 4900 = 5 atoms oxygen. 



100- 

 By analysing the lactates, the equivalent of this acid was found 

 to be 10197 • and supposing, as the above results would indicate, 

 that it is a compound of 6 atoms of carbon, 5 hydrogen and 5 oxygen, 

 its equivalent would be 1021, and its composition would be, 



Carbon 44-90 



Hydrogen 611 



Oxygen 4899 



100- 

 Tt appears, therefore, that fluid lactic acid loses an atom of water 

 when it combines with bases, and the concrete acid acquires one 

 under the same circumstances. 



Their composition may be thus stated : 

 Liquid acid. . = C 6, H 6, O 6; or C 6, H 4, O 4 4- 2 water. 

 Acid in salts . = C 6, H 5, O 5; or C 6, H 4, 4+ 1 water. 

 Sublimed acid = C 6, H 4, O 4. 



Ann. de Chim. et de Phys., tome lii. p. 410. 



MORPHIA IN POPPY SEEDS. 



M. Accarie, an apothecary of Valence, infused six pounds of poppy- 

 seeds (Papavcr somniferum) in boiling water ; he obtained 250 



