manufactory at Manilla, worked by steam, which furnishes a large quantity of ropes, &c., for maritime purposes. Cordage made from this substance does not shrink from damp; but this advantage is counter-balanced by several disadvantages, in consequence of which the abaca cordage is much inferior to that manufactured from hemp; for instance, the former is never so flexible nor so strong as the latter.

The abaca fabrics are a kind of transparent cloth, somewhat stiff, light, and very cool to the touch, from which the Tagals make coloured shirts. These fabrics are generally striped, and often printed; they might be used with advantage for sifting and straining purposes. Abaca thread does not require to be spun; it is used as produced by nature, and simply joined together end to end. The threads are tied together in bundles, and beaten, for the purpose of softening them, and afterwards bleached by immersion, during twenty-four hours, in lime water, and dried in the sun; they are then in a fit state for weaving.

A fabric, known under the name of medriniac, is also manufactured from unbleached abaca thread, which may be advantageously used for linings of clothes, &c.: this fabric is extensively used for these purposes in Spain.

From the finest abaca thread a pretty stuff, called jusi (housi), striped with various coloured silks, is manufactured. It is sold at the rate of two piastres every twenty tares, or about sixpence per yard.

Pina is a thread obtained from the leaf of the ananas or pine-apple; it is prepared in the same manner as abaca thread, great care being observed in picking or sorting before uniting them. This thread may be dyed.

Nipis, or vegetable silk, is a filament produced from the leaf of the nipis palm tree. A species of pina, of inferior quality, is made from this fibre.

The stuff known at Manilla by the name of sinamaye is manufactured from pina and silk, forming stripes of various sizes and colours. Ladies' dresses are made from it, and also fine shirts and stomachers.

CRIMINAL LUNATICS IN BETHLEM

HOSPITAL.

DR. MAYO makes the following observations, in the Medical Gazette, on the condition of the criminal lunatics in Bethlem Hospital:

"A visit to the criminal department of Bethlem Hospital is productive at present of strange and painful associations in regard to the administration of justice in this country.

Hatfield, so justly saved by the eloquence and wisdom of Erskine, is no more. Dalmas, the Battersea-bridge murderer, is removed by transportation-a sentence which, probably, was well adapted to the extent of his guilt; for there had been a heavy injury to his head in his early life, which might fairly be taken in extenuation as to the motives of his act, though the measures afterwards adopted by him for concealment showed that he was still susceptible of motives, and, therefore, a responsible agent. The Greenwich murderess is at present in Bethlem, where her case will afford very mischievous evidence to all such hysterical young females as may be cognizant of it, how comfortably life may be spent after the indulgence of splenetic cruelty, provided a human being is destroyed. There is not about her the smallest evidence of insanity.

"The Hon. Mr. Tucket, cool, indifferent, and self-possessed, enjoys there the immunity from punishment which a well-chosen counsel can at any time obtain for an eccentric culprit, when the punishment of death is manifestly too severe for the occasion, and yet nothing but the plea of insanity can avert it. Oxford has the frequent gratification of being stared at as the man who shot at the Queen. Captain Johnson's cold, close, subacid visage, and quiet, gentle demeanour, is awfully contrasted in our recollection with ~ the demoniacal violence which drink and fear, operating upon cruelty, could produce in him, without the smallest warranty of insanity. While Macnaughten, the murderer of Mr. Drummond, a man really under the influence of monomaniacal impulses, is, in these walls, as certainly prevented from outbreaks of violence by a consciousness that they would be followed by a period of seclusion, as he might, perhaps, before have been, had the laws of his country, or, rather, the principle on which those laws are carried out, furnished him with more definite reasons for self-control."

ROYAL COLLEGE OF CHEMISTRY. THE annual general meeting of the members of this College was held on Monday, the 31st August, in the institution, Hanoversquare. In the absence of the Earl of Clarendon, the chair was occupied by B. B. Cabbell, Esq., M.P., and supported by the Earl of Antrim, Sir J. Clarke, M.D., and other gentlemen.

The details of the report (the first presented to the members) bore reference more particularly to the positive transactions of the institution, than to matters of public

interest connected with the science of Chemistry.

Since the establishment of the College in 1844, the total receipts, including those for the purposes of the new building, amounted to 5,556. 19s., and the disbursements to 4,5171. 5s. 9d., leaving a balance of 1,0397. 13s. 3d. The subscriptions, &c., amounted to 1,5717., and the donations to 2,6937. 3s.; of the latter the sum of 1007. was received from His Royal Highness Prince Albert, and a like amount was also forwarded by His Royal Highness, as the representative of the Duchy of Cornwall. The donations to the building fund now amount to 1,7637.; but more than 2,000l. will be required for carrying out the objects in view. It appears that, with regard to the laboratory, the total cost of the building will exceed the original estimate, and will amount to 5,000l. Mr. Blakemore, M.P. for Wells, offered to supply 5007., on fifteen other gentlemen subscribing 1007. each, and by this means the sum of 2,0001. was raised, under the denomination of the Blakemore Fund, being, it appears, distinct from the general building fund.

In the first year, the number of students was twenty-six, and in the last thirty-seven; fifteen having remained from the previous year. The fees paid by them amounted to 5271. 178., the laboratory expenses to 9217. 13s. This department will be finally opened in October next. The report added, that through the instrumentality of His Royal Highness Prince Albert, negotiations had been concluded with the Prussian Government, by which, in the event of the College not succeeding, M. Hoffman will be permitted to continue his professorship at Bonn. The report having been agreed to, the meeting proceeded to the election of officebearers, when His Royal Highness Prince Albert was re-elected president.

The third practical course of scientific instruction in this institution, will commence on the 1st of October in the New Laboratory. The method of instruction is similar to that in use at Giessen. A working place is appointed for each student, who provides himself with the smaller apparatus, the cost of which is about 21.

the hand will produce electric excitement. On raising the paper carefully from the stone, sparks may be obtained from different parts of it by the knuckle. If a piece of tin plate be placed on the paper arranged on the stone, and pressed down, on raising the whole carefully, a strong spark is procured, and if it be returned to the stone, and the plate again pressed strongly upon the paper, another spark is given out on again raising it. If the sheet of paper, with the tin plate mentioned above, be charged as just explained, and then be removed carefully, and placed on a sheet of tinfoil upon the top of an insulated stool, and pressed down with a finger at the centre,-on raising it, a strong spark will be obtained from the tinfoil, and another from the lower surface of the tin plate through the paper. This simple electrical machine may be again charged by returning the paper to the stone, and pressing the tin plate down upon it with the hand.

A CHEAP SUBSTITUTE FOR A
VAPOUR-BATH.*

DR. SERRE (D'Alais) recommends the following means of inducing abundant transpi

ration :

"Take a piece of quick lime, about half the size of your fist, and wrap around it a wet cloth, sufficiently wrung to prevent water running from it. A dry cloth is to be several times wrapped around this. Place one of these packets on each side the patient when in bed. An abundant humid heat is soon developed by the combination of the lime with the water, which quickly induces copious transpiration; the effect of the apparatus lasting for two hours at least. When sweating is fully established, we may withdraw the lime, which is now reduced to a powder, and is easily removed. In this way, neither copious drinks nor loading the bed with coverings is required."

ON THE MANUFACTURE OF ENA

MELLED COPPER, AT CANTON. WHEN the copper has been shaped into the desired form, it is to be cleansed, but not scoured, and afterwards wetted with water,

BY THE REV. H. G. O. DWIGHT.

Ir is well known that friction will excite electricity in a sheet of paper, especially if it be thoroughly dry. This is well shewn by placing the paper on a warm stone, for a moment, when a single passing of the palm of

tion intended to form the ground, which may be either white or coloured: the article is then put into a muffle heated by means of dry Nankin coal (this is found to be the best fuel). When the ground has been produced,

*Medico-Chirurgical Review.

the article is withdrawn from the muffle and covered with an iron bell, in order that it may cool slowly: the ground may be then ornamented in the same manner as porcelain, and again passed through the muffle.

Several specimens of enamel, and colours upon enamel, have been deposited at the royal manufactory at Sevres, in order that the manufacturers in this kingdom may be made acquainted with the art.

REVIEW.

AN EASY INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY. By Geo. Sparkes. Second Edition. Whittaker and Co., London. We have already noticed the first appearance of this little work, in a former volume of the Chemist. The appearance of this second edition is a proof of the increased popularity of the science of chemistry, and on that account we hail the appearance of this introduction. The mode in which the author's purpose is carried out is as clear and intelligible as the subject will admit. It is, however, but another proof added to the many already on record, that there is no royal road to learning; but still, as an incentive to the study of the science, we can cordially recommend it to the public. The author's intention and mode of treating the subject may be better gathered from the following extract from his preface :

"With respect to the supposed difficulties of chemistry, I would observe that, in consequence of the immense number of facts which have been discovered in the science, it is necessary for an author, who wishes that his work may embrace them all, to write in a systematic form, commencing with a description of the simple elementary substances, and gradually proceeding to shew the nature of their combinations. This synthetic arrangement is the only one by which such a mass of information can be clearly laid out on paper, or committed to memory. But, unfortunately, it is quite unsuited to begin ners, who soon grow weary of lengthened descriptions of oxygen, hydrogen, and other invisible agents, and are too often induced to lay aside a study of which the commencement is so uninviting. I purpose, therefore, in the present course, to reverse the usual order of instruction, and to follow, as far as it can be done conveniently, the more natural and simple plan adopted by the older chemists, and again recommended by Whately, viz., to commence with the examination of common and familiar substances, and gradually proceed to the development of the more recon

dite elements. Advancing thus from things known to things unknown, the student will be following the same course which the science itself made in its infancy, and by which alone, even in the present day, all new truths must be discovered.

"After the foregoing observations it seems almost unnecessary to state that this work is intended solely for beginners. It lays no claim to originality, properly so called, and attempts nothing more than a judicious selection and combination of well-known facts. As it must always be a matter of opinion what should be inserted and what omitted, it is the misfortune of every elementary treatise that it is exposed to double censure, as being in the opinion of some too superficial, in that of others too scientific and elaborate. The author has endeavoured to keep the middle path; and the favourable reception which the public press gave to the first edition of this Work, encourages him to hope that his labour has not altogether been in vain."

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"C. Taylor," (Lynn).-A very ably written paper on the subject referred to by our correspondent will be found in the Lancet of the 2nd of May last.

"

"T. G." (Hammersmith).-A proposal has been made by the "Academie des Sciences,' to collect and republish the works of Lavoisier at the public expense; it is calculated that they will occupy 3,000 pages in 4to., and that the expense will amount to from 1,500%. to 1,6007.

If

"Student."-Impure samples of iodide of potash are to be met with, being adulterated by the addition of carbonate of potash. this salt is dissolved in water, it yields, by the addition of lime-water, a white precipitate, which effervesces by the addition of sulphuric acid.

The article "On the Causes to which Musical Sound produced in Metals by discontinuous Electric Currents are attributable" has been accidentally misplaced by the printer, which will, however, be readily perceived by our readers.

"MEPHISTOPHILES."-The "guinea in advance" scheme, we believe, has not answered the expectations of the projectors.

NOTICE.-All Communications and Books for Review must be addressed" To the Pub[lisher of THE CHEMIST, 310, Strand, London." Communications must be prepaid, and sent before the 15th of each month, Books for Review before the 10th.

CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE AND CLASSIFICATION; TO WHICH IS ADDED, AN HISTORICAL LEXI. CON OF SYNONYMES, INCLUDING THE ANCIENT NAMES, THE FORMULE, THE NEW NAMES, THE NAMES OF THE AUTHORS, AND

THE DATE OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS OF CHEMISTRY.

(Continued from page 441.)

BY FERD. HOEFER, DOCTOR IN MEDICINE.

LAVOISIER'S CLASSIFICATION.

LAVOISIER and Fourcroy, and Berthollet, nearly followed the classification of Morveau. In his Traité Elementaire de Chimie, the first work on scientific chemistry, Lavoisier seems to have classed bodies as combustibles and non-combustibles, but this classification is nowhere established in an explicit manner. Lavoisier, with good reason, prefers the term oxigenable to combustible, and he describes combustion by the term oxigenation; oxygen was therefore the combustible body, par excellence.

M. THÉNARD'S CLASSIFICATION. Since the time of Lavoisier, it appears as if it were necessary to group every fact along with oxygen. This exaggeration of the part played by oxygen, is also met with in the classification proposed by M. Thénard, nearly thirty years ago. In this classification simple bodies are divided into non-metallic bodies or metalloids, and metallic bodies or metals. The metalloïds are arranged in the order of their affinity for oxygen; the metals are divided into sections, according to the order in which they decompose water, at more or less elevated temperatures, that is to say, as they are more or less capable of oxigenation. [This last portion of M. Thénard's classification has been revised by M. Regnault, who has introduced several marked modifications.] The following is the order of this classification, so ingenious on account of its simplicity.

SUPPORTER OF COMBUSTION.

Oxygen.

COMBUSTIBLE BODIES.-I. METALLOIDS.

Hydrogen, boron, silicum, carbon, phosphorus, sulphur, selenium, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, azote.

II. METALS.*

First Section. -Metals that decompose water at 424° F., and oxidable at the ordinary temperature.-Potassium, sodium, lithium, barium, strontium, calcium, magnesium.

Second Section.-Metals not beginning to decompose water until at nearly 212° F.yttrium, calcium, manganese. Glucynium, aluminium, zirconium, thorium,

until at a red heat, or in the presence of Third Section.-Not decomposing water, acids.-Iron, nickel, cobalt, zinc, cadmium, chrome, vanadium.

Fourth Section.- Metals decomposing water at an elevated temperature, but not decomposing it in the presence of energetic acids, and forming acids.-Tungsten, molybdenum, osmium, columbium, titanium, antimony, uranium.

Fifth Section.-Metals decomposing water very feebly, at an elevated temperature, and not forming acids.-Copper, lead, bismuth.

Sixth Section.-Metals not decomposing water at any temperature.-Mercury, silver, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, gold.

fundamental character of M. Thénard's clasOxidation is, as we perceive, the sole and sification. It is therefore an artificial classification, like that of Linnæus, in which plants their sexual organs. Hence it results that are arranged after the single character of rated from each other; this is an inconbodies belonging to natural groups are sepavenience which does not arise in a natural classification.

* The division of amphidate bodies, placed between the metalloïds and the metals, includes thorium and zirconium. This division appears to be entirely useless, because thorium and zirconium are found in the second section of the metals.

3 Q