English locality of metalic lead 191 
formed a number of experiments, from which it follows that 
the prussic acid prepared according to Vauquelin’s method, 
destroys vegetable life in nearly the same manner as it acts 
upon animals. Grains immersed in this acid die or loose 
their germinating faculty. The more delicate vegetables 
yield to it more readily than the robust ones. bed. 
34. Composition of fulminic acid —M. Libeg has found 
that the fulminating silver of Howard owes its detonating 
property to an acid capable of combining in different propor- 
tions with different bases, and of thus forming as many deto- 
nating salts. MM. Gay Lussac and Libeg having examined 
this fulminic acid have found that this substance which cannot 
be obtained in an insulated state, is composed of one atom of 
cyanogen, and one atoin of oxygen, forming probably together 
the cvyanic acid. Hence the neutral fulminates will be cya- 
nites, and the different fulminic acids bi-cyanites. Journ. de 
Pharm. Mai 1824, p. 257. Ibid. 
35. Sulphuric and hydro-chloric acids found in the Rio Vi- 
nagro.—M. Humboldt has recently communicated to the 
academy of Sciences, that MM. Boussingant and Rivero, 
who are exploring the Cordilleras of New-Grenada, have ,an- 
alyzed the waters of a river called Rio Vinagro, and have 
found in them in a free state, the sulphuric and hydro-chloric 
acids. bid. 
36. English locality of metallic lead.—This substance has 
lately been found in situ in the neighbourhood of Alston. It 
occurs in small globular masses imbedded in galena and a 
slaggy substance, accompanied with red litharge, crystals of 
blende, and quartz. The vein in which it is found is in lime- 
stone, and of the thickness of an inch, widening out to two or 
three as itgoesdown. ‘The whole mass within the vein is con- 
siderably decomposed, and the ore is found in incoherent 
pieces, some of which are about the size of a walnut. Many 
of them have a very slaggy appearance, both externally and 
internally, while others are pure galena, distinctly cleavable, 
and coated with a white sulphate of lead, produced by decom- 
position. A more particular notice of this mineral will soon 
be given.—Jbid. 
