production of the phenomena of light is due to the vibrations of solid matter, and not to the vibrations of the ether, as is assumed by the philosophers of the day.

I very well know that these views of mine are completely in contradiction with those entertained by most of the philosophers of the day; but still I hope to be able to publish a sufficient number of scientific researches, as well as to draw attention to such a number of physical, chemical, and astronomical facts as may, even if not proving the truth of my views, at all events, I hope, deserve some attention. (To be continued.)

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
October 23.

M. BOUSSINGAULT continued his memoir "On the Functions
of Leaves." The first series of experiments now described
are on the action of certain vapours on leaves. The few
experiments made induce the author to believe that vege-
table essential oils for the most part exert no well-pro-
nounced deleterious influence on leaves, but oil of tur-
pentine does appear to diminish the decomposing power of
oleander leaves. The next series describe the action of
the vapour of mercury. When leaves are placed under a
glass bell with their peduncles immersed in mercury, it
would appear that they are completely deprived of their
power of decomposing carbonic acid; but when the leaves
are not directly in contact with mercury, but still exposed
to the metallic vapour, the decomposing power is lessened,
but not completely destroyed. The foregoing experiments
were conducted in the light, but the author has proved
that leaves kept in the dark in contact with mercury
transform quite as much oxygen into carbonic acid as a
leaf similarly placed in confined air will when not in contact
with mercury. M. Boussingault next describes how he
collected the gases evolved from the branch of an oleander
still attached to the plant. The gas escaped from the
branch at the rate of 3.3. c. c. per hour, and in twenty-
three hours there were collected 76'93 c. c. of a mixture
having the following per centage composition: nitrogen,
8801; oxygen, 6·64; carbonic acid, 5'35. This gas, the
author says, is similar in composition to that confined in
strongly manured soil. On reaching the leaves with the
sap it only brings carbon to the vegetable organism, or, as
the author said at the commencement, carbonic oxide,
hydrogen resulting from the simultaneous decomposition
of carbonic acid and water. Oxygen is evolved, and COH
remain, representing the composition of glucose, C12H12O129
which, by fixing or parting with the elements of water,
give rise to the bodies designated as carbo-hydrates, sugar,
starch, and lignine, and which a leaf elaborates as long as
it is stimulated by a ray of light. The author then quotes
some illustrations in support of this view of the functions
of leaves.

one degree in temperature would, if applied mechanically, be competent to raise one pound weight 772 feet high, or it would raise 772 pounds one foot high. The term "foot pound" has been introduced to express in a convenient or systematic way the lifting of 772 pounds to the height of one foot. Thus the quantity of heat necessary to raise the temperature of a pound of water one degree being taken as a standard, 772 foot pounds statute, is what is called the mechanical equivalent of heat. Dr. Tyndall, in his valuable work on "Heat considered as a Mode of Motion," gives many interesting examples of the conversion of heat into force, and vice versa. For example, he cites the following theory of Professor Thomson, who assumes that an immense amount of force is converted into heat when meteoric matter is attracted to the surface of the sun by the molecular attraction called gravitation; that the force generated by the immense velocity with which meteoric matters travel towards the sun, becomes converted instantly by its contact with the sun into heat; and further, he considers that the showering of meteoric matter, as well as that of the zodiacal lights on the sun's surface, are suffi- | cient to account for the immense heat which he supposes the sun's surface to possess. I must say that I do not believe that the sun possesses much heat or light. I believe that it is only an immense mass which, by its size as compared with the rest of the planetary system, becomes the centre of gravitation; and that there exists between it and the planetary bodies a constant state of attraction; that the fluid called ether, which represents the force called gravitation, is in a constant state of activity throughout the universe, and brings about that godly and admirable harmony which pervades it; and although the ether filling space can be considered in a constant state of action or vibration, and convertible into the fluids which we call heat, light, electricity, and magnetism, still these fluids only become manifest to our senses when they put into vibration the particles of matter, or produce, according to their peculiar vibration, the phenomena of light, electricity, magnetism, heat, and force; for if heat is convertible into force, as asserted by the researches of the eminent savants above stated, why should not the production of other fluids be due also to similar phenomena? If it be true, as Joule, Thomson, and others contend, that force and heat are due to the vibration of the molecules of matter, and that, according to the rapidity of the vibrations of such atoms (imparted to them by the vibrations of ether), one or other of these forces is engendered, why should not the manifestations of other fluids be traced to similar causes? In fact, no doubt can exist, in my opinion, with respect to electricity and magnetism, for if their manifestations to our senses were owing to the vibration of a universal force, it would affect all bodies in the same way and in the same degree. Now, this is not the case, for there are good and bad conductors. Therefore it follows that the atoms composing matter-or more so, their nature-have an influence on its degree of manifestation. The same with magnetism; for we find oxygen to be magnetic, and nitrogen nonmagnetic or diamagnetic. Thus, it appears to me from these facts, which might be multiplied if time permitted, that the manifestations of heat, force, electricity, and magnetism are not peculiar and distinctive fluids, but are due to the modification in the mode of vibration of the universal fluid called ether, which imparts to matter its peculiar undulations, and that these forces are only made manifest to us when the vibrations come into contact with solid matters such as compose the atmosphere or the earth. Therefore, I am of opinion that there is no light, heat, electricity, or magnetism beyond the limits of the atmo-perature of the arterial slowly decreases from the aortic sphere which surround the earth; but that when the ether, which is in a state of vibration, comes in contact with the particles of matter composing our atmosphere, it then communicates one of its own peculiar vibrations to these particles; then they, by their vibrations, become luminous. If this theory is correct, it follows that the

M. P. Collin communicated some interesting "Experiments on Animal Heat, and Specially on the Temperature of Arterial Compared with Venous Blood." The author has found that the two bloods have never the same temperature, even in arteries and veins in close proximity to each other; the arterial blood is always warmer than the venous. Thus, the blood of the carotid artery is from a-half to two degrees warmer than the blood of the jugular vein. A similar difference of temperature is to be observed in the blood of the femoral artery and the saphena vein. The author has found also that the temtrunk towards the capillaries, while the heat of venous blood rises as it makes its way to the central organ. Every large vessel appears to have its proper temperature: the superior vena cava presents the minimum, the portal vein the maximum, while the inferior vena cava presents an intermediate degree. In general, also, the author found

that the blood on the two sides of the heart showed small
differences of temperature. From the remarkable fact that
in the heart the temperature of the arterial blood sur-
passes that of the venous, the author draws the conclusion
that the blood becomes heated as it traverses the pul-
monary tissue. In fact, he argues, if, after parting with
caloric to heat the air in the bronchi, as well as to vapourise
notwithstanding
the products of transpiration, it still,
these two causes of cooling, is warmer when it issues
from, than when it entered the lung, it must be because
heat was disengaged by the action of the air. Thus the
blood changes effected in the lung must be considered as
one source of animal heat.

M. Béchamp presented a note "On the Physiological
The author
Exhaustion and Vitality of Beer Yeast."
washed and washed globules of yeast until they appeared
to be mere envelopes of cellules, and found that they still
retained the power of changing cane-sugar into glucose,
and setting up the alcoholic fermentation, which proves,
he considers, that the property of setting up fermentation
resides in the properties of the living cellule, and is a
consequence of the act of nutrition of this cellule. We
may give the author's paper in detail on a future occasion.
We may call the attention of our medical readers to
some "Experiments on the Transfusion of Blood," by MM.
Eulenburg and Landois, which would appear to have some
value. We shall only mention those which show that
animals poisoned with opium may be kept alive by
practising what the authors call combined transfusion,
which consists in drawing off the poisoned blood and sub-
stituting for it healthy blood from an animal of the same
species. Other experiments showed that animals deprived
of food may be kept alive by regularly repeated trans-

fusions.

M. Monier sent a note "On the Organic Matters of insalubrious Waters." He says that he has the honour of presenting to the Academy a practical method of proving the presence of organic matters in any water whatever; and, moreover, determining the proportion of these insalubrious substances. The method is more useful and practical than novel. The author employs a standard solution of permanganate of potash. His experiments prove the disappearance of organic matter in running water. MM. Hugo Schiff and E. Becchi presented a note "On Boric Ethers." We shall give this note at length next week. M. Niépce de Saint Victor presented a note "On the Production of Blacks in Heliochromy." The author obtains blacks by four processes. The first, he says, offers the most interest, because by it pure blacks may be obtained either in a camera or by contact; these results are obtained by acting on the chloride of silver with a very alkaline liquid. The second consists in developing a black but slightly indicated, and this he calls black by the reduction of chloride of silver. The third consists in submitting a slight black to the action of diffused light; this result the author calls black by the alteration of exposed chloride. Lastly, a fourth process gives a dark tint approaching black by acting successively on a sensitised plate with two complementary colours, as blue and orange or green and red. In his next memoir the author intends to describe the new modes of preparing the plates; and will soon show stereoscopic proofs, on which will be seen not only all the colours, with blacks and whites, but also the lustre of metals, and the scintillations of precious stones.

A New Decanter.-A very ingenious contrivance has been made by MM. Toselli and D'Allmagne, of Paris. They blow a small globe within a decanter or claret jug. This globe, which has its opening at the side of the larger vessel, serves to hold a freezing mixture to cool wine or water in summer, and in winter may be filled with warm water to take the chill off Burgundy or port.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Saint Bartholomew's Hospital Reports. Edited_by_Dr.
EDWARDS and Mr. Callender.
Longmans and Co. 1865.

Vol. I. London:

Clinical Lectures and Reports. By the Medical and Sur-
gical Staff of the London Hospital. Vol. II. London:
Churchill and Sons. 1865.

THE two books whose titles are seen above, it is hardly
necessary to say, are chiefly occupied with matters which
do not concern chemists as chemists, whatever the interest
they may have for individuals liable, like the rest of man-
kind, to all the ills which flesh is heir to. Each, however,
contains two papers which legitimately call for notice in a
purely chemical journal. In the Reports of St. Bartholo-
mew's Hospital we find recorded two cases of poisoning
by Mercuric Methide, and also a Note on Hippuric Acid,
by Dr. Odling; and in the volume issued by the London
Hospital staff there are two papers by Dr. Letheby. Of
these papers we propose to give a short summary.
The two cases of poisoning by mercuric methide are
unique, and are here for the first time made public,
although they have formed the subject of conversation
among chemists in London for months past. We dwell
on them at some length, that others who engage in the
preparation of these bodies may be duly cautioned of the
risks they run, and advised of the precautions necessary
to be taken to avoid such risks.

An account of the method by which mercuric methide
is prepared by Messrs. Frankland and Duppa will be found
in Vol. VIII. of the CHEMICAL NEWS, page 262, and in
the Journal of the Chemical Society for December, 1863,
and may very properly be abridged here. A mixture of
ten parts by weight of iodide of methyl and one part of
acetic ether is treated with sodium amalgam, the flask
containing the ingredients being alternately agitated to
promote the reaction and plunged into cold water to
moderate the rise in temperature.
flask is attached a small upright Liebig's condenser to
arrest the vapour of iodide of methyl. When the reaction
has terminated the contents of the flask are distilled, and
the ethereal distillate, after separation of the water, first
agitated with alcoholic potash to remove the acetic ether
(which took no part in the reaction), and afterwards well
washed with water. The product now exhibits the boil-
ing-point and other properties of mercuric methide.

To the neck of the

We may presume that, in ignorance of the poisonous qualities of any vapour escaping, all these operations were conducted in the open laboratory, and not under a hood or in a closet. The consequences to the operators are thus recorded; we of course greatly abridge the reports:

C. U., aged 30, admitted into Matthew Ward, February 3, 1865, under the care of Dr. Jeaffreson. He is a German, assistant in the laboratory of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. For nearly three months past he has been engaged in the preparation of mercuric methide, and has complained during the time of impairment of sight. Two days ago he was seized with numbness of the hands, deafness, and great weakness, and found that his gums became On his admission to the hospital he complained of sore. a feeling of general debility and inability to stand without support. He moved both arms and legs slowly and with some difficulty, but sensation in them was unimpaired. He spoke indistinctly, and was deaf. His gums were swollen and tender.

The treatment we shall not concern ourselves with at present. It will suffice to say that the patient went from bad to worse, that the odour of his breath and body got very offensive, that he became at times maniacal, and that he died on February 14.

The post-mortem examination revealed a generally congested state of the brain, but especially of the grey

matter; the liver congested, but apparently natural; the kidneys also congested, soft, and weighing about six ounces each. It would have added considerably to the interest of these observations if we had been informed whether or not these organs contained mercury; but no chemical examination appears to have been made; at all events, none is recorded. There can hardly be a doubt, however, that mercury would have been found in them. The next case is perhaps of still greater interest. T. C., aged 23, admitted March 25, 1865, under the same physician. A delicate-looking young man of fair complexion. He had been engaged as assistant in the laboratory of St. Bartholomew's Hospital for the past twelve months, during the last four of which he has not been well. (The dates should be noted here.) In January last he was employed for about a fortnight in the preparation of mercuric methide, but has not worked with this or at any other mercurial compound since that time. States that he has a taste of brass in his mouth. His breath is offensive, his gums are spongy, and his sight slightly impaired. Hearing appears to be entirely absent. Powers of taste, speech, and smell much impaired. Sensation less than natural. Moves his limbs perfectly, but slowly; can grasp but imperfectly, and drags his legs after him in walking. Has perfect control over his sphincters. We need not linger over the daily record of his progress from bad to worse. The report ends on July 4, when his condition is thus described:-" He is quite idiotic, recognises no one, is deaf, and unable to speak any words, but mutters, cries out or laughs, and is frequently violent, and his limbs move convulsively. His bowels are in general confined; motions and urine always passed involuntarily." In this condition we believe he still remains.

cases will prevent the recurrence of similar accidents, and that they will remain as characterised in this reportunique.

With regard to Dr. Odling's note on Hippuric Acid, we need only say that he here brings forward the same views of the constitution of that acid which he illustrated with so much skill in his lectures at the College of Physicians, and which will be found at page 66 of our present volume. A notice of Dr. Letheby's papers must be reserved for another occasion.

Journal für Praktische Chemie. No. 14. 1865. THE first article in this number is a valuable "Contribution to the Knowledge of Graphitic Acid," by Dr. F. Gottschalk. This acid, discovered by Sir B. Brodie, our readers will remember, is formed when pure graphite is treated with chlorate of potash and the strongest nitric acid. This treatment must be repeated several times. After the first digestion the graphite remains black; but on subsequent digestions it passes through different shades of green, to a sulphur yellow, the colour of the graphitic acid. The acid is carefully washed and dried under the air-pump, or at 100 C. Gottschalk gives as the formula of graphitic acid Gr.HO18, which differs from that of Brodie GreH6015 by 30 (graphite, Gr 33). Under the microscope graphitic acid appears as minute transparent scales. It blackens in the light. Water dissolves a minute quantity, so does alcohol; but it appears to be insoluble in nearly every other menstruum. Paper soaked in the aqueous solution becomes reddish brown on parts exposed to the light; but the parts protected from light remain quite white. Possibly the study of this substance may lead to the discovery of a process for carbon printing. The chemical reactions of graphitic acid are not very distinct, and the author's account of them only confirms the description of Brodie.

=

The other papers in this Journal have been noticed before, with the exception of a short notice of a communication by Professor Boettger," On the Preparation of Metallic Peroxides," who states that the quickest method of preparing these bodies is by digesting for some time at 100° C. the recently precipitated hydrated oxides with a solution of hypochlorite of soda containing some free soda. In this way he has prepared the peroxides of lead, bismuth, manganese, cobalt, and nickel, as well as that of copper. We shall give this notice at length in another place.

It is much to be regretted that these interesting cases have been recorded entirely without comment, and it would appear that for aught that has been learned from their sufferings, beyond the symptoms, these unfortunate martyrs to science will have died in vain. There can be no doubt that we have all the symptoms which have occasionally been observed in the case of water-gilders and quicksilver miners, but greatly intensified. It must be remembered that mercuric methide contains 87 per cent. of mercury, and it would seem that the peculiar combination in which it is presented facilitates the absorption of the metal, and enables it, so to speak, to penetrate the system more profoundly. Whether nature makes any spontaneous effort at the elimination of the poison we are not informed. This recalls us to the medical treatment to which the patients were subjected. We remark that soon after his admission to the hospital, each one had iodide of potassium administered to him. With what idea this salt was given is not stated, but it probably was intended to be an elimi- GRANTS OF PROVISIONAL PROTECTION FOR nating agent. How far we are justified in assuming it as a propter hoc that each one after taking the iodide seems to have become rapidly worse, we are unable to say; but on this point we may quote some curious remarks of Melsens. This writer observes that the first effect of the administration of iodide of potassium in cases of mercurial intoxication is sometimes to revive and exaggerate the action of the poison. This, however, he adds is a condition necessary to a perfect cure, and suggests the continuation of the remedy in larger and larger doses.*

Melsens, indeed, adminsters the iodide in very large doses, and states that it is never followed by any ill effects of its own when perfectly pure. He states that he has proved the elimination of the mercury in combination with the iodide by the urine in cases of mercurial palsy, and also the absence of the metal in that excretion after a cure was effected. But Melsens' writings on this subject are no doubt well known, and we need not refer to the matter further.

We hope that the knowledge of these two lamentable See "Mémoire sur l'emploi de l'iodure de Potassium, pour combattre les effections saturnines et mercurielles," &c. Bruxelles. 1865.

NOTICES OF PATENTS.

SIX MONTHS.

Communicated by Mr. VAUGHAN, PATENT AGENT, 54, Chancery

Lane, W.C.

2293. F. Tollhausen, Boulevart Magenta, Paris, "A new fire-work producing instantaneously the forms of serpents, and other forms of a like nature."-A communication from F. Barnet and C. A. Roussille, Rue de Rivoli, Paris.-Petition recorded September 7, 1865.

2404. S. Trotman, Lyme Street, Camden Town, “Improvements in the manufacture of paper."-Sept. 21, 1865. 2448. W. Unwin, Sheffield, Improvements in the manufacture of iron."-September 25, 1865. 2456. N. Korslumoff, Birmingham, "Improvements in the manufacture of cast-iron, malleable iron, and steel." September 26, 1865.

2490. A. M. Bennett, Oakfield, Gateacre, near Liverpool," Improvements in apparatus for ascertaining specific gravities and the bulk of solids, and also for other similar

uses."

2494. J. Smith and W. F. Bath, Birmingham, “Improvements in apparatus for heating, evaporating, and cooling liquids."-September 28, 1865.

however, very satisfactory to know that the editors of the
work in question have some discretionary power and
authority to intercept the publication of experimental
conclusions which later researches prove to be altogether
I am, &c.
A MEMBER.
erroneous.

P.S.-As a peculiarly apt illustration of the force of these remarks, it may be stated that Dr. Fairbairn's "Preliminary Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of the Proposed Atlantic Cable" did not reach us in print until after the failure of the cable itself!

On an Electric Theory of Ignition.

To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEWS. SIR,-While studying the electric theories of light and heat which appear to have been received by the physicists of this country, and I believe by those of foreign countries, as original, I write to inform your readers that the electric theories accounting for the phenomena of light and heat have been anticipated and partially developed, for I find in a work entitled "A New Theory of Natural Philosophy," by T. H. Pasley, which was published in 1836 (Whittaker), that most of the speculative points of physics are treated with, and some of them very ably. Among others may be mentioned matter, expansion, ignition, and motion. I know that were I to dilate upon these it would form a subject which would go beyond the limits of a re-letter, and will, therefore, only treat of ignition, as being the most suitable subject for your journal.