Scientific Intelligence. 115 
are engaged, and of the high value which it attaches to the results with 
— = have already enriched our transactions. 
e the grounds on which the medal has been awarded to you 
by he Curtaiia but it may be permitted to me to express the hope that 
you will also sno ‘ate with it—as it is impossible that we should not do— 
the Society’s eee? of ine generous and kindly spirit which has 
manifested itself, as elsewhere, so also in all your pursuit of science, of 
which one soetetiel ih ‘others will remain in future times connected 
with the Societ en ~ Diyeae ones of the Scientific Relief Fund.”— 
The Reader, Dec. 5, 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 
I. PHYSICS. 
1, Electrical properties of Pyroxiline-paper and Gun-cotton.—Prof. 
Joun Jounston, of Wesleyan University, Ct, has called my attention to 
aremarkable power in pyroxiline-paper of producing van electrical 
excitement in sulphur, sealing wax, &c. His note is as tollow 
Meio University, Middletown, Dee, 24, 1863. 
Prof. Sitriman—Dear Sir :—We are told by writers on electricity that sul- 
phur by friction with all other geibiaces — negative’y excited; as cat’s 
fur, on the other extreme, of friction with all other substances becomes excited 
positively. But a few da o I made the docotery that sulphur by friction 
with paper pyroxiline (I will eal it) is excited with positive seers - are 
also sealing wax, amber, &c. The paper is prepared in the sam r as 
gun-cotton, which would also in all probability be found to pepe "the si 
operty. 
Seg pone br some of the paper for trial. It was prepared by my 
Pe erhaps pies will think bars matter of sufficient importance to make a note of 
it in the Journal of Scie Respectfully yours, 
Joun JoHNsToN. 
I have repeated and confirmed Prof. Johnston’s experiment nigsagcss 
it to gun-cotton. I find as he suggests that the latter substance pro 
Stance pro xluced b sn ip the hp mes or a are 
‘ood 
stances also so prod uce power spacer exten in glass. It is “ificult 
mine w 
cotton o P pyrene paper. This seeming anomaly, cnn our 
ordinary: m f discrimination in cases of electrical excitemen 
Mands bethaa in ebsiigattel It would appear that of negative shot 
yet observed, these azotized species of cellulose are the most remarkable— 
= S80 oe gen ae which the most highly negative electrics hero 
@ posi B. B. 
Shi ber 25 , 
