SAPONIFICATION OF FATS. 
83 
“ As for animal life, there would seem to be no difficulty 
of living throughout the interior whatever ; for the country 
is described as clothed most luxuriantly with native grasses 
of some familiar and some unknown varieties, including a new 
plant specially adapted to the sustenance of horses . It would 
seem, too, that nature had not been unmindful of the pro¬ 
spective wants of civilized man in the far interior, having 
already planted there that essential concomitant of civiliza¬ 
tion—the potato. It is stated that the uncivilized natives do 
not understand the virtues of the root, and eat the apples 
instead of the tubers. There is enough in what has already 
transpired to substantiate the assertion that the country, as 
you recede from the sea, is highly adapted for human life.” 
COAL-TAR IN SKIN DISEASES. 
M. Demeaux, who discovered the antiseptic properties of 
coal tar, has suggested the use of the following compound, 
both for destroying noxious emanations, and as a remedy in 
skin affections :—Dissolve, by means of a water-bath, equal 
parts of coal-tar, soap, and alcohol. When cold, it has the 
consistency of soap, and is soluble in water, forming an 
emulsion. 
COMPOSITION OE MARROW. 
According to Dr. Carl Eylerts, the marrow of oxen con¬ 
sists of compounds of glycerine with elaic, palmitic, and a 
new acid which the author names medullic. Medullic acid 
has the formula C^H^Oj, and its melting point is 72*5°. 
The proportions in which the acids are found in the marrow 
are as follows :—Palmitic acid, 46 per cent.; medullic acid, 
10 per cent.; elaic acid, 44 per cent.— Chemical News. 
DIFFERENCE IN THE FAT OF THE HORSE. 
It is stated that there is more margarine in the fat of the 
wild horse of America than there is in the horse of this 
country. 
SAPONIFICATION OF FATS BY ANHYDROUS CARBONATES. 
M. Scheurer Kestner shows that, when fats are heated 
with anhydrous carbonates to about 260 C., the carbonic 
