426 Scientific Intelligence. 
thyme; it boils at 485° F. It is apparently a mixture, as the stearop- 
tene boils nearly at the same point. It is easily converted into a resin 
by contact with the air or any drying substances. 
The stearoptene forms fine crystals ; its boiling point is 428°. The 
formula is C,, H, O. (Gerhardt remarks that this is the formula for 
stearoptene of carraway oil.) This substance combines with hydro- 
chloric acid gas, but does not form a crystalline compound. G. C. S. 
12. On the Substances contained in Achillea millefolium, ( Yarrow ;) 
by B. Zanon, (Liebig’s Annalen, lviii, p. 21.)—This plant possesses 
much reputation as a febrifuge, both in this country and in Europe. 
M. Zanon obtained from it a bitter extract, which he calls Achilleine, 
and a crystallized non-volatile acid, which formed salts with potash, 
soda, ammonia, lime and quinine. No analysis is given, so that we 
are unable to say whether the achilleic acid and the extract are new 
substances, or are already known. .C, 
13. On the Formation of Caoutchouc from Drying Oils; by L. E. 
Jonas, (Archiv: de Pharm., xlvi, p. 159.)—Linseed oil, boiled for a 
long time, yields a brownish varnish ; this is to be boiled for a long time 
in water containing nitric acid, the loss by evaporation must be supplied 
and the acid not allowed to act too violently. At last a substance is 
obtained, which gradually solidifies ; this is to be washed to free it from 
acid: ‘This substance does not adhere to the fingers, is plastic, does 
not melt by itself, and when heated, strikingly resembles caoutchouc. 
It dissolves partially in ether and sulphuret of carbon ; entirely in oil 
of turpentine. Walnut and poppy oils furnish the same body, to which 
the name of oil-caoutchouc is given. : 
When linseed oil is boiled with half a part of sulphur, as soon as th 
temperature reaches a certain point, the whole is converted into a ge 
latinous mass, resembling oil-caoutchouc ; dilute nitric acid converts all 
the sulphur into sulphuric acid ; the residue has a brick-red color, which 
however is not elastic C. 8. 
14, } 
thus formed is to be boiled with pure nitric acid sufficient to dissolve 
about nine-tenths of the metal; the resulting nitrate of mercury is to 
reduced to red oxyd by heat, and this is to be calcined ina porcelain 
retort to reduce it. 
By the action of the first portion of nitric acid the more oxydable 
metals are acted upon; the second portion of acid leaves the metals 
less oxydable than mercury in the undissolved portion. : 
As the mercury reduced by this process dissolves a notable quantity 
of oxyd, this last is to be separated by agitation with sulphuric acid 3 1t 
is afterwards to be washed with a very large quantity of water, 
dried in the receiver of the air-pump over sulphuric acid. Mercury 
thus purified was employed by M. Regnault in his third determination 
of its density. ode 
M. Millon states that when a saline solution, such as chlorid of cal- 
eium, hydrochlorate of ammonia, nitrate of potash, c., is added to 
