Miscellanies. 389 



extinguished an agreeable odor. Specimens are shortly expected 

 from the locality. 



11. Platinum in France. — A specimen of platinum has been ex- 

 hibited before the academy at Paris, which has been extracted in 

 combination with silver from galena and which contains 0-00022 of 

 Platinum and since HQOlbs. of the galena, are daily produced from 

 the mines, the daily produce of platinum will be lib. 4 oz. 4 drams 

 and 28 grains. The mines of Cohfolens and Alloue Depart, of 

 Choraute are the localities for this platinum* 



12. Carrageen or Irish Moss. 



Communicated by Dr. Lewis Feuehtwanger. 



Chondrus crispus, Lyngbye, Hydropt. Dan. p. 15, t. 4. Greville, 

 Algae Brit. p. 129, t. 15. 



Sphaerococcus crispus, Agardh, Sp. Alg. 1. p. 256. 



Fucus crispus, Lin. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 718. Turn. Hist. Fuc. p. 

 216—217. 



This moss is common on rocks and stones, along the coast of Eu- 

 rope ; it is also a native of the United States. A very variable spe- 

 cies, but easily recognized, when the eye is accustomed to it. The 

 genus Chondrus, belongs to the order FJorideae of the great natural 

 family of the Algae. All the species have a cartilaginous frond, 

 which is flat, without nerves, dichotomous, dilated at the extremity, 

 and of a livid reddish color; the fructification consists of scattered 



■ 



capsules, mostly immersed in the frond, rarely pedicellate ; seeds 

 minute, rounded.* 



This moss abounding on the southern and western coasts of Ire- 

 land, has been used by house painters for sizing ; it has likewise been 

 highly esteemed by the inhabitants, as a dietetic remedy for various 

 diseases ; more especially for consumption, dysentery, ricketts, scro- 

 fula and affections of the kidneys and bladder. Dissolved by being 

 boiled in water, a thick jelly is produced, more pure and agreeable, 

 than that procured lrom any other vegetable, which is found to agree 

 better with the stomach, than any prepared from animal substances. 

 Its chemical composition appears to me, as far as I have been able to 

 trace it, of very considerable importance, the jelly formed by dissolv- 

 ing it in hot water is not only composed of starch but contains a large 



* I am indebted to Dr. John Torrey, for the communication of the botanical descrip- 

 tion. 



