1872.] 



On the Gases occluded in Meteoric Iron. 



365 



L, albumenuria. In eight observations 



NH 3 =0 0521 gr. per 1000 grs. 

 M, phthisis. In five observations 



NH 3 = 0-072 gr. per 1000 grs. = 1-89 gr. per diem. 

 X, Jiervous diseases. In five observations 



NH 3 = 0'0546 gr. per 1000 gr. = 1-4332 gr. per diem. 

 O, chronic nodular arthritis (rheumatic gout). In 4 observations 

 XH 3 =0*15 gr. per 1000 grs. = 3-9375 grs. per diem, 

 or nearly double that of health. 



P, gout. The ammonium seems to be increased in this disease. 

 Q, In nine cases of complicated disease, with extreme physical pi-o- 

 stration, 



NH 3 =0-0069 gr. per 1000 grs. =0-1835 gr. per diem. 

 R, the cases taken just before death are very remarkable, showing a 

 vast decrease in the amount of ammonia. Eight cases gave an average of 

 NH 3 =0'0304 gr. per 1000. 

 In two cases it was entirely absent, the only cases of entire absence 

 known to the authors. 



The authors refrain from any generalization. The total number of cases 

 upon which observations were made exceeded 200. 



II. "Examination of the Gases occluded in Meteoric Iron from 

 Augusta Co., Virginia." By J. W. Mallet, Ph.D., M.D., Pro- 

 fessor of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, University of Vir- 

 ginia. Communicated by R. Mallet, C.E. Received April 

 23, 1872. 



The investigation bv Graham of the gases given off bv meteoric iron 

 from Lenarto, in Hungary, when heated in a vacuum produced by a 

 Sprengel pump, excited much interest at the time of publication*, but 

 does not seem to have been followed up by any similar examination of 

 other meteorites. I have made use of pieces of the iron found about 

 three years ago in Augusta Co., Virginia, the description and analysis of 

 which were published by me in the 'American Journal of Science ' for 

 July 1871, in order to repeat the experiment of Graham, and ascertain 

 whether similar results to his would be obtained. A large part of the 

 work of the extraction and analysis of the gaseous contents of this iron has 

 been done by two of the students in my laboratory, Mr. F. P. Dunnington, 

 of Baltimore, and Mr. J. B. Adger, of South Carolina, to whom I am much 

 indebted for their assistance. 



Two preliminary experiments were made, — the first with some shavings 

 from the cutting of the iron upon a planing-machine ; the second with a 

 solid piece of the metal planed to smooth, clean surfaces, and quite free 



* Proc. Roy. Soc. xv. p. 502. 

 VOL. XX. 2 D 



