590 Transactions of the American Institute. 



picric acid m a galvanic battery. 

 M. Ducliemiu, in a paper read before the Fieiich Academy of 

 sciences, stated, that he had replaced the nitric acid in the porous 

 cell of a Bunson pile with a few grammes of picric acid, whereby 

 the evolution of noxious vapors is effectually got rid of. The addi- 

 tion of a few drops of sulphuric acid to the picric acid, will con- 

 siderably increase the intensity of the current. 



SALMON IN AUSTRALIAN RIVERS. 



Several years ago, the ova of salmon were sent out in ice, at gi'eat 

 expense, from England, and were deposited in ponds near the river 

 Plenty, a branch of the Derwent, and when old enough were set 

 free in the river. Great fears were entertained of the result, but 

 the fish, after escaping from their natural enemies in the sea, are 

 returning to the Derwent, and the question of their acclimation 

 appears to be settled. 



' OXYGENATED WATER. 



Recent experiments by Schonbein prove that water, united to one 

 atom of oxygen gas, is a more stable body than was previously sup- 

 posed. He ascertained, that oxygenated water {elt) is really weak- 

 ened by boiling, but that, nevertheless, when properly diluted, it 

 is not wholly destroyed; so much is this the case, that it may even 

 be concentrated by this means, and that generally the more it is 

 diluted with water the better resists the action of heat. As to 

 that which represents the deficit, it is not, as might be supposed, 

 destroyed; it goes forth with the vapor, and condenses with it so 

 that oxygenated water is afterward found in the receiver. As 

 metallic vessels exercise a decided decomposing action on oxygen- 

 ated water, glass or porcelain should be used in making similar 

 experiments. 



THE CAUSE OF CHOLERA. 



In a memoir addressed to the Paris Academy of Medicine, M. 

 Daum6 announces the discoveiy of a cholera animalcule. The 

 memoir has been referred to the committee having charge of the 

 Br6am prize, to be awarded to the person who discovers a cure for 

 the modern pestilence. It is possible that Asiatic cholera may be 

 caused by the presence of an organism, but, from the rapidity of 

 the progress of this disease, it seems more reasonable to infer that 

 this organism belongs to the vegetable class, resembling minute my- 

 celium, which often ipcrease with most fearful rapidit3^ Still, we 



