Chemistry and Physics. 419 
As it is not easy to extract the whole of the silver, the mass need 
not be washed very long and the residuum may again be employed i 
examined eight different samples from various gardens and in most 
cases from unopened pitcher plants. In all the cases litmus paper gave 
an acid reaction. The same odor as that mentioned by Dr. Turner 
was observed during evaporation. The quantity of solid matter, as 
might be expected, varied considerably—from -27 to 1 per cent. No 
volatile acids were present and no oxalic acid. 
_ The dry residue from several samples united, contained about 38 per 
cent. of malic and a little citric acid, 50 p. c. chlorid of potassium; the 
remainder consisted of soda, lime and magnesia. 
_ These experiments show this to be, as botanists have already demon- 
Strated, a true secretion, containing some of the inorganic materials of 
the plant; but it is remarkable that not a trace of sulphuric acid could 
be detected, and yet it is hardly possible that sulphates are entirely 
wanting in the plant. &, &. 5, 
©. Chlorine and Oxygen from Chlorate of Potash; by Dr. Vocet, 
(Buch. Rep., vol. iii, in Chem. Gaz.)—The author states that chlorate 
of potash repeatedly crystallized furnishes a pure gas, and ascribes the 
impurity to the presence of some perchlorate (hyperchlorite ?). 
[It is generally understood that oxygen from the mixture of peroxyd 
of manganese and chlorate of potash, is always contaminated with more 
or less chlorine, in which case the above precaution would be of no use. 
The supposed easy preparation of pure chlorate is at the foundation 
of numerous determinations of chemical equivalents, and in particular 
that of chlorine. G.C.S. 
6. Action of Potash upon Caffeine; by A. Wurtz, (Comptes Ren- 
dus, Jan., 1850.)—A boiling concentrated solution of potash dissolves 
caffeine and disengages a considerable quantity of methylamine. 
This confirms the supposition made in the last No. of this Journal, p. 
282, that the base formed by Rochleder in the decomposition of caffeine 
by chlorine was methylamine. M. Wurtz also notices that the com- 
i s identical with that of the Poreyipong ne 
Position of the platinum salt i 
platinum salt of methylamine. : ; 
_ 1. Separation of "taeate. Valerianic and Acetic Acids; by J. 
Lizzic, (Liebig’s Annalen, Sept., 1849; Chem. Gaz., Jan., 1850.)— 
The simultaneous occurrence of these acids renders an easy and eco- 
homical process for their separation exceedingly desirable. This desid- 
eratum is fully answered by the plan proposed by Prof, Liebig. A part 
of the mixture of acids is saturated with potash and soda, or the re- 
