int sty. + 407 
has occurred to me that a charged eloud or stratum of air may by 
simple induction, without transference, so affect the conductors as to 
produce this disturbance. If so, a new field. for investigation will be 
opened. At present, circumstances will not allow of any observations 
in the night, and pressing official duties forbid any thing more than 
casual observations.during the day. I may mention in conclusion, that 
at pret: the usual daily range of the galvanoscope i is 20°, that. is, 
from 8 a.M.to6,m, At 8 a.m. the deflection is from 43° to 45°, 
lelibi.20: M. 23° to 25°, 
» 4 On the production of a new organic alkali; by G. Fownss, 
(Philosophical Transactions, 1845, 2d part, p. 263.)—When starch is 
distilled with diluted sulphuric acid, a small quantity of an oily matter 
passes over, accompanied by formic acid. This oil is obtained in larger 
quantity from bran; one pound of this, distilled with half a pound of sul- 
phuric acid and three pounds of water, yielded a drachm of it. When 
pure, it is a colorless, oily fluid, which becomes brown by exposure to 
_ the air; it is slightly soluble in. water, but easily in alcohol. -Its odor 
Tesembles that of a mixture of oil of bitter almonds, and of cassia, Its 
Sp. gr. is 1:168; boils at 323° F.,-and distills unaltered. Cold sul- 
Phuric acid dissolves it, giving a magnificent purple tint; nitric acid 
oxydizes it, forming oxalic acid. 
.. MreFownes has given to this sabainncin the name of furfurol, (from 
furfur, bran,) and expresses its composition by the formula, C, ,H,O,. 
» When placed in contact with five or six volumes of liquor ammoniz, 
they slowly combine, and in few hours form a solid mass, which con- 
£ Sists of a yellowish-white, flocculent crystalline matter, insoluble in wa- 
ter, but soluble in alcohol... Repeated analyses give for this substance 
the formula C,,H,NO, ; it is formed from the oil by the addition of 
one equivalent of ammonia and the abstraction of three equivalents 
of water, This substance has all the properties of an amide. Acid 
composes it immediately, forming a salt of ammonia and setting free 
the oil, The same decomposition takes place slowly with water, the sub- 
Slance combining with the elements, ofthe liquid, and regenerating am- 
Monia and furfurol. The action of alkalies is however very. peculiar. 
A boiling dilute solution of potash readily dissolves it without the evolu- 
tion of ammonia, and on cooling, deposits brilliant silky needles of a 
new substance. This has precisely the same composition in hundred 
Parts as the amide from which it was derived, but. differs from it en- 
tirely j in its properties. It is agerreenene base, neutralizing acids, 
. and forming definite crystallizable sa 
- The analysis of its salts gives the saan C,5H,2N,0,, which is 
} just double that of the amide. .This substance is the only product of 
the reaction , the whole of. the amide being obtained in the form of the 
