MISCELLANY. 
On a new Bleaching Principle produced by the slow Combustion of 
JEther in Atmospheric Air^ and by the rapid Combustion of Bodies in a Jet 
of Hydrogen Gas. By O. F. Schcenbein, Professor of Chemistry in 
the University of Basle, &c. Communicated in a letter to Michael 
Faraday, Esq., F. R. S., &c. — The author, having observed that a pe- 
culiar principle, in many respects similar to chlorine, was developed 
during the slow combustion of phosphorus in the atmosphere, was led 
to inquire into the product of the slow combustion of the vapour of aether 
mixed with atmospheric air. He finds that, besides well-known com- 
pounds, such as aldehydic, formic and acetic acids, there is evolved a 
principle hitherto unnoticed, which possesses oxodizing and bleaching 
properties in an eminent degree. It decomposes indigo, iodide of potas- 
sium, and hydriodic acid, and also, though more slowly, bromide of 
potassium. When in contact with water, it converts iodine into iodic 
acid ; and sulphurous into sulphuric acid, changes the yellow ferro-cyanide 
of potassium into the red, and the white cyanide of iron into the blue; 
it transforms the salts of protoxide of iron into those of the peroxide; 
and it discharges the colours produced by sulphuret of lead. The author 
points out the similarity between the action of this substance, in these 
instances, and that of chlorine and of ozone. 
Analogous results were obtained from the combustion of a jet of hy« 
drogen gas in atmospheric air, and even, under particular circumstances, 
from the flame of a common candle, and also from various other inflam- 
mable bodies when burning under certain conditions. The author is 
hence led to the conclusion that this peculiar oxidizing and bleaching 
principle is produced in all cases of rapid combustion taking place in 
atmospheric air, and that its production is therefore independent of the 
nature of the substance which is burnt. — Chem. Gaz. 
Observations on Euphorbia Esula and E. Cyparissias. — M. Stickel 
draws attention to the fact, that the above widely distributed plants con- 
tain a considerable quantity of a yellow, very beautiful colouring sub- 
stance, which may be precipitated from the decoction prepared with 
water containing alum, by basic acetate of lead or protochloride of tin. 
.'Ether extracts from these plants a tolerable quantity of caoutchouc ; 
