Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 155 



The sulphuret of magnesium I obtained by passing sulphuret of 

 carbon over pure magnesia ; in this case the presence of charcoal 

 does not appear to be of any use. This sulphuret crystallizes, and 

 is soluble in cold water ; when its solution is kept at the ordinary 

 temperature, there is but a feeble disen;^agement of sulphureted 

 hydrogen ; but when heated to ebullition, a lively effervescence of 

 sulphureted ^hydrogen takes place, and there is an immediate depo- 

 sition of magnesia. — Comptes Rendus, July 5, 1852. 



ON THE EXISTENCE OF ORGANIC MATTER IN STALACTITES AND 

 STALAGMITES, FORMING CRYSTALLIZED AND AMORPHOUS CRE- 

 NATE OF LIME. BY DAVID A. WELLS. 



In the eighth chapter of Liebig's Agricultural Chemistry, edited 

 by Playfair, there is given the result of some e.xaminations of sta- 

 lactites from caverns in Germany, and from the vaults of old castles 

 upon the Rhine, made with the view of ascertaining; the fact of the 

 presence or absence of organic matter in these bodies, either com- 

 bined or uncombined. 



The result may be stated in the words of the author, Prof. Liebig. 

 The stalactites from the caverns " contain no trace of vegetable 

 matter, and no humic acid, and may be heated to redness without 

 becoming black." In the stalactites from the vaults and cellars of 

 old castles, he says, " we could not detect the smallest traces" of 

 humic acid. " There could scarcely be found a more clear and 

 convincing proof of the absence of the humic acid of chemists in 

 common vegetable mould." Under the term humic acid, Prof. 

 Liebig undoubtedly means to include all those organic acids arising 

 from the decomposition of vegetable matter, and which have re- 

 ceived the names of crenic, apocrenic, geic and humic acids. 



Having been informed by Dr. A. A. Hayes of Boston, that he 

 had in numerous examinations arrived at results directly opposed to 

 those of Prof. Liebig, I was induced at his suggestion to make an 

 examination of a large number of stalactites and stalagmites obtained 

 from various localities, with reference solely to the presence or 

 absence of organic matter in these bodies. 



The specimens examined were all from caverns, or rock forma- 

 tions, and were obtained from various parts of the United States, 

 from Trieste in Austria, Malta and the Sandwich Islands. In colour 

 they varied from an almost pure white to red, yellow, and brown of 

 difi'erent shades ; and in crystalline character, from a structure re- 

 sembling arragoniu; to a variety entirely wanting in symmetrical 

 arrangement, or a mere incrustation. Tlie specimens were dissolved 

 in dilute hydrochloric acid, the flocculent matter separated, collected 

 and washed, boiled in caustic potjish, carbonate of ammonia or car- 

 bonate of soda, and then tested in the usual way for crenic and apo- 

 crenic acids by acetate of copper and carbonate of ammojiia. In 

 all the varieties, with one exception, abundant flocculent organic 

 matter was separated, which on testing gave evidence of crenic acid 

 in considerable quantities, with doubtful traces of apocrenic acid. 

 The exception alluded to was the specimen examined from Trieste, 

 which did not afford any appreciable flocculent matter on dissolving 



