SCIENCE. 
195 
calcium borate, inner crystals, some of which are very 
beautiful and characteristic, especially by polarised light. 
(10) . I now leel that it was necessary to confirm these 
qualitative experiments by quantitative ones, and to estab- 
lish the existence of this new substance, whatever it may 
be, which, eliminated from calcium hydrate, causes opales- 
cence in a bead of boric acid before the blowpipe without at 
all lessening the due proportion of calcium in the borate 
ball formed — upon the reliable authority of the balance. 
(11) . As I invariably' found that pure chemically prepared 
silica from Dr. Schuchartt, of Gorlitz in Prussia, affords per 
se an orange flame before the blowpipe, and opalescence to 
a bead of boric acid containing a calcium borate ball (7) ; I 
chose this single substance, as left by the best analytical I 
chemists in Europe to see if I could not resolve it — by 
weighing them — into two substances, and I submil that the 
results (the truth of which any chemist may easily ascertain 
for himself in his own laboratory by simply repeating these 
experiments) are sufficiently constant, under varying condi- 
tions, to warrant the immediate consideration of the unbi- 
goted chemist. 
I. DR. SCHUCHARTT’S SILICA FROM GORLITZ. 
Mqrs. 
(1) . Si 0 2 dissolved in a calcium borate ball, B. B. . . 2.5 
(2) . Weight of siliceous ball 18.5 
(3) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 1st 
bead (2) 30.0 
(4) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 3d 
bead 26.7 
(5) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 5th 
bead, when no more opalescence was given off. 23.0 
II. POWDER OF PURE ROCK CRYSTAL. 
(1) . Si 0 2 dissolved in a calcium borate ball, B. B. . . . 2.5 
(2) . Weight of siliceous ball 22.3 
(3) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 1st 
bead 30 . 7 I 
(4) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 4th 
bead 27.8 
(5) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 5th 
bead . 24.8 
III. THE SAME AS ABOVE. 
(1) . Si Oj dissolved in a calcium borate ball 2.5 
(2) . Weight of siliceous ball 29.0 
(3) , Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 1st 
bead 38.5 
(4) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 5th 
bead 34.1 
IV. MEXICAN OPAL ( nearly transparent). 
(1) . Si O s dissolved in calcium borate ball 2.5 
(2) . Weight of siliceous ball 25.8 
(3) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 1st 
bead 37.5 
(4) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 3d 
bead 33.5 
(5) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 6th 
bead 28.8 
V. MEXICAN opal {again). 
(1) . Si Os dissolved in calcium borate ball 2.5 
(2) . Weight of siliceous ball 18.0 
(3) , Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 1st 
bead 30.0 
(4) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 4th 
bead 28.5 
(5) . Weight of siliceous ball after extraction from 5th 
bead 26.9 
INCREASE OE WEIGHT. 
Experiment I. 
Mqrs. Mqrs. Mqrs. 
Operation (5) — (2) = 23 — 1S.5 = 4.5. 
Mqrs. Mqrs. Mqrs. 
Weight of Opalescent Matter — (3) — (5) = 30 — 23= 7. 
Experiment II. 
Operation (5) — (2) = 24.8 — 22.3 = 2.5. 
Weight of Opalescent Matter = (3) — (5)=30.7 — 24.8 = 5.9 
Experiment III. 
Operation (4) — (2) = 34.1 — 29.0 = 5.1. 
Weight of Opalescent Matter =(3) — (4) = 38.5 — 34.1=4.4. 
Experiment IV. 
Operation (5) — (2) = 28.8 — 25.8 = 3.0. 
Weight of Opalescent Matter =(3) — (5) = 37-5 — 23.8=13,7. 
Expel iment V. 
Operation (5)— {2)=26.g— 18.0 = 8.9. 
Weight of Opalescent .Matter = (3)— (5)=3o.o— 26-9=3.1. 
Note. — The illustrations accompanying this article are 
made from rough sketches of crystals drawn, without cam- 
era luada from the microscopes. The shaded parts indicate 
color. The crystals were made by dissolving the oxide BB 
in a calcium borate ball held as a bead on platinum wire ; 
crushing this bead to powder, .and applying some of this 
powder BB to a boric acid bead.* 
Mr. Barkas, of Newcastlc-on-Tyne, Eng., has taken a 
very practical method of encouraging observational Astron- 
omy, by offering to meet any of his townsmen who may be 
sufficiently interested and show them Jupiter, Saturn and 
other objects through an excellent telescope. From small 
beginnings great things often arise; and we should not be 
surprised if this offer, to be at a certain spot on a given 
night, led to the establishment of an observing society in 
Newcastle. 
* In forwarding the above communication to “ Science,” Col. Ross 
states that it was originally prepared to be read at the recent meeting 
of the British Association. — (Ed.) 
