ns 
Scientific IhtelUgelice. 
tical discovery, that fruits may be preserved by means of caf^ 
bonic acid gas. Cherries, grapes, pears, apples and chesnuts, 
were placed in glass vessels, filled with carbonic acid gas, obtain- 
ed from carbonate of lime by sulphuric acid. Neither the colour 
nor the taste of the cherries were altered at the end of fifteen 
days ; and at the end of six weeks, they were in the same state 
as if they had been preserved in brandy: The details of these ex- 
periments will be found in the^^^?^; de Chim. et dePhys. Jan. 1819. 
47. Raiz Preta, or Black Emetic Root — -The natives in the 
interior of Brazil use an infusion of the root of a plant, some- 
what resembling ipecacuanha, with great effect in the cure of 
dropsy, and in destroying the dangerous effects produced by 
the poison of serpents. When taken, it produces vomiting, and 
afterwards acts most powerfully on the urinary organs, occasion- 
ing for five or six days an extraordinary flow of urine. One 
doze is said to be sufficient for the cure of the bite of serpents, 
but many are required for the removal of dropsy. 
48. Scientific Travellers in Brazil. — It is probably not ge- 
nerally known, that at this moment scientific travellers are tra- 
versing all parts of Brazil, under the protection of the Portu- 
gueze, and at the expence of the Austrian, Bavarian and Tus- 
can Governments. On the part of Austriaj the following are em- 
ployed : 1 . Professor Mikan for natural history in general, and 
botany in particular : S. Dr Pohl as mineralogist : 3. M. Nat- 
terer for zoology : 4. IM. Schott as gardener : 5. M. Socher 
as huntsman : 6. M. Ender as landscape-painter. 7. M. 
Buchberger as botanical painter, and M. Frick as natural his- 
tory painter. On the part of Bavaria, 1. Dr Spix as zoologist, 
and % Professor Martinus as botanist. On the part of the Grand 
Duke of Tuscany, Dr Radi as naturalist. 
V. PKIZE QUESTIONS AND MEDALS. 
49. Adjudlcatimi of the Copley Medal. — The President and 
Council of the Royal Society of London have adjudged the 
Gold Medal on Sir Godfrey Copley’s donation, for 1818, to Mr 
Robert Seppings, for his various improvements in the construc- 
tion of ships, communicated to the Royal Society, and publish- 
ed in their Transactions, 
