APRIL — sbpt. 1858.] Obituary, 145 



sent, the water becomes highly impregnated with it, of which fact, 

 the process of soda-water making is a well known illustration ; 

 and of the effect of such conditions, where alkaline earths are pre- 

 sent, Sir James Murray's fluid magnesia and the fluid carara mar- 

 ble of several patentees, are again familiar instances. In the for- 

 mation of these and similar preparations, we do but imitate the 

 beautiful operations of the highest intelligence as seen in the great 

 Laboratory of the world. "When streams impregnated strongly 

 with carbonic acid, are confined beneath the surface of the earth, 

 under pressure while at the same time, the walls of the space 

 through which the imprisoned waters flow afford the alkaline 

 earth's silica, &c, taken up and thus produce carbonated waters, 

 petrifying waters, &c, &c, (when the abnormal pressure is remov- 

 ed) according to the nature and quantity of the solids which have 

 been taken up and for a time held in solution. How slight a 

 cause will occasion such waters to deposit a portion of the solids 

 held in solution is evident from the families practice of suspend- 

 ing keys, knives, or indeed any solid into petrifying wells, as^they 

 are popularly termed, all which after having remained in these 

 waters for a longer or shorter term, come out incrusted with de- 

 posits more or less calcareous or silicious according to the charac- 

 ter of the water. In the case of the deposit before us, the solid 

 on which it has occurred, has been proved to be a portion of 

 woody fibre separated probably from the part to which it origi- 

 nally belonged, by the combined effects of moisture, drying un- 

 equally, and consequent unequal expansion. 



J. E. Mayer. 



OBITUARY- 



/. Forbes Royle, M. D. 9 F. R. S. 



This distinguished Botanist died on the 2nd January 1858, at 

 his residence, Acton. He had been unwell for several weeks pre- 

 viously, but his death was sudden at last. 

 Vol. xx o. s. Vol. iv. n. s. 



