106 Scientific Intelligence. 
the family of Lavoisier, and in part from notes made by this unfortunate 
savant during his journeys, which, as well as his laboratory notes and 
other papers, were happily cena they having been long in the hands 
of a to whom they were con y the daughter of Lavoisier. 
agnesium Light—The tercrent & properties of magnesium light 
are now familiar to all. Sie this Jour., xl, 287.) Some facts have been 
recently observed that are not yet g enerally known. As regards its 
chemical effects, this light i is well fitted to render luminous phosphores- 
cent bodies, as was fully ascertained by Mr. we in the month of 
January, 1865. This is now a lecture-room experiment. Take a series 
will explode under the indienne of magnesium fipey ; and, moreover, that 
this explosion does not take place in darkness, nor under the influence of 
the red or yellow rays, as had already been remarked for common pe by 
Gav Lussac and a ard. 
T 
and nese these chemists satisfied themselves that magnesium, when 
cold, decomposes water in the presence of the feeblest acids, even of car- 
bonic acid. 
If this metal were not so expensive its = could be applied to numer- 
0 recent invention of an Italian, Mr. Carlevaris, may perhaps 
be a successful application of it, pl the metal, he 
illuminating gas and atmospheric air with a tenth part of oxygen. 
light thus produced is very brilliant and appears to answer admirably for 
the pari of photographic ¢ images, or for magnifying them. 
rst Mr. Carlevaris used magnesia, and also carbonate of magnesia. 
But ‘. found afterwards that the chlorid gave better results. 
4, New facts neat toe aes Position of Thallium in classifi- 
cation.—Mr. Crook arranging thallium near lead (Journ 
Chem. with a 1864), while Mr. Lamy i is equally decided in placing it 
among m Is of the on. Each cites facts favorable to his own 
views. ir % a review pgs all t Mews facts and considerations in the Jou 
of Chemistry and Ph passer Saseahed 865) I have shown the ponibiitof 
resolving the question by placing thallium with the alkali metals, but 
also including with it lead and silver. This opinion confirms a theory 
the forward twenty years since by Mr. Baudrimont, who even then 
ranked lead with barium. Now that we have an alum with a base of 
oxyd of sleet; isomorphous with the alum of thallium, that of potassium, 
etc., there is less objection to putting in the sam p all these met- 
als, although in other respects they are quite pan ad The facts men- 
tioned tend to show that thallium should be co nsidered as establishing 4 
point of union between the alkali metals on one side, and lead and 
silver on the other. 
