ASP

(. 67 ) AUG

ones with the earths. It decomposed the earthyacetites by simple affinity, and also many me-tallic salts, particularly those of iron, copperand lead, and the salt produced by its mixturewith acetite of lead was in the form of whiteflocculi insoluble in distilled vinegar. In thislast property it differed decisively from themalic acid, and also in decomposing the sulphafsand acetites of iron and copper. To ascertainthe nature of this acid of asparagus-juice itwas precipitated by lime-water, and the washedprecipitate calcined in a silver crucible till allthe carbonaceous matter had disappeared, anda grey calcareous salt remained insoluble inwater. This- was boiled and dissolved in dis-tilled vinegar and precipitated unaltered byammonia, and then was found to be phosphutof lime.

To prove still further that this supposedpeculiar acid is the phosphoric, its combinationwith lead (made by precipitating acetite oflead) was fused with the blow-pipe, and thebutton assumed on cooling that polyhedralform which is so characteristic of phosphutof lead.

Asparagus-juice does however contain somepeculiar substances. A quantity of the juicewas concentrated and lett for a considerabletime to itself in M. Vanquelin’s laboratory.After a while a good many crystals formed inthe liquor, obviously of two distinct kinds,which were examined by Messrs. Vauqueiinand Robriquet. 11

One of these (winch indeed had before beennoticed by M. Robriquet) had the followingproperties :

When obtained pure by repeated crystal-lization it assumes the form of rhomboidalprisms. It is quite white, moderately solublein water, and neither acid nor alkaline ; infusionof galls, acetite of lead, oxalat of ammonia,muriat of barytes, and hydro-siiiphuret of bary-tes, produce no change in it: it is insoluble inalcohol. It contains neither ammonia norearth : when ignited per se in a platina crucible,it swells up and exhales pungent vapours, andleaves a bulky coal but absolutely insipid, andthe ash is not in the least degree alkaline.Nitric acid decomposes this salt and producesa yellow bitter liquor containing much am-monia formed in the process.

This salt therefore seems at present to bea peculiar crystallizable subrtance containingnone of the known acids, alkalies, earths, orother salifiable bases.

The other crystals formed iu the .asparagusliquor were equally white, but Soft'and im-perfectly crystallized in line needles having asensibly saccharine- taste, like that of manna.It has not been further examined.

AUGITE.

In addition to the analysis of the VolcanicAngite from Etna by Vauqueiin, already cited,we now have analyses of the Augite of Frascati , cand of Giuliai-ta 1 in Sicily by Klaproth.

48.

—

55.

silex

21.

—

10.

lime

8.75

—

1.75

magnesia

5.

—

16.5

alumine

12.

—

13.75

ox yd of iron

I.

—

—

oxyd of manganese

a trace

—

—

potash

—

1.5

water

98.75

98.5

The Norwegian Augite

has also been ana^.

lyzed by Simon and Roux'

with the following

results.

Simon

50.25

Roux

45.

silex

25.5

—

30.5

lime

3.5

—

o

alumine

7.

—

—

magnesia

10.5

—

16.

oxyd of iron

2.25

—

5.

oxyd of manganese'

0.5

—

-k

water

a trace

—

. -

chrome

99.5

99.5

On examining however the details of theanalysis by M. Roux, it is manifest that hefailed to precipitate the whole of the alumine*and that the whole of the magnesia was left inthe lime.

Var. 1. Coccolite, Kornigcr Aug'it, Kars-ten.

Its colour is a deep green; it presents anassemblage of slightly coherent granular con-cretions of various sizes up to that of a •’mallpea, several of which resemble crystals withtheir solid angles worn off', and M. Hauy, bymechanical division, has actually reduced themto tetrahedral prisms. Internally this mineral isshining with a vitreous lustre; its fracture isfoliated -, it is translucent, scratches glas's, andgives a few sparks with steel. Sp. gr. 3.3c

It is infusible by the blowpipe without ad-

d Klapr. pict. de Chim. c Journ. de Mines,i 2

h An. Chim. tom. 55.

c An. Chim Ixvii, 2£5.