274 Scientific Intelligence. 



17. 



ds formed by the action ofN 



-4cid upon Sugar, Dextrine, Lactine, Mannite and Glycerine ; by Ascagke 

 Sobrero, (Comptes Rendus, Feb., 1847.) — Several of these compounds 

 have been found by the author and MM. Flores Domonte and Menard, 

 simultaneously. The sugar compound on analysis, showed a replace- 

 ment of 2 equiv. hydrogen. The glycerine compound requires care in 

 its formation, or oxydation takes place. When the mingled nitric and 

 sulphuric acids are kept in a freezing mixture and the glycerine is added 

 slowly, with stirring, it dissolves entirely with no visible reaction. The 

 addition of water precipitates a heavy oily looking liquid, which may 

 be washed in water, dissolved in alcohol and separated by the addition 

 of water. It resembles light yellow olive oil, is heavier than water, in 

 which it is quite insoluble — it dissolves freely in alcohol and ether, is 

 without smell, and of a sweetish pungent and aromatic flavor. It must 

 be tasted with great caution, as a quantity sufficient to moisten the end 

 of the finger, when applied to the tongue produces the most unpleasant 

 effects of nausea and headache, which last for several hours. No 

 analysis of this compound has been made. G. C. S. 



18. On the Exhalation of Bicarbonate of Ammonia by the Lungs; 

 by Lewis Thompson, (Phil. Mag., Feb., 1847.)— The moisture exhaled 

 from the lungs, on examination was found to contain bicarbonate of am- 

 monia— the quantity for each individual rather more than three grains 

 per day. To prove the presence of ammonia in the breath, the author 

 directs us to breathe for an hour or two, air which has passed through 

 dilute sulphuric acid. The exhalation is condensed by passing through 

 a tube cooled to 32°. The fluid collected is to be acidulated with a 

 drop or two of pure muriatic acid, and evaporated to dryness. Treat- 

 ment of the residue by potash, produces the usual reactions of ammonia. 



G. C. S. 

 ^ 2 ?; A ™ lys ™ °f a Concretion from a Horse's Stomach, performed 

 ■ \ 2 M ' WetheriU «"<* Dr. Boye, (Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc., 



iv, p. 330, Jan., 1846.)— This concretion, for a fuller description of 

 which, in connection with its. history, Dr. B. referred to his friend, Pr. 

 i f; oates ' b ? vvhom il w as handed to him for examination, is re- 

 markable for its size, weighing 1 If lbs. It is of an oval shape, smootn 

 surface, brownish-grey color, and breaks in concentric layers of dif- 

 ferent degrees of thickness, exhibiting a fibrous or radiated structure. 

 1 he outer layer alone was analyzed. The concretion was found by 

 Dr. Ooates, to contain a nail in its centre. 



By a qualitative examination, it was found to consist of phosphoric 

 acid, magnesia, ammonia, chemically combined water, a small portion 

 of organic matter, and silex. It contained no lime. In order to deter- 

 mine quantitatively these ingredients, a portion was dissolved in dilute 

 hydrochloric acid ; the insoluble residue collected on a counterpoised 

 filter dried and weighed ; after incineration and weighing, it y elded 

 insoluble inorganic matter 0-45 per cent,, which, deducted from W 

 former weight, gives insoluble organic matter 064 per cent. 



To the filtered solution was added a weighed portion of iron W»j* 

 dissolved m nitro-muriatic acid, and the whole then precipitated I »> 

 ammonia. Having previously ascertained the amount of peroxyd o 

 iron yielded by an equal portion of the same iron wire, the difference 



