cessful effort of Mr. John Harrison, of this city, in the manufacture of oil of vitriol; after many unsuccessful attempts in other parts of the union, and, indeed, knowing as we do that many parts of the continent of Europe are still tributary to Great Britain for this important aid to their general manufactures, we think it no common cause of congratulation. The progress of science and the arts is eminently promoted by it: not a dyer, clothier, bleacher, calico printer, hatter, brass founder or paper maker, with many other artists, that do not require its aid in a greater or lesser degree; the science of medicine, the pursuits of the mineralogist and chemist, are all assisted by this important article. We therefore repeat, we think it no common cause of congratulation, that a native American, by a series of laborious exertions, has succeeded in rendering us independent of Britain, in one of the most useful aids to our infant manufactures, Connected with this branch, are others but little inferior in usefulness to the manufacturer; the muriatic acid, aquafortis, blue vitriol, or sulphate of copper, are all necessary to the dyer and calico printer, to the paper stainer and colour maker. The preparation of some important chemical medicines, for a supply of which we have heretofore been dependent upon foreign countries, renders the establishment still more interesting. Upon the whole, we know of no undertaking which embraces so many useful objects, or deserves the applause and support of the American, people more than this.

Since the adoption and establishment of the federal government, great and numerous works of public utility have been undertaken and completed in the United States, works which depended on a laudable spirit of enterprize, as well as the expense of vast sums of money. At the period mentioned, the river Connecticut, from its head to its

A singular circumstance was discovered on Friday evening last, in Mr. John Bowman's barn, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. About 8 o'clock of that evening, a young man belonging to the family went, in order to put up a horse in the stable; above, in the fodtering gang, he observed something that appeared to him like a man, with fiery eyes, which he thought was a spirit; but fixing a resolution upon himself, with a view to see what it really was, he found, upon approaching the place, that it was absolutely fire, issuing through a small aperture in the loft of the stable, which was afterwards found to be made by the fire (as the loft was otherwise closely laid with boards). Upon further examination, a large quantity of hay, near the centre of the

mow, was found to be in a highly inflammable state, resembling that of a coal pit on fire, which, as soon as exposed to the external air, instantly burst into a flame; but, by the vigilance and good management of Mr. Bowman's family, and a few neighbours, the flame was kept under, by throwing water on the hay, and confining it from air, as much as possible, until morning; by which time they had collected more assistance. They then undertook to remove the inflammable hay, which was effected by hauling it out on waggons into the adjoining fields; this, however, was done with much difficulty, as it burned with great rapidity, when exposed to the air, in spite of every precaution they were able to take. They were even obliged to overset the waggons once or twice, to prevent them from being burned.

About the middle of June, Mr. Bowman had put into the mow of his barn about 80 tons of hay, principally clover. The weather not being very favourable for hay-making when endeavouring to cure it, they ventured to put it in pretty green, on the supposition of salt doing what remained to be done by the sun. To effect this, he put about half a bushel of salt to every load; but all did not do: a strong fermentation took place, which was certainly the cause of its taking fire. It is an incontrovertible proof, that many barns, supposed to be set on fire by mischievous persons, take fire from the very same cause, and in the same manner Mr. Bowman's would have done, had they not been fortunate in discovering the fire in the time they did. Farmers should therefore be very careful in curing their grain and hay, before packed into their barns, as it may otherwise be attended with dangerous consequences. It appears to many to be absolutely impossible for hay or grain to heat to that degree as to take fire. But the above circumstance puts every doubt on that subject completely at defiance.

The Copleyan medal has been adjudged by the Royal Philosophical Society of London to T. A. Knight, Esq., for his numerous discoveries in vegetable physiology. Sir Joseph Banks, upon presenting Mr. Knight with the reward of his labours and high merit, pronounced a most able discourse on the pursuits of this gentleman. He noticed his researches and observations on the albuminous juices of plants, in its ascent elaborating the buds and leaves, and in its descent forming wood; and of his discovery of the natural decay of apple-trees, and of the grafts, which decline and become unproductive at the same time with the parent stock. The learned president referred next to the experiments, which went to prove that all vegetables radiate by gravitation only, and not by any instinctive energy; that new and superior species of apples may be produced from seed; and that impregnating the pollen was found to be an advantageous substitute for grafting. He then alluded to the new and very valuable species of pears produced by Mr. Knight, and to a new species of vines, which bear grapes not only superior in flavour to others hitherto known, but which are capable of arriving at perfection, even in the most adverse seasons, in our climate. For these, and other discoveries, ably enumerated by the learned president, the Copleyan medal was adjudged to Mr. Knight, whose successful labours in this branch of natural history have probably surpassed those of any other philosopher in developing the economy of vegetation, and the laws of vegetable life.

Dr. Carradori, in opposition to the experiments and conclusions of Messrs. Humboldt and Gay Lusac, affirms that ebullition is not sufficient to free water from all the oxygen that it contains; and that nothing but congelation, and the res

piration of fishes, can entirely clear water of its oxygen. These, he says, are the only means that complete the separation from water of all the oxygen it contains interposed between its globules. Fishes he conceives to be the endiometers of water; and one of these, shut up in a body of water, is capable of separating, by means of its respiration, in several hours, all the oxygen from the water, and to exhaust it entirely from this principle. By several ingenious, but cruel, experiments on fish, this philosopher proves that melted snow, as well as water that has been congealed, is deprived of all its oxygen.

Leroi, who has made many successful experiments in agriculture, advises persons by no means to procure grain for sowing from a soil north of their own land, but from a country south of it; because he says it is a general rule, that the product of seed improves in going from south to north, and that it decreases in virtue in going from north to south. He recommends boiled carrots, as an excellent and cheap food for the fattening of pigs; and he adds, that by steeping raw carrots in water to deprive them of their acrid principle, then by boiling them, and causing them to ferment, an ardent spirit may be drawn from them, more wholesome than brandy distilled from rye.

M. L. Abbe Melograni has invented a new blow-pipe: it consists of two hollow glass globes, of a size proportioned to the effects required, which are united by two metallic tubes placed one against the other; each of these pipes has a valve attached at each of its extremities: a third pipe placed horizontally, and at right angles with the two first, is hermetically fixed to the pipes which unite the two globes. This horizontal pipe, besides serving to direct the air upon the flame of the lamp, likewise

forms a support and axis on which the globes turn. When the lower globe, which is half filled with water, has, in changing its position, become uppermost, the water will run out into the other, and will form, by the pressure, a current of air in the pipe, which, being stopped by the valve at the extremity of the same pipe, will be forced to pass through the horizontal pipe; the mouth of which being directed towards the flame, will produce the effect desired: when the water has descended into the lower ball, the position must be changed, and the action of the machine will recom

mence.

Theodore Pierre Bertin has invented a new syphon, capable of raising water thirty feet high without human help. This instrument is, we are told, applicable to different purposes: as a syphon, it may be used to raise water above its source, in any situation ; as a pump, it may serve as a pneumatic chemical apparatus, by the help of which may be made acidulated waters. The effects of this pump are in proportion to the superior length of the descending limb over that of the ascending one: it is therefore convenient for conveying perfumed air, such as that of an orangerie, for example, into rooms: it may also be rendered useful for mild suctions, and might be employed in surgical operations where the sucking-pump is employed.

Two species of bears at present unknown have been found by M. Cuvier, buried with tygers, hyenas, and other carnivorous animals, in a great number of caverns, in the mountains of Hungary and Germany.

M. Seguin, from the remarkable quantity of albumen found in vegetable juices which ferment without yeast, and afford a vinous

liquor, has been led to enquire whether the albumen might not be of essential consequence to this intestine motion. Having deprived these juices of albumen, they became incapable of fermenting; and then having supplied this principle, such as white of egg to saccharine matter, the fermentation took place, and a matter similar to yeast was deposited, which appeared to be only the albumen, which was so altered as to be nearly insoluble, without having lost its fermentescible action. Hence he concludes, that albumen, whether animal or vegetable, is the true ferment.

M. Oliver has lately presented to the National Institute an ac count of the topography of Persia ; in which he has described the chains of mountains, the courses of streams, and the productions peculiar to climate. The great and prevailing drought is the cause why not more than a twentieth part of that vast empire is cultivated. Entire provinces have not a single tree which is not planted and watered by the hands of man. This evil is constantly increasing, by the destruction of these canals by which the water from the mountains was formerly conducted to the lands.

Freylino has extracted a large quantity of saccharine matter from the black mulberry tree, which may be obtained in a state of syrup or concrete sugar. The syrup may be had by extracting the juice, clarifying it with the whites of eggs, and afterwards evaporating it to a proper consistence.

M. Gogo has obtained from the common hazel-nut a sweet and agreeable oil.

Count Rumford, who is now at Paris, has ascertained that light loses little of its intensity by passing

through ground glass; he recommends, therefore, the perference of ground glasses for Argand's lamp, as a means of preventing the glare, so offensive to the eye.

Dr. Gautieri, physician at Angogna, in the Milanese, has published a treatise on the animal gelatine as a cure for intermittents. The National Institute have delegated a committee to inquire into the effects of this new remedy, and they found that the common glue of the joiners cured intermittents. A great many Italian physicians have tried this remedy, and found it safe and effectual. They tried it in the febris tertiana duplicata, some also in the quartan, which had not yielded to bark, &c., likewise in the quotidian remittents. Several patients were restored even by the simple jelly of beef. They observed that the sthenical intemittents cured by the glue went over into a febris continua, and even in asthenical ones; but this continuity lasted at most only one or two days. glue is to be given a short time before the paroxysm. Its principal effect consists in taking away the atony of the stomach and the skin. When that is done, it is advisable to give some doses at several other hours of the day. It ought not to be diluted too much with water. When the solution, made from eleven or twelve drachms of glue in two ounces of water, coagulates and thickens again, it may easily be made potable, by putting the glass on hot ashes*.

The

Others gave the doses every quarter, or every half hour, with equally good effect. The patient should not drink much after having taken the medicine, and especially no acid beverage. Two or three hours after he may drink or eat. The glue operates at the

*Gluten, prepared in a Papinian digestor, from fresh bones, beef, &c., would produce the same effect, be equally cheap, and without the nau seous taste of the joiner's glue.

same time as a 'sudorific. The patient ought to remain two days in bed after the fever has ceased, and to avoid the air (especially if it be cold and moist) for four or five days. At Berlin these cures have been reiterated in the Charité, and found of indubitable effect.

De Sacco, at Milan, has made experiments, which prove that the lymph of the malanders, or rather the grease of horses (Italian, giardoni, German, mauke, French, eaux aux jambes), has the same effect, when inoculated, as the vaccine virus. These experiments have been repeated several times at Berlin, by Dr. and counsellor Bremer, who got re-produced lymph from Vienna. He transplanted the lymph by four generations, and it remained effective. All necessary means have been employed to ascertain that true cow-pock was produced. Every child inoculated with this matter was re-inoculated

with the natural small-pox, but did

not take it.

The secret of the invisible girl has lately been supposed to have been discovered, from which it should seem, that the whole deception consists in a very trifling addition to the mechanism of the speaking bust; which consists of a tube from the mouth of the bust, leading to a confederate in an adjoining room, and another tube to the same place, ending in the ear of the figure. By the last of these, a sound whispered to the ear of the bust is immediately carried to the confederate, who instantly returns an answer by the other tube ending in the mouth of the figure, who seems to utter it: and the invisible girl only differs in this circumstance, that an artificial echo is produced by means of certain trumpets; and thus the sound does not proceed in its original direction, but is completely reversed.

VOL. VIII. NO. XLVIII.

The London Medical Society propose to confer the Fothergillian gold medal on the authors of the best essays on the following subjects:

Question for the year 1807. The best account of the epidemic fevers which have prevailed at several times in North America, Spain, and Gibraltar, since the year 1793, and whether they are the same or different diseases.

For the year 1808.-What are the best methods of preventing and of curing epidemic dysentery?

For the year 1809.-What are the criteria by which epidemic disorders that are not infectious may be distinguished from those that are?

For the year 1810-What are the qualities in the atmosphere most to be desired under the various circumstances of pulmonary consumption?

It has been lately recommended that, excepting the lancet employed in vaccination, all the instruments of surgery ought to be dipped into oil at the moment when they are going to be used; by which method the pain of the subject operated upon will always be diminished. It is recommended to make all instruments of a blood-heat a little before the operation.

Mr. Hermbstadt, of Berlin, gives the following as a cheap method of obtaining the sugar of the beetroot: Let the beet-roots be pounded in a mortar, and then subjected to the press; the juice is next to be clarified with lime, like that of the sugar-cane, and then by evaporation bring it to the consistence of syrup. From 100 lbs. of raw sugar thus obtained, 80 lbs. may be had, by the first refining, of wellchrystalized sugar, inferior neither in quality nor whiteness to that of the West-Indies. Two days are sufficient to complete the operation. 6