indicate only that the luminous energy stroyed is never accurately represented by increases almost proportionally to the sur-that of the quantities of hyponitric acid face of the elements. 200 elements, placed formed, because there is disengaged so much in two parallel series of 100 each, gave the more nitrous acid into the air, as the nearly twice as much light 'as 100 simple current is more energetic. elements, and so on to 600 elements, ar ranged in six parallel series of 100 each. The want of constancy of the electrical light is a great obstacle to the complete success of these experiments. The intensity of this light varies every instant. The apparatus devised for rendering this light constant for a certain time are costly, and they are of some service; but the already very great difficulty of constructing these apparatus so as to produce a nearly constant light with a given battery, becomes much greater when it is necessary, as in our case, to regulate in each experiment the apparatus for a different number of elements or for a different arrangement of the same number of these elements. Be it as it may, the results at which we have arrived are already important, if we are not mistaken, in a practical point of view. We have already shown how the batteries should be arranged to have the most electric light. These incomplete experiments show well the direction of the phenomenon. To make it more comprehensible, I will detail some experiments which I made for measuring the energy of the battery by the oscillations of the magnetic needle. I found, by this means, that 25 or 600 elements connected by a conductor of feeble resistance have the same energy. The battery connected for quantity presents an energy which increases perceptibly on the surface. If these experiments be compared with those which I have presented on the voltaïc arc, and whose accuracy I have since verified by repeating them, it is evident that the number of the elements, which exerts so great an influence on the length of the arc, has little on the energy of the light and none on the intensity, measured by the magnetic needle. It is evident that the extent of the elements marks its influence by the increase of intensity, measured, either by the magnetic needle, or by light, or by chemical action. I have for a long time been occupied with the internal chemical phenomenon and the external chemical phenomenon of the battery with two liquids. I have found that: 1st. The quantity of zinc dissolved is so much the greater as the resistance of the interpolar conductor is weaker. The alteration of the nitric acid, estimated by the permanganate of potassa, proceeds with the solution of zinc. However, I must say that the proportion of the quantities of zinc de 2. The quantity of zinc dissolved in each pair of two batteries of the same number of identical elements, united by the same conductor, of which a metallic cog-wheel forms part, which is put in motion or left to repose, represents the quantity of gas disengaged in the voltameter, and is exactly proportional to the intensity of the current, measured by the compass with tangents; if the energy of the current were made to vary by the employment of different conductors, without the assistance of a wheel, the same consequences would be arrived at. 3. If we measure the time necessary for a battery composed of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256 identical elements, connected end to end, to produce the same external chemical effect, for example, to decompose the same quantity of water, it is evident that this time rapidly decreases from 2 to 4, from 4 to 8, that it varies little from 8 to 16, and almost imperceptibly from 32 to 64, from 128 to 256. These experiments show that we gain little or nothing for the time by doubling the number of the elements when the battery is already composed of 8 elements, and as the loss of zinc and acid is the same in each pair for the same external chemical action, there is an actual advantage in not exceeding that number of elements. I speak here of the carbon battery; it should be the same with any battery with two liquids. I have not yet verified this by experiment. In these experiments, the electrodes were platinum plates fixed and even soldered to flat bars of copper. All that part of the bars which should dip in the acidulated water was covered with mastick; the uncovered portion of the platinum plates had a surface equal to that of the zinc element of the battery: the distance of these plates was about 10.75 millimetres. The acidulated water was composed of 1 part of sulphuric acid to 39 parts of water. There was at first decomposed sufficient water to form 35 of mixed gases; but as this decomposition required more than three hours for two elements, the large tube in which the mixed gases were received was replaced by a narrower tube, of the height of 1 metre, and of the capacity of a quart. I do not yet publish the results with all the details, because they do not comprise the whole of the chemical work which I intend to examine. I wish, besides, to make the derived currents intervene in these ex periments, as well as in the experiments on | weight of cold water. The flesh was then the luminous arc, in order to have accu- removed to another vessel holding the rately the relations between the intensities of the current in one series of experiments. In so brief a note, a recapitulation of the investigations which have been made, in France and other countries, on these various subjects, considered in a different manner, is unnecessary. I shall endeavor, in the memoirs which I shall have the honor of presenting to the Academy, to render to every one his due.* same amount of water, and after being again well pressed, was put in linen bags into a strong screw press, and as much of the liquor obtained as possible; the second water served as the first receptacle for another 10 lbs. of flesh, which were treated in like manner, etc. In this way the extract from the 40 lbs. was eventually obtained. The large quantity of fat which collected on the surface of the water had My experiments on the chemical pheno- to be removed prior to the liquor being menon of Bunsen's battery are characterised strained through flannel bags for the purby the simultaneous estimation of the inter-pose of separating any muscular fibre and nal chemical operation, of the external fatty matter that might be suspended in it. chemical operation, and of the intensity of the current by the magnetic needle. CREATINE, A CONSTITUENT OF THE FLESH OF THE CETACEA.† BY DAVID S. PRICE, PH.D. A PINE specimen of the Rorqual Whale (Balanoptera musculus) having been brought into Margate in February last, 1 availed myself of the opportunity afforded of ascertaining whether creatine, which has been found to be a constituent of the muscles of various animals, birds, and fishes, was likewise contained in those of the cetacea. It has been shown by Liebig that the muscles of fat animals yield a much smaller quantity of this substance than those of lean ones; and as the whale may be ranked pre-eminently among the former, it was deemed necessary, in order to ensure a decided result, that a large quantity of the flesh should be employed. For this purpose about 40 lbs., the freest from fat that could be selected, were treated in the manner described by Liebig in his research into the constituents of the juices of the flesh; 10 lbs. were cut into small pieces and well kneaded with an equal I will then relate what has been done by MM. Gay-Lussac and Thenard with the battery with a single liquid and unamalgamated zinc; by Faraday, Daniel, and MM. Bouquillon and Silberman with the single liquid battery and amalgamated zinc; by M. Pouillet with Daniel's battery with unamalgamated zinc, immersed in a solution of common salt or sulphate of zine; by Grove on the gas battery, &c., on chemical action, and by Bunsen, MM. Fizeau and Foucault, and M. Casselman, &c., on the luminous intensity of Bunsen's battery. + Quarterly Journal of the Chemical Society, October 1850. The filtered liquid, which was of a blood color and exhibited an acid reaction, was heated in large evaporating pans over a water bath, whereby the albumen was coagulated, taking with it nearly the whole of the coloring matter, the liquid, on being strained through linen bags, retaining only a very faint color. The odor and flavor of this filtrate were not distinguishable from those of the extract of beef. In order to separate the last traces of albumen, the liquid extract was rapidly heated to ebullition over a strong fire in a tinned copper vessel. After being filtered the solution was mixed with concentrated baryta water until a precipitate ceased to be formed, a point which was reached long after the acid reaction had disappeared. The almost colorless filtrate, when evaporated in the water bath, acquired a dark brown color, and became gradually gelatinous, emitting an odor very similar to that of glue. The concentrated liquor was now placed in a cool situation in several shallow vessels, when, after the lapse of forty-eight hours, numerous minute glittering crystals were deposited, which, owing to their great specific gravity, could be easily separated by decantation of the supernatant liquid. When dried in this minute state, these crystals presented a beautiful appearance, refracting light with remarkable intensity. After three or four crystallisations they may be obtained quite pure. If their aqueous solution be allowed to crystallise slowly, crystals one quarter of an inch in length are formed, presenting a silky lustre, and frequently arranged in groups. These crystals are insoluble in alcohol, but very soluble in boiling water, when warmed on platinum foil, they lose their lustre, becoming opaque and white; when heated more strongly they carbonise, emitting the odor of burning nitrogenous substances; on the application of a still stronger heat, the carbon is entirely consumed, no ash re- | ON BORACIC ACID AND ITS QUANmaining behind. TITATIVE DETERMINATION.* 03097 grms. of this substance, when kept for some time in a water bath at a temperature of 212 F., lost 0.0378 grms., corresponding to 12.2 per cent. of water, the amount found by Liebig in creatine prepared from different sources. I must not omit to state that I obtained this substance (a specimen of which I have the honor to lay before the society) in very small quantity. There can be no doubt as to the identity of this body with that described by Chevreul, Liebig, Schlossberger, and Gregory; and we may safely conclude that is a constituent, in greater or less amount, of the fluids of the flesh of all the higher class of animals. ON THE ACID OF THE EQUISETUM FLUVIATILE, AND ON SOME ACONITATES.* BY M. BAUP. SOME doubts having existed concerning the identity of the natural aconitic and equisetic acids, and of the pyrogenous citridic and maleic acids, M. Baup undertook to clear up the matter. To that end, he extracted the acid of the Equisetum fluviatile, and of the aconite (Aconitam napellus), and compared them with pyrogenous citric acid (which is called citridic acid) and with maleïc acid. From the comparative examination which he made of their properties and of several of their combinations, he was enabled to conclude with certainty that aconitic, equisetic and citridic acids are one and the same acid, which should be called aconitic acid, from whatever source it is derived: maleïc acid, although isomeric with it, is not identical with it, and should retain its name. In the study of several aconitates, M. Baup observed a fact which deserves the attention of chemists, as being the first example of the combination of 3 atoms of an organic acid with 1 atom of base. The trisaconitates of potassa and ammonia have only very few representatives in inorganic chemistry, for example the trisiodate of potassa of Serullas. During his investigations on the equisetum, M. Baup discovered in it a peculiar crystallisable yellow matter, giving to aluminised cotton a yellow tint, which does not give it up to woad, and he has given it the name of flarequisetine. * Comptes Rendus, No. 11, Sept. 9, 1850. BY PROFESSOR H. ROSE. THE various difficulties met with in the estimation of boracic acid have not hitherto been completely overcome by any known method. If the boracic acid be dissolved in water, evaporation will not give its entire amount. Besides, if the acid thus obtained from the aqueous solution is fused in a platinum crucible, its weight will constantly decrease unless the air be most carefully excluded. If the temperature is raised to a strong red heat, this decrease becomes far more considerable. The loss will, however, only amount to a few milligrammes, unless it is heated in a moist atmosphere; but if the cooled boracic acid is moistened with a little water, and again heated to redness, the loss will amount to some centigrammes, or still more if a drop of alcohol be used instead of water. Placing a small quantity of ammonia on the surface of the boracic acid will be found the best method of avoiding the loss in weight which occurs in the melting. Some have proposed preventing the volatilisation of the boracic acid, during the evaporation of its aqueous solution, by previously supersaturating it with ammonia. But as boracic acid has but a slight affinity for ammonia, the latter will be expelled with the aqueous vapor. The volatilisation will not be prevented even by the addition of chloride of ammonium to the aqueous solution of boracic acid, if, after the addition of this salt, the whole be evaporated and the dry residue heated in a platinum crucible until the fumes of chloride of ammonium cease, there will be a residue which will not fuse at the temperature at which pure boracic acid readily melts. Treated with water, nitroguret of boron remains undissolved as a whitish grey powder; the quantity varies, indeed, sometimes not a trace will be produced. It is not possible to determine boracic acid quantitatively in the aqueous solution in the same manner as arsenic and phosphoric acid, by adding a weighed quantity of newly calcined oxide of lead to the solution, evaporating the whole, and then igniting or heating the mass, as the addition of oxide of lead will not prevent the escape of boracic acid on evaporation. Nitrate of lead is equally useless for this purpose. Even the addition of a weighed quantity of tribasic phosphate of soda (3S0O, PO3), *Berlin Berichten, 1850. will give no quantitative result, as this salt does not prevent the volatilisation of the boracic acid from the aqueous solution. The only possible way of estimating quantitatively the boracic acid in an aqueous solution, is, in fact, by the addition of sulphuric acids, the boracic acid being expelled as fluoride of boron, whilst the bases remain in the state of sulphates. Boracic acid may also be entirely converted into boracic ether by treating the borates with sulphuric acid and alcohol. This plan is, On the 1st of November will be published, to be continued Monthly, THE by using ied when centrated ethod is Gmelin, DRAMATIC MAGAZINE, ulphuric AND GENERAL THEATRICAL AND HUSIGAS REVIEW: CONDUCTED AND EDITED BY THE PRINCIPAL DRAMATIC CRITICS OF THE DAY. ww wwwww Each Part will be illustrated with Two beautiful Steel Engravings, from Daguerreotypes taken from Life, expressly for this Work, of the chief Dramatists, and of all the principal Actors and Actresses of the day, in their most celebrated characters, and in private costume. A NEW ERA OF THE STAGE. Ham. Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed? JOHN TALLIS AND COMPANY, 97 & 100, ST. JOHN ST., LONDON; & 40, JOHN ST., NEW YORK, Where all communications for the Editors must be sent, pre-paid ed with 1 of the 30 com boracic cid does which is 1oboride y means arated; 'sembles like that ays that Lowever, a soluin pure s have, sible to as fluosucceed boracic > added of lime 1 lastly filtered tained, alcium. e when a base, is em> effect sphoric of pering by of the wever, ; added ixture of car s con 1 conbonate recipi .com As we known that the best and most accurate way of separating boracic acid from bases is by means of hydrofluoric and tric or lution. iently, separate boracic acid from phosphoric acid. Strictly accurate results are not, however, attained by it, às phosphate of baryta is not carbon is entirely consumed, no ash re- | ON BORACIC ACID AND ITS QUANmaining behind. TITATIVE DETERMINATION.* 0:3097 grms. of this substance, when kept for some time in a water bath at a temperature of 212° F., lost 00378 grms., corresponding to 12.2 per cent. of water, the amount found by Liebig in creatine prepared from different sources. I must not omit to state that I obtained this substance (a specimen of which I have the honor to lay before the society) in very small quantity. There can be no doubt as to the identity of this body with that described by Chevreul, Liebig, Schlossberger, and Gregory; and we may safely conclude that it is a constituent, in greater or less amount, of the fluids of the flesh of all the higher class of animals. ON THE ACID OF THE EQUISETUM BY M. BAUP. SOME doubts having existed concerning the identity of the natural aconitic and equisetic acids, and of the pyrogenous citridic and maleïc acids, M. Baup undertook to clear up the matter. To that end, he extracted the acid of the Equisetum fluviatile, and of the aconite (Aconitam napellus), and compared them with pyrogenous citric acid (which is called citridic acid) and with maleic acid. From the comparative examination which he made of their properties and of several of their combinations, he was enabled to conclude with certainty that aconitic, equisetic and citridic acids are one and the same acid, which should be called aconitic acid, from whatever source it is derived: maleïc acid, although isomeric with it, is not identical with it, and should retain its name. In the study of several aconitates, M. Baup observed a fact which deserves the attention of chemists, as being the first example of the combination of 3 atoms of an organic acid with 1 atom of base. The trisaconitates of potassa and ammonia have only very few representatives in inorganic chemistry, for example the trisiodate of potassa of Serullas. During his investigations on the equisetum, M. Baup discovered in it a peculiar crystallisable yellow matter, giving to aluminised cotton a yellow tint, which does not give it up to woad, and he has given it the name of flarequisetine. * Comptes Rendus, No. 11, Sept. 9, 1850. BY PROFESSOR H. ROSE. THE various difficulties met with in the estimation of boracic acid have not hitherto been completely overcome by any known method. If the boracic acid be dissolved in water, evaporation will not give its entire amount. Besides, if the acid thus obtained from the aqueous solution is fused in a platinum crucible, its weight will constantly decrease unless the air be most carefully excluded. If the temperature is raised to a strong red heat, this decrease becomes far more considerable. The loss will, however, only amount to a few milligrammes, unless it is heated in a moist atmosphere; but if the cooled boracic acid is moistened with a little water, and again heated to redness, the loss will amount to some centigrammes, or still more if a drop of alcohol be used instead of water. Placing a small quantity of ammonia on the surface of the boracic acid will be found the best method of avoiding the loss in weight which occurs in the melting. Some have proposed preventing the volatilisation of the boracic acid, during the evaporation of its aqueous solution, by previously supersaturating it with ammonia. But as boracic acid has but a slight affinity for ammonia, the latter will be expelled with the aqueous vapor. The volatilisation will not be prevented even by the addition of chloride of ammonium to the aqueous solution of boracic acid, if, after the addition of this salt, the whole be evaporated and the dry residue heated in a platinum crucible until the fumes of chloride of ammonium cease, there will be a residue which will not fuse at the temperature at which pure boracic acid readily melts. Treated with water, nitroguret of boron remains undissolved as a whitish grey powder; the quantity varies, indeed, sometimes not a trace will be produced. It is not possible to determine boracic acid quantitatively in the aqueous solution in the same manner as arsenic and phosphoric acid, by adding a weighed quantity of newly calcined oxide of lead to the solution, evaporating the whole, and then igniting or heating the mass, as the addition of oxide of lead will not prevent the escape of boracic acid on evaporation. Nitrate of lead is equally useless for this purpose. Even the addition of a weighed quantity of tribasic phosphate of soda (3S0O, PO3), * Berlin Berichten, 1850. |