318 Rectification of Alcohot. 
several of their most worthy members, among whom w 
professor Pictet, of Geneva, who had presided at the session 
of 1820, has attended all the meetings since the commence- 
ment of the Institution, and contributed richly to its useful 
labours. The meetings were attended by 76 members, ex- 
elusive of those of the Canton, in poms they were assembled. 
mong the memoirs read on the first day of the session, 
was one by Professor De Candolle, of Geneva, on the pro- 
perties of a reddish matter, from the surface of the lake of 
Morat, where it appeared during the spring; after a season 
of calms, eth in zones, along the borders of the lake, 
and especially among the reeds. In this substance were 
found two distinct matters. Ist. A greenish and fetid sedi- 
ment, which left the supernatant water of a fine red colour. 
. A lamellar substance, in irregular shreds, of a soft 2 
spongy consistence. The first of these matters, submitted to 
a powerful microscope, peaneiied to De Candolle, Dr. Pre- 
vost, and Vaucher, all the characters of an oscillatoria, the 
motions of the zoophytes being distinctly perceptible. It 
was named hy De Candolle, oscillatoria purpurea. A chemi- 
~ examination - this substance Lande that it consisted of, 
. Ared colouring matter, me soluble in- — 2d. 
or chlorophyllo Or Of gelatine in large pro 
4th. 
. 5the Of some y and: slotine tals; atd 
Tittle: oxide of iron. ‘Fhese veselthsecriivi the opinion of 
some sc with respect to the animal nature of pro- 
ich are met with in a great number of mineral 
waters, a lend support to the observations of Vauquelin, 
on the green substance of the waters of Vichy, in which he 
met with a substance which had a close er to eat 
3. Rectification of Alcohol without heat—As a eans of 
obtaining strong and pure —— without the aid of be of h 
or of an alembic, it is recommended by M. E. Pajot-Dest 
Feira to place the spirituous materia? whether low wine or 
proof, in.a deep vase with a flat bottom, and within 
this vase, supported by feet resting on its bottom, — a 
broad dish, containing dry muriate of lime ; cover the whole 
very closely, by pasting paper around the edges of the vase. 
In four or five days the salt will have deliquesced by the” 
attraction of moisture. Replace the apparatus, after replen -é 
ishing the dish with dry muriate, By continuing the operé 
eee + 
