If it should be desired to estimate the alkaloid in the crystals obtained in assay by the pharmacopoeia of this or any other country, the periodide volumetric analysis could be well applied as follows:

Let the crude morphine obtained by the pharmacopoeial method be taken up with lime-water, the latter made up to a given volume, and a measured portion of the filtered solution, placed in a graduated vessel and acidulated with hydrochloric acid; let a definite excess of the decinormal iodine be added, in small portions at a time, and shaken after each addition, till the periodide separates out, and the clear liquid retains a dark red color, making up the mixture to a given volume, filtering off half and then titrating the excess of iodine in this half by standard sodium thiosulphate, the amount of iodine consumed can be easily found. Working on ten grams opium, a tenth portion of the lime-water solution would represent one gram of opium, and the percentage of morphine would be equal to the weight of iodine consumed, multiplied by 74.918, or to the number of cubic centimeters of the tenth-normal iodine consumed, multiplied by 0.94793. Several analyses could be made with the remaining part of the lime-water solution.

CHEMICAL LABORATORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN,

July, 1898.

NEW BOOKS.

A LABORATORY GUIDE IN QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. BY H. L. WELLS, YALE UNIVERSITY. New York: John Wiley and Sons. pp. 189. Price $1.50.

In the first nine chapters the author endeavors to get the student to learn, by direct experiment and by numerous questions, how to distinguish and divide what are usually termed bases

into the five or six generally accepted analytical groups. The purpose appears to be to make the student think, and there is little doubt but that if he conscientiously pursues the course outlined he will not fail to gain a very fair knowledge of the general principles of analysis.

Sixteen pages are devoted to the study of the acid radicals, the student being as before urged to test and note his discoveries. Numerous excellent practical hints appear here and there, helpful even to the more advanced student.

Two chapters are given to the analysis of solids and the preparation of reagents.

Part II considers theory. It discusses, among others, the radicals and formulas, ionizations and ions, etc. In the latter connection the author remarks, "the circumstance that ionization takes place greatly simplifies inorganic chemical analysis." About a dozen pages are devoted to sensible and helpful suggestions on equation writing.

Part III considers the descriptive portion, which in most texts dealing with analysis, receives first attention.

The author has aimed to lead the student into analysis without resorting to the mechanical habit, and in this book contributes much to obviate and keep out this evil. He accordingly deserves great credit for his effort. Earnest teachers, who believe in laying a good foundation in analysis, will appreciate it and give the little volume a hearty welcome.

EDGAR F. SMITH.

ERRATA.

In the August issue, page 557, line 9, for "ammonium bromoselenide" read "ammonium bromoselenate."

Page 567, line 10 from bottom, for "ammonium selenium bromoselenate' read "ammonium bromoselenate."

Page 578, line 8, for "forty" read "four."

BOOKS RECEIVED.

Bulletin No. 74. 1. The Chinch-bug. 2. Earthworms a Source of Gapes in Poultry. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station of the State College of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky. 29 pp.

Bulletin No. 75. Commercial Fertilizers. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station of the State College of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky. 18 pp. Foods and Food Adulterants. Investigations made under direction of H. W. Wiley, chief chemist, with the collaboration of K. P. McElroy, W. H. Krug, T. C. Trescott, W. D. Bigelow, and others. Part Ninth.Cereals and Cereal Products. Bulletin No. 13, Division of Chemistry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. vii + 206 pp.

Composition of Maize (Indian corn). Including the Grain, Meal, Stalks, Pith, Fodder, and Cobs. Compiled chiefly from the Records of the Division of Chemistry, by H. W. Wiley. Bulletin No. 50, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Division of Chemistry, Washington, D. C. 31 pp.

Experiments with Sugar-beets in 1897. By Harvey W. Wiley. Bulletin No. 50. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Division of Chemistry, Washington, D. C. 165 pp., with two maps.

Special Report on the Beet-sugar Industry in the United States. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 240 pp. with two maps. Second Part of the Tenth Annual Report of the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, 1897. 148 pp. Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, Storrs, Conn.

Explosive Materials. The Phenomena and Theories of Explosion and the Classification, Constitution, and Preparation of Explosives. By Captain John P. Wisser. New York: D. Van Nostrand Co. 1898. vi+ 160 pp. Price 50 cents.

Strawberries. By L. C. Corbett. Bulletin No. 52. West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Morgantown, W. Va. March, 1898. 23 pp. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Vol. xxxvii, No. 157. July, 1898. Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society, 104 South Fifth Street. 174 PP. Commercial Fertilizers.

Special Bulletin. Second Edition. H. A. Huston, State Chemist, Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. 8 pp. and table.

Lehrbuch der anorganischen Chemie. Von Prof. Dr. H. Erdmann in Halle. Mit 276 Abbildungen und vier Farbigen Tafeln. Braunschweig: Friedrich Viewig und Sohn. 1898. xxvi +756 pp. Large 8vo. Flexible cloth. Price M. 18.

Elements of General Chemistry with Experiments. By John H. Long, M.S., Sc. D. Chicago: E. H. Colegrove. 1898. 408 pp. Price $2.00.

HERE have been various ideas as to what volumetric appa

TH

ratus should represent, and the subject has been carefully studied in Europe for several years. Several reports have been made by German chemical societies and by committees of the international congresses of applied chemistry which have been held in Brussels and Paris during recent years. The Imperial Bureau of Weights and Measures of Germany has taken up the matter, and has minutely defined the conditions under which it works in testing apparatus submitted for that purpose. A report which I have not seen was submitted at the congress held recently in Vienna.

The various ideas as to what volumetric apparatus should represent may all be brought under the following three types: Apparatus of the first type contains the named volume at the specified temperature; of the second, contains such a volume of water at the specified temperature, that if (disregarding the container) the water were cooled down to 3.93° C., its volume would be the named volume; of the third, contains the same number of grams of pure water free from air when weighed in dry air at the specified temperature and 760 mm. pressure, as the number of cubic centimeters or grams marked upon them. Table I shows the volume of water contained at the various specified temperatures by liter flasks of these three types, the

1 Read at the Boston Meeting of the American Chemical Society, August, 1898.

TABLE I.

I. Contain the named volume at the
specified temperatures.