12 
GLEANINGS IN SCIENCE. 
in the tubercles of the Florence iris, they are as much as ? V ( 000 8 of an inch) in 
width, and $ (.01312 of an inch) in length, so as to be easily capable of examma. 
tion. — Bull. Univ . B. xi. 370. 
3. Method of increasing the Odour of Hoses. - 
-For this purpose, according to 
the author of the method, a large onion is to be planted by the side of the r o»e ‘ree, 
in such a manner that it shall touch the foot ot the latter. 1 he row twhu li .* il 
be produced will have an odour much stronger and more agreeable than such as 
have not been thus treated, and the water distilled from these roses its equally 
superior to that prepared by means of ordinary rose leaves — Chkonom. JMcusgK;— 
BU i.' > Quick Method of putting Insects to Death —The following method is by M. 
Ricord, for the use of naturalists. The insect is to be fixed on a piece of cork, and 
put under a jar or vessel with a little ether ; the latter being placed either m a 
capsule, or on the plate on which the jar or glass is placed : the vessel should apply 
closely, that the vapour of the ether may be retained, and the air within he pre- 
vented from changing its place, lhe insect thus immersed in the ethereal atmos. 
phere will soon die, without having time to hurt its form or appearance by violence. 
—Bull. Unio B. xii. 295. 
5. Chloride of Lime in cases of Burns — The good effect of chloride of lime in 
cases of burns is confirmed by the experience of 1\I- Lisfranc. He has applied it ia 
many cases of that kind, sometimes immediately after the accident, sometimes 
after the application of emollient cataplasms. Lint is moistened in a solution more 
or less strong of chloride of lime, and then applied to the place, being covered over 
with waxed cloth. The cure has been singularly hastened under its influence; 
and in one case, where almost the whole of the lower limbs, the arms and face, had 
been burnt, the use of the chloride recovered the patient from the stupor into 
which he had fallen at the end of four days, and a perfect recovery was effected 
(wo months after the accident — Bull. Univ. C. xi. 77- 
fi. Paper to resist Humidity. — This process, which is due to J\l. Engle, con- 
sists in plunging unsized paper once or twice into a dear solution of mastic in oil 
of turpentine, and drying it by a gentle heat. The paper, without becoming 
transparent, has all the properties of writing paper, and may be used for the same 
purposes. It is especially recommended for passports, workmen's books, legal pa- 
pers, &c. When preserved for years, it is free from injury, either by humidity, 
mice, or insects. It is further added, that a solution of caoutchouc will produce 
even a still better effect. — Kunst unit Gewerbe-blalte. 
7- Cementation of Iron by Cast Iron . — Pure iron, when surrounded by and in 
contact with cast-iron turnings, and heated, is carbonised very rapidly, so as to 
harden, to temper, and, in fact, to exhibit all the properties of steel. M. Gautier 
finds this is a^verv advantageous process in numerous cases, especially where the 
articles to be case-hardened, or converted into steel, are small, as iron wire, or 
wire gauze. The temperature required is not so high as that necessary in the or- 
dinary process of cementation, and the pieces to he carbonised are not injured in 
form. The kind of cast iron used should be the gray metal, and the more minutely 
it is divided the more rapid aud complete is the operation. By covering the mass 
of cast metal, in which the iron to be carbonised is enveloped, with sand, oxidation, 
uom contact of the air, is prevented, and the cast metal may he used many times. 
Plumbago, experimented with in the same manner, does not produce the effect.— 
Jour, de Pharmacie, 1827, p. 18. 
8. Test of the Presence of Opium.- Dr. Hare says lie can detect opium in so- 
lution, when the quantity is not more than that given, by adding ten drops of 
laudanum to half a gallon of water. The following is the process : A few drops 
oi solution of acetate of lead is to be added to the solution containing the drug : 
atter some time ail observable quantity of meconiate of lead will fall down • from 
six to twelve hours may sometimes be required, and the precipitation is best effected 
in a conical glass vessel; for then, by gentle stirring now and then to liberate that 
tom Aboufthhi th d 8lde ' the insoluble salt mav he collected together at the hot- 
SatUvmeaus nf n l'° P8 ° sul P hunc ac ! d are t5lai ‘ to be poured on to the meco- 
mate by means of a glass tube, after which as much of a solution of red sulohate of 
on is to be added in the same manner. The sulphuric acid will liberate the 
mec ,nic acid, and thus enable it to, produce with the iron the appropriate colon r 
men's JSZZ$r£ PreSenCe 0l ' th ' dt add ’ aDd consec t uen tly of opium.— Sdli. 
