1S2 TEAR-ROOK OP FACTS. 



zontai position in any suitable manner. A glass funnel of 2 or 3 

 litres is placed over this, so that the air has sufficient access to the 

 wire. As the neck of the funnel is usually too narrow, it is cut so as 

 to leave an aperture 2 or 3 centimetres in dianiet^ - , on which is 

 adjusted a glass chimney of a suitable length ; the object of which is 

 to cool the gases heated by the wire. The wire is then made incan- 

 descent by means of twelve or fifteen Bunsen's cells. The gas 

 issuing from the chimney is found to have the odour of ozone ; 

 iodized starch-papers altered in a few minutes when placed over the 

 chimney. In this case the air passing over the incandescent wire 

 undergoes a peculiar modification by which it acquires the properties 

 of ozone; but whether this is effected by the electricity acting as a 

 source of heat, or by its own proper action, must be reserved for 

 further experiments. — Comptcs llendus : Philos. Mag., No. 128. 



Dr. T. Andrews, and Mr. P. Tait, of Belfast, have published in 

 the Philosophical Transactions an account of their continued re- 

 searches on Ozone, especially as to its volumetric relations : to which 

 is appended an account of the effects of the action of the electric dis- 

 charge on hydrogen, nitrogen, cyanogen, and other gases. These 

 gentlemen are still continuing their inquiries into the nature of 

 ozone, which it is hoped will tend to throw more light on this mys- 

 terious substance. 



FLUORESCENT SOLUTION FROM THE MANNA ASH. 



Stokes has shown that several organic substances are capable of 

 showing Fluorescence. Recently Prince Salm-Horstman has pointed 

 out the fluorescence caused by fraxine extracted from FraxiMM 

 excelsior (the common ash). Dufour states that a liquid endowed 

 with beautiful fluorescent properties may be procured by means of the 

 manna ash (Fraxinus ornus). By throwing into water some pieces of 

 bark, there are immediately produced beautiful blue reflections, and 



than a minute there is a solution exhibiting the most beautiful 



fluorescence. The intensity o b surpasses that produced by 



sulphate of quinine. This solution, examined according to Stokes's 



method.;, shows very well the characters of fluorescence, but it gives 



: illy a marked coloration by the aid of the electrical light of 



i. By taking one of Geissler's tubes, when the electrical 

 current is surrounded by a liquid column, we obtain a shade of pun 

 and intense blue. The facility and rapidity with which this solution 



can be obtained, without any chemical operation, and by the aid 

 of a thin branch BmFraxinm ovnas, render it useful for many ex- 

 periments. 



ACTION OF ALCOHOL, CHLOROFORM, ETC., <>N Till: : 



Tins has be d investigated by M.M. Lallemand, Perrin, and 



Duroy, who bave laid an account of their experiments before the 



b Aoadenn ofScienoa . Tbej state their conviction thai Alcohol, 



Chloroform, Ether, and Amylene aot directly upon the .Nervous 



System; while carbonio acid and parbonio oxide act directly on tho 



