58 
1834. This distinguished chemist states* that the Alais 
meteorite is remarkable as containing an organic carbon 
compound, soluble in water, which turns brown on heating, 
deposits a black carbonaceous mass, and burns without 
residue. In the year 1860, Wohlerf discovered the presence 
of small traces of a crystallizable hydrocarbon, soluble in 
alcohol and ether, in two meteorites, one of which fell at 
Kaba, in Hungary, on the 15th April, 1857, and the other at 
Bokkevelde, in South Africa, on October 13, 1838. The 
fact thus undoubtedly proved of the existence in these two 
meteorites of crystallizable carbon compounds, which in 
terrestrial matter are solely the results of vital action, rendered 
a further confirmation of the existence of organic matter in 
the Alais meteorite of special interest. 
In general appearance the small fragments of the meteorite 
experimented upon coincided exactly with the minute 
description of the substance given by Berzelius; the white 
efflorescence which covers the surface of the mineral was 
found to consist mainly of small crystals of sulphate of 
magnesium ; the only other bodies which could be detected 
by spectrum analysis were soda and lime. Iron was not 
contained in the soluble salts. On extracting T0583 gramme 
of the meteorite Avitli Avater, 0T155 gramme of soluble salts 
Avas dissolved, corresponding to 10’91 per cent, and thus 
closely agreeing with Berzelius’s estimation of 10 - 3 percent. 
Ether Avas found to dissolve from the residue T94 per cent 
on the original meteorite, a substance Avhich on evaporation 
Avas deposited in distinct crystals. The crystals possessed a 
peculiar aromatic odour, and melted at 114° C., subliming on 
heating, and leaving a slight carbonaceous residue. Under 
the microscope the crystals Avcre seen to be of tAvo forms, one 
acicular, the other rhombic. The acicular crystals Avere 
difficultly soluble in absolute alcohol, but easily soluble in 
ether, bisulphide of carbon, turpentine, and cold nitric acid, 
* Porrg. Ann. xxxiii. p. 113. 
t Wien. Acad. Ber. xxxv. 0., ditto xli. 565. 
