388 Scientific Intelligence. [May, 



Grande Ferre, is formed of a volcanic basis, covered with a thick 

 bed of shell limestone. At Martinique, the eastern quarters are 

 also covered with beds of marine limestone, either shelly or 

 coralline. 



The second part of La Richesse Mineralle of M. Heron de 

 Villefosse, which was presented in manuscript to the Academy 

 in 1816, has appeared this year in print, with an atlas. This 

 work has justified the judgment that the commission passed upon 

 it, and is become the indispensable guide of all those who are 

 employed in the administration of mines, and in the works 



belonging to them. 



[To be continued.) 



Article XIII. 



SCIENTIFfC INTELLIGENCE, AND NOTICES OF SUBJECTS 

 CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE. 



I. Succinic Acid. ^ 



Dr. John, of Berlin, announces, that he has obtained succinic 

 acid by the following process : 



Two pounds of bread, a pound and a half of honey, as much 

 of the fruit of the ceratonia siliqua, two pints of vinegar, as much 

 spirits, and 28 pints of water, were treated in such a way as to 

 obtain a hquid proper for undergoing the acetous fermentation. 

 The vinegar produced was saturated with lime, and the acetate 

 evaporated to dryness. Twenty-four ounces of this salt were 

 triturated with an ounce of peroxide of manganese ; the mixture 

 was put into a retort, and subjected to distillation, after having 

 been mixed with 16 ounces of sulphuric acid diluted with 13 

 ounces of water. When no more acid came over, the receiver was 

 changed, and the fire augmented. A sublimate then condensed 

 in the neck of the retort which possessed the characters of suc- 

 cinic acid. When rectified, it crystallized in white flexible 

 needles, and weighed two drachms. 



John repeated this process two or three times, and always 

 obtained succinic acid. The fruit of the ceratonia siliqua did 

 not yield any succinic acid when subjected to analysis. Hence 

 he is of opinion, that the succinic acid obtained was formed dur- 

 ing the process. 



II. Animal Charcoal. 



Dobereiner has analyzed animal charcoal by heating it with 

 peroxide of copper, and informs us that its constituents are : 



Carbon 34-2 



Azote 13-5 



4T7 



