1824.] Scientific Notices — Mineralogy. 231 



A foreign admixture of this nature would account for the very 

 deleterious qualities which the French chemists ascribe to sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen gas, and for their antipathy against in- 

 haling the slightest particle into the lungs. (Thenard, Traite 

 de Ch. 3d edit. i. 722—729.) That the odour of the gas is suffi- 

 ciently unpleasant must be admitted ; but we have repeatedly 

 remained in atmospheres copiously impregnated with it, without 

 experiencing any injurious consequences, and we do not hesi- 

 tate to assert, that the antidote which they recommend, namely, 

 the continual emission of chlorine into the open air so long as 

 the gas is preparing, is a much more serious inconvenience 

 than the one which it is intended to correct. It can scarcely be 

 doubted, that their sulphur contained either selenium or arse- 

 nic ; and as Thenard has described this extremely noxious qua- 

 lity as one of the inseparable characteristics of sulphuretted 

 hydrogen gas, it appears probable that the contamination is far 

 from unfrequent. 



Mineralogy. 



4. A Superb Collection of Minerals for Sale. 



Dr. Joseph Guillaume Waagner, of Vienna, has announced 

 the sale of the superb collection of minerals, late the property 

 of M. Jacques Frederick Von der Null, deceased. 



This collection is well known, both for the magnificence of 

 the specimens, and by its having been arranged and described 

 by Professor Mohs, in 3 vols. 8vo. Vienna, 1804. 



When that work appeared, the collection contained 3926 spe- 

 cimens, exclusive of the cut precious stones which form a 

 valuable collection by themselves, and do not belong to the 

 great collection. Since that time, to the death of the owner in 

 May 1823, the cabinet has been continually increasing, and 

 the number of specimens it now contains amounts to 5047, 

 of which 3427 are ticketted with numbers corresponding with 

 M. Mohs' catalogue, and the remaining 1620 are briefly de- 

 scribed in a catalogue by M. Partsch. 



The average size of the specimens is about three in. by two, 

 and they are contained in three cabinets of 48 drawers each. 

 The specimens of gold, silver, and tellurium, and the minerals 

 in general found in the Austrian empire, particularly Hungary 

 and Transylvania, are said to be remarkably fine. 



The price is fixed at 3000/. sterling, and time will be allowed 

 for payment on satisfactory security being given. 



Persons wishing to treat for the purchase, are requested to 

 apply to Dr. J. G. Waagner, Hohenmarkt, No. 51], 3 eme etage. 



5. New Locality of Tellurium. 



During a recent arrangement of the collection of minerals be- 

 longing to the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, there 



