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Scientific Intelligence. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



I. Chemistry and Physics. 



1. An Inquiry into the Amount, of Inorganic Constituents contained 

 in Ale and Porter ; by Thomas Dickson, Manchester, late Assistant 

 in the University Laboratory, Edinburgh, (Phil. Mag., Nov., 1848, vol. 

 xxxiii, p. 341.)— -The object in view in commencing the series of analy- 

 ses given below, was to ascertain if a standard could be formed of the 

 nutritive powers of the ales and porters in generafuse, in order that 

 a correct estimate of their real value as an article of diet might be 

 deduced. 



The analyses show, as might have been expected, a very great vari- 

 ety in the amount of their respective constituents, partly arising from 

 the various modifications each brewer finds himself under the necessity 

 of adopting, from local circumstances over which he has no control, or 

 from personal experience, though the main steps of the process are 

 essentially the same throughout. 



The ash consists of that portion of the grain, and other substances 

 employed in the process, which is soluble in water; whilst owing to 



em 



time the infusion is continued, to the temperature at which the infusion 

 is made, to the concentration the liquor undergoes in the boiling to 

 which it is subsequently subjected, and to the process of fermentation, 

 the proportional amount of the constituents varies considerably. 



The method given by Fresenius and Will for the analysis of ash was 

 that followed in the present instance. The amount of iron has been 

 omitted, as in most of the cases it was altogether wanting; and in the 

 few instances in which it did occur, it was so minute as to be inappre- 

 ciable, and apparently was only an accidental impurity. 



In order to save needless repetition, the analyses have been cal- 

 culated after the deduction of the carbon and moisture, and are as 

 follows : 



No. I. Scotch ale at 3s. per gallon. 



Potash . 



Soda 



Lime . 



Magnesia 



Chlorine 



Sulphuric acid 



Phosphoric acid 

 Silica . 



24-547 

 34-429 

 1 -203 

 0-399 

 5 095 

 2131 

 25-657 

 6-539 



100 000 



No. II. Another variety of Scotch ale at 3s. 



per gallon. 



Potash 

 i Soda . 



Lime . 



Magnesia 

 Chlorine 

 Sulphuric acid 

 Phosphoric acid 

 Silica . 



26603 

 35-715 



0-555 



0-232 



9-754 



2-272 



20 005 



4-864 



100 000 



