MISCELLANY. 
Patent granted to Robert Oxland, Plymouth, Devon, for improvements in 
the Manufacture of Chlorine. — This invention consists in a method of 
manufacturing chlorine by the decomposition of hydrochloric acid by 
atmospheric air. The hydrochloric acid gas and atmospheric air 
are mixed in the proportion of one measure of the former to two 
of the latter; and the mixture is passed through an air-tight fur- 
nace, kept at a bright red heat. The hydrochloric acid is best ob- 
tained by decomposing common salt by sulphuric acid in a furnace or 
retort so heated that the products of combustion do not mix with the acid 
gas evolved ; and the acid gas should be dried (previous to mixing it 
with the air) by passing it through a vessel filled with pieces of fire- 
brick, over which a small stream of sulphuric acid is constantly flowing. 
The requisite supply of atmospheric air is kept up by pumping it into 
an iron reservoir, furnished with a stop-cock or valve for regulating the 
discharge of the air. The decomposing furnace, through which the 
mixture of hydrochloric acid and air is passed, resembles an ordinary 
reverberatory furnace in form; but it is so constructed as to admit of the 
fire passing over the arch and undei the bed ; by which means the fur- 
nace is heated without the fire passing into it. The furnace is filled 
with pieces of porous pumice-stone, and the gas and air enter at the 
end furthest from the fire, and pass out at the other end through a pipe 
at the upper part of the furnace. That pait of the furnace nearest the 
fire should be kept at a bright red heat by a fire acting externally, the 
smoke passing through flues over the furnace into the chimney. 
The products resulting from the admission of hydrochloric acid and 
atmospheric air into the decomposing furnace consist of chlorine asso- 
ciated with undecomposed muriatic acid, and any excess of atmospheric 
air and nitrogen. This mixture is cooled bypassing it through a series 
of earthenware tubes surrounded by water; after which the hydrochloric 
acid is effectually separated by passing the mixture through water ; and, 
finally, the chlorine is obtained, and chloride of lime produced, by 
passing the residuary mixture into the ordinary lime condenser, where 
the chlorine is absorbed, and the nitrogen and atmospheric air remain- 
ing are allowed to pass into the atmosphere. — Ctiem. Gaz. 
Examination of Oil of Amber. By M. Dcepping. — When we subject 
amber to dry distillation, it produces empyreumatic oils and resins, 
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