MMiscellanies. 389 
extinguished an agreeable odor. Specimens are shortly expected 
from the locality. 
11. Platinum in France.—A specimen of platinum has been ex- 
hibited before the academy at Paris, which has been extracted in 
combination with silver from galena and which contains 0-00022 of 
Platinum and since 1100/bs. of the galena, are daily produced from 
the mines, the daily produce of platinum will be 1lb. 4 oz. 4 drams 
and 28 grains. The mines of Cohfolens and Alloue Depart. of 
Choraute are the localities for this platinum. 
12. Carrageen or Irish Moss. 
Communicated by Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger. 
Chondrus crispus, Lyngbye, Hydropt. Dan. p. 15, t. 4. Greville, 
Alge Brit. p. 129, t. 15. 
Sphaerococcus crispus, Agardh, Sp. Alg. 1. p. 256. 
Fucus crispus, Lin. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 718. Turn. Hist. Fue. p. 
216—217. 
This moss is common on rocks and stones, along the coast of Eu- 
rope; it is also a native of the United States. A very variable spe- 
cies, but easily recognized, when the eye is accustomed to it. The 
genus Chondrus, belongs to the order Florideae of the great natural 
family of the Algae. All the species have a cartilaginous frond, 
which is flat, without nerves, dichotomous, dilated at the extremity, 
and of a livid reddish color; the fructification consists of scattered 
capsules, mostly immersed in the frond, rarely pedicellate; seeds 
minute, rounded.* 
This moss abounding on the southern and western coasts of Ire- 
land, has been used by house painters for sizing ; it has likewise been 
highly esteemed by the inhabitants, as a dietetic remedy for various 
diseases ; more especially for consumption, dysentery, ricketts, scro- 
fula and affections of the kidneys and bladder. Dissolved by being 
boiled in water, a thick jelly is produced, more pure and agreeable, 
than that procured from any other vegetable, which is found to agree 
better with the stomach, than any prepared from animal substances. 
Its chemical composition appears to me, as far as] have been able to 
trace it, of very considerable importance, the jelly formed by dissolv- 
ing it in hot water is not only composed of starch but contains a large 
* Tam indebted to Dr. John Torrey, for the communication of the botanical descrip- 
tion. 
