and it may safely be asked, if for domestic purposes, this will not be an advantage rather than a defect. As before stated, clay, as a cement, can be applied to anthracite as well as to bituminous slack; the European factories demonstrate this to evidence. It only requires appropriate machinery to demonstrate the fact in this country. Before concluding this article, I wish to say that, in my opinion, the manufacture of artificial fuel from bituminous slack and clay is destined to revolutionise the manufacture of iron in the bituminous coal regions. No bituminous coal, except the block coal used in the Brazil furnaces, in Indiana, can be used for smelting, without being previously coked. It is coked for two reasons: Ist. For the purpose of converting it into a fuel deprived of its volatile constituents, which does not become pasty when ignited, and does not run and cake together. 2nd. For the purpose of eliminating from the coal a portion of the sulphur contained as pyrites. Now, it is a well known fact that the slack or coal dust contains a very small proportion of sulphur, hardly any. Scientists and practical metallurgists almost unanimously agree that the sulphur contained in the coal combines with the iron in the furnace only at a low red heat, and it may safely be asserted that the small proportion of sulphur contained in the artificial fuel would be eliminated and the coal coked in the furnace before this combination could take place. Basing my statements on experiments, I will add that bituminous slack, mixed with clay and moulded into lumps, will not run and cake together; that its tendency to expand will be counterbalanced by the tendency of the clay to contract, and that in any kind of heating apparatus, stove, grate, or furnace, it will coke gradually from the outside surface to the centre, each lump becoming, so to say, a small retort, the gases escaping through a heated surface and being consumed, instead of escaping into the flue; the coal throwing no sparks from the grates and emitting a light, greyish smoke, instead of the black, dense smoke peculiar to the bituminous coal.-Engineering and Mining Journal. must be rapidly executed and extreme accuracy is not necessary. The instruments usually made use of are the pocket sextant and the prismatic compass; the first is accurate, though inconvenient, and the latter convenient, though inaccurate. The instrument proposed by me as a substitute for both sextant and compass is a reflecting instrument, so contrived as to exhibit the angle subtended at the eye by two objects. Reflecting angle-measuring instruments are based upon the fact that the angle through which a mirror is turned is a measure of the angle through which a ray of light reflected by it is displaced the former being half the latter. In the sextant, an index arm is attached to the reflector, and made to traverse a graduated arc. This arc is divided so as to contain twice the number of degrees that it really holds, and, consequently, any angle read off represents twice the angle through which the mirror has been turned, or the angle between the two positions of the reflected ray. The graduations of the arc are necessarily crowded together, each 30' representing 1°, 1° representing 2°, &c. The difficulty of reading the angle is increased, while the accuracy of the reading is diminished. In field sketching, such as that referred to above, where angles are plotted upon paper and are not used as the basis of calculation, the value of the angles in degrees and minutes is not required, inasmuch as no use would be made of such values beyond the arriving at the position ON A NEW ANGLE-MEASURER AND PROTRACTOR FOR FACILITATING THE PROCESSES OF FIELD SKETCHING AND SURVEYING.* By W. H. COLLINS, Lieut. R.E., F.R.A.S. THE figure represents an instrument which I am desirous of submitting to the notice of the members of the Royal Dublin Society. This instrument has been designed by me to facilitate the operation of field sketching and military reconnoissance. Land surveys of large extent are based upon angular measurement; a short distance only is measured, and the longer distances are inferred by calculation. In surveys of small extent, all measurement is linear, and the areas enclosed by any assigned figure, bounded by straight lines, can be easily estimated, but such procedure ceases to be possible where the boundary lines are long, or the tract to be covered by the survey is large. With surveys pretending to much accuracy, the angular measurement must be made the basis of trigonometrical calculation, the calculated distances containing the error of the original line in an increased proportion. When it is unnecessary to obtain great accuracy, the angles ascertained may be plotted upon paper, and the loci of points determined, the intersections of such loci defining the position of remote points. This latter procedure is that of necessity adopted in military reconnoissances and other cases, where the work * A paper read before the Royal Dublin Society. Points A and c equidistant from o, the centre of pivot; the mirror, B, is parallel with c when the instrument is closed. of a line on the paper. The reading of the angle by a microscope and vernier becomes an inconvenient step, and one gladly to be dispensed with if possible. The protactor, also, with which the angle would be plotted, does not read within 30', while the vernier reads to a second. Under these circumstances it appeared desirable to produce an instrument which would exhibit in itself the angle subtended at the eye by two points, and allow it to be plotted at once, and thus remove the necessity for intermediate operations. Such an instrument is that represented by the figure. It becomes necessary to contrive two angular motions depending upon each other, one half the other. If a reflector moved with the first, the second would represent the movement of the reflected ray. Cog-wheels were the first expedient that suggested itself to procure such a motion, but these were abandoned for what appeared more desirable, viz., the geometrical necessity of some figure. That of which I have availed myself is this-that the base of an isosceles triangle moves with half the angular motion of one of its sides, the other remaining fixed, and the angle of the vertex being supposed to expand. After much adaptation and alteration, the instrument took the form shown in the figure. The centre of the sector is made the centre of the isosceles triangle, at the extremity of one leg of which is the centre of the index mirror, at the extremity of the other the centre of the movable spud, A, which slides between two guides | able time; ether kept with water in well-stoppered upon the base. bottles exhibited the iodoform reaction after some three or four months, but in some instances the reaction was obtained in a shorter time. Both the ether and water were pure. The operation of the instrument is obvious on looking at the figure. When the legs are closed the two mirrors are parallel, and the object seen direct over the smaller mirror is seen also reflected in it. On opening the instru ment, other objects are seen reflected in the small mirror, and the angle exhibited by the legs is that subtended at the centre of the movable mirror by the two objects, seen one direct, and the other by reflection immediately below. The pivot is pierced with a small hole, to allow the paper to be seen through, and to allow a pencil-mark to be made. The right-hand object is looked at, and reflected image of the left-hand object made to appear below it in the small glass. This instrument has been tested both with a theodolite and quadrant, and the angles in each case plotted upon paper; the results were identical. BEHAVIOUR OF ETHER WHEN IN CONTACT WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES. By A. LIEBEN. In my treatise on "The Origin and Production of Iodoform and on the Application of these Reactions" (Ann. d. Chem. u. Pharm., Supplm. 7, p. 221), I have said that when ether is shaken up with water and the water then treated with iodine and potassa no iodoform is formed, if the ether is perfectly pure; but I also observed that it was difficult to obtain pure ether, since the simple contact of ether with water, even at the ordinary temperature, and far more rapidly at 100°, causes the ether to become contaminated with alcohol. I have further investigated this subject by first trying whether perfectly pure ether, when kept alone, remains unaltered, and also, whether contact with water always produces alteration; while I lastly tried the effect of substances usually employed for drying ether. This research appeared to me to be the more interesting, since the high sensitiveness of the iodoform reaction affords a means of detecting slight alterations. When a compound so fixed and stable as ether is subject to changes hitherto scarcely thought of, it seems reasonable to conclude that other substances also undergo alterations, which are not detected for want of reagents. Ether by Itself. I have in another paper described the methods of making perfectly pure ether; I only mention here that it is best to re-distil the ether so obtained once or twice over sodium, chloride of calcium tubes being fitted to the distilling apparatus to avoid the contact of moist air. Ether so purified, and kept in well-stoppered bottles, continues good for several months; even after fifteen months no iodoform reaction was exhibited, and I therefore conclude that pure ether kept as stated does not become altered, at all events not sufficient to be detected by the iodoform reaction. Ether with Water.-I repeated my former experiments by pouring ether and water or ether and dilute sulphuric acid in glass tubes, and after sealing I heated these tubes for twenty-four hours to 100°; on testing the water afterwards I detected a strong reaction of iodoform, due to formation of alcohol, while, on the other hand, a sealed tube, also containing water and ether, kept during the same period of time at the ordinary temperature, did not exhibit this reaction. I also found by separate experiments that when the sealing of the glass tubes is carefully proceeded with there is no chance that any iodoform-producing substance (aldehyde, for instance, due to the action of the red-hot glass on the vapour of ether) can be generated; it is therefore quite certain that when ether and water are heated to 100° alcohol is in a short time formed. The same action between ether and water obtains at the ordinary temperature, but only after the lapse of a consider Ether and Sodium.-Pure ether kept in contact with small lumps of sodium in a well-stoppered bottle was found after six months to exhibit no iodoform reaction. Ether and Chloride of Calcium.-Pure ether kept with lumps of freshly-ignited chloride of calcium in a wellstoppered bottle for a period of six months was found on being tested to distinctly exhibit the iodoform reaction, and consequently the ether had undergone alteration. Ether and Caustic Potassa.-Pure ether and freshly-prepared fused caustic potassa kept for six months was found to be unaltered; and the same result was obtained when the ether was kept for the same lapse of time with recently burnt caustic lime. When the pure ether was kept for six months along with freshly-ignited chloride of sodium it exhibited a distinct iodoform reaction; but with freshlyignited carbonate of potassa no such reaction was obtained after the same lapse of time. Ether and Anhydrous Sulphate of Copper.-When sharply dried (dehydrated) sulphate of copper and pure ether are kept for six months in a well-stoppered bottle the ether exhibits no physical appearance of change, but on testing the ether it exhibits distinctly the iodoform reaction. A portion of the same ether employed in these experiments was kept alone, and having been tested after six months did not then exhibit any trace even of formation of iodoform. I cannot explain the reason why certain neutral and anhydrous substances (CaCl2, NaCl, CuSO4) should have any peculiar effect on ether without entering into hypotheses which are not proved; it appears that basic substances do not act upon ether, while acids and salts affect it. We might suppose that ethylates are formed, for instance : CuSO4+C2H5OC2H5-Cu-O-SO2-OC2H5, and that by the operation of testing for iodoform alcohol is formed by the action of water; but it is also possible that a small portion of the ether is converted into alcohol and ethylen. The main point of interest in these researches is that perfectly pure ether can be kept by itself in wellstoppered bottles without alteration, and also when in contact with perfectly dry and previously thoroughly ignited KHO, ČaOK2CO3, and also with pure sodium, but the ether cannot be kept with water, CaCl2, NaCl, or CuSO4, because when in contact with these substances it is gradually altered.—Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie. SUINT. IN nothing is the spirit of the age more clearly shown than in the efforts made to utilise waste substances. This is being done with such effect that what was formerly got rid of with great difficulty and at considerable expense may become one of the most important objects of manufacture. We need only point to such matters as sewage, the slag of furnaces, the fine coal of commerce, the waste of pyrites used in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, &c., as illustrations. Quite a recent instance of this improved economy is found in the treatment of the wool of sheep. It has been ascertained that sheep derive from the soil upon which they pasture a considerable amount of potash, which, after it has circulated in the blood, is excreted from the skin with the sweat, and remains, generally in connection with this, attached to the wool. Chevreul discovered, some time ago, that this peculiar mixture, known by the French as suint, constitutes not less than one-third the weight of the raw merino fleece, from which it is easily removed by immersion in cold water. In ordinary wools the suint is less, the amount being about 15 per cent of the raw fleece. Formerly it was considered as a kind of soap, mainly for the reason that A company purchases from the wool raiser the solution of the suint obtained by rinsing the wool in cold water, the price paid for it being higher in proportion as it is more concentrated. As a general thing it is maintained that a fleece weighing nine pounds contains about 20 ounces of suint, which should contain about one-third part, or six to seven ounces, of potash, although not more than five and one-half ounces are perhaps directly available. In the wool manufactories of the towns just referred to, there are nearly 60,000,000 pounds of wool washed annually, the yield of about 6,750,000 sheep. This quantity should contain over 3,000,000 pounds of pure potash. Thus, the water in which the wool is washed, and which has been heretofore thrown away, is made to yield a product, adding appreciably to the value of the wool itself, and more than covering the cost of its treatment. It is, of course, not an easy matter to utilise this solution of suint on a small scale; but wherever the work is carried on by the wholesale, as it is in connection with all great manufacturing establishments, it will undoubtedly become a regular part of the process of manufacture. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. CHEMICAL SOCIETY. The third note was on Barium Bisulphide. It was found possible to obtain this substance as a fine yellowcoloured product by shaking a solution of barium chloride with a mixture of ammonium sulphide and carbon disulphide. It is insoluble in alcohol, soluble in water, and rapidly dissolved by slightly acidulated water. The Secretary then read the second paper, entitled On Ethyl-Amyl," by HARRY GRIMSHAW. The ethylamyl employed in this research was obtained by submitting a mixture of ethyl-bromide and amyl-bromide to the action of sodium, it being found that the alcoholic bromides were well adapted for this purpose, the yield of hydrocarbon being highly satisfactory. By fractionating the product, ethyl-amyl, boiling at 90°, was obtained. It was converted by chlorine into a chloride, C-H15C1, boiling between 140° and 150°, and this, when treated with potassium acetate and glacial acetic acid, yielded the corresponding acetate, accompanied by a certain quantity of heptylene boiling at 91°. The acetate, on treatment with alcoholic potash, gave a mixture of alcohols which, on oxidation, yielded an acid whose silver salt had the composition CH13AgО2, and a ketone, C-H140, boiling at 144°, which yielded, on oxidation, a mixture of valerianic acid and acetic acid. The author considers that the mixture of alcohols consists of primary isoheptyl alcohol and methyl-amyl-carbinol, the former yielding, on oxidation, iso-cenanthylic acid, C-H13HO2, and the latter yielding Popoff's ketone, C-H140, which, by further oxida tion, yields valerianic and acetic acids. These researches point to the conclusion that ethyl-amyl is dimethylbutylene-methane. The PRESIDENT, after expressing the thanks of the Society for this communication, remarked that the present investigation was characterised by a singular thoroughness, and it might well be taken as a model by other investigators. He was struck by the success with which the author had employed bromides in the place of iodides; also by the large yield of hydrocarbons which had been obtained, notwithstanding the fact that the use of sodium has generally a tendency to increase the amount of secondary products in reductions of this kind. A paper on "The Heptanes from Petroleum," by Dr. C. SCHORLEMMER, F.R.S., was then read by the Secretary. In a previous paper the author alluded to a hydro Professor FRANKLAND, D.C.L., F.R.S., President, in the carbon, having the composition C-H16, and boiling at Chair. AFTER the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed, Messrs. Philip Braham, A. Percy Smith, and J. Wills were formally admitted Fellows of the Society. The names of Messrs. Edward Dillon, J. Perry, G. Brownen, T. W. Sheppard, T. C. Sellars, H. Y. Loram, and W. Sharpleigh were read for the first time; and those of Messrs. George Washington Arnott, James Scott McGregor, and Cornelius A. Mahoney were read for the third time, after which these gentlemen were balloted for, and duly elected Fellows of the Society. The first paper, entitled Notes on Various Chemical Reactions," by Mr. DAVIES, was then read by the Secretary. The first note was on the Formation of Crystallised Copper Sulphide. The author found that, when copper is covered with a layer of carbon disulphide, and a layer of ammonia is superposed, that the metal becomes covered with beautiful green crystals of copper sulphide in the course of a few days. In the second note, on Bromised Hypochlorite of Lime, the author remarks that a solution of hypochlorite of lime, to which bromine has been added, may be advantageously employed, in the place of hypochlorite of lime, for the precipitation of cobalt from a solution containing this metal together with nickel. The precipitation does not take place instantaneously, heat being recessary to proce the reaction. about 90°, which was obtained from Pennsylvanian petroleum. Thinking it probable that this might be identical with ethylamyl, he submitted it to a new examination. The boiling-points of several of its derivatives were found to correspond with those of ethylamyl, and the oxidation of its alcohol gave rise to an acid very similar to the corresponding acid from ethylamyl; also to a ketone boiling at 144°, but which, unlike that derived from ethylamyl, yielded nothing but acetic acid on oxidation. Hence it is certain that this hydrocarbon is not identical with ethylamyl. Its constitution and that of the ketone obtained from it will form the subject of future investigations. The author is, however, inclined to regard it as dimethyl-diethyl-methane. During the conversion of the chlorides from normal heptane into acetates a portion of heptene (heptylene), boiling at 98° to 99°, was formed. About half of this combined with cold hydrochloric acid, while the remaining portion did not unite with this acid until heat was applied. The two isomeric chlorides thus separated were re-converted into olefines, both of which boiled at 98°. When heptene, boiling at 90° to gr°, is treated with cold hydrochloric acid the greater portion dissolves, while not much more than half of the heptene prepared from ethylamyl combines in the cold with this acid, a heptyl chloride, boiling at 134° to 137°, being formed. The PRESIDENT, in returning thanks, remarked that this interesting paper was a new proof of Dr. Schorlemmer's success in the investigation of very complex hydro-carbons. The new method of separating the isomeric ole fines being likely to be of great service to future investigators. is mixed when cold with its own volume of concentrated sulphuric acid. When cold a strong solution of green vitriol is carefully added, so as to float upon the surface of the mixture, when the presence of nitrogen is shown by a dark line at the junction of the two liquids. We must caution persons using this test to ascertain first the absence of nitrogenous compounds in the sulphuric acid, or they will be deceived. CORRESPONDENCE. A paper on "The Vanadates of Thallium," by THOMAS CARNELLEY, was then read by the Secretary. In this paper the following salts are described :-Thallium orthovanadate, TVO4, or tetravanadate, Tl12V4O16; thallium pyrovanadate, TÍV2O7, or hexavanadate, Il12V6O21; Beta thallium vanadate or orthovanadate, Tl12V5026; Gamma thallium vanadate or decavanadate, Tl12V10037; thallium metavanadate, TIVO3, or do-decavanadate, Th12V12036; and Delta thallium vanadate or tetrakaidecavanadate, Th12V14041. These salts were obtained either by precipitation or by fusing thallium carbonate with the requisite amount of vanadic anhydride, or of one of the salts already formed. They form in most in- THE ESTIMATION OF SULPHUR IN PYRItes. stances yellowish precipitates, or reddish brown fused masses. Beta silver vanadate or octovanadate, Ag12V8O26, was obtained as a dark yellow dense precipitate by adding silver nitrate to a solution of the salt, Na12V8026+12H2O; this salt, Beta sodium vanadate or octovanadate, being obtained by fusing together the requisite proportions of sodium carbonate and vanadic anhydride. It is soluble in water, but does not crystallise readily. The PRESIDENT remarked that these researches were interesting, as they illustrate the analogy existing between the vanadates and the phosphates. A communication, by T. KINGZETT, on "The Formation of Disodic Sulphide by the Action of Dihydric Sulphide upon Sodic Chloride at High Temperatures," was then read. The author finds that when coal gas containing hydrosulphuric acid, or this gas in a pure state, is passed over sodium chloride heated to redness, a considerable portion of the salt is decomposed, the product being sodium sulphide. After thanking the author for this communication, the President observed that it would be of considerable interest to determine the exact amount of sodium sulphide formed under given physical conditions. Mr. P. BRAHAM then exhibited the apparatus which he has devised for the prosecution of physical research under the microscope. Arrangements were made for observing the behaviour of bodies when placed in different positions with regard to the magnetic field, and when submitted to the influence of the induction spark at various pressures. Mr. Braham made some remarks on the appearances presented when the spark leaves the conducting wire and passes through rarefied air; this latter appearing, under some circumstances, to be a better conductor than silver. This phenomenon only takes place when there is a break in some part of the circuit. After expressing a hope that the author would soon communicate to the Society some of the results obtained with his apparatus, the PRESIDENT announced that the meeting would then adjourn till Thursday, February 6, when the following papers will be read:-"On Anthrapurpurin," by W. H. Perkin; "On the Solidification of Nitrous Oxide," by T. Wills; and on "Isomerism in the Terpene Family," by Dr. C. R. A. Wright. NOTICES OF BOOKS. The Retrospect of Medicine. Edited by W. BRAITHWAITE, A USEFUL Summary of the progress of the medical sciences during the last six months. As matters falling more especially within our sphere we notice Dr. Richardson's -new anesthetic, a mixture of ether and methylene, and Dr. Seegen's method of detecting sugar in urine by filtration over animal charcoal before the application of Trommer's test, which without this precaution is deceptive. A process is recommended for detecting nitrogenous substances in drinking-waters. The sample is concentrated to one-eighth its bulk, without boiling. The residue To the Editor of the Chemical News. SIR,--Allow me to reply to the letter of "Experience" in the CHEMICAL NEWs, vol. xxvii., p. 33. He says "he cannot see that my paper is a very valuable contribution to our knowledge on the estimation of sulphur in pyrites." .. "And that anyone having had much experience with the estimation of sulphur in pyrites would never resort to the incorrect method of fusion." "Experience" is probably unaware that there are chemists who employ both the fusion and the acid processes, in conjunction, however, with titration by barium chloride. Experience" "would prefer the fusion process in platinum crucibles to all others if it gave correct results," and asks me to describe the method by which I get such good results. My article answers this question, and is on that account, perhaps, a valuable contribution to the knowledge of "Experience" himself, since it enables him to work the fusion method with better results. At the conclusion of his letter, the writer speaks of the purification of the barium precipitate; if he will refer to my article he will see that I am dealing with a volumetric, and not a gravimetric, process. In the single gravimetric experiment given, the precipitate was not purified; the. correctness of the result is therefore possibly accidental. I am aware that the sulphur is found to be higher in the fusion than in the acid process, where the fusion is made in a crucible. In 1864, Dr. David Price called attention to the fact that a not inconsiderable amount of sulphur is found in a simple fusion of alkalies in a crucible over a gas-flame; this, however, was only the case when the mixture crept over the sides of the crucible. In his experiments, threequarters of an hour's heating was sufficient to give an appreciable amount of sulphur. This observation will scarcely account for half a per cent of sulphur above that found by the acid process.-I am, &c., PHILIP HOLLAND, MISCELLANEOUS. London International Exhibition, 1873.—The third meeting of the Committee on Surgical Instruments and Appliances was held on Monday afternoon at the offices, Gore Lodge, and the following members were present:Mr. Cæsar H. Hawkins, F.R.S. (in the chair), Dr. P. Allen, Mr. R. Brudenell Carter, Mr. W. White Cooper, Sir W. Fergusson, Bart., F.R.S., Dr. Arthur Farre, F.R.S., Dr. G. T. Gream, Mr. Prescott Hewett, Mr. J. Hinton, Mr. J. Luke, F.R.S., Mr. T. W. Nunn, Dr. W. S. Playfair, Mr. Edwin Saunders, and Mr. Edwin Sercomb. MajorGeneral Scott, C.B., Secretary to Her Majesty's Commissioners, attended the meeting. The Committee considered the following resolutions, which were passed at a meeting of London surgical instrument manufacturers held on the roth inst., Mr. Louis Blaise in the chair :(1) That the surgical instrument manufacturers do not exhibit unless the conditions regarding their manufactures to be submitted to a Committee of Selection be withdrawn ; (2) that they may exhibit all the articles of their manufacture as a whole, and not in sections or subdivisions as proposed by Her Majesty's Commissioners; (3) that the conditions upon which the foreigner and Englishman exhibit shall be one and the same." It was recommended that a reply should be sent, explaining that English and foreign exhibitors would, as always intended, be on precisely the same footing; that it is not proposed to separate an exhibitor's instruments into sections or subdivisions; and that, while it is unadvisable to dispense generally with the principle of acceptance on the approval of a committee, an assurance of admission might be given by the Committee to manufacturers of very high repute who should notify their desire to exhibit. The Committee was informed that Signor A. Castellani, of Rome, had commenced to make exact reproductions of the surgical instruments found at Pompeii, and that the Japanese minister, Terashima Munerero, himself a physician, had promised to obtain a collection of surgical instruments from Japan. Letters were read from Sir Alexander Armstrong, K.C.B., Sir John Rose Cormack, M.D., of Paris, the Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Physicians, University College, and the University of Edinburgh. The Committee then adjourned till Monday, February 17. CHEMICAL NOTICES FROM FOREIGN SOURCES. Under this heading will be found an encyclopædic list of chemical papers published abroad during the past week, with abstracts of all susceptible of advantageous abridgment. The two halfyearly volumes of the CHEMICAL NEWS, with their copious indices, will, therefore, be equivalent to an English edition of the "Jahresberichte." NOTE. All degrees of temperature are Centigrade, unless otherwise expressed. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Academie des Sciences, January 13, 1873. This number contains the following original papers and memoirs relating to chemistry : Researches on the Allotropic Transformations of Phosphorus.-L. Troost and P. Hautefeuille. The contents of this essay record some calorimetric measures and experiments made with the view to explain the calorific phenomena which accompany the formation of the allotropic modifications of some substances. New Process of Steel-Making.-F. Bajault and M. Roche. The authors describe a process based upon the decarburation of pig-iron when intimately mixed with some rich iron ores, and kept fused in crucibles or reverberatory furnaces for some time. A specimen of steel thus made was, on analysis, found to contain, in 100 parts:-Combined carbon, 0'43; non-combined carbon, o'080; silicium, 0'23; phosphorus and sulphur, none. The steel thus prepared is malleable, strong, and becomes hard by annealing. Sulphurous and Chlorosulphuric Acids-Combination of Chlorine and Hydrogen in Complete Darkness.-Professor Melsens. This lengthy essay treats, in the first place, on the preparation of pure and dry sulphurous acid gas, which the author states is best obtained by causing strong sulphuric acid at a high temperature to act upon sulphur. Chlorosulphuric acid, SO,Cl, is readily obtained by passing chlorine and sulphurous acid gas into strong acetic acid. The author further describes at length a series of experiments, the result of which is, that properly prepared charcoal may be made to absorb its own weight of chlorine; when such charcoal is placed in a vessel filled with hydrogen, hydrochloric acid is formed, while the temperature of the vessel and contents becomes considerably lower. The chlorinecontaining charcoal decomposes water at the ordinary temperature, with formation of hydrochloric and carbonic acids. Statics of Saline Solutions.-Dr. Berthelot.-From his thermochemical researches, the author concludes that, when strong acids and strong bases are together present in a solution, the stronger acids combine with the stronger bases, and the weaker acids with the weaker bases. Polypropylenic Carburets.-M. Prunier.-This essay treats on the formation of certain hydrocarbons, by the reduction of bromide of propylen by means of nascent hydrogen. The hydrocarbon obtained by the author is probably a dipropylen, (C.H.); it boils at 70°. Anti-Ferment Properties of Silicate of Soda.-M. Picot.This exhaustive essay treats on the physiological action of silicate of soda. It appears, from the author's researches, that the silicate is not only an anti-ferment, but that it is actually a poison, since it destroys the blood globules, and kills by causing asphyxia. Memoir on Chlorophyll.-A. Millardet.-The author refers first to Chautard's last paper on this subject, and then states that he has found chlorophyll unaltered in the animal organism, and that certain insects which feed on leaves owe their green colour to this substance. Analysis of the Lanarkite of Leadhills.-F. Pisani.—It appears from this exhaustive essay that, according to some of the older analyses, lanarkite contains some carbonate of lead, and is readily soluble in nitric acid. The author has tested a large number of samples of this mineral kept in different museums, and he has found none containing carbonic acid. According to his analysis, lanarkite consists, in 100 parts, of Oxide of lead, 8273; sulphuric acid, 15:10; loss by heat, o'83; total, 98 66. Formula, Pb,S; that is, a basic sulphate of lead, Use of Gas for the purpose of Producing a High Temperature.-L. Forquignon and A. Leclerc.-The detailed description of a contrivance by means of which a high temperature may be readily produced, regulated, and maintained. The following original memoirs and papers are published in this number:Synthesis of Phenyl-Butylen.-B. Aronheim.-After briefly referring to some unsuccessful experiments made in the direction alluded to, viz., the synthesis of hydrocarbons of the C.H ̧---CH2- I series by the reaction of sodium upon the halogen combinations of the corresponding alcohol radicals, the author describes at length his researches, made with the view of preparing, synthetically, phenylbutylen by the reaction produced in mixture of the proper atomical quantities of benzyl-chloride and iodallyl in ether by metallic sodium in excess. The result of this operation gave, in addition to some other substances, phenyl-butylen, C16H12; boiling-point, 176° to 178°; vapour density, 132; sp. gr. at 15'5° 0'9015; formula of formationCH.CH CI+CH2 ==CH---CH ̧I+Na2= =CH-CH-CH---CH=CH2+NaCl + NaI. New Synthesis of Anthracen.-W. A. Van Dorp.-In the first hydrocarbon which appears to be met with in crude anthracen, and part of this essay, the author discusses at length the nature of a fluid which has been stated by various authors to be dibenzyl, or isomeric with ditolyl or benzyl-toluol. In the next part, the author describes at length, and elucidates by complex formulæ, the synthetical forma tion of anthracen from benzyl-toluol (prepared in pure state), by passing the vapours of that hydrocarbon through a red-hot porcelain tube filled with lumps of pumice-stone. The anthracen is thus readily obtained pure, although the quantity is small. An oily compound is also given off, which again yields anthracen by the same treatment. Preliminary Notice.-R. E. Meyer.-This essay, elucidated by a series of lengthy and complex formulæ, treats on a general method of the formation of keton acids by the aid of ethyl-oxalic acid salt (aethyloxalsauren salze). Composition of Suint.-E. Schulze.-After referring to researches on this subject made by Hartmann and himself, the author states that, when suint (the fatty matter present in crude wool) is treated with boiling-hot alcohol, it yields cholesterine, partly soluble in the boiling alcohol; and the portion which is insoluble therein is found to consist partly of the same fatty substance, and partly of benzoic acid-cholesterine-ether; the methods of separating these bodies are referred to at length. It appears that the composition of suint is rather complex, because acetic acid-cholesterine-ether seems also to be present therein. Lecture Experiments made with the Thermo-Analysator.E. Mulder. The detailed account, illustrated by a woodcut exhibiting the apparatus just named, of some experiments made by the author for exhibiting the decomposition, by the aid of heat, of various substances, such as hydrochloric acid gas, phosphuretted hydrogen, &c. Action of Zinc-Ethyl upon Silicic Acid-Methyl-Ether.A. Ladenburg.-This essay records at great length the results of the reaction just named; but, aided by sodium, the new substance thus formed is termed by the author ortho-silico-propionic acidFormula, methyl-ether (ortho-silico-propion-saure-methyl-ether). SiC2H,(OCH1); sp. gr. at o=0'9747; insoluble in water, but miscible with alcohol and ether. Some of the reactions of this ether with other substances are alluded to, and general directions given for the preparation of homologues of the silico-propionic acid. Effects of Alcohol upon Animal Heat.-C. Binz.-A physiologico-thermical essay. Toluol-Disulpho Acid.-C. W. Blomstrand.-An exhaustive monograph, elucidated by several tables, not well suited for abstraction. On Pentabrom-Resorcin.-C. Liebermann and A. Dittler.-This essay treats on the formula of pentabrom-resorcin, and on the question whether the body is, or is not, an addition product. This paper is elucidated by a series of complex formulæ. Contribution to our Knowledge of the History of the AzoCompounds.-K. Heumann.-The author criticises Alexejeff's paper on this subject (see CHEMICAL NEWS, vol. xxvii., p. 22), and proves that he (the author) long since discovered and described several of the bodies which Alexejeff claims to have first made known. |