a 



34 Sketch of the latest Impiovements [Jan. 



Grains. 



Carbonate of soda 54 



Sulphate of soda B\ 



Muriate of soda 24 



Carbonate of lime 55-1 



Carbonate of magnesia 2 



Carbonate of iron ., 1 



145 



The same chemist obtained the following substances from five 

 pounds of the mineral water of Obermenning : — 



Grain!. 



Carbonate of soda 4 



Muriate of soda 3-|- 



Sulphate of soda 4 



Carbonate of lime 10 



Carbonate of iron 4 



Finally, the mineral water of Heppingen gave the same chemist 

 the following ingredients. He operated, as before, upon five pounds 

 of the water : — 



Grains. 



Carbonate of iron, could not be weighed. 



Carbonate of lime 6x 



Carbonate of soda 31 



Carbonate of magnesia , 12 



Sulphate of soda lO^- 



Muriate of soda 15 



"75" 

 X. Vegetable Substances. 



The field of vegetable chemistry is so vast, and still so imper- 

 fectly explored, that it is al\s ays a very prolific department. I must 

 at present confine mvself within as narrow limits as possible, and 

 avoid indulging reflections even when they obtrude themselves 

 upon me. 



1. Thibet Caoutchouc. — This is a reddish elastic substance, which 

 is used as beads in the Mediterranean. I have seen strings of beads 

 repeatedly brought to this country from Malta, and once made a 

 few trials on one of these beads, sufficient to show that it was a 

 vegetable substance, and that it had some resemblance to the oils in 

 its chemical properties. It has been particularly examined by John 

 and Bucholz. Neither alcohol, ether, nor oils, dissolve it com- 

 pletely, though they produce some effect on it. Potash ley dissolves 



