190 Miscellanies. 
surface in greater quantity than in substances of higher powers of 
conduction. But then the under surface, in the disk composed of 
non-conducting matter, evidently ought to acquire a less elevated 
temperature than in the disk formed of the body whose conducting 
power is better: and in turning from the side of the pile the face of 
each disk which has not received the direct impression of the solar 
rays, we ought to perceive an opposite effect. But this does not 
take place; for whichever of the surfaces of the disks we present to 
the instrument, we always obtain the same result. We conclude 
therefore, that “the color and state of the surface of bodies being 
the same, one body is possessed of aes absorbing, power, in pro- 
portion as its power of conduction is less.” This law, new and un- 
expected, seems destined to play an important part in the theory of 
radiant caloric. 
am 
_ Extracted and Translated by Prof. Griscom. 
= Nes process for obtaining Morphine.—Ant. Galvani, (An 
delle Scienze, etc. Maggio et Giguno, 1831,) describes a metho 
of obtaining, directly from opium, morphine free from narcotine. He 
admits that his process is a modification of that contrived by M- 
Guillermond, apothecary at Lyons. It consists essentially of redu- 
cing, by evaporation, the alcoholic solution of opium, to the density 
of an extract, then by successive solutions and filtrations, to separate 
from all the resinous matter of the extract, which causes the narco- 
tine to be separated from the morphine sa prolonged eb ene : 
calcined magnesia, a succession of filtrations, i 
tions, produces at length very pure morphine, completely a 
i all narcotine. 
With respect to the resinous matter, by dissolving it in dilute. suk 
phuric acid, and decomposing the solution by potash, the narcotine is 
precipitated, and must be purified by treating it again with sulphuric 
acid and ammonia, filtering, resolution in alcohol at 24°, and crys 
tallization. In making, with one pound of opium, five tinctures in 
- alcohol of different degrees of strength, the author was enabled, 
the for going process, to obtain from it eight drachms of very ” 
3. Action of Oils upon Oxygen gas, at the temperature of the eat 
mosphere ; by Treen B De Saussure.—The experiments upon this 
