260 Scientific Intelligence. 
Five milligrammes of 2yloidine heated in a tube full of mercury are 
decomposed without danger, while the same quantity of pyroryline pro- 
duces a violent detonation 
e hundred parts of dry starch, dissolved in concentrated nitric acid 
precipitated by water immediately after the ss aoagmge of the starch, 
give for a maximum 128 to 130 parts of xyloidine. 
One hundred parts of cellulose spore or paper) in contact with 
mono-hydrated nitric acid, either a few minutes or several days, 
affords 168 to 170 parts of dry pyroryline 
yloidine as long since aeatesl: ron ” Pe louze, consists of one equiv- 
alent of starch in which one equivalent of nitric acid has replaced the 
elements of one of water 
_ Pyroxyline has been found by the same chemist to consist of cellulose, 
with the addition of two equivalents of mono-hydrated nitric acid and 
the removal of one equivalent of water, giving the formula C1?H°09, 
2NO°, 2HO, or without hypothesis C'?H*10?1 
According to the late investigations of T. Ransome, (Phil. Mag., 
Jan., 1847,) the composition of gun-cotton is expressed by the formula 
C12H802°N2 ; and it results from common cotton by the removal of 
two atoms of hydrogen, and the addition of two atoms of nitric acid. 
Explosion produces carbonic oxyd, water and nitrogen, and no nitrous 
acid. Messrs. Porrett and Teschemacher have shown that cyanogen also 
is produced. The editors of the Philosophical Magazine suggest, that 
Mr. Ransome’s results may be a consequence of combustion at a lower 
temperature than is required for the combination of nitrogen and carbon. 
Pelouze states that in France the cost of 170 kilogrammes of gun- 
cotton (exclusive of labor) will be 317 francs, (the cotton 200, the 
nitric acid 100, and the sulphuric acid 17 franes.) The gun-paper will 
be still cheaper ; made from paper pulp, the cost will srt he says, about 
97 francs for 100 kilogrammes, excluding the cost of 
Unprepared cotton becomes vs a Shee sap ee a strong le 
tion of chlorate of potash; and the fo 
hen it has afforded fine red, green and wisn: lights. The com abut 
tion is rendered slow by the immersion in metallic salts, which is highly 
favorable for pyrotechnic 
This material is also valoable ‘for the manufacture of percussion caps, 
and bids fair to supplant other fulminating compounds for this purpose; 
on re rag of the safety and cheapness of its preparation. 
nic in Mineral Waters; (L’ Institut, No. 670, Nov. 45 
1846. a has been found, by M. Valchner, in various mineral 
waters at Viesbade in Germany, and this has been confirmed by M. 
Figuier. The last mentioned chemist has ascertained that the arseni¢ 
is in the state of arsenous acid, and that the proportion is nearly 0 
grammes for 100 litres of the water. He detected no arsenic in not 
ee of Passy. 
. On Fluorine; by M. Lovyer, ere No. 673, Nov. 25, 
1848. )—M. Louyet ‘concludes from his searches that fluorine is @ 
colorless gas, possessing odor, having the ese er of bleaching vegetable 
