History Chemical Discoveries. 307 
When delphine is calcined with peroxide of copper, it gives 
out no other gas but carbonic acid.— See the Ann. de Chim. xn. 
g58. 
VI. New Vegetable Principle in Elaterium. 
Dr Paris has discovered in the plant Momordica elaterium a 
new vegetable principle, which acts more violently upon the hu- 
man body than arsenic. It is lodged only in the juice round the 
seeds, and exists in such a small quantity, that Dr Clutterbuck ob- 
tained only 6 grains from 40 cucumbers ; and even of this fecula, 
although the eighth part of a grain will purge violently, yet 
not more than one-tenth of that virulent substance possesses any 
active virtues. To this active principle he gives the name of 
Elatine. The following, according to Dr Paris, is the compo- 
sition of elaterium : 
Water, 
4 
Extractive, - ' 
26 
Fecula, 
28 
Gluten, 
5 
Woody matter, 
25 
Elatine - "I 
12 
Bitter Principle^ j 
100 
The bitter principle in elaterium is very distinct from its ex- 
tractive matter. The solution of the elatine and bitter prin- 
ciple being diluted, and swallowed, produced only an increase 
of appetite, while the solution of the extractive matter produced 
no effect whatever. — See the Phil. Mao'. May 18S0, vol. lv. 
p, 890. 
VII. Observations on the Red Snow of Mount St Bernard. 
Some imperfect observations on the red snow of the Alps 
were made by M. Saussure in 1778, and the result of them ap- 
peared in the 3d volume of his Travels. M. Peschier of Gene- 
va has recently investigated this subject with much attention 
and success. The red snow has been found on Mount St Ber- 
nard, the Col de la Seigne, and the Bonhomme, and is general- 
ly at the same altitude as these summits on the other parts of the 
Glaciers. It is more abundant after high S. or S. W. winds. It 
is found to the depth of two or three inches, and most common- 
ly occurs where the snow longest resists dissolution, at the hot- 
