Scientific Intelligence. 173 



Another strip of paper was immersed for some time in a strong 

 ■solution of chloride of lime, mixed witli muriatic acid ; tlien placed 

 for twenty four hours in caustic potash, which was afterwards boiled 

 to dryness, and then diluted Avith water : there remained from this 

 double action of chlorine and potash, only a small scrap of the pa- 

 per, but on this the letters were very distinct. From these facts the 

 author thinks he may offer this liquor with confidence, as an indeli-- 

 ble ink ; and he doubts not that it may be employed with the great- 

 est advantage in fixing different shades of brown on cotton, hemp, 

 linen and silk, or in browning other colors, and that it will possess a 

 great superiority over other browns. It may be used also with the 

 greatest success, in marking linen, without the aid of any other mix- 

 ture. — Avril, 1829. — Idem. 



JMemorandum by Prof. Griscom, addressed to the Editor. 



My attention having been arrested by this account of Braconnot's 

 new indelible ink, I hastily prepared some of it by heating in an iron 

 ladle the prescribed proportions of pearlash, leather shavings, and 

 flowers of sulphur. The result is, the ink with which this paper is 

 written.* I find it to be indestructible by chlorine, either gaseous or 

 in solution. For marking on linen, it spreads too easily ; perhaps a 

 little gum would help it. 



Compared with common ink in a solution of chloride of lime, its 

 superiority is very manifest. J. G. 



10. Detection of poiatoe four in that of wheat. — To effect tliis 

 object, M. Henri examined from twenty five to thirty samples of 

 pure wheat flour, from the harvest of 1827 and 1828, and without 

 regarding the other constituent principles, he ascertained that upon 

 an average, they contained 10^ per cent, of gluten, perfectly dry 

 and pulverulent, while tlie flour reputed to be mixtures, gave but 6 to 

 6 J per cent, of perfectly dry gluten. — Idem. 



11. Aspartic acid. — M. Plisson, Pharmacien of Paris, having 

 shewn the identity of the crystalline matters contained in young shoots 

 of asparagus, in liquorice root, in that of marsh-mallows, and of the 

 large comfrey, and ranked the whole under the name of Jlsparagin, 



The color is light brown, but perfectly distinct. — Ed. 



