Chemistry. 417 
equal, with large and small grains.— Gilbert, Anndlen der 
Physiky tom. lx. p. 99. 
l3. Singular Eocplosions of Fulminating Mercury^ and Ful- 
minating During a lecture in the Laboratory of Yale 
College, about 100 or 150 grains of fulminating mercury lay 
on a stool, and were covered with a glass receiver of about five 
or six quarts capacity. A small quantity of the same powder, 
at the distance of a few feet, were merely flashed by a coal of 
fire, but without explosion. In a manner not easily understood, 
the whole powder under the glass receiver instantly exploded 
with a dreadful report ; but, what was particularly remarkable, 
the glass was merely lifted up a little, and was shattered by its 
fall, while the stool, made of Jir planh, an inch and a hay^thich, 
on which the powder lay, had a hole hhwn quite through it, al- 
most as large as the palm of the hand. The whole effect of 
the explosion was confined to the stool, every thing around 
having remained uninjured. 
An effect almost equally singular took place lately in the 
same laboratory, with some fulminating silver on the point of a 
knife, which was about to be put upon a plate of copper, con- 
nected with one pole of a galvanic battery in active operation. 
The other pole was not touched by the experimenter, but, pro- 
bably by the inffuence conveyed through the floor of the room, 
the powder exploded the moment the knife touched the plate of 
copper. The knife blade was broken in two, and one half of it 
thrown to a distance among the audience. — Silliman’s Ameri- 
can Journal of Science, No. % p. 168. 
14. Potash in Sea-water . — Dr Wollaston has recently ascer- 
tained the existence of potash in sea-water. He estimates the 
proportion of this alkali, which he supposes to exist in the state 
of sulphate, at something less than ^o^oo^b part of the water at 
its average density. 
15. Analysis of the Water of the Dead Sea. — M. Gay Lussac, 
in analysing the water of the Dead Sea, brought home by M, 
Le Comte de Forbin, found it to consist of 
Muriate of soda, - - , 6.95 
Muriate of lime, - » - . 3.98 
Muriate of magnesia, - - - 15.31 
^ 6.^4 
