1818.] Vavquelin on the intestinal Gases of the Elephant. 119 



needle deviates from its natural position, the increments of power 

 nece-sary to produce the same effect upon it are in a decreasing 

 ratio ; so that when it has moved through neaily a quarter of 

 the circle, a very small attractive power will be sufficient to 

 influence it. When it is in this position, that is, nearly ai aa 

 angle of 90° with the magnetic meridian, the needle is in its 

 most sensible state ; and if we apply to it the most minute por- 

 tion of any mineral containing iron, the needle is affected by it. 

 By proceeding upon this plan, M. Ha'uy was enabled to detect 

 iron in several minerals where it had either not been suspected, 

 or was supposed to exist in a state not liable to be affected by 

 the magnet. 



Article IX. 



Analysis of the Gases found in the Abdomen and Intestines of an 

 Elephant. By M. Vauquehn.* 



In March last an elephant died at the museum of natural 

 history in Paris ; and its abdomen becoming very much enlarged 

 after death, M. Vauquehn undertook to examine the state of 

 the gas which distended it, as well as that contained in the 

 intestines. The gas in the abdomen had a very foetid odour of 

 putrid animal matter, mixed with that of sulphuretted hydrogen. 

 Caustic potash produced a diminution of about 5o hundred parts 

 in the gas, while the potash acquired a yellow colour and foetid 

 odour ; acetate of lead precipitated a white substance from it, 

 which was soluble with effervescence in nitric acid. Different 

 circumstances proved that there was a small quantity of sulphur 

 in the gas. The gas that was left unabsorbed by the potash was 

 no longer capable of supporting combustion ; and it was there- 

 fore concluded that it consisted originally of carbonic acid gas, 

 azote, and a minute portion of sulphuretted hydrogen, through 

 which was diffused a little putrid animal matter. 



The gas that was contained in the intestines in its sensible 

 properties generally resembled that from the cavity of the 

 abdomen ; it also was absorbed by potash, but more copiously, 

 neaily £ being removed in this way ; the potash became yellow, 

 and let fall a white precipitate by the addition of acetate of lead ; 

 there were likewise evident indications of the presence of sulphur. 

 The entire gas from the intestines would not support flame ; but 

 it burned with a bluish white light, when the carbonic acid was 

 removed by potash. By comparing the effect produced from 

 detonating this gas with oxygen to that of the other hydn-car- 

 bonous gases, we find that it contains about one part of 

 hydrogen, by weight, to four of carbon, and that it consequently 



• Abridged from Journ. Pharm. iii. 205. (May, 1817.) 



