Miscellanies. 1 95 



Third. — The direction of Mines in which is given a course of 

 docimastic chemistry. 



Besides the foregoing, maintained at the expense of the govern- 

 ment, — there is a school of Pharmacy in which are given public lec- 

 tures on Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Mineralogy, Zoology, Experi- 

 mental Pharmacy, Materia Medica, with the advantage of a superb 

 Laboratory, and a rich collection of apparatus, minerals, vegetables, 

 &c. The courses are said to be followed with great zeal. 



Heretofore there existed in Spain no other public instruction than 

 that of Jurisprudence, Theology and Medicine. Now, the career 

 of the sciences is open and is followed by the young Spaniards, with 

 an assurance that the knowledge thus acquired will obtain for them an 

 honorable existence. 



Professor Casaseca conducts in an able manner the department of 

 Chemistry in the Conservatory of Arts. — Idem. 



5. Hygiene. — At Metz in France, a public course of Lectures, 

 attended by more than two hundred persons is given on Hygiene, 

 the art of preserving health. The precepts and instruction deliv- 

 ered in this course are printed and distributed among the families of 

 the city. — Idem. 



6. English Universities. — From the last published statements of 

 the number of students at our Universities, it appears that Cambridge 

 has now a majority over that of Oxford, having increased in the last 

 year one hundred and eighteen members. The present total of 

 Cambridge scholars is five thousand two hundred and sixty three, 

 while that of Oxford is only five thousand two hundred and fifty 

 nine. — Edin. Lit. Gazette, April, 1830. 



ADDITIONAL EDITORIAL SELECTIONS. 



1 . Dr. Mitchell's Method of working Caoutchouc. — Soak the 

 gum elastic in sulphuric ether, until soft and nearly inelastic, which in 

 good ether will take from ten to twenty-four hours. Then if it is a 

 plate, cut it with a wet knife or parallel knives, into such sections, 

 or sheets, or shapes, as may be desired, and suffer them to dry ; or 

 if a bag, apply a pipe or stop-cock, and inflate with the mouth ; if 

 the bag should expand equally, inflate rapidly, but if unequally, pro- 

 ceed more slowly and with occasional pauses. By such means a 



