Calculating Machine. 409 
ited ; that at 20°C. the mercurial vapor may reach a height of one 
Mscimeter, and at a lower temperature to 0° C., it does not exceed two 
centimeters. Faraday ws in his experiments a plate of gold 
‘placed at the requisite height. M. Brame, Professor of ee at 
‘Tours, has found on his trials, shat the vapor passes much beyond t 
limits. He used a reagent more sensitive than gold, viz., sulphur depos- 
ited in a vesicular state on a plate of glass, which becomes brown under 
the influence of mercurial vapor. In the vaults of the Paris Ob- 
Servatory where the temperature is uniform, this reaction took place ata 
height of 1:20 metres in the space of twenty days; and by prolonging 
the experiment he was enabled to condense on the e surfac ponderable 
sr of mercury. It was the same with mercurial ointment, silver 
amalgam, tin aislahios ee From these experiments and others tend- 
ing towards the same end, M. Brame concludes tha the vapor of mer- 
tury is subjected to the ordinary law. fow the mixture of gases and 
pors. 
peecmslation of Nitrogen by Pius 2 Thigaghdject is always un- 
der disc M. Boussingautt pe denying more strongly 
than Hot abet plants can sities ‘nitregen directly. from the atmos- 
His experiments have always been made on limited portions 
of air, »» While M. Ville, on his side, has constantly operated in Ai free 
air and perseveringly sustains the fixation ef pitrogen. The following 
explanation offered by an agriculturist, M. Roy, appears to harmonize 
these discordant results. He admits that nitrogen from the air is not ab- 
sorbed by the leaves, but that when dissolved in water, as is taken up Kd 
the roots. But a plant in an enclosed portion of atmosphere, which is 
vale oe wholly in this condition, does not transpire water. ae the eorees 
_ 8nd tt hence must absorb by the roots only a very limited quanity of wa- 
ter aed Consequently an inappreciable quantity of nitrogen ; such is the 
case in the experiments of Boussingault. On the contrary a plant endow- 
ed with great Powe of dear gustoemain as wheat, placed in the apparatus 0 of 
M. Ville, absorbs as much more water as the transpiration is more ac- 
tive from the aaa of the air. The quantity of nitrogen which is 
then taken up by the water into the a Nal of the P ant and assimila- 
» iS sufficient to be sensible in analys 
Action of some animal fase on he fats. —lIt is known that M. Cl. 
Bernard arenes to the pancreas, the property of ceuerernlins fatty 
Substances. M. Blondlot, ae ie at the School of Medici aA 5 
finds that a property does not belong exclusively to the pa the 
me possesses 2 At take. 5109 eGo Longet oe meen 
‘seminal fluid possesses this property ina much | ligher fares a 
that under a temperature of 35° to 40° C., during 4 to 16 hours, tis 
composed into fatty acids and glycerine. Before subjection to ig 
the emulsion has ana red ine bga jon, and after this. eepesneet: it is aci 
M. 
Calculat Mac is machine is the. invent 
Thomas, of Poca Te (iain). ge rapes iy orig the Patent He 
1 md RS ne has taken prize from 
machi 12 ro 
ers ave been appreciated, vnas she mao 1849, and at the World’s Exhi. 
d’Encou reported 
the “ Société 
bition at pkey It was recently upon at the Academy 
52 
Szoonp Serres, Vol, XIX, No. 57.—May, 1855. 
