ON THE PROPERTIES OF BENZOYLE AND BENZIMIDE . 
:i.7o 
By solving this equation, we obtain y =2. 
From which we deduce a; = 1 , 
Thus, it appears, that in the supposed mix- 
ture there were 6 grains of potash and 8 grains 
of soda. 
The numbers in the preceding example 
were made as simple as possible, that the 
nature of the process might be understood at 
a glance. But it may be worth while, for the 
sake of those analysts who are not familiar 
with algebraic computations, to give a general 
formula, and then explain it by simple 
arithmetic. 
Let the atoms of potash be . . t 
,, ,, soda .... . . • . y 
Let the weight of sulphatesbe . a 
,, ,, sulphuric acid 6 
,, ,, chlorides . . c 
,, ,, chlorine . . d 
y = ^ a 6d — 5b— 6c 
2 
X = a~b— 4y 
' 6 
Add together five times the weight of the 
sulphates and six times the weight of the chlo- 
rine. From this sum, subtract five times the 
weight of the sulphuric acid and six times the 
weight of the chlorides. Divide the remain- 
der by two ,• the quotient represents the num- 
ber of atoms of potash in the mixture. This 
number multiplied by six gives the grains of 
potash present. 
If we subtract the weight of the potash from 
the weight of the mixture of potash and soda, 
determined by paragraphs I and 2, the remain- 
der will be the weight of the soda, present 
in the mixture . — Records of General Science. 
GASTRIC JUICE. 
Theexperiments of Dr. Prout.and of Tiede- 
mann and Gmelin inj reference to the gastric 
juice, are confirmed by those of Braconnot, 
and prove that there is no peculiar substance 
to which this appellation should be applied, 
but that the remarkable peculiarity of the 
stomach is the property which it possesses of 
secreting a great quantity of muriatic acid. 
The gastric juice examined by Braconnot was 
obtained from a dog. He found it to contain. 
1. Free muriatic acid in great abundance. 
2. Muriate of ammonia. 3. Chloride of so- 
dium in very great quantity. 4. Chloride of 
calcium. 6. A trace of chloride of potas- 
sium. 6. Chloride of Iron. 7. Chloride of 
magnesium. 8, Colourless oil with an acid 
taste. 9. Animal matter soluble in water 
and alcohol, in very considerable quantity. 
10. Animal matter solublein weak acids. 11. 
Animal matter soluble inwater, and insoluble 
in alcohol (salivary matter of Gmelin). 12. 
Mucus. l3. Phosphate of lime. He found 
no trace of lactic acid . — {Annales de Chimie, 
lix, 348.) 
BENZOYLE, BENZIMIDE, AND BEN- 
ZOINE. 
In distilling the essence ofbitter almonds 
with well water, Laugier obtained a resinous 
substance which Laurent found to consist of 
1. An oil containing the essence of bitter 
almonds; 2, benzoine ; and 3, a crystalline 
body which he terms benzimide. Boiling 
alcohol dissolves the oil and benzoine, and 
on cooling benzimide falls. After filtration, 
by evaporation, the bezoine crystallizes and 
the oil remains in solution. The benzimide 
and residue are dissolved in boiling alcohol, 
and on cooling minute needles of benzimide 
separate. 
Benzimide is white and destitute of smell, 
insoluble, very little solublein boiling alco- 
hol and ether. When heated, it burns with 
a red flame, leaving a brown residue. Nitric 
and muriatic acids dissolve it readily. Sul- 
phuric acid dissolves it and acquires an indigo 
colour. When treated with pieces of potash 
and some drops of alcohol, benzoate of potash 
is formed. 
It consists of carbon 74*86 ; hydrogen 4*94 ; 
oxygen 13*20; azote 7. This composition 
Laurent considers equivalent to bibenzoate of 
ammonia, with a deficiency of 4 atoms of water, 
or we may call it C14 H5^ O N|. The 
benzamide of Wohler and Liebig corresponds 
with the neutral benzoate of ammonia. 
Benzoine was previously obtained from the 
essence of bitter almonds from which it may 
easily be extracted by means of potash. It 
consists of carbon 78*652 ; hydrogen 6*772; 
oxygen 15*577. This corresponds with C14H6 
O, and is isomeric with hydret of benzoyle. 
Benzoyle was formed by passing chlorine 
over fused benzoine. The product was dis- 
solved in alcohol, and crystallized. Benzoine 
is yellowish, insipid, insoluble in water, solu- 
ble in alcohol and ether. Crystals six-sided 
prisms, terminated by summits with three 
pentagonal faces. Tliey burn with a red flame. 
Hot sulphuric acid dissolves them, and water 
precipitates them from the solution. Potash 
when dissolved in water does not alter them, 
but when an alcoholic solution is imployed, a 
fine colour of ttirnsol is produced. If this 
solution is evaporated, a salt is obtained which 
forms with sulphuric acid a beautiful pink 
solution. Benzoyle consists of carbon 80*43 ,* 
hydrogen 4*91; oxygen 15. This Laurent 
considers is represented by C14 H5 O. 
Hence, we see that the chlorine has removed 
an atom of hydrogen, — (Ann. de Chim. 
lix. 397). 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE FORMA- 
TION AND CHANGES OF THE 
INFERIOR ORDERS OF PLANTS. 
By F. J. Kutzing."^ 
T he nature of the lowest species of plants 
is a subject of interest. M. Kutzing, from 
many observations which he has made upon 
them, has drawn some important results. 
Distilled water remained stationary for six 
months, without shewing any appearance of 
green matter on its surface. Water which 
had been distilled over plants presented a 
different aspect. 
In some of them a mucus began to shew 
itself in the course of eight days ; in rose 
water in about two weeks. First the mucus 
♦ Ana. des Scien. Nat. II. 129. 
