LIXIVIATION OF VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL SUBSTANCES. 221 
Distillation in the old way gave the best results with 
Bitter almonds Lettuce 
Scurvy grass Mustard 
Cress Horse radish 
Dried plants rarely merit the preference over fresh, but 
with the following the product was superior from the dried. 
Fennel Elder flowers 
Ground ivy Linden flowers 
Melilot 
The advantage of distilling by steam is especially percep- 
tible in plants having a mild but agreeable smell. When dis- 
tilled waters are almost inodorous, or on the contrary when 
they have a very powerful odour, it is almost impossible to 
appreciate the difference between the quality of the products. 
I have included such in the list of those which should be 
distilled by steam, because this method has other advantages; 
it affords products which keep better; and which can be used 
at once, as they have not the empyreumatic taste so percep- 
tible in those prepared by naked fire. 
Bull, gen de Therap. 
ART. XXXIV.— ON LIXIVIATION OF VEGETABLE AND ANI- 
MAL SUBSTANCES. By M. Soubeiran. 
Lixiviation is an operation employed with advantage in the 
arts, when it is wished to dissolve saline or other substances 
mixed in small proportion, with masses of insoluble and inert 
matters; in such case, no other plan can replace it with advan- 
tage, for the mass being in thick layers, the first stratum of 
water which penetrates them dissolves any saline substance it 
may meet with, then, forced downwards by the succeeding 
strata of fluid, it gradually arrives at the bottom of the vessel 
in a state of comparative concentration. If any doubts existed 
as to the fact of the displacement of one stratum of fluid by an- 
