•r68 . Scientific Intelligence. [Joixv, 



jjiaine of mourning paper {traue?- papier). It fell, according to the 

 statement in the ephemeres of the Leopold Academy, near 

 iRauden, in Curland, on Jan. 31, 1686, in great abundance. 

 Chladni mentions it in his Catalogue of old Meteoric Depo- 

 :Wt«s, and by this means brought it into notice, and enabled 

 M. von Grotthuss, of Curland, to recognize it in an enigmatic 

 .substance, deposited in his museum of natural curiosities ; but 

 <which an attached ticket announced to be of meteoric origin. 



. -It consists of a mass of black leaves, haying the appearance of 

 burnt paper ; but it is harder, coheres together, is somewhat 

 brittle ; and when examined by chemical reagents is found to 

 be a mineral mass, composed of the san^e ingredients as meteoric 

 stones ; for it consists of sihca, magnesia, iron, and some nickel, 

 and exhibits also traces of chromium. It may be comjjared to 

 the black crust which covers the surface of the meteoric stoaes. 

 Black substances, like beans, are described as having fallen along 

 with this matter.; but these bodies have not yet been recognized. 



11, Carmine. 



According to M. von Grotthuss, carmine may be deprived of 

 its yellow shade by ammonia, and subsequent treatment with 

 acetic acid and alcohol. Since the knowledge of this fact was 

 published, M. Herschell, colour-maker at Halle, has prepared, 

 a most beautiful carmine. 



III. Vinegar frovi Wood. 



Mr. Stotze, apothecary at Halle, has discovered a method of 

 purifying vinegar from wood by treating it with sulphuric acid, 

 manganese, and common salt, and afterwards distiUing it oyer. 

 For this method he has obtained a piize from the Royal Society 

 of Gottingen. 



This gentleman has likewise verified the method proposed by 

 Prof. Meineke in 1814 of preserving meat by means of vinegar 

 ffrom wood, and by continued treatment with the same acid has 



' converted bodies into mummies. 



♦ 



IV. Iron Pyrites. 



Prof. Meineke has described shortly to the Natural History 

 Society of Halle a new variety of pyrites {bBtterkies) detected tiy 

 him. It is precipitated in'brilhant tables upon the roots of 

 reeds. 



V. Neiv Vegetable Alkalies. 



Messrs. Meissner and Brandes have made themselves conspi- 

 cuous in Germany by their investigations and discoveries of the 

 alkahne substances which exist in narcotic plants. Dr. Brandes 

 was the first discoverer of the delphia, daturia, hyoscyama, atro- 

 pia. The last of these substances he has found to constitute the 

 ■ingredient, which gives the atropa belladonna its pecular proper- 

 . ties. It is brilliant >yhite, crystalUzes in long needles, is tasteless. 



