264 Scientific Intelligence. 
The specific gravity of the gum was 1:5, but this determina- 
tion may possibly admit of wap upon purer samples than 
were disposable for the experiment. 
Its earthen ee was > foun to be, 
Water, - 11.640 
Foreign Matters, - - - - 0°236 
Bassorin, - - - - 0°206 
Arabin, . : - - 84 967 
Ash, - - - - - 3°900 
100 049 
Geren was also sought for, but not found. The ash was estima- 
ted by burning a een quantity in an atmosphere of oxygen and 
weighing the resi 
The ultimate anatyae made also by effecting combustion of 
the carefully dried gum in oxygen Bas, yielded, in two separate 
experiments, the following numbers 
‘ 2. 
Carbon, - - - 4368 43:10 
Hydrogen, - = - - 611 650 
Oxygen, - = 47-26 47-40 
“ - 3-00 
100 00 1000 
These proportions approximate very closely to those obtained 
from gums Senegal and Arahic by Guerin and Mulder. The 
general appearance, too, of the gum is similar to that of gum 
Senegal, and the dark inferior qualities of gum Arabic. In chem- 
ical properties, also, it is allied to them ; - being insoluble in abso- 
lute alcohol, pattially soluble in common alcohol, and readily 
forming with hot or cold water a very adhesive mutcilage. It is 
in fine, a true gum, ane promises, in its physical and ‘chemical 
behavior, much of the advan tage, expected by its discoverer, as 
an economical substitute for gum Arabic or Senegal. 
University of Maryland, Baltimore, January, 10, 1855. 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 
I. Cuemistry anp Puysics. 
to 1850 and now first made public. e author divides his commun 
cation into five parts, The first contains the results obtained on the elas- 
tic forces of saturated Belge furnishe a a certain number 0: 
selected from — those which are ea ie ena in a state of eae 
in quantity, and , and ata Sdeieschitla dodite::. 
—— a | 
