= > 
. Dacriptionep an Mout c &e. . 303 
proofs of its presence. They all sank in Sait. acid ; were 
all brittle and fixed ; and, for fusion, required at least a Guo red 
heat. After being kent in naphtha, their ofterence with water 
is, on the first immersi@h, tauch less active. Under such circum- 
sees they react, at Grek more vivaciously with hydric ether 
than with waterMor even chlorohydric acid ; because in these 
liquids a resinous covering, derived from the nd htha, is not solu- 
ble, while to the ether it yields readily. 
By means of solid carbonic acid, obtained by Mitchell’s modi- 
fication of Thilorier’s process, I froze an ounce measure of the 
amalgam of calcium, hoping to effect a partial mechanical sepa- 
ration of the mercury by straining through leather, as in the case 
of other amalgams. ‘The result, however, did notyjustify my 
hopes, as both metals were expelled through ihe kes of the 
leather simultaneously, the ealcium forming, forthwith, a pulver- 
ulent oxide, intermingled with, and discolored by mercury in a 
State of extreme division. 
By the same means I froze a mass of the amalgam of ammo- 
nium as large as the palm of my hand, so as to be quite hard, 
tenacious and brittle. ‘The mass floated upon the mercury of 
my mercurial pneumatic cistern, and eens —— while 
its volatile ingredients escaped. 
When the freezing of the amalgam was Sepadited by the ad- 
dition of hydric ether, the resulting solid effervesced in water, 
evolving ethereal fumes. ‘This seems to show that a portion of 
this ether may be incorporated with ammonium and mercury, 
Without depriving the aggregate thus formed of the characteris- 
tics of a metallic alloy. 
Arr. VII.— Description of an Apparatus jor Deflagrating Car- 
burets, Phosphurets, or Cyanides, in vacuo or in an Atmos- 
phere of Hydrogen, with an account of some Results obtained 
by these and by other means ; especially | the Isolation of Cal- 
cium; by Rozsert Hare, M. D. 
Read before the American oe Society, October 18, 1839. 
Upon a hollow cylinder of brass (A A) an extra air-pump plate 
(BB) is supported. The cylinder is furnished with three valve 
cocks, (D D D,) and terminates at the bottom in a stuffing-box, 
