162 Scientific Intelligence. — Natural History, 



introduced in the preparation of this ether. The process is similar 

 to that which I pointed out to obtain hydrobromic ether ; only I have 

 since observed that the proportion of phosphorus was too great, and 

 that it ought to be-diminished one half. 



Introduce into a small retort by its tubulure, 



Iodine, ----- 40 grammes, 

 Alcohol, at 38° - - - 100 " 



Project, in small fragments, agitating the mass, 



Phosphorus, - _ - 2.5 grs. 



which makes 1 part of phosphorus to 16 of iodine. 



Distil by ebullition almost to dryness ( jusque a la fin) ; stop the 

 process, and add from 25 to 30 grammes of alcohol, and continue 

 the distillation to the same point. 



The ether separates from the water of the distilled product, sink- 

 ing to the bottom. It must be washed as usual, and re-distilled from 

 a few fragments of chloride of calcium. — Ann. de Chim. Oct. 1829. 



10. Analysis of Bile, by Henry Bbaconnot. — From the uncer- 

 tainty which still hangs over the composition of this fluid, so impor- 

 tant in the animal economy, this able chemist has been induced to 

 examine afresh, the matter which constitutes the essential portion of 

 ox-bile, viz. the picromel.. His memoir, which occupies twelve 

 pages of the Annales, furnishes the following resuhs. 



1. That bile is a true soap, as the ancient physicians had deter- 

 mined. 



2. That the picromel of the ox contains : 



1. A peculiar acid resin, which forms the greater portion of it. 



2. Margarique acid. 



3. Oleic acid. 



4. An animal matter. 



5. A very bitter substance, of an alkaline nature. 



6. A colorless saccharine principle, which becomes purple, violet 

 and blue, by sulphuric acid. 



7. A coloring substance. — Nancy, 17th Oct. 1829. — Idem. 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



1. Analysis of the Russian Platina, by J. J. Berzehus. — The 

 platineferous sand contains, often, besides the little scales of metallic 

 iron discovered by M. Osann, alloy of iron and platina,- which is not 

 only attracted by the magnet, but even possesses polarity. These 



