124 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION. 
tion 36-84 grains of cyanide of silver, which, being decom- 
posed with hydrochloric acid, furnished the specimen now 
laid before the Association, consisting of 6J fluid drachms of 
prussic acid of British Pharmacopoeia strength, or a quantity 
sufficient to destroy the life of six adults. 
In a future paper the writer proposes to bring before the 
notice of the Association certain facts relating to the influence 
of boiling on cassava, and the consequent destruction and 
dissipation which the prussic acid contained in it suffers. 
The following proximate analyses will serve to show the 
relative compositions of bitter and sweet cassava. Others 
could be given which approximate more closely, but these 
have been selected as representing typical specimens of the 
plant. 
Percentage composition of “ Bitter ” and “ Sweet ” Cassava. 
Bitter Cassava 
Water 
62-07 
Sugar 
2-67 
Starch 
29-39 
Fibre 
2-01 
Salts 
0-59 
Fat, albumen, etc. ... 
3-27 
100-00 
Per cent, of prussic acid ... -0442 
„ „ nitrogen ... -0889 
Sweet Cassava 
Water 
58-73 
Sugar 
0-81 
Starch 
33-38 
Fibre 
2-04 
Salts ... 
0-71 
Fat, albumen, etc. ... 
4-33 
100-00 
Per cent, of prussic acid ... -0238 
„ „ nitrogen ... *0887 
Wednesday , September 19th, 1877. 
R. J. Lechmere Guppy, F.L.8., etc., President, 
in the Chair. 
The following Donation was announced : — 
‘ 4 Address of the President (Prof. P. M. Duncan) to the 
