536 
CHAKCOAL  PAPER. 
These  bases  were  all  colorless,  and  of  a  very  bitter  and  per- 
sistent taste.  Their  action  on  the  animal  economy  is  almost  as 
energetic  as  that  of  strychnia.  They  are  all  soluble  in  boiling 
water,  but  in  very  different  degrees.  They  crystallize  in  trans- 
parent needles  or  in  pearly  tufts,  which  are  sometimes  very 
bulky.  Nitric  acid  colors  them  red,  like  brucia.  They  all  con- 
tain water  of  crystallization  (6  or  8  equivalents,)  eliminable  at 
100°  C.  (212°  F.)  None  fuse  in  their  own  water,  but  some  are 
softened.  Two  of  them  may  affect  the  resinous  state  ;  this  state 
is  not  stable. 
The  following  is  the  table  of  these  bases,  which  I  shall  call 
igasurias,  a,  b,  c,  d,  e,  f,  g,  h  and  i. 
Strychnia      ....  C42H22N204. 
Brucia  ....  C46H26N204+8Aq. 
a.  C44H26N20  8-j-6Aq  very  sparingly  soluble. 
b.  C36H24N2On+5Aq  sparingly  soluble. 
c.  C36H24N20  8+6Aq  very  soluble. 
d.  C34H32N2016+6Aq  very  soluble. 
e.  C36H26N20  8J_6Aq 
/.    C42H20N2O  8-f6Aq  very  soluble. 
g.  C42H36N2012+6Aq  very  sparingly  soluble. 
h.  C42H26N2C12+6Aq  very  soluble. 
i.  C4oH26N2Ou+6Aq  very  soluble. 
These  bases  resemble  brucia  in  their  characters,  with  the 
exception  of  their  greater  solubility  in  water  and  alcohol. 
They  may  be  regarded  as  products  of  the  successive  trans- 
formation of  the  latter  under  the  oxidizing  influence  of  the 
vital  forces.—  London  Che?nist,  Aug.  1858,  from  Oomptes  Ben- 
dus. 
CHARCOAL  PAPER  FOR  FILTERING  AND  FOR  THE  PRESER- 
VATION OF  FOOD. 
Messrs.  Pichot  and  Malapert  have  succeeded  in  preparing 
paper  containing  a  greater  or  less  proportion  of  powdered  ani- 
mal charcoal,  previously  purified  by  acid.  The  charcoal  is 
either  mixed  with  the  whole  pulp,  or,  in  making  the  paper,  is 
inserted  between  the  layers  of  pulp,  so  as  to  form  an  intermedi- 
ate layer  in  the  paper. 
