S*C1ENTIF1C NEWS, Jo* 



with an equal quantity of water, and fubfequent dlftillation. 

 The pruffic acid palTes over in the alcohol ; its odour greatly 

 refembles the water of the lauro cerafus. 



It is a deadly poifon to animals. Perhaps thefe notices may 

 intereft the London chemifls, ,&c. &c. 



Annotation by the Tranjlator, 



The following method of obtaining tungften, I believe has Rkhter's 

 not been made known in this country. It is recommended by ^^^^""^ of °^- 

 Ricluer * a German chemift._F. A. '""'"^ '""^"'"• 



Let equal parts of tungften oxide (tungftic acid) and dried 

 I^lood be expofed for fome time to a red-heat in a crucible ; 

 pafs the black powder which is formed into another fmaller 

 crucible, and expofe it again to a violent, heat in a forge, for 

 at leaft an hour. Tungften will then be found, according tQ 

 this chemift, in its metallic ftate in the crucible. 



Meteoric Stones, 



G. BIOT, member of the National Inftitute, in a letter to the Extraordinary 



French Minifter of the Interior, dated Tuly 20, 1803, gives a '!?^''^"'^ *"/„ 

 1 ., , p , . . . . n mower of ftones 



detailed account of his inquiries, &c. refpeding a fire ball Jo France. 



which exploded in the neighbourhood of Laigle. The memoir 



will be feparately printed. 



On Tuefday, April 26, 1802, about one in the afternoon, 

 the weather being ferene, there was obferved from Gaen, 

 Pont-Audemer, and the environs of Alencon, Falaife, and 

 Verneuil, a fiery globe of a very brilliant fplendour, which 

 moved in the atmofphere with great rapidity.' 



Some moments afier there was heard at Lciiglc, and in the 

 environs of that city in the extent of more than thirty leagues 

 in every direftion, a violent explofion, which lafted five or fix 

 minutes. 



At firft there were three or four reports like thofe of a cannon, 

 follovv'ed by a kind of difcharge which refembled a firing of 

 roufketry ; after which there was heard a dreadful rumbling 

 like the beating of a drum. The air was calm and the Iky 

 ferene, except a few clouds, fuch as are frequently obferved. 



* Richter\ieber die neucn gegenftande der Chimie. Part I. p. 49, 



Th& 



