416 
GLEANINGS — MISCELLANEOUS. 
The  'Works  of  Lavoisier. — M.  Dumas  has  undertaken  to  edit 
the  works  of  Lavoisier,  under  the  auspicies  of  the  government* 
Among  the  papers  of  Lavoisier  obtained  from  M.  Arago,  Dumas 
has  recently  discovered  an  unpublished  memoir,  which  proves 
that  the  author  had  manj  ideas  in  organic  chemistry  which  have 
subsequently  been  discovered  and  worked  out  by  Liebig  and 
others.  M.  Dumas  remarks,  "  If  it  be  asked  what  were  the 
ideas  and  opinions  of  Lavoisier,  in  regard  to  questions  in  organic 
chemistry,  we  must  reply  : — 
1st.  "  He  had  discovered  the  process  which  seems  to  make 
all  organic  analyses,  viz.  :  Their  combustion  by  oxygen. 
2d.  "  That  he  had  learned  also,  as  his*  laboratory  records 
show,  that  instead  of  burning  them  in  oxygen  gas,  he  was  able 
to  burn  them  by  means  of  metallic  oxides,  and  instead  of 
measuring  the  resulting  carbonic  acid  gas,  he  had  the  means  of 
weighing  it  after  having  absorbed  it  in  two  successive  flasks  of 
liquid  potassa. 
3d.  4'  That  he  believed  the  bodies  belonging  to  organic 
chemistry  ought  to  be  considered  as  the  oxides  or  acids  of  com- 
pound radicals. 
4th.  <•<'  Lastly,  that  he  understood  the  principal  characteristics 
which  distinguish  the  life  of  animals  from  that  of  plants;  the 
character  which  pertains  to  each  of  the  two  organic  kingdoms 
in  the  equilibrium  of  the  forces  of  life ;  the  part  also  which 
mineral  matter  serves  in  organic  nature,  combustion,  and  gen. 
erally  all  which  relates  to  its  reduction." — (Silliman's  Journal, 
July,  186L) 
Ricinate  of  Magnesia. — Under  the  head  of  Notes  and  Queries, 
in  the  Druggists'  Circular  for  August,  we  find  the  following 
notice  of  this  salt  of  which,  however,  the  writer  knows  nothing 
in  regard  to  its  therapeutical  value. 
"  It  is  prepared  by  saponifying  35  parts  of  castor  oil  with 
the  caustic  lye  prepared  from  25  parts  of  sal.sodae,  diluting  the 
soap  with  water  so  as  to  form  an  even  emulsion,  and  then  pre- 
cipitating the  magnesian  soap  by  the  addition  of  a  solution  of 
24  parts  of  epsom  salts,  and  six  of  common  salt.  The  ricinate 
is  washed  with  water,  dried  in  the  water  bath,  and  kept  powder- 
ed." We  should  suppose  that  this  salt  would  be  decidedly 
cathartic,  but  have  no  knowledge  of  its  having  been  used. 
