1813.] Scientific Intelligence. 313 



doubt that this evolution of heat is owing to the condensation of 

 the gas. It is true that in the present case the agency of oxygen 

 is not excluded; for if we adopt the opinion of Davy respecting 

 the composition of muriatic acid, it is obvious that in the present 

 case a double decomposition takes place. The chlorine of the 

 muriatic acid unites with the metallic basis of the barytes, and 

 forms barytone, while the hydrogen of the muriatic acid com- 

 bines with the oxygen of the barytes, and forms water; but if 

 we consider that both muriatic acid and barytes are products of 

 combustion, it will be obvious that the presence of the oxygen 

 alone cannot account for the light and heat evolved. 



III. Camphoric Acid. 



Camphoric acid was discovered by Kosegarten, and afterwards 

 examined b\' Bouillon Lagrange. Bucholz has lately published 

 the result of his experiments on this acid, which, from the 

 known precision of this chemist, deserve to be stated here. 



Camphoric acid is white, and assumes the form of feather- 

 shaped crystals. Its taste is acid, and it leaves an impression of 

 bitterness upon the palate. It dissolves in 100 times its weight 

 of cold water, and in 11 times its weight of boiling water. 100 

 parts of cold alcohol dissolve 16 of camphoric acid. Boiling 

 alcohol is capable of dissolving any quantity of it whatever. 

 When camphoric acid is sublimed, it is partly decomposed, and 

 the sublimed portion refuses to crystallize. 50 grains of cam- 

 phoric acid require for saturation i.'S grains of carbonate of lime 

 (or 15*7 grains of lime). The camphorate of lime has an ex- 

 cess of acid, and crystallizes so irregularly that the shape of the 

 crystals could not be determined. Its taste is somewhat similar 

 to that of lime, and not the least saline. When heated it. docs 

 not melt, but is converted into carbonate of lime. 100 parts of 

 cold water dissolve 21 "6 of this camphorate. 



The camphorate of potash may be obtained in prismatic 

 ( -rystuls by concentrating the solution, and setting it aside for 

 spontaneous crystallization. Its taste is aromatic and bitter. 

 When heated it melts in its water of crystallization. 



IV. Church Steeple of Greenwich, 



In consequence <>f a letter from a correspondent, I was 

 induced to make some inquiry relative to the accident which 

 befel the church steeple of Greenwich some months agoj but 

 the information received exhibited no novelty* The steeple was 

 struck with lightning, and the uppermost part of it, 14 feet in 

 length, was thrown down, It appears that :i 'vr ol' iron passed 

 from the top of the steeple 14 feet down. \\ here it terminated, 

 the mischief commenced' The lightning, in making its way 

 down, bad torn the building in that place. It got afterwards 

 i'> some wir< connected yvjtb the bellj which w. i i |ted. 



