ture is fairly rich. To many of these works, indeed, he refers in the bibliographical notes placed at the end of each subject. Of course the author economises space by confining himself in this work to the organic chemical industries. This distinction, however, is difficult to carry out. Thus we find here included the manufacture of inorganic mordants, brief sections on the purification of water for industrial uses, an account of dynamite and some of its kindred bodies, &c. On the other hand, matches, phosphorus, and chemical manures are omitted, though a large portion of their ingredients must be pronounced organic. The oxalic, tartaric, citric, and malic acids do not seem to have fallen within the author's plan, no more than quinine, morphine, &c. We might naturally have expected that of quinine, which is now obtained on so extensive a scale. These omissions are the more remarkable as the author describes himself as chemical editor of the United States Dispensatory, Professor of Chemistry in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. in chemistry, is the key to most of the work, and a heavy duty on either would bring work to a standstill. Among the societies whose members are affected besides the Royal Microscopical, are the Chemical, Photographic, Linnean, Zoological, &c. Hospitals, large museums, and medical schools are able to obtain quantities of 5 gallons and upwards of the old kind of spirit; but small laboratories and the whole race of amateurs must either leave off work or pay the duty of ten shillings and sixpence per gallon. Truly "endowment of research" with a vengeance! We considered at the Royal Microscopical Society that several of the other societies might take united action in the matter, and bring a little pressure to bear upon the Inland Revenue authorities, who, we may charitably suppose, are quite ignorant of the mischief they are doing. I should be glad if you could in any way aid me in this matter. I am, &c., W. T. SUFFOLK. December 19th, 1891. The bibliographical sections we have already pronounced useful, but their value would have been increased if the name of the publisher of each work had been given. To say that a book is published in London, Paris, or Leipzig, as the case may be, is often insufficient. As regards the subject matter of the work, its general CHEMICAL character is correctness. Still greater details would in many cases have been highly desirable. In some cases the arrangement adopted is, at least, peculiar. Thus we find nitroglycerin and dynamite under the head "Fats and Fatty Oils," whilst their near neighbour gun-cotton is to be sought under " Vegetable Textile Fibres." Printing inks come under "Essential Oils and Resins," and writing inks apparently nowhere. Great care has evidently been expended on getting up the statistical appendices. A Practical Introduction to the Elements of Chemistry. By W. MARSHALL WATTS, D.Sc. (Lond.), B.Sc. (Vict.), F.I.C. London: Nisbet and Co. Small 8vo., pp. 128. they are also intended for "School and Family Use." NOTICES FROM FOREIGN NOTE.-All degrees of temperature are Centigrade unless otherwise Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances, de l'Académie The Works of Scheele.-M. Nordenskiold, in a letter THIS little work belongs to a series entitled "Nisbet's Elementary Science Manuals," prepared, it is stated, for the "Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations," though In the preface, the author, or else the general editor, Rev. J. H. Whitehead, M.A., whose functions do not very clearly appear, informs us that the "plan of the present work differs somewhat from that usual in small books-Georges Charpy.-Referring to Etard's recent paper on of a similar title." It is "experimental from the very beginning." So numerous, however, are the elementary manuals of chemistry used, or at least published, in this country, and so slight are the shades of difference between them, that we cannot venture to say in how far the author's claim can be substantiated. Our own opinion is that there is here little, if anything, which has not already been said clearly and repeatedly. the solubility of cobalt chloride, the author has observed facts of the same order whilst studying the vapour tensions of the solutions of cobalt chloride. The facts, like those observed by Etard, lead us to admit the existence of two stable conditions of cobalt chloride. This change of condition may be ascribed either to a variation in the state of hydration of the salt, or to a change in its molecular aggregation. Action of Sodammonium and Potassammonium upon Certain Metals.-M. Joannis.-Sodammonium and potassammonium are decomposed by several metals, especially by mercury, lead, and antimony. Sodammonium is without action upon aluminium, silver, lead, and eopper. The author examines in detail the action of these two compounds upon mercury and lead. With an excess of lead he obtains a compound, Pb,Na,2NH3, of deep indigo blue colour, which dissolves in ammonia with a bottle-green colour. Calculation of the Temperature of Ebullition of the Isomeric Ethers of the Fatty Acids.-G. Hinrichs.-This paper cannot be reproduced without the accompanying diagram. Thermic Data on Active Malic Acid and the Potassium and Sodium Malates.-G. Massol.-This paper does not admit of useful abridgment. NEWS The Rotatory Power of Silk.-Leo Vignon.-Silk ranks, as regards its chemical constitution, among the albumenoid substances. If treated in heat with dilute sulphuric acid it yields among its decomposition products leucine and tyrosine. The solutions of the two principal portions of the silk of Bombyx mori (the "gum" in soda and the fibroine in hydrochloric acid) both exert a considerable action upon polarised light. Both are strongly lavo-rotatory, their rotatory power being close upon - 40°. Ammonia in Atmospheric Waters.-Albert Lévy.The author questions the values given by MM. Marcano and Muntz in their recent memoir. He notes that in England Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert obtained in 1856 1'43 m.grm.-a figure very close upon that obtained in Caracas. His own analyses of the rains falling at Montsouris during the last sixteen years (a yearly mean of 150 showers), give an average weight of 2'2 m.grms. of ammonia per litre of water, a figure higher than that obtained at Caracas. Zeitschrift fur Analytische Chemie. Vol. xxx., Part 4. Studies on the Ripening of Cherries, on the Fermentation Products of Cherry and Currant Juice, and on the Colouring-Matter of the Red and the Black Currant.-W. Klein.-This memoir, which runs to 25 pp., and includes seven tables and a plate showing the absorption-spectra of the products, does not admit either of useful abstraction or insertion in full. Antimony Pentasulphide.-Th. Wilm.-According to the author the compound met with in commerce as "golden sulphuret" is not always an antimony pentasulphide (Sb2S5), but a mixture of antimony tersulphide with free sulphur, or of the penta- and tersulphides with sulphur. He shows that the determination of the sulphur capable of extraction by means of carbon disulphide does not lead to satisfactory results. For the determination of total sulphur he recommends oxidation with fuming nitric acid in a sealed tube. A determination in an Erlenmeyer flask did not give constant results. He heats for 2-3 hours not above 130°, when no explosion takes place. On opening the tube a little water is added, when the contents turn green or bluish-green, and a quantity of gas escapes. When this reaction is over, the glass is nearly filled with concentrated hydrochloric acid, and heated in the water-bath until the white powder is completely dissolved. The whole is then rinsed into a porcelain capsule, evaporated down as far as practicable on the water-bath, covers the moist residue with a little concentrated hydrochloric acid, applies heat and adds a solution of tartaric acid. The boiling solution is precipi. tated with barium chloride, and the barium sulphate filtered off after standing for 10-12 hours. Universal Gas-Holder.-Dr. Eichhorn.-This apparatus, the construction of which cannot be described intelligibly without the accompanying figure, serves at once as a gas-holder, a blast, a compression-pump, and a rarefying apparatus. Glass Vessels for Scientific Purposes.-Leybolds (Cologne). These vessels, some of which are here figured, are cells with flat sides made of uniform thickness and free from bubbles or waviness. They are recommended for various chemical, physical, bacteriological, &c., uses. Separation of Barium and Calcium.-R. Fresenius. -The concluding portion of a memoir which will be presently reproduced. The Question of Introducing the True Litre, or retaining that of Mohr in Volumetric Analysis.-W. Fresenius.-The author decides in favour of retaining the litre of Mohr, i.e., the volume of a kilo. of water at 175°, as weighed in the air with brass weights. Spectra of the Elements of Mendeleeff's Second Group.-H. Kayser and C. Runge (Annalen der Physik). -No details are given. Colorimetric Apparatus and Methods, and Quantitative Spectrum Analysis.-G. Krüss and H. Kruss.A work published by L. Voss, Hamburg. No particulars are here given. Franc. de Phys.).-Already inserted. A Graphic Table for finding the Correction of the Readings of the Barometer.-(Necessary on account of the reduction to o° for the expansion of the mercury).-R. Mehmke (Annalen der Physik.).—No particulars are here given. Influence of Pressure upon the Electroconductivity of Liquids.-C. Barus (Silliman's Journal).-No particulars. Distinctions between a- and 6. Naphthol.-N. Yvon. -To 10 c.c. of a saturated aqueous solution of naphthol there are added: (1) Alcohol 2 c.c., nitric acid 2 c.c., mercury nitrates ro drops; (2) alcohol 2 c.c., potassium nitrate (saturated solution) 3 drops, sulphuric acid 10 drops. These reagents produce colour reactions as follows. In a-naphthol :-Reagent 1, the yellow colour of the mixture is not changed on boiling; chloroform is coloured yellow and ether yellowish-green; gun-cotton is dyed yellow, sulphurous acid renders the mixture immediately turbid with separation of a red precipitate. Reagent 2, on the other hand, turns the reddish-brown colour of the mixture to a brown on boiling; chloroform is coloured greenish-brown, and ether a yellowish-green; the mixture a dirty green without precipitation. With gun-cotton is dyed a dirty yellow. Sulphurous acid turns colour passes at once into an orange red and is not B-naphthol and No. I reagent the intense orange yellow altered by boiling; gun-cotton is dyed a rose red; the mixture colours chloroform a ruby red, and ether a yellow. Sulphurous acid gives the mixture a rose colour, which disappears very gradually, whilst a yellow or black precipitate is formed. With reagent No. 2 there is produced is dyed a vinous red, chloroform is coloured a greenish an intense violet red not changed by boiling; gun-cotton yellow and ether a yellow; the red colour is at once des troyed by sulphurous acid, but without precipitation. By means of these reactions the author succeeded in detecting B-naphthol in urine, but not a naphthol. Detection of the Amines of the Aromatic Series.Ch. Lauth (Comptes Rendus).-Already inserted. Elementary Analysis of Volatile Liquids. — E. Reichardt (Archiv. der Pharm).-Very volatile liquids are weighed off in a small glass tube which fits into the platinum boat to be used. The glass tube is sealed below, rounded off above, and may be closed with a cork. It is half filled with copper oxide previously ignited, and fixed in a suitable vessel in a perpendicular position for weighing. The liquid to be analysed is now added, the tube is weighed again and filled up with copper oxide. When closed by means of a cork the liquid may thus be preserved. When the combustion is undertaken the open tube is placed in the platinum boat, the bottom of which The boat is pushed into the combustion-tube, and the is covered with a little copper oxide to prevent adhesion. combustion is then carried out in the usual manner in a current of oxygen. It is indifferent whether the open end of the little glass tube is turned towards the absorption apparatus or the closed end of the combustion tube. Experiments with volatile oils and with ethylic alcohol gave satisfactory results. In the elementary analysis of sparingly volatile liquids, we may, according to the author, place the liquid in question, drop by drop, upon the bottom of the platinum boat, previously ignited, and covered with copper oxide, and push it rapidly into the combustion-tube. An attraction of moisture is not to be apprehended. Electro-conductivity of Boric Acid in presence of Mannite, Dulcite, and Polyvalent Alcohols.-G. Magnanini (Rendicont della R. Acc. dei Lincei).-The molecular conductivity of boric acid, which is per se smaller than 6 units, rises in presence of mannite to 300, 500, and upwards, according to the quantity of mannite. The molecular conductivity of boric acid in presence of mannite decreases with dilution. Ascent of Solutions in Capillary Tubes, and the Law of these Phenomena.-M. Goldstein (Zeit. Phys. Chemie). The author proposes the law where H is the height of ascent of the water, h that of the solution, M the molecular weight of the dissolved substance, i the Van 't Hoff co-efficient, and C a constant which varies with the percentage of the dissolved substance. The Use of the Pendulum as a Balance.-K. Fuchs (Zeit. Phys. Chemie).-Already inserted. Determination of Specific Gravities.-L. Amat.— From the Bulletin de la Soc. Chimique de Paris. Reading Hydrometers.-C. Margoni and Grattorola (Rendi. Acc. dei Lincei).-In case of opaque liquids the authors apply a ring of platinum wire to the sides of the vessel in which the stem of the hydrometer goes up and down. Apparatus for Determining the Specific Gravity of Solids.-W. Brown.-From Industries and Chemiker Zeitung. A Thermo-Electric Battery.-Gülcher (Elektrotech. Anzeiger).-The elements are hollow bodies or combinations of such with massive rods. A battery of fifty elements is about equal to two Bunsen elements. The hourly working cost is 3-3 pfennige. Analysis of Sodium Aluminate.-G. Lunge (Zeit. Angew. Chemie).—Already inserted. that the atomic weights of many elements approximate require, the determinations of Stas have not been sucvery closely to the values which Prout's law would cessfully challenged either in principle or in detail. His memoirs will be found in the earlier numbers of the CHEMICAL NEWS. Diaries for 1892. Messrs. Cassell and Co., the selection for the approaching year. publishers of Letts's Diaries, have as usual sent us a known and have secured too firm a hold upon the public These are too well for any detailed description to be necessary. The most generally useful to men of business will be the Rough and Commercial series, foolscap size, with a week to an opening. office table cannot do better than choose the Office edition, Those who require a smaller sized diary for the post octavo size. This contains a day on a page, and in addition gives information on postal, commercial, legal, and diplomatic matters, which are often required. However, in the list of ambassadors abroad we notice that our representative in France is still given as the Right Honourable the Earl of Lytton, whilst Mr. W. H. Smith is mentioned as the First Lord of the Treasury, and Mr. Balfour the Chief Secretary for Ireland. The Pocket editions with a week on a page are similar to the above, but smaller. The diary of most use to medical men will perhaps be the Medical Diary, which contains notes, information, and headings specially required in practice. It would be of great value to all our readers if Messrs. for the use of men of science and chemists in general. Cassell could see their way to bring out a similar diary Besides these there are a series of pocket books for ladies and gentlemen, which contain memoranda likely to be of special interest. MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. TUESDAY, 29th-Royal Institution, 3. "Life in Motion, or the Animal Machine," by Professor John G. McKen31st.-Royal Institution, 3. drick. "Life in Motion, or the Animal Machine," by Professor John G. McKendrick. SATURDAY, Jan. 2nd.-Royal Institution, 3. "Life in Motion, or the Animal Machine," by Frofessor John G. McKendrick. Separation and Determination of Antimony.-J. THURSDAY, Thiee (Liebig's Annalen).-This paper will be inserted in extenso. Separation and Determination of Tellurium.-E. Donath (Zeit. Angew. Chemie).-Already inserted. New Method for Examining Ferrocyanides for Determining the Contents of Prussiate Melts, and of the Ferrocyanides in Spent Masses from GasPurifiers.-R. Zaloziecki (Zeit. Angew. Chemie.-Already inserted. MISCELLANEOUS. DALLMEYER'S LENSES Are Used by all the leading Photographers, both Amateur and Professional, throughout the World and have obtained the Highest Awards wherever Exhibited. DALLMEYER, "On the Choice and Use of Photographic Lenses." Eighth Thousand. Greatly Enlarged (with Supplement, and additional Tables and Papers). Price Is. NEW DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE of Photographic Lenses, Cameras, Telescopes, Microscopes, &c., is now ready and will be posted free on application. J. H. DALLMEYER, Optician, 25, Newman St., London, W. Telegraphic and Cable Address- DALLMEYER, LONDON.' Edited by WILLIAM CROOKES, F.R.S. Published every Friday. Price 4d. Annual Subscription post free, including Indices, £1. The Late Prof. Stas.-It is generally known that the papers of Stas are characterised not by their bulk and number, but by their sterling value. As far back as 1838 THE he published his researches on phloridzine. In 1849 there appeared his memoir on the true atomic weight of carbon. Two years later he communicated a valuable method for detecting alkaloids in poisoning cases. It will be remembered that he was the trusted and trustworthy adviser of the Belgian authorities on all questions of a chemical nature. In 1860 he began the publication of his magnum opus,-the inquiry into the reciprocal relations of the atomic weights. This long and laborious inquiry was undertaken with a view of deciding on the validity of Prout's law. As we need scarcely remind the reader, the conclusion was negative. The atomic weights examined were not found to be exact multiples by whole numbers, either of 1,-the atomic weight of hydrogen,-or of o'5 or o‘25. On this point there arose some controversy with Prof. Marignac. But whatever may be the meaning of the remarkable fact CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS. £ s. d. Five lines in column (about 10 words to line) o Each additional line 3 6 0 6 Whole columa Whole page.. I 15 0 3 O O A reduction made for a series of insertions. Cheques and Post-Office Orders, crossed "London and County Bank," payable to the order of William Crookes BOY COURT. LUDGATE HILL, LONDON, E.C. INDEX. Ammoniacal salts, absorption by some of the fatty acids, 269 combination of wet and dry spectroscopic, 202 chimney gases, apparatus for highly dilute solutions, ab- volatile liquids, 321 "Analysis, Quantitative Che- "Analysis, Water," Wanklyn's, Antimony, 160 and arsenic reactions, 235 pentasulphide, 321 Antwerp Universal Microscopic Arabin group, gums of, 271 Araki, T., absorption spectrum of Armstrong, H. E., formation of Arnaud, A., and E. Grimaux, Arnaudon, J. J., tanning woods, Aromatic hydrocarbons, 310 Arsenical wine, 265 Arsenious oxide, note on solu- Art, glass and ceramic, 285 obtaining, 243 in atmospheric waters, 321 soda process, 4 carbon oxide, 108 Arth, G., metallurgical use of Association, British, 87, 103, 113 Aslanoglou, P. L., supposed cop- oxides of silver and lead, 272 Austen, W. C. R., address to the 1otatory currents, 308 Bangor College, 132 chloride, electrolysis of, 25 separation of cobalt and nickel, 224 Beam, W., and W. Leffmann, Beams, influence of surface-load- Beef fat, 273, 282, 298 Belfast College, 139 237 Bismuth, 159 atomic weight, 237 Bleaching powder, 214 aluminium in cast-iron, 49 Blowpipe for mineral oils, 125 Boilers, steam, valuation of coal Bokorny, T., formation of starch, 17 Boleite, 250 "Book-keeping, &c." (review), 24 Second-hand Standard" (re- Boric acid, determination of. 49 phosphides, 61, 297, 309 Böttinger, C., benzoyl tannin, 38 Boyer, E., determination of nitric Boys, C. V., pocket electro- Bradford Technical College, 134 merce, composition of, 61 Theory of the Sun and Vari- 177 vulcanisation of, 13 Carbazol method for nitrates in in experimental standard, 43 Carbonic oxide and iron, volatile Carnegie, D., calibration of bur- Traube's tetroxide of sulphur, Carré, L., determination of Cassal, C. E., chemical analysis and the purity of water, 249 Causse, H., basic bismuth sali- use of metaphenylene diamine, Chabrie, C., new albumenoid sub- lyn Water Analysis" (re- Charp, G., and H. Gautier, H., action of nitric acid on iron, vapour tensions, 320 "Chemical Analysis, Quantita- Chemical combination of wet and 261 Laboratory of Wiesbaden, 153 literature, report of the com. Chemism in living protoplasm, "Chemistry Foundations" (re- "Chemistry, Introduction to the biological, M. Gautier's work Institute of, 60 Journal of Inorganic, 237 of erbium and didymium, 65, of, 165 iodometric estimation of, 318 and bromine, direct combina- 293 ore, decomposition of, 218 basic, magnesium, and zinc, 61 salts, green, 25 Cirencester, Royal Agricultural Citric acid, synthesis of, 284 macy, 141 citric and malic acid, 225 dard Second-Hand Books " Clayton, E. G., note on solutions B., 46 Quantitative Chemical Coagulation, remarks on, 61 for steam-boilers, valuation of, Colouring-matters, recent, 12, 38 alloys, rolled, 143 basic salts, action of water, 85 hydride, a new, 60 Cotton-bleaching with oxygen- seed, effect on butter from Craig, G., estimation of sulphur, 266 Crookes, W., Odling, W., and Tidy, C. M., London water Crystal Palace electrical exhibi- Cumenge, E., and M. Mallard, liquid nitrogen peroxide, 270 Currents, rotatory, 308 Cymol, constitution of, 262 DAIRY produce, determination Daubrée, M., and S. Meunier, Davis, F., "Elementary Hand- Dehydracetic acid, some inter- Deiss, C. and E., determining De Koninck, L. L., gasometric Dennis, L. M., and W. Hempel, |