230 Scientific Intelligence. [Sept. 



After the root had gone through the successive action of the 

 ether, the alcohol, and the cold water, boiling water extracted 

 from it i of its whole weight of what M. Gautier supposes to be 

 inulin, the vegetable principle which was discovered by Rose in 

 the root of elicampane, the inula helenium. The substance is 

 described as being white, pulverulent, insipid, inodorous, 

 soluble in boiling water, which it renders viscid, insoluble in 

 cold water, alcohol, and ether. Iodine poured into a boiling 

 solution of this substance produces a yellow precipitate, which 

 is gradually deposited. When it is heated in a capsule, it is 

 decomposed, and an odour is produced exactly similar to that of 

 caromel. Alcohol poured into an aqueous solution of this sub- 

 stance instantly produces a precipitate which is at first flaky, 

 but afterwards, when it is collected at the bottom of the vessel, 

 is pulverulent. Traces of muriate of lime were also found in the 

 pyrethrum. The following are the proportions in which 

 M. Gautier supposes its constituents to exist. 



Volatile oil (traces) 



Fixed oil 5 



Yellow colouring principle 14 



Gum 11 



Inulin 33 



Muriate of lime (traces) 



Woody matter 35 



98 

 Loss 2 



Too 



With respect to inulin, we may remark that its characters, as 

 laid down by Rose, are somewhat indefinite, or indicative rather 

 of a variety of starch than of a specifically different principle. 

 The effect of iodine upon it, as stated by the author, deserves to 

 be attended to, and would appear to give it a more decided 

 character ; but until we are better acquainted with the action of 

 iodine upon other vegetable substances, it may be doubted 

 whether it is to be considered as denoting a variety or a species. 



VI. On the Linear Flow of different Liquids through Capillar)/ 

 Tubes of Glass. By M. Girard.* 



Fluids are divided by M. Girard into two classes, according 

 as they adhere or do not adhere to glass. The experiments were 

 all made with the same vessel, and they are all reduced by cal- 

 culation to the same pressure of the fluid upon the orifice of the 

 tube, while different fluids were employed, and the same fluid at 

 different temperatures. The results of the experiments are given 

 in a tabular form ; we have arranged in separate columns, first, 



* Abstracted from a memoir read to the Royal Academy of Sciences, Jan. 1817. 



