The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-08

AQUA REG1A AND METALLIC SULPHIDEs.
Mr. Lefort finds that when aqua regia isplaced
in contact with sulphur, or with metallic ores
containing sulphur, chloride of sulphur is iirst
formed by the decomposition of the hydro
chloric acid, but soon after the first com
pound is destroyed by the nitric acid, and
chlorine gas is set free, while sulphuric acid
is formed. The best proportions of the mixed
acids for securing rapid decomposition OF sui
phides is one part of hydrochloric acid with
three parts of nitric acid; the reverse of those
in ordinary aqua regia, which consists of three
of hydrochloric and one of nitric acid.
CEMENT TO RESIST RED HEAT AND BoI1,-
ING WATER.-A German journal gives two
processes for making these cements 1st. To
four five parts of clay, thoroughly dried
and pulverized, add two parts of iron filings
free from oxide, one part of peroxide of man.
ganese, one-haf part of common salt, and
one-half Of borax. These are rubbed together
and made as fine as possible, after which
water enough is added to make thick paste.
1t must be applied Immediately and then
gradually heated almost to white heat. 2d.
To equal parts of sifted peroxide of manga
nese and well-pulverized oxide of zinc add
sufficient quantity of silicate of soda (water
glass; to form a thin paste. This mixture
should also be used Immediately. It forms
Gem ent quite as hard and durable as that oh
tanned by the first method.
kPURGUERA- oil known among the
Portuguese by this name has recently been
subjected to experiments by Bouis 1t con
tains about six per cent. of nitrogen, which
on distillaton, is evolved as ammonia. As
possesses some of the properties of castor oil,
and is obtained like the latter, from plan
belonging to the spurge family (euph0rbjdc0G),
he was led to distil it with an alkali, and the
/ result of saponifcation and distillation was
an infammable complex liquid having an aro-
matte odor. The portion passing off between
17S deg. and $50 deg. @. has the same compo-
sition as caprylic alchohol, which is found in
castor oil. The plant yielding Purgueira was
described by Adamson, more than q century
ago. under the name of CurcdS plrgans. 1t
abounds in some portions Of Africa and in the
Cape de Verde Islands.
AKAzeIA.-This new alkaloid was found by
DIR. Frazer, of Edinburgh, in specimens Of
the akazga plant brought from the west coast
of Africa, and which he supposed to be new
species of strychnos. Akazgia is a crystalline
alkaloid, closely resembling strychnia, but
differing from it by being precipitated by
alkaline bicarbonates. Travellers report that
the natives of West Africa use akazga as an
ordeal. supposed sorcerer is compelled to
drink an infusion of the bark of this plant
and walk over small akazga sticks. If guilty,
he tries in vain to pass the sticks and falls in
the savages; but if innocent, the kidneys will
act freely, and the poison is eliminated Dr.
Frazer found certain twigs of the so-called
| akaZga of different structure, which did not
yield the new alkaloid, and it is probable
that those natives who have escaped from the
ordeal drank decoction made from this
variety. ....t .s r
New AND GIGANTIC PLANT.-The London
| Builder of March 6 states that within the
last few days living specimens have been
forwarded to England from Nicaragua of one
of the most gigantic plants of the vegetable
kingdom. 1t is closely allied to the Arums
(or Lords and Ladies'O of the hedges, and
until the present time has wholly escaped the
notice of travelling botanists. 1t produces
but one leaf, nearly fourteen feet in length
supported by stalk ten feet long. The stem
of the flower is foot in circumference, the
spathe or flower is two feet long, purplisE
blue in color, with a powerful carrion-lilxe
odor. AS this remarkable species of Aroidea
is quite new to science, it has not vet re
ceived a name. A correspondent of the
Builder describes the Arum found on tht
Campagna of Rome, which bears deeply ser
rated leaves about the size of the human
hand, but in other respects resembles tn,
Nicaraguan plant. 1t has purple spath,
about eighteen inches in length, and tn,
flower has the same repulsive odor. n.
NApTNT MIR TnDADrT