158 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



As however there must exist between margaric and formic acid 

 fifteen intermediate acids, six remained to be discovered. These gaps 

 were almost entirely filled up by the metacetonic, caprylic, pelar- 

 gonic, cocinic and benic acids, recently discovered by a more atten- 

 tive study of fatty bodies. There may now be reckoned, including 

 anamirtic acid, eighteen acids forming a continuous series, in which 

 only a single term is wanting. 



It is proper to add that the unpublished researches of M. Brodie 

 prove that the general formula C" H" 0+, far from stopping at mar- 

 garic acid, includes a new acid, the composition of which is C'** H** 

 O'', and even acids which reach still higher formulse. We are there- 

 fore certain that there are, confining ourselves to the first among 

 them, eight fatty acids to discover between margaric acid and that 

 the formula of which has just been given, and that these acids will 

 be less fusible, more solid, and consequently more proper for certain 

 uses, as for example of giving light, even than margaric acid itseh, pro- 

 vided abundant sources of them should be discovered. It is therefore 

 a subject of the greatest interest to collect and to analyse with care 

 fatty matters of vegetable origin. Everything induces the belief that 

 by them the gaps will be occupied. We are however so little ad- 

 vanced in knowledge respecting the fatty matters which exist in in- 

 sects, that it would not be surprising if an attentive study of their 

 materials should furnish some of the terms which sooner or later may 

 enrich the series by completing it. 



Everything induces the hope that the twenty-six acids which we 

 are entitled to nominate are not the only ones, and nothing autho- 

 rises us to foretell to what point the simple formula C" H" O^ will 

 extend or where its a])plication may stop. — Comptes Rendus, No- 

 vembre 29, 1847. 



ON THE COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES OF NICOTINA. 



M. Barral finds tliat nicotina consists of — 



40 eqs. of carbon =240 



28 eqs. of hydrogen .... = 28 

 4 eqs. of azote =: 56 



324 100 00 



Nicotina combines with water in all proportions, and is a]^o hy- 

 grometric. In an atmosphere saturated with the vapour of water, 

 100 parts are capable of absorbing 177 parts of water in three 

 weeks, and this it loses completely in an atmosphere dried by potash. 

 When nicotina is tlius hydrated it becomes entirely a crystalline 

 mass, when exposed to a refrigerating mixture of salt and ice. It 

 is unquestionably owing to the presence of water in nicotina, that 

 MM. Posselt and Reimann have stated that this alkali may be soli- 

 dified : this does not occur with anhydrous nicotina. 



Chlorine acts energetically on nicotina. When a few drops of it 

 are let fall into a bottle of chlorine, the combination may he so vivid 

 as to emit light ; hydrochloric acid is disengaged, and a liquor of a 



