174 Screntifie Intelligence. 
has further determined that this substance, when brought into con- 
tact with hydrate of lead, produces an insoluble salt, hitherto un- 
known: and having separated the base of this salt by sulphuretted 
hydrogen, he obtained a new acid, to which he has given the name 
of Aspartic. 
Properties.—It crystallizes in water in a brilliant powder, which 
examined by a microscope, appears to be composed of long prisms 
of four sides with a dihedral summit, transparent and colorless. It 
is inodorous, gives a slightly acid taste, and reddens litmus, dissolves 
in 128 times its weight of water at 84° cent. ; sp. gr. 1.874 5; decom- 
poses by heat, producing ammonia, prussic acid, &c. 
It forms salts, Aspartates, which are decomposed by the action of 
heat ; those of a mineral alkaline base are transformed into ammonia, 
hydro-cyanic acid, metallic cyanuret, &c. All those which are so- 
luble, have a remarkable taste of meat gravy, which becomes one of 
their principal characteristics. In the neutral salts with alkaline or 
earthy bases, this taste is distinct and free, in those with metallic 
bases, itis followed by stypticity, and in those of vegetable, it is com- 
pletely disguised by bitterness, 
‘The memoir of the author exhibits other properties of individual 
salts.—.Alnn. de Chim. Mars, 1829, 
12. Extrication of gas from mushrooms.—F. Marcet of Geneva, 
has shewn that mushrooms exposed under water to the sun’s rays, 
liberate a quantity of air, which consists almost entirely of hydrogen 
and azote ; the former in general being the predominant volume. In 
the dark, little or no gas is set free, While growing in the open air, 
the only gas which appeared to be set free, was a small quantity of 
earbonic acid.— Idem. 
_ 13. Antidote to Prussie acid.—M. Dauvergne, in a letter to M. 
Gay Lussac, dated Paris, April.25th, 1829, states, that M. Simeon, 
apothecary to the hospital Saint-Louis, poisoned a cat with hydro- 
eyanic acid, by placing two drops in the corner of his eye; the ani- 
mal was violently affected, and when to all appearance past recov- 
ery, a large quantity of chlorine was diffused in his throat, which 
very soon alleviated the symptoms, and when able to raise his head, 
which before he could not do, he appeared to take pleasure in smel- 
_ ling the chlorine, from the relief which it afforded. In an hour he 
tose on his feet, and in the course of two hours more, scarcely any 
