u. 



Miscellaneous Researches. 413 



in obtaining it pure. In the amylene of different sliops, he has found 

 the boiling point vary from 30^ 0. to 60° C, and has detected also the 

 presence of more or less amylic alcohol which had escaped the action of 

 the chlorid of zinc. The amylene received from Dr. Snow, varied in its 

 point of ebullition from 30^ to 46'' C; and besides, three grams treated 

 "with potassium disengaged sixty -four cubic centimetei^ of hydrogenj evi- 

 dence that the liquid was oxygenated. 



The author observed, at first, that on exposing amylic alcohol to dry 

 chlorid of zinc, the alcohol gave the largest proportion of amylene, and 

 that then it dissolves about one-tenth of its weight in chlorid. With the 

 nioist chlorid the amount of amylene is a little less, but the odor not so 

 disagreeable. In either case, the author performs the distillation in a 

 copper alembic, arranging the whole, as in Scottman's apparatus for 

 ether. The product volatilized contains much amylic alcohol; it is recti- 

 fied by several treatments with a dilute solution of chlorid of zinc, until 

 potassium no \o\}ger disengages hydrogen, ai^d then it is distilled from a 

 water-bnth, collecting only that which passes over at 30° C. 



Miscellaneous Researches. (1.) Siliciuret of hydrogen. — Among the 

 new facts of special interest in chemistry recently brought out, is the ob- 

 taining of the siliciuret of hydrogen, by MM. Wohler and Buff, by pass* 

 ing an electric current through a solution o? chlorid oi sodium by means 

 of electrodes made of siliciuretted aluminium. The gas inllames on con- 

 tact with the air, and burns with a white flame, giving up silica. On 

 passing it through an incandescent tube of glass, there is a deposit of 

 amorphous silicium ; and a deposit is also obtained when the flame is cut 

 off by a porceUiin capsule. 



(2.) Formation of Cane sugar from Glycerine^ of Manniie^ etc.^ by 

 Bkutuelot. — After having succeeded in making glyceru^c and mannite to 

 ferment, Berthelot thinking that before entering into fermentation, they 

 probably pass to the state of glucose^ a state which should be preceded 

 by that of cane sugar, tried a great number of animal membranes and 

 szotized ferments, and ended in finding in the testicular tissue a material 

 fitted to produce rapidly this fermentation after it had been prepared by 

 a previous contact with a fermenting substance. 



(3.) Researches on Tungsten. — These researches were undertaken by 

 M, Riche, Superintendent of the Chemical works of the Faculty of Science 

 at Paris, to establish the position of tungsten in the series of simple 

 bodies. According to him, it is a metalloid rather than a metal ; and ho 

 concludes that although differing in some characters from boron and sili- 

 con, it should be arranged along side of these metalloids. 



BtBLioGRAPHV. Flors de Lorraine; by A. Godrojt, Dean and Pro* 

 fessor of Natural History of the Faculty of Sciences of Nancy* 2 vok 



o, 2nd edition. Paris: chez J. B. Bailliero.— M. Godro 



m 12m 



ron IS one 



of the authore of the Flora of France, and the Flora of Lorraine has the 

 characteristics distingui-shing that great work. It contains also an exact 

 account of the geological constitution of the regions growing the more 

 prominent species of plants; and as the author believes that the chemical 

 constitution of the soil exerts an important influence on growth, this 

 point is also considered. The work was prepared especially for the stu- 

 <ients of the Faculty of Sciences of Nancy, It contains an analytical 

 table as a guide to the families. 



