Scientific Intelligence. 173 
Another strip of paper was immersed for some time in a strong 
solution of chloride of lime, mixed with muriatic acid ; then placed 
for twenty four hours in caustic potash, which was afterwards boiled 
to dryness, and then diluted with water: there remained from this 
double action of chlorine and potash, only a small scrap of the pa- 
per, but on this the letters were very distinct. From these facts the 
author thinks he may offer this liquor with confidence, as an indeli- 
ble ink ; and he doubts not that it may be employed with the great- 
est advantage in fixing different shades of brown on cotton, hemp, 
linen and silk, or in browning other colors, and that it will possess a 
great superiority over other browns. It may be used also with the 
greatest success, in marking linen, without the aid of any other mix- 
ture.—Avril, 1829.—Idem. 
Memorandum by Prof. Griscom, addressed to the Editor. 
My attention having been arrested by this account of Braconnot’s 
new indelible ink, I hastily prepared some of it by heating in an iron 
ladle the prescribed proportions of pearlash, leather shavings, and 
flowers of sulphur. The result is, the ink with which this paper. is 
written.* I find it to be indestructible by chlorine, either gaseous or 
in solution. For marking on linen, it spreads too easily ; perhaps 2 
little gum would help it. 
Compared with common ink in a solution of chloride of lime, its 
superiority is very manifest. eae 
10. Detection of potatoe flour in that of wheat.—To effect this 
object, M. Henri examined from twenty five to thirty samples of 
pure wheat flour, from the harvest of 1827 and 1828, and without 
regarding the other constituent principles, he ascertained that upon 
an average, they contained 10} per cent. of gluten, perfectly dry 
and pulverulent, while the flour reputed to be mixtures, gave but 6 to 
6% per cent. of perfectly dry gluten.—Idem. | 
11. Aspartic acid.—M. Plisson, Pharmacien of Paris, having 
shewn the identity of the crystalline matters contained in young shoots 
of asparagus, in liquorice root, in that of marsh-mallows, and of the 
large comfrey, and ranked the whole under the name of Asparagin, 
ae 
-. paleartentinime 
* The color is light brown, but perfectly distinct.— Ed. 
