1810.] 
sulphuretted hydrogen, capable of de- 
stroying partially the inflammability of 
potassium, and of producing upon it all 
the effects of oxygen. Sulphuretted hy- 
drogen may be formed, by heating sul- 
phur strongly in hydrogen gas. Now if 
we suppose sulphuretted hydrogen to be 
formed by sulphur dissolved in its unal- 
tered state in hydrogen, and allow the 
existence of oxygen in this gas, its exist- 
ence must likewise be allowed in sul- 
phar; for we have no right to assume that 
sulphur in  sulphuretted hydrogen, is 
combined with more oxygen than in Its 
common form: it is well known, that 
when electrical sparks are passed through 
sulphuretted hydrogen, a considerable 
portion of sulphur is separated, without 
any alteration in the volume of gas, 
Hence the intense ignition produced. by 
the action.of sulphur on potassium and 
sodium, must not be ascribed merely to 
the affinity of the metals of the alkalies 
for its basis, but may be attributed like- 
wise to the agency of the oxygen that it 
contains, The minute examination of 
the circumstances of the action of po- 
tassium and sulphur, confirms these 
opinions. When two grains of potas- 
sium, and one of sulphur, were gently 
heated. in a green-glass tube filled with 
_ hydrogen, there was a most intense igni- 
tion produced by the action of the two 
bodies, and one-eighth of a cubical inch 
of gas was disengaged, which was sul- 
phuretted hydrogen. Now sulphuret of 
potash produces sulphuretted hydrogen, 
by the action of an acid; and if the sul- 
phur had not contained oxygen, the hy- 
drogen evolyed by the action of the 
Olassium ought to have equalled at 
aie two cubical inches, and the whole 
quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen ought 
to have more: and that so much less sul- 
phuretted hydrogen was evolved, can 
enly be ascribed to the larger quantity of 
Literary and Philosophical Intelligence. 363 
oxygen furnished to the potassium by 
the larger quantity of the sulphur. 
** From the general tenour of these va- 
rious facts,” says Mr. D., ¢¢ it will not, £ 
trust, be unreasonable to assume, that 
sulphur, in its common state, is a coms 
pound of small quantities of oxygen and 
hydrogen, with a large quantity of a 
basis that produces the acids of sulphur, 
in combustion; and which, on account 
of its strong attractions for other bodies, 
it will probably be very difficult to obtain 
in its pure form.” ie 
In metallic combinations, it probably 
retains its oxygen and part of its hydro- 
gen. Metallic sulpburets can-only be 
partially decomposed by heat; and the 
small quantity of sulphur-evolved from’ 
them in this case, exists in its common 
state, and acts upon potassium, and is 
affected by electricity in the same man- 
ner as'native sulphur. 
Mr. William Sewel, of the Veterinary 
College, discovered, some years since, a 
canal in the medulla spinalis of the horse, 
bullock, sheep, hog, and dog. Upon 
tracing the sixth ventricle of the brain, 
which corresponds to the fourth in the 
human subject, to its apparent termi- 
nation, he perceived the appearance of a 
canal, continuing by a direct course inte 
the centre of the spinal marrow. Upon 
close examination, he finds its diameter 
Jarge enough to admit a large-sized pin; 
from which, by incision, asmall quantity 
of colourless fluid issues, like thet con- 
tained in the yentricles of the brain. 
The canal is lined. by a membraue, 
resembling the tunica arachnoidea, and 
is situated above the fissure of the me- 
dalla: it extends as a continued tube 
through the whole length of the spinal 
marrow; and a freecomimunication of the 
limpid fluid which the canal contains, ~ 
is kept up between the brain and whole 
extent of spinal marrow. 
VARIETIES, Literary anv PHILOSOPHICAL. 
Including Notices of Works in Hand, Domestic and Foreign. | 
*.* Authentic Communications for this Article will always be thankfully received, 
= 
R. Jonatuan Scort is preparing a Scott’s literal version to those who stndy 
new edition of his Persian Tales, en- 
.titied, the Bahar Danush, or Garden of 
Knowledge ; and we are assured that sir 
Gore Ouseley, sir William Ouseley, and 
other orientaiists who have collated the 
translation with the original, have spoken 
in the highest terms of the utility of Dr, 
the eastern style of composition, and 
particularly to those who wish to acquire 
a knowledge of the manners and customs 
of Hindodstah. 
Mr. Grorce Comperianp, of Bris- 
‘tol, author of Thoughts on Obttine, 
Hafod, Life of Bonafoni, &c, hasin the 
0 POSS, 
# 
