280

discoveries of the year and of the leading facts and processes afterwards detailed.

The arrangement and type of the book are unexceptionable, and the errata not more numerous than must be expected in a work of the character.

CORRESPONDENCE.

SILVER-AMMONIUM ALUM (?).

CHEMICAL NEWS, June 25, 1875.

The query of Mr. Phillips touches the erroneous view of M. Kern as to what constitutes an alum. I presume it is generally well known that, letting M represent an atom of a monad basylous element or radicle, and M"" an atom of a triad or pseudo-triad one, the alum-type is

M2M""2(SO4)4,240H2 or M2SO4M""2(SO4)3,24OH2. I cannot admit the truth of Mr. Phillips's remark, that "the difference of character," or constitution of these salts, " may, perhaps, be better seen by using the. old notation." It may be by him, since he generally adopts it, but not necessarily so by others. It is evidently a matter of training and use.

The so-called silver-ammonium alum does not conform to the alum type given above, even if we assume M. Kern's formula, Ag2(NH4)2(SO4)2,24OH2, to be correct, ammonium being a monad radical, and not a triad one; consequently the salt is a double sulphate of silver and ammonium, and not an alum at all. M. Kern speaks of the crystals being "isomorphic;" he leaves it to be inferred that he means with the alums, which, I believe, on examination, it will be found not to be.

Further, I submit that M. Kern has very likely assumed, without making any determination, that the salt contains 24 molecules of water of crystallisation, like the alums, and that, if he will examine the salt with regard to this point, he will probably find that it contains two molecules of water of crystallisation rather than twenty-four, its formula being

corresponding to

Ag(NH4)SO4,2OH2,

Na(NH4)SO4,2OH2,

a double sulphate the constitution of which is known. I am, &c.,

Halifax, June 22, 1875.

W. H. WOOD.

ON THE MINIMUM SOLIDS IN MILK.

No. 21, May 31, 1875.

Researches on the Sulphines.-M. A. Cahours.-The author examines the action of the bromide of benzyl on the sulphide of methyl; of the iodide of methyl upon the sulphide of methyl; of the di-iodide of methylen upon the sulphide of methyl; and of the bromide of ethylen upon the same compound.

Alteration of the Seine from November, 1874, to May, 1875.-M. A. Gérardin.-The author judges of the amelioration of the water by determining the amount of dissolved oxygen.

New Method of Preparing Highly Concentrated Formic Acid by means of Dehydrated Oxalic Acid and a Polyatomic Alcohol.-M. Lorin.-Into a rather large tubulated retort is introduced white glycerin, which is concentrated by heat before the addition of the dehydrated oxalic acid in powder. The retort is heated in the water-bath. Decomposition takes place about 80°, but it is much accelerated by a slight rise of temperature, and at 87° the liquid is covered with a layer of bubbles half a centimetre in thickness. When the decomposition slackens more oxalic acid is added. The formic acid is absolutely free from allyl compounds, and contains 94 per cent of actual acid.

J.

Isomerism of the Hydrochlorates, C10H16HCI.-M. Ribau.-Hydrochlorate of terebenthen is absolutely undecomposable by cold water; it only gives off very slight quantities of hydrochloric acid at 100°, and rapidly loses the totality of its acid at 200°, becoming converted Stearate of soda and alcoholic potash into tereben. transform it into active camphene, and acetate of soda into the inactive form. Hydrochlorate of tereben is rapidly decomposed by cold water with production of B-camphene; by water at 100°, with regeneration of tereben as a liquid body. Stearate of soda changes it into a mixture of regenerated tereben and of B-camphene. The mono-hydrochlorate of the various camphenes is slowly decomposable by cold water; with water at 100°, with alcoholic potash and stearate of soda it regenerates cre The hydrochloric ether solid body. having the same formula, behaves

Origin of the Phylloxera at Cognac.-M. Mouillefert. Use of the Xanthate of Potash against the Phylloxera. MM. Zoeller and A. Grete.-This salt liberates sulphide of carbon, fatal to the phylloxera, especially in contact with superphosphate.

Presence of the Phylloxera in Auvergne.-M. Julien. Influence of Moisture on the Phylloxera.-M. Villedieu. In dry weather the phylloxera descends; in rainy weather it approaches the surface.

Researches on the Rapidity of Magnetisation and Demagnetisation of Iron, Cast-Iron, and Steel.M. Deprez.-Soft iron, common iron, malleable cast-iron, and even tempered steel give approximately the same results for the duration of the phases of magnetisation and demagnetisation.

Rotatory Power of Crystalline Sugar, and on the Sampling of Sugars Submitted to Polarimetric Analysis. MM. V. de Luynes and A. Girard.-Optical saccharimetry is based essentially on the following data:The graduation of the apparatus and the taking of the sample. The graduation of the apparatus is such that 100 saccharimetric degrees correspond exactly to the rotation produced by a plate of quartz perpendicular to the axis, and measuring 1 m.m. in thickness. The sample is represented by the weight of pure sugar which would, under the same conditions, produce the same rotation as this plate of quartz. Sometimes, when proceeding on these data, we observe singular anomalies. Samples are met with which mark by the saccharimeter 100'5°, and even 101°. The authors agree with M. Dubrunfaut that 16:35 grms. is too large a quantity to take for optical examination, and that the proper weight is 16:19 grms.

Remarks Concerning a Paper by M. Gayon on the Spontaneous Decomposition of Eggs.-M. A. Béchamp. The author denies that putrid eggs invariably

contain bacteria or vibriones.

Bulletin de la Socicte d'Encouragement pour l'Industrie Nationale, No. 17, May, 1875.

Report Given by Count du Moncel on the Telegraphic Indicator for the Use of Hotels.-M. Debayeux. This paper requires the accompanying illustration. Report Given by M. Cloez on the Superphosphate Works of MM. Michelet and Thibault. The peculiarity of this establishment is that the phosphates are Inixed with the acid in closed vessels from which the noxious vapours are drawn by an aspirator, traverse a tower filled with wet coke, and pass finally into the chimney of the works. The phosphatic minerals are ground and sifted for use, and the acid is employed at 53 B. The phosphorites used are those of the Lot, the Ardennes, and of Estremadura. The vapours given off by the first-mentioned kind yield a certain amount of iodine. The arrangement of the plant cannot be made intelligible without engravings.

In

Report Presented by Count du Moncel on the Thermo-Electric Battery of M. Clamond.-In this battery the electro-positive element is of iron, and the negative element an alloy of antimony and zinc. M. Clamond's arrangement, as in that of Mr. Farmer, the elements are connected circularly for intensity, forming a kind of crowns, isolated from each other by plates of amianthus, and having their polar extremities placed in connection with à commutator, fixed tangentially to the cylindrical surface of the apparatus, and contrived so as cause these crowns to be grouped either for intensity or for quantity, as may be requisite. The apparatus has been employed for six months at the galvano-plastic works of M. Goupil at Asnières. The gas consumed * Comptes Rendus, lxxx., p. 1096.

paper is accompanied with several illustrations. New Balance of M. Mendeleef.-Requires the ac companying diagram.

Observations on the Use of the Tincture of Guiacum as a Test for the Purity of Kirschwasser.-M. Boussingault. The blue colouration relied on In presence of hydrocyanic acid tincture of guiacum is characteristic of genuine kirsch is due to traces of copper. the best reagent for this metal.

Central-Blatt fur Agrikultur Chemie,
Heft 3, March, 1875.

Periodicity of Hail.-Prof. H. Fritz.-The author finds that the seasons when hail is most frequent are those in which spots in the sun are most numerous. On the other hand, the years when solar spots are at their minimum are characterised by the rarity or absence of hail. It has also been observed that when the aurora is very frequent during the winter, frequent hail-storms occur in the following summer.

Studies on Arable Soils.-Th. Schlösing.-The author has examined the influence of the salts present in a soil upon its openness of texture. Mould stirred up in water subsides the more rapidly the more salts are present, especially those of lime and magnesia. This phenomenon, which amounts to a coagulation of the clay, is thoroughly examined. The best precipitants for clay are caustic lime and the lime salts.

Prof. W. Knop. The author gives the analysis of the Contribution to the Knowledge of Arable Soils.sediment of the former lake, Fucino, near Avezano, in the Abruzzi (now drained). This soil, like the mud of the Nile, though very fruitful, contains little humus.

Utilisation of the Waste Hydrochloric Liquid from the Manufacture of Bone-Glue.-Dr. P. Wehle.-The dilute muriatic acid used in extracting the bone-earth from phate of lime is deposited in a state of fine division. the gelatin is neutralised with milk of lime, when phos

Residues of the Olive Oil Manufacture, and their Utilisation as Manure.-Prof. F. Sestini and G. del Torre. The dregs of the oil, and the black water which flows out of the press along with the oil, are useful as manure, after their acidity has been previously neutralised with lime. The olive-cake is of little value.

Solution of Phosphorite by Admixture in Composts.-Dr. F. Holdefleiss.-The author has attempted to render the Nassau phosphorite-unfavourably known from its tendency to "reversion "-soluble by mixture with various organic matters. Peat, especially in company with ammoniacal salts, gave the best results.

A New Contribution to the Sewage Irrigation Question. An account of the Leamington irrigation farm, taken from Der Landwirth. The milk of cows fed on the sewage grass is said to have been analysed by Dr. Swete, who found it "very rich, and not in the slightest degree infected." The editor judiciously remarks that the "rentability" of sewage farms can only be decided by

accurate balance sheets.

potatoes, 208
researches on the methods of
determining phosphoric acid,
conducted at the Agricultural
Station at Halle, on the
Saale, 161

Abria, M., internal double reflec-
tion in bi-refringent uniaxial
crystals, 196

laws of double interior reflec-
tion în bi-refringent uniaxial
crystals, 8

Absorption spectra, new way of
observing, 255
Acetamide, action of chlorine on,
276

Acetic acid, anhydrous, 172

in presence of mineral acids,
173
Acetic and formic acids, mutual
displacement of, 251

Aceton, action of ammonia on, 109
Acid in gastric juice, source of,

218

zamide into, 21
Aldehyds, 31

Alizarin, distinction between ar-
tificial and natural, 99
manufacture of, 142
Alkali Act, 7

Alkalies in beet-root, equivalence

of, 229

Alkaline salts on the vegetation
of the beet-root and the po-
tato, part exercised by, 229
sulpho-carbonates against the
Phylloxera, use of, 239
Alkaloids on certain properties of
hæmoglobin, influence of the,

"Analysts' Annual Note-Book,

1874" (review), 196
Anderson, J. B., manufacture of
caustic soda, 160
Andrewsite and chalkosiderite,
213

Angell, A., fusing-point of fats,
226, 238
Anhydrous sulphuric acid in the

gaseous products of the com-
bustion of iron pyrites, 260
Aniline black, 99, 120

with ferrocyanide of aniline,173
colours without the use of ar-
senic acid, production of, 83
inks, 229, 261
Anthon, F., formation of molas-
ses, 20

absorption of gypsum by bone-
black, 100
Anthracen, crude, analysis of, 177,
190, 209
Anthrachinon, preparation of, 42
Anthraquinon, synthesis of deri-
vatives of, by means of
phthalic acid, 269
Antimony, sulphide of, accidental
use of, 238

Antoine, M. C., certain mechan-
ical properties of saturated
steam, 140

Apjohn, R., on a simple apparatus
for estimating urea, 36
Arable soils, studies on, 281
Armatures, magnetisation of steel

bars fitted with, 129
to magnets, effect produced by
the application of, 98
Armstrong, Dr., isomeric change
in the phenol series, 182
Aromatic oxy compounds, co-
louring matters from, 31
sulphines, 42

Arsenic, preparation of magenta
without, 141

"Artificial Colours, Testing of"

(review), 29

Assay of iron ores, stannous
chloride as a reducing agent
in the technical, 63
'Assaying by the Spectroscope,
Experiments made in the
U. S. Mint" (review), 82
Assays, polarimetric, of beet-root
juice, method and tables for,
269
Assimilation of certain nitroge-

nous substances by plants, 6
Attached water and salt solutions,

49

Attraction and repulsion resulting

from radiation, I, II, 23, 33,
43, 53, 189, 215
Austen, O. T., certain new nitro-
diphenylamins, 41

Axerio, J., report on mineral in-
dustry of Italy, 1873, 197.
Axmann, Dr., ratio of milk to
butter, 207

BACTERIA for oxygen, 218
Baeyer, M. A., history of eosin,
269

and Caro, H., synthesis of the
derivatives of anthraquinon
by means of phthalic acid and
the derivatives of benzin, 269
Bands in primary spectra, distri-
bution of, 8

Bannow, A., preparation of
gaseous hydriodic acid, 130
Bardy, C., flame of sulphur, and
on divers lights useful in
photography, 99

and A. Riche, detection and
determination of methylic
alcohol in presence of vinous
alcohol, 239
Barium, metallic, preparation of,
243

Barometer, chameleon, 118
Barral, J. A., and R. Duval,
influence of sampling ma-
nures upon the results of
analysis, 207

Bastie, A., glass hardening or
tempering to resist blows and
heat, 174

tempered glass, and on its re-
sistance to blows and to heat,
261
Baudrimont, M. A., experiments
and observations on the vis-
cous fermentation, 280
Baumann, E., compound of sar-
kosin and guanidin, 32
Baumgarten, G., elasticity of rods
of calcareous spar, 72
Baumstark, F., peculiar formation
of a compound of ethyliden,
35

two pathological colouring mat-
ters in urine, 41
Bayer, A., nitroso-benzol and
nitroso-naphthalin, 151
Béchamp, M. A., matters optically
active and distinct from glu-
cose, normally present in
wine, 217
remarks concerning a paper by
M. Gayon, on the spontaneous
decomposition of eggs, 281
Beckett, G. H., and Wright, C.
R. A., action of organic acids
and their anhydrides on the
natural alkaloids, 37, 256
action of organic acid upon the
natural alkaloids, 261
notes on the sulphates of nar-
ceine and other narceine de-
rivatives, 256

on narcotine, cotarnine, and
hydrocotarnine, 181
Becquerel, M., fourth memoir on
electro-capillary actions, and
on the intensity of the forces
by which they are caused,

172

284

Becquerel, M., intervention of
physico-chemical forces in
vital phenomena, 19
new researches on the mode of
intervention of electro-ca-
pillary forces in the pheno-
mena of nutrition, 140
results produced by the joint
action of a battery and of
electro-capillary currents, 19
Bees, ferment in, in bee-bread,

and in pollen, and on certain
ingredients of honey, 207
Beet-root, sugar, 196
manure for, 262

Beetz, W., electrolytic prepara-

tion of magnets, 73
Behaviour of alcohol-yeast in
media free from oxygen, 31
Behr, A., intensity of the inver-
sion of sugar by various mi-
neral and organic acids, 218
Beilstein, F., chlorinised phenyl-
mustard oil and its deriva-
tives, 130

connection of substituted ben-

zols and phenols, 110
Beketoff, M. N., action of hydro-
gen upon nitrate of silver,
30
Bel, J. A., relations which exist

between the atomic formulæ
of organic bodies and the ro-
tatory power of their solu-
tions, 9

Bell, C. A., action of reducing

agents upon nitranilides of
salicylic acid, 244
Belleville, Kildal, Elstrand, Mo-

ser, and Dirks, quantity and
quality of milk of cows of
different breeds and strains,

281

Benson, P. P., action of anhy-
drous ether on titanium tetra-
chloride, 65
Benzamide into aldehyd and

benzoic alcohol, transforma-
tion of, 21

Benzol, ammonia derivatives of,
61

Berthelot, M., action of heat on

ordinary aldehyd, 240
certain problems of molecular
mechanics, 161

detection of ordinary alcohol
mixed with wood spirit, 238
moderated oxidation of the
carbides of hydrogen: amy-
len, 40

on carbonyles, a new class of
organic compounds, and on
the true function of ordinary
camphor, 174
researches on the fatty acids

and their alkaline salts, 269
stability of salts of fatty acids
in presence of water, and on
reciprocal displacement of
acids, 185
Betelli, C., detection of amylic
alcohol in spirit of wine, 197
Bibanow, M., preparation of ma-
genta without arsenic, 141
Biedermann, R., forty-seventh
meeting of German natural-
ists and physicians, held at
Breslau, Sept. 18 to 24, 1874
(chemical section), 130
Birnbaum, M., quantity of neu-
tral fatty bodies remaining in
fats after saponification, 141
Bischoff, C., compounds of the
urethans with aldehyds, 31
Black aniline, 99
Blanshard, C. T., nature and con-
stitution of camphor and
phorone, III

Blavier, M. E., observations on

a recent communication by
M. Volpicelli on the electric
influence, 30
Bleaching-powder, action of di-
lute mineral acids on, 268
processes, new, 185
Bobierre, A., ebullition of sul-
phuric acid, 208
inaccuracy of determinations of
nitrogen in manures, 204

Bock, M. and C. A., decomposi-
tion of neutral fatty bodies,

250

Boillot, M. A., decolourising pro-
perty of ozone, 250
Boireaux, G., and Léger, E., use
of the oils in coal in the pre-
paration of the alkaloids, 261
Boisbaudran, M. L., unequal so-

lubility of different surfaces
of the same crystal, 229
Boivin, E., influence of boiling
distilled water upon Fehling's
test, 9

Bone-black, absorption of gyp-
sum by, 100

Bones, buffalos, analysis of, 218
Bondonneau, M. L., amylogen or

soluble starch, 172

pure dextrin from malt, 182
saccharo-carbonate of lime and
hydrated carbonate of lime,
185

Bong, G., certain purple colour-
ing matters derived from cy-
anogen, 239
Böttger, M., formation of ozone
during decomposition, and
formation of water, 207
Bottomley, J., case of reversed
chemical action, 76
Bouchardat, M. G., specific rota-

tory power of mannite, 72
Boucherie, M., use of carbolic

acid in preparing timber, 208
Bouhy, M., production and con-

sumption of coal, 197
Bourgeois, A., and Schützenber-

ger, P., carbon of white cast-
iron, 207

Bourgoin, E., action of chlorine
on perbromide of acetylen,

140

perbromide of bromated acety-
len, 174, 261
preparation

of perchlorated
ethylen, 217
Boussingault, M., limit of the
carburation of iron, 206
observations on the use of the
tincture of guaiacum as a test
for the purity of kirschwas-
ser, 281
Boutin, A., large quantities of
nitrogen in two varieties of
Amaranthus, 208
Bouty, E., quantities of mag-

netism, and on the position
of the poles in slender nee-
dles, 206
Brackebusch, M. A., certain new
bleaching processes, 185
Braham, P., dissociation of nitric
acid, 112, 140

Brain, chemical constitution of
the, 112

Braithwaite, J., and W., "Re-
trospect of Medicine
view), 59

(re-

Bread, detection of alum in, 66
"Bread-Stuffs" (review), 171
Brefeld, O., remarks on M.Traub's

communication "on the be-
haviour of alcohol-yeast in
media free from oxygen gas,"

CAHOURS, M. A., researches
on the sulphines, 280
Cailletet, M. L., hydrogenised
iron, 119

influence of pressure upon com-
bustion, 149

Calcareous spar, elasticity of rods
of, 72

Calcic hypochlorite from bleach-
ing-powder, 113

Caliche, or native sodium nitrate,
263

Calorimetric study on the carbides
of iron and of manganese,
217

Cabot, S., decomposition of salt
by superheated steam, 243
Camacho, M., electro-magnet with
concentric tubes, 119
Cambrian rocks, occurrence of
phosphates in, 202
Cambridge coprolite, analysis of,

209

Cameron, C. A., manual of hy-

giene, public and private, 96
note on M. Ville's experiments
showing the assimilation of
certain nitrogenous substances
by plants, 6

some points in the chemistry of
milk, 54
Camphines, 269
Camphor, certain monatomic so-
dic alcohols upon, 239
nature and constitution of, III
Cannizaro, S., meta-santonin, 21
Carbo-hydrates, 110

Carbon of white cast-iron, 207
sulphide of, 269
Carbolic acid, preparation of co-
lourless crystalline, 141
test for, 64
Carbonate, ammonio-silver, 231
Carbonic acid, determination of

by Schiebler's apparatus, 253
in carbonates, 186

in the air, determination of on
board the balloon "Zenith,"
217

supposed emission of from the

roots of plants, 218
Carbides of iron and manganese,
calorimetric study of, 217
Carnelley, T., analysis of one of
the Trefriw mineral waters,

Chalk as a source of heat, 61
red, and red clay, 199
Chalkosiderite and Andrewsite,

213

Chamber crystals, 31
Chameleon barometer. 118
as a hygrometer, value of the
so-called, 88
Champion, P., decomposition of
Fehling's liquid; determina-
tion of glucose in presence of
sugar, 84

equivalence of alkalies in beet-

root, 229
Chautard, M. J., action of mag-

nets upon rarefied gases en-
closed in capillary tubes
illuminated by an induced
current, 250
Chemical action, reversed, 76
arts, development of in the last
ten years, 203, 221, 231, 243,
255, 262, 273.
constitution of the brain, 112
ferments, 280

Society, 83

CHEMICAL NEWS,
July 16, 1-5.

Chevreul, M., procedures of the
human mind in the investiga-
tion of the unknown by aid of
observation and experiment,
185
Chlorides, electrolysis of certain
metallic, 49

of alcoholic radicals on the
secondary monam nes, 140
Chlorine gas, manufacture of, 208
action of on acetamide, 276
on perbromide of acetylen, 140
on pyrogallol, 253
Chloroform, reactions of metallic
sodium on, 121

"Cholera, How to Prevent and
Resist it" (review), 139
Chrome alum, molecular equi-
librium of solutions of, 40
solutions of, 19

green, economical, 197
salts of, certain reactions of, 269
Chrustchoff, P., contributions to
the knowledge of ethyl-phenol
and ethyl-benzol sulphonic
acids, 41

Chrysen and pyren, fluorescence
between, 219

fluorescent relations of, 35, 45
Church, A. H., note on silver
alum, 223

red chalk and red clay, 199
short notices of some Cornish
minerals, 153

Churchill, J. F., "Consumption

and Tuberculosis; Proximate
Cause and Specific Treat-
ment by the Hypophosphites"
(review), 184
Cinnabar, quantitative analysis of,

266

Citric and tartaric acids, 274
Claus, B. A., dioxyquinon of chry-

sen, or chryscyanin, 269
Clève, M. P. T., compounds of
cyanide of mercury with the
sulphocyanides, 173

Swedish correspondence, 9
Cloizeaux, M., pyroxenic cen-

stituent of the rock associated
with platinum in the Ural, 199
Clays, red, and red chalk, 199
Coagulation of albumen, 51
Coal and coke, sulphur in, 261
in Russia, 133

Coal-tar colours, means of dis-
tinguishing, 229

Coals, use of oils in the prepara-
tion of alkaloids, 261
Cœrulignon, 269

Coke-manganese galvanic cell, 203
Coleman, J. J., methods in use for
testing hydrocarbon
minating oils, 147

illu-

J. T., effects of pressure and
cold upon the gaseous pro-
ducts of the distillation of car-
bonaceous shales, 256

Collas, C., hydrated gelatinous
phosphate of lime and its in-
dustrial applications, 208
Collas, G., decolourising proper-
ties of phosphate of lime, 21
Collodion, physical properties of
plates of, 206

Colouring matters from aromatic
oxy-compounds, 31
Colour in water, estimation of, 133
manufactory, explosion at, 22
of vermillion, degradation of by
contact with copper and brass,
89
Combination of hydrogen with
metals, heat disengaged by, 8
Commercial analyses, 8
"Commercial Handbook of Chem-
ical Analysis" (review), 248
Condensation radicals, study of,