New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-08-26
T He T RIB u N E.

ELEMENTS CHEMISTRY, Including the recen, dis
Pharmacy and TO :he Arts BY ResERr KANE. NJ. D.
nc Az. An r s be nse % nSs-
sites Colleges, Academies and Medical Schools Of the
United States BY JoHs WILLIAM NJ DRAPER, N. b.
New.Yerk: Harper Brothers, 90 C!iff-st
This IS the title of large octave of more than
sa,sn hundred pages, in fine type-the most extern
,;ye and we are inclined to think one of the mos,
valuable scientific works published here for some
time past. Connected Chemistry is not only
with the Investigations of pure science but with aI
the arts of lie and with the very progress of civil
zation, it commends itself not moresto the ardent,
the welfare and success of those engaged in the
professional or other business of life Necessarily
depending, too, as it does upon repeated expert
mept it i, eminently progressive, being, almost as
matter ofcourse, farther advanced this year than
it was last and still looking forward for the CON-
plete Development of its ultimate principles
This work of DR.. KANE, one Of the most eminent
living British Chemists, seems to present more
fully than any other, the present and general
extent Of Chemical Science, and contains in addi-
ten to the carefully considered and we'll arranged
results of the Investigations of former writers,
many useful and profound hints Of the author him
self. The first or introductory portion is full
description Of the general principles of chemical
action, developing the laws Of Gravity and Cohe-
,ive Forces, the properties of Light, of Heat,
and of Electricity as characterzing Chemical Sub.
stances. Then follows statement Of the general
laws of Chemical Combination and an account of
the mode Of preparation and properties of all inor-
ganic substances of interest to Science, to Medi.
ciae or to the Arts. In the division of Organic
Chemistry is traced the natural history of all bo-
dies which are rendered important by their rea-
ton to general theories or by their use in medicine
and tho arts of life. Though less profound and
philosophical in this department than the work of
LlyBIa-this presents more facts and will be of
more service to the student in its connection with
the general science. The part of the work which
Of Animal Chemistry gives analysis Of the
Animal tissues, the blood, &C. and treats Of the
general phenomena of animal life. We are conf
dent that from its completeness as well as its close
accuracy and method, this work must come into
very general use in those higher institutions of
learning for which it was mainly designed As
proof of tie easy and clear style in which the work
is written, as well as for the value and interest of
the passage itself we copy the following concerning
TIE Internal HEAT OF THE EARrH.-Al-
though at the surface the temperature Of the earth
solely dependent upon the radiating power of the
sur, yet it is found that it contains within itself
source of heat, which, in ages excessively remote,
must have retained the general mass of constitu-
ens of the mineral globe in igneous lquefaction.
In fact, if we dig below the surface of the earth,
We arrive, at depth of about forty feet at lay
er of which tho temperature is in winter and in
summer exactly the same 1t is termed the stratum
Of invarable temperature and is in general of the
mean temperature of the place; that is, the tenn
perature OF the surface falls in winter much be-
low that OF the hvariable stratum, as in summer
it is raised above it by the excessive action Of tbs
solar rays. The heat of the sun falling upon the
surface, is transmitted inward in virtue of the con-
Quoting power OF the ground; and thus, each sum-
mer, thin layer of elevated temperature moves
inward, those of Successive summers being sepa-
rated from each other by the intervening colder
shell, which marks the period diminished heat in
winter, until they mix and confound themselves in
the layer of constant temperature, below which
the influence of the sun is felt no more. But, on
descending beyond this depth, the temperature
steadily increases, and although subject to irregu-
larities consequent tina different conducting
powers of the rocks of different countries the aug
menation is in general about one degree for every
fortytwo feet, or about 100 degrees fer every mile
AT depth of two miles, therefore, could not
exist as liquid, unless from the great pressure to
which it would be subjected at four miles depth
tin and bi.muth would naturally be liquid and at
Eve miles, lead. At depth of thirty miles tho
temperature would be so high to melt iron and
still more easily, almost without exception, the
rocks, which constitute the solid earth which we
inhasis The central heat, therefore, although in
sensible at tae surface, is STILL there is every reason
to believe, in violent activity small depth be-
low: we live upon a pellicle of solid crystalline
rocks, with which the melted mass has become
skinned over, and which extends but to LAO Of
the distance to the centre. Hence we can well
imagine, that in many places where ori6ces or
cracks in this solid crust might form, violent man
itestations of the internal fire should be produced
and the magnificent phenomena of volcanoes and
earthquakes should arise
~ The UNITED STATES MONTHLY REVIEW
Political and Liserary-is proposed to be started
soon as may be, by G. G. Foster and ]. w.
Moore of this City. 1t is to be Wing Magazine
Of the FIRST class Price SIS por annum.
EJ HANDY ANDY, No. VIII is just issued by
D. Appleton s. Co.
WILLIAMS CoLLEGE.-The annual commence
ment of this institution was celebrated at the 18th
The Literary Address was delivered by Rev. N.
MssRAY of Elizabe,h,own, N. J, Thrty-four re-
ceived the dsgree of A. B., thirteen that of A. NJ
and the honorary degree of D. D. was conferred
on Rev. William Yoomans, President of Lafay-
este College, Pa.