1820.] Scientific Intelligence^ 75 



crystallizations, it was obtained iu the form of brilliant white 

 scaly crystals,, similar to benzoic acid, but of a more silvery 

 lustre . 



This crystallized substance exhibited the following characters : 

 Its smell was pecuharly pmigent and somewhat aromatic, unhke 

 that of any substance with which I am acquainted. 



Fusible at a temperature of 184°, and completely volatilizable 

 at that, and even lower temperatures. 



Insoluble in water. Soluble in essential and in expressed oils. 

 Readily soluble in alcohol, from which it was again separated by 

 the addition of water. 



Fuming nitrous acid assisted by a gentle heat exerted a con- 

 siderable action upon it, first changing it into a brown-coloured 

 viscid oil, which dissolved, and upon coohng, a group of minute 

 stelliform crystals were formed, not unlike camphoric acid. 



Acetic acid, when gently heated, readily dissolved the sub- 

 stance, but let it fall again upon cooling. 



Alkaline solutions did not appear to have any remarkable 

 action upon it. 



Its solution in alcohol neither changed the colour of litmus or 

 of turmeric paper. 



From the preceding statement, it would appear that this 

 substance bears a strong analogy to camphor in many of its 

 characters. Camphor is soluble in acetic acid both warm and 

 cold, and remains in permanent solution; but this substance, 

 when dissolved in the same acid, separates from it in the form 

 of crystals, when the solution is suffered to cool. 



A more minute investigation than that which I have yet had 

 an opportunity of instituting would be necessary to determine 

 the true nature of this body. 



Whether it be camphor in disguise, or something else, it 

 certainly coincides in some of its habitudes with the concrete 

 essential oils. 



372, Oxford-street, Dec. 18, 1819. A. GARDEN. 



XVI. Death of Dr. Rutherford. 



On the of Dec. died Daniel Rutherford, M.D. Professor o^ 

 Botany in the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Rutherford was 

 the discoverer of azote, which was first described by him in his 

 Thesis De Aere Mephitico, pubhshed in 1772. 



