Quarterly Abstract of European Chemistry. 187 



istence of fluorine in recent bones has been fully illustrated by this 

 research. The author mentions that the two great difficulties in the 

 way of its detection are the animal matter and carbonates, both of 

 which are to be got rid of before fluorine can be satisfactorily tested 

 for. He therefore began by burning off" the animal matter, dissolving 

 the earthy residue in muriatic acid, precipitating the earthy phosphates 

 by ammonia, and testing these last by placing them in a platinum cru- 

 cible, adding a few drops of sulphuric acid and covering with a piece 

 of glass prepared in the ordinary way with wax. 



To separate Zinc from Manganese, by M. Otto, (Journ. de Pharm. 

 et de Chim. Jan. 1844.) — The solution of the two metals containing 

 hydrochlorate of ammonia is rendered slightly alkaline, and then there 

 is added to it hydrosulphuric acid, which precipitates the two metals. 

 To the precipitates acetic acid is added, which dissolves the sulphuret 

 of manganese alone. This property of the sulphuret of manganese 

 can be taken advantage of to separate from all other metals. 



Equivalent of Zinc, by P. A. Favre, (Journ, de Pharm. et de Chim. 

 Jan. 1844.) — It was estimated in two ways ; first by analyzing the oxa- 

 late of zinc. This was done by passing the gaseous products resulting 

 from its decomposition over the oxide of copper, and condensing the 

 carbonic acid thus formed, the weight of which was ascertained, as 

 well as that of the oxide of zinc remaining ; from this the equivalent 

 was calculated. The second method was to burn, by means of the 

 oxide of copper, all the hydrogen furnished by the decomposition of 

 water with sulphuric acid, and a known quantity of pure zinc. The 

 water formed by the combustion was collected and weighed. Both 

 methods indicate within a small fraction the same equivalent — 33, hy- 

 drogen being 1. 



Tea — the Composition of, by M, Peligot, (Ann. de Chim. et de 

 Phys. June, 1844, p. 129.) — The principal object in this interesting re- 

 search was to ascertain the quantity of nitrogen in tea, and to what 

 vegetable principle this nitrogen was due. The quantity of nitrogen 

 found in the various teas was as follows. Pekoe, 6*58 per cent. ; gun- 

 powder, 6-60 percent. ; Souchong, 6*15; Assam, 5-10. The quantity 

 is remarkable as being greater than that contained in any vegetable yet 

 analyzed. The teas in their ordinary state were found to lose from 6 

 to 8 per cent, of water, and when thus dried the part soluble in water 

 averaged from 43 to 47 per cent. The part soluble in water when ob- 

 tained perfectly dry, afforded 4 to 5 per cent, of nitrogen. The inquiry 

 now arose whether the nitrogen belonged to several principles, or was 

 due to the theine alone. If the proportion of theine said to exist in 

 tea is only h per cent. (Miilder) or 1 per cent. (Steinhouse,) it can ac- 



