212 Miscellanies. ot 
» According to the record of an eastern paper, the number of buildings 
destroyed in the United States by lightning up to the first of September, 
had been about fifty; and of these, four fifths were barns. Several 
houses had been struck that were not burned, while a barn so visited 
rarely escaped. These facts, taken in connection with the destructive 
results of the storm of the 14th on barns, and the very great loss of 
property sustained, would seem to point out the imperative necessity of 
securing these buildings by rods, or the owners from loss by insurance. 
It cannot be too forcibly impressed on the mind of the farmer, who of 
all others is most liable to suffer in this way, that the danger of losing 
his barn is much greater than that of having his house destroyed; and 
that their liability to destruction by lightning is most imminent at pre- 
cisely that period when, by the labors of the year, the greatest value is 
accumulated in them 
It may be seeintjeiebi ‘aay as a singular fact, that on the evening of 
the 13th, cold and severe frost occurred at several points in the Caro- 
linas ; indicating a remarkable departure from the ordinary meteorolo- 
ical condition of the atmosphere at that season of the year, and possi- 
bly having some direct connection with that state of things se gen- is 
erated such an unusual ee of electricity at the north. W.G. + 2 
Otisco, N. ¥., January, 184. : 
17. Elementary composition of vegetable tissue—M. Payen, has been 
engaged in the microscopical and ap investigation of the different 
tissues, and has read some memoirs on the subject before the French 
Institute. He concludes, 1. That Ties which constitutes the mem- 
branes of plants, when purified from all encrusting or deposited matters, 
is perfectly aopsomeneons in chemical composition throughout the whole 
extent of the vegetable kingdom. 2. That this substance, which may 
be represented af the formula C?4H18O°, H?0, is isomeric with sta 
and inuline. 3. That its physical properties, and doubtless af 
its nutritive qualities, are modified by the degree of aggregation ; when 
very dense, it resists different chemical agents and the digestive powers 
ina tea rome manner. 4. Medulline, fungine, lichenine, have 20 
existence as distinct proximate principles ; properly purified, they prove Re 
to be identical with 8 5. Gluten does not form a tissue, but is 54 
an immediate principle, enclosed in the cells of the albumen of the ; 
seeds of am! Cerealia. 6. Azotized substances accompany all vege: 4 
table. , and are found in all cells in their forming state ; but 
they are not a constituent of the membrane of cellular tissue, nor of : 
any vegetable tissue 3 Vegetable. membrane may be thus distin- ; 
guished: ame animal ‘membrane : the, former have a ternary composi- | 
tion, from which nitrogen is excluded ; the constantly offer a qua- A | 
ternary comy including ni ae Vid. Ann. Sci..Nat. Aug: 1840. 4a 
