262 
MISCELLANY. 
and sulphur. The condensed acid thus formed, boils with the heat of 
the hand, like the other condensed gases, is of a yellowish colour and 
resembles liquid chlorine. Ibid. 
Sugar from Indian Corn. — M. Pallas in a memoir read before the 
French Institute states that he has ascertained; 1st. That the stalks of 
Indian corn contain little or no sugar before the flowering season of the 
plant. 2d. That when the corn is in tassel, crystallized sugar can be ob- 
tained from the juice of the stalk. 3d. That twenty or twenty-five days 
afterwards, whilst the grain is still milky, one per cent, of sugar can be 
procured. 4th. At a later period, that is, when the grain is completely 
ripe, but whilst the stalk is still green, the juice will afford two per cent, 
of crude sugar, and four per cent, of rich and well tasted molasses. 5th. 
Finally, the residue will serve for food for cattle, and even for the fabri- 
cation of common paper. Journ. de Pharm. 
Oil of Caoutchouc. — Dr. Gregory observes that this oil, discovered by 
M. Enderby of London, enjoys very remarkable properties. It is volatile, 
very fluid, and has a very low specific gravity. When pure this is only 
0.666 at 60° F. thus scarcely exceeding that of Eupion, which is 0.655. 
It, however, differs from this substance, as it is acted upon and decom- 
posed by sulphuric acid, whilst Eupion undergoes no change with this 
acid. The smell is peculiar, somewhat resembling Eupion, but less 
agreeable and more etherial. Ibid. 
New apparatus for the preparation of Phosphoric acid. — M. Brunner of 
Berne, has described an apparatus for the preparation of phosphoric acid, 
which is said to answer perfectly. It consists of a large vessel filled with 
water having a cock at its lower part, and communicating at its upper 
part, by means of a tube with a funnel reversed on a plate; under the fun- 
nel is placed a small capsule of porcelain, containing phosphorus, this is 
to be set fire to, and the stop cock of the vessel containing the water im- 
mediately opened, the water flowing out in a regular stream, causes a 
current of air which serves to keep up the combustion of the phosphorus, 
a fresh supply of which is to be introduced occasionally. Not to derange 
the apparatus, it is better to have a small opening on the sides of the fun- 
nel, which will also serve as a passage for the air. Ibid. 
Soap from Flints. — The common black flint is to be calcined and redu- 
ced to powder by wet grinding; this is mixed with caustic soda or potash 
ley and boiled until saponification takes place. This mixture is to be ad- 
ded to the usual soap materials, after the latter have been boiled to that 
state, when they have become soap, and are ready to be poured into the 
frames. The whole is to be well mixed, and the result will be a soap of 
