228 
Bismuth. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t    May  1,1871. 
to  be  nil^  again  confirming  the  statement  of  M.  M.  Prillieux  and 
Duchartre  that  plants  absorb  no  moisture  whatever  in  the  state  of 
vapor  through  their  leaves.  8.  Differences  in  the  amount  of  fluid 
transpired  by  the  upper  and  under  side  of  leaves  in  the  sun  and  in 
diffused  daylight.  From  the  upper  surface  in  sun,  1-74  per  cent,  in 
an  hour,  from  the  under  surface,  12*38  per  cent.  ;  from  the  upper 
surface,  in  diffused  light,  2*82  per  cent,  in  forty-eight  hours,  from  the 
under  surface,  16*08  per  cent.  ;  from  both  sides,  when  coated  with 
collodion,  0*86  per  cent,  in  sun,  2*56  per  ccjit.  in  diffused  light.  9. 
Relation  of  fluid  taken  up,  to  that  transpired  and  that  retained  by 
the  plant.  Increase  of  weig})t  of  brancli,  in  saturated  atmosphere, 
diffused  daylight,  in  forty-eight  hours,  7*34:  per  cent.,  in  ordinary 
atmosphere,  7*14  peT  cent.,  in  dai-kness,  3*01  per  cent.  10.  Rapid- 
ity of  ascent  of  fluids.  From  4  7-12  inches  in  ten  minutes  to  8  7-12 
inches  in  ten  minutes.  11.  Influences  of  gases  on  transpiration. 
Transpiration  of  fluid  in  oxygen  in  one  hour  in  sun,  12*77  per  cent., 
in  atmospheric  air,  7*5  per  cent.,  in  carbonic  acid,  4*01  per  cent.,  in 
nitrogen,  1*97  per  cent.  The  bad  weather  and  the  lateness  of  the 
season  terminated  the  experiments  before  several  points  of  interest 
could  be  fully  determined.  A.  W.  B. 
From  the  American  NaUiraJist^  Idarch,  1871. 
BISMUTH. 
By  A.  R.  RoEssLER. 
One  of  the' more  noteworthy  results  of  the  investigations  instituted 
under  the  authority  of  the  U.  S.  General  Land  Office  into  the  mineral 
products  of  the  several  States,  is  the  discovery  of  the  somewhat  rare 
metal  Bismuth.  The  specimens  in  the  Geological  Museum  were 
brought  from  Archer  County,  Texas,  through  which  region  it  is  grati- 
fying to  learn  that  a  railroad  line  is  now  being  surveyed  in  connection 
with  the  northern  counties  of  the  State,  most  of  which  have  been  so 
much  infested  with  hostile  tribes  of  Indians  that  the  wonderfully  rich 
deposits  of  copper  and  other  metals  are  unapproachable  and  worth- 
less. The  bismuth  ore  is  associated  to  some  extent  with  copper 
glance,  but  in  separate  veins.  Its  gangue  is  quartz,  through  which 
it  is  disseminated  in  small  metallic  grains,  and  it  only  requires  about 
500°  Fahrenheit  to  fuse  them,  and  the  melted  metal  is  collected  as  it 
runs  from  the  furnace.    It  is  of  somewhat  silvery  brightness,  with  a 
