1820.] Scientific Intelligence. 235 



It is curious that the position of this city, one of the chief 

 towns in Italy, the seat of a sovereign prince, of an Itahan 

 society, of several celebrated astronomers, and a well-known 

 astronomical instrument maker, was never determined till a 

 German astronomer took the trouble to determine the point as 

 late as the year 1808.— (Correspondence Astronomique,i. p. 403.) 



VIII. Cadmium. 

 Dr. Clarke, Professor of Mineralogy at Cambridge, has disco- 

 Tered cadmium in the radiated blende of Derbyshire. This 

 discovery has been confirmed by several chemists in London, 

 who have detected it likewise in other ores of zinc. A detailed 

 account of Dr. Clarke's experiments will be given in a future 

 number. 



IX. On fattening Pigs. By Mr. J. Murray. 



It is stated in an English paper that a pig belonging to Mr. 

 Fisher, of Scrooby Inn, gained, by feeding on Indian corn, in 

 the course of six weeks and three days, the enormous weight of 

 Jifteen stone. 



The pigs in the vicinity of Naples are so fat as to be able to 

 move only with difficulty ; and I was curious to learn in what 

 manner this desideratum was obtained. I was informed that the 

 pigs were always fed in the first instance with Indian corn, and 

 then generally permitted to shift for themselves. The method 

 adopted by the NeapoHtans to ascertain when the animal is ripe 

 for the knife, is as extraordinary as it is cruel. An iron probe is 

 plunged into the side of the animal, and when the point touches 

 the muscular fibre, it Ik indicated by the expression of pain. 

 The above fact is here corroborated, and the agriculturist may 

 advantageously avail himself of the discovery. 



X. Varnish for Wood. By Mr. J. Murray. 



In vol. xi. pp. 119 and 371 of the Annals of Philosophij, Mr. 

 Gill has afforded some excellent remarks on the French varnish 

 for cabinet work, &c. 



The cabinet work at Rome seemed to me truly beautiful. I 

 was informed by the workmen that in order to produce the 

 effect, olive oil was first used, and a solution of gum arabic iu 

 boiling alcohol afterwards applied to the surface. 



