Intelligence and Miscellanies. 385 



30. A solid compound of cyanogen and sulphur, in definite 

 proportions, has been obtained by M. Lassaigne. His pro- 

 cess is to put into a small glass balloon some crystallized cy- 

 anuret of mercury in fine powder, and pour upon it half its 

 weight of bichloride of sulphur. In the course of twelve or 

 fifteen days, in a diffuse light, it subhmes in the neck of the 

 glass, which is kept shut, and forms small crystals — white, 

 transparent, or of a rhomboidal shape and highly refractive. 

 These crystals when subhmed, have a strong, penetrating 

 odor, exciting tears. A small fragment, placed on the 

 tongue, occasions a most pungent sensation, and the spot 

 which has been touched soon becomes red and painful. 



One of their characters is to produce, with the per salts of 

 iron, a red color altogether similar to that produced by the 

 sulpho-cyanic acid : Agreeably to the author's analysis, this 

 compound is formed of four atoms of cyanogen and one 

 atom of sulphur. — Idem. 



31 . Citric Acid from Gooseberries. — M. Tilloy, of Dijon, has 

 obtained from about 6200 lbs. of gooseberries, about 47 lbs. 

 of citric acid, and 48 gallons of alcohol at 20. The cost of 

 the gooseberries and other materials, labor, &,c. was 227 

 francs; and the value of the alcohol was 91 francs. The 

 balance 1 36 francs, brought the cost of the citric acid to 

 about 3 francs per lb. whereas its value in the market is 12 

 francs per lb. 



The juice of the gooseberries is fermented and distilled, — 

 the materials of the still are then pressed and strained, and 

 while the fluid is warm it is saturated with chalk, and the 

 citrate of lime, being well washed, pressed, and diluted with 

 water so as to bring it to a clear creamy mass, it is decom- 

 posed by sulphuric acid, diluted with twice its weight of wa- 

 ter, and by the aid of heat. The liquid acid thus resulting, 

 is again saturated with carbonate of lime, the precipitate 

 strained and well washed is again decomposed, and being 

 deprived of its color by animal charcoal is finally evaporated. 

 The crystals being colored and clarified by claying as in re- 

 fining sugar. They are redissolved and again crystallized. — 

 Idem. 



32. Medical uses of Gold. — Preparations of this metal, as 

 a substitute for those of mercury, in the treatment of ven- 

 ereal diseases, were introduced, or at least, more exten- 



VoL. XVI.— No. 2 22 



