Intelligence and Miscellanies. 393 



atmosphere, much of its water and becomes stronger. But 

 if the vessel thus closed be exposed to a damp air, the alco- 

 hol attracts humidity and becomes weaker. 



In a second memoir the author states more particularly the 

 effect of bringing the alcohol into immediate contact with 

 the membrane. If a bladder be filled with 16 ounces of 

 alcohol at 75° and be well closed and suspended over a sand 

 bath, or placed near a warm stove so as to remain at the 

 distance of more than an inch from the hot surface, it becomes 

 in a few days reduced to a fourth of its volume, and is near- 

 ly or quite anhydrous. 



M. Seemmering prepares for this purpose calves or beeves 

 bladders, by steeping them first in water, washing, inflating, 

 and cleansing them from grease and other extraneous mat- 

 ters, tying the ureters carefully and then returning them to 

 the water in order to clear off more fully the interior muco- 

 city. After having inflated and dried the bladders M. S. 

 covers them with a solution of Ichthyocolla, one coating in- 

 ternally and two externally. The bladder thus becomes firm- 

 er, and the alcholic concentration succeeds better. 



It is better not to fill the bladder entirely, but to leave a 

 small space empty. The bladder is not moist to the touch 

 and gives out no odor of alcohol. If the latter be below 

 16° Baume, the bladder then softens a little and appears 

 moist to the touch. 



Bladders prepared as above may be employed more than 

 a hundred times, though they at length acquire a yellowish- 

 brown colour and become a little wrinkled and leathery. 

 The swimming bladder of the salmon is not fit for these ex- 

 periments. Alcohol of 72° was put into one of them and after 

 an exposure of thirty-two hours, it had lost more than one 

 third of its volume and was weakened 12°. The alcohol- 

 ic vapour was perceived by the smell. 



Into two bladders of equal size was put, into one eight 

 ounces of water and into the other eight ounces of alcohol. 

 They were placed side by side, exposed to a slight heat. In 

 four days tjie water had entirely disappeared while the alco- 

 hol had scarcely lost an ounce of its weight. Mineral waters 

 and that of wells evaporate and deposit on the interior of 

 bladders the saline matters which they contain. 



If the heat be conveniently managed, absolute alcohol 

 may be obtained in six to twelve hours. Solar heat is even 

 sufficient to produce anhydrous alcohol. 



Vol. XV.— No. 2. 25 



