The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-02-01
Pharaoh's SerpentS.

The composition of the curious LITTLE
pellets recently introduced as = toy for
children is thus stated by a writer in the
Pharmaceutical Journal.
SIR: A very curious toy is now being
exhibited in Paris, under the name OF
~pharac~ Serpent As this toy really
constitutes an interesting chemical ex-
pertinent, perhaps an account of it may
prove interesting. 1t consists of little
cone of tinfoil containing II white pow
Ter, about an inch in height, and resem-
bling a pastille. This cone is TO be
lighted at its apex, when there immedi-
ately begins issuing from it thick. ser
pent-like coil, which continues twisting
and increasing in length to an almost in
creditable extent. The quantity of mat
ter thus produced is truly marvellous,
especially as the coil which so exudes is
solid and may be handled, although, of
course, it is extremely light and some
what fragile.
Having little of the white powder.
with which the cones are filled, placed
at my disposal by friend, l submitted
it to analysis, and found it to consist OF
sulphocyanids of mercury. This salt,
when heated to q temperature below red
ness, undergoes decomposition, swelling
or growing in size in most remarkable
manner, and producing mixture of
'.mellon" Ca compound of carbon and
nitrogen) with a little sulphide of mer
curry. The resulting mass often assumes
a most fantastic shape, and is sufficiently
coherent to retain its form; it presents
a yellow color on its exterior, but is
black within. The serpent" shape of
course results from the salt being burnt
in a cone of tinfol.
Both the mercurous and mercuric sui
phocynides decompose in the same man
ner; but the mercuric salt. containing
more sulphocyanogen, seems capable of
furnishing larger quantity of mellon,
aud is the one used in the French ser
penis.
A solution Of pernitratc of mercury is
readily precipitated by sulphocyande of
ammonium and the mercuric su,phocy-
anide may he easily prepared. It is but
TO use the mercurial solution as strong
rs possible, and to keep it in excess
throughout the precipitation.
Solution of perchloride of mercury is
not so easily precipitated As the perni-
trate, probably owing to the soiubility of
the mercuric sulphocyanide in the chol-
brides.
that sulphocyanide of ammonium, suit
able for the above purpose. may be cas-
lily prepared as follows: One volume of
bisulphide Of carbon, four volumes of
liquor ammonia, fort, and four volumes
of methylated spirit are put into large
bottle and the mixture frequently sha-
ken.
In the course of one or two hours the
sulphide of carbon viii have entirely
dissolved in the ammoniacal liquid. form
ing deep red solution. When this re-
suit is attained the liquid is boiled until
the red color disappears, and is replaced
by light yellow.
The solution 10 then evaporated st s
very gentle heat (about so or 90 Fab J
until it chrystalizes, or just to dryness.
The product is sulphocyanid of ammo
MUM, sufficiently pure for the above pur-
pose. One disqualification from alco-
hol win render it quite white. One ounce
Of bisulphide of carbon yields BY this
process exactly one ounce Of sulphocy-
anide OF ammonium.