1817.] Scientific Intelligence. 479 
Academy during the present year, this laborious chemist has begun 
to examine the causes to which the consistence, the odours, and the 
colours, of certain oils and fatty bodies are to be ascribed. He 
made experiments on the fat of men, oxen, sheep, the jaguar, and 
the goose. The differences in consistence depend upon the propor- 
tion of the two general principles of fatty bodies; but the other 
differences depend upon peculiar and foreign bodies. M. Chevreul 
proposes a system of nomenclature analogous to the rest of the 
chemical nomenclature, both for the principles which he has disco- 
vered, and for their saline combinations. ‘The two fatty principles 
he calls steatine and elaine, from the Greek words which signify 
tallow and oil. His most solid acid principle, or his margarine, is 
margaric acid, the other is elaic acid. Spermaceti gets the name of 
cetine, &c. These names are no doubt burdensome to the memorys 
but this is an inconvenience inseparable from the progress of science 5 
and periphrases, which would lengthen discourse without making it 
more clear, would be attended with inconveniences sti!l more for- 
midable. 
(To be continued.) 
ArTICLE XI. 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE; AND NOTICES OF SUBJECTS 
CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE. 
I. Lectures. 
Dr. Davis will commence his Spring Course of Lectures on the 
Theory and Practice of Midwifery, and on the Diseases of Women 
and Children, on Tuesday, May 20, at Mr. Taunton’s Theatre, 87, 
Hatton Garden. 
Mr. A. T. Thomson commenced his Course of Lectures on 
General and Medical Botany, on Thursday, May 29, at two o’clock, 
in the Anatomical Theatre, Blenheim-street. It is intended, in 
this course, to combine instructions on the general principles of 
physiological botany, and on the classification and systematic ar- 
rangement of plants, in which particular attention will be given to 
select as specimens those plants which have been adopted into the 
British pharmacopceias. “Two distinct Lectures will also be set 
apart for the consideration and demonstration of plants which are 
generally regarded as hurtful to the animal economy, or are posi- 
tively of a poisonous nature. A Lecture will be delivered every 
Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, until the course be completed. 
Il. Detail of Experiments relative to the Prevention of Explosion 
in the Oxy-hydrogen Blow-pipe. By Mr. Gray. 
The lamp which Sir H, Davy has invented for the prevention of 
