Miscellaneous Intelligence. 299 



explained by the deficiency in the salted meat of the alkaline phosphates 

 necessary to the formation of blood. The soup from boiled meat con- 

 tains the soluble phosphates of the flesh, and the meat itself the insolu- 

 ble. Neither the soup nor the flesh alone can maintain the processes 

 of life, but both must be taken together. The English have in this re- 

 spect hit upon the proper practice. In a theoretical point of view their 

 food is more correctly combined than that of the Germans. 



Still more wonderful results have been obtained by the oxydation of 

 casein by means of peroxyd of manganese and sulphuric acid, by M. 

 Gugelberger. Three products are obtained : the first of which is alde- 

 hyde, the second oil of bitter almonds, and the third a fluid ethereal 

 body with a composition similar to metacetone. The aldehyde was 

 analyzed as aldehydite of ammonia, of which a considerable quantity 

 was obtained. From oil of bitter almonds the most beautiful benzoic 

 acid was produced by the action of chlorine. 



From these results a sort of conception maybe obtained how and 

 wherefore many medicines have a certain deleterious or useful action. 



Urea, creatin, glycocoll, leucin, cystin, &c, are organic bases, and 

 only products of the animal body or its elements, and organic bases are 

 partly poisonous, partly beneficial in their action. I have caused the 

 new experiments of Mulder on his protein to be repeated. The sub- 

 stance prepared by Fieitmann in this laboratory, according to his new 

 method, and supposed to be free from sulphur, still contains 1*5 per 

 cent., as does likewise a similar preparation by Laskowski. 



7. Palceontographical Society of London.— The Paleeontographical 

 Society has been instituted the present year, and as organized, Sir 

 Henry T. De La Beche, is President, and Prof. Bell, Prof. Forbes, 

 Charles Lyell, Esq., Prof. J. Phillips, and other men of distinction are 



the Council. 



From the Prospectus we observe that it is the object of the Society 

 ^ figure and describe as complete a stratigraphical series of British 

 fossils as can be accomplished, including both the published and the 

 unpublished species. It is proposed that the work shall be quarto, and 

 that each plate shall, on the average, contain about twenty figures, 

 illustrating half as many species, or more, according to circumstances. 

 The work will be produced in the form of monographs, by various au- 

 thors. As a commencement of the series, the whole of the British 

 tertiary fossils are in course of being described and figured, under 

 the superintendence of Mr. Searles Wood, Mr. F. E. Edwards, Mr. 

 Flower, Mr. Smith, of Jordan Hill, and other gentlemen of well known 

 geological experience. No precise order of publication will be adhered 

 to i but it is proposed that monographs of portions of the secondary se- 

 *es shall also be produced as early as the nature of such undertakings 

 *iU permit. The copper-plates are being executed by the Messrs. 

 Suwerby, and other artists of eminence in this department of en- 

 graving. 



Calculations have been carefully made, which show, that if 1000 

 foembers be acquired, and 1250 copies be printed, sixty p ates and 

 le "er.p ress may be given annually to each member for his subscr.plion 



