360 Miscellanies. 
ical torture. Of this some idea may be formed from the following 
list of immediate principles obtained from it, as given by Pelletier. 
Morphine, a base discovered by Serturner. 
Meconic acid, discovered by Serturner. 
Narcotine, a base discovered by Derosne. 
Meconine, an indifferent substance? Dublane and Couerbe. 
Narceine, an indifferent substance? Pelletier. : 
Brown acid and extractive matter ; a peculiar resin strongly elec- 
tro negative ; a‘fatty oil; caoutchouc gum; bassarine ;- lignine ; and 
a volatile principle.—Idem. 
8. Nitrogen. J. G.—One of the easiest methods of preparing 
nitrogen is to pass a current of chlorine gas through liquid ammonia. 
The ammonia is decomposed, muriatic acid formed, and nitrogen 
liberated which may be collected in a receiver. Mr. Emmett has 
recommended an equally easy and simple process for obtaining this 
gas. It consists in fusing nitrate of ammonia in a retort with some frag- 
ments of metallic zinc. This metal decomposes the nitric acid, and 
nitrogen and ammonia are given off. When collected over water 
the latter gas is absorbed. Mr. Emmett employs a small cylinder of 
zinc attached to a rod passing through the tubulure of a retort, by 
raising or depressing which into the fused nitrate he can regulate 
the emission of the gas.—Idem. 
9. Sulphurous Acid Gas. Knezaurek has given a very useful 
and cheap method of preparing sulphurous acid gas. He introduces 
powdered charcoal into a retort and pours over it concentrated sul- 
phuric acid, until on shaking it the mass appears moist. On heating, 
a constant stream of a mixture of two volumes of sulphurous acid 
and one of carbonic acid gas is given off, which continues till the 
mass becomes dry. ‘This method may be used with great advantage 
in saturating alkalies or preparing the hypo-sulphites. 
10. Anhydrous sulphuric Acid. J. G.—Prof. Mosander of Stock- 
holm has communicated to me the following very simple mode of 
preparing anhydrous sulphuric acid. If oxide of antimony be treat 
ed with excess of sulphuric acid till the oxide is saturated, and the 
excess of acid then driven off by a low temperature the sulphate 
S643, is obtained dry and crystallized. If this dry salt be put into 
a retort and heated to dull redness, the greater part of the acid 18 
driven off in an anhydrous state, and is easily condensed in a 
receiver.—Idem. 
