2. It is destroyed in large towns, and with special rapidity in crowded, close, and filthy localities.

3. Ozone gives to oxygen properties which enable it to support life. In this respect it acts like heat-its effects are destroyed by great heat.

4. Ozone diffused through air in minute quantities produces, on inhalation, distinct symptoms of acute catarrh— common cold.

5. When animals are subjected to ozone in large quantities, the symptoms produced, at a temperature of 75°, are those of inflammation of the throat and mucous membranes generally, and at last congestive bronchitis, which in carnivorous animals is often rapidly fatal.

6. When animals are subjected for a long period to ozone in small proportions, the agent acts differently, according to the animal. The carnivora die, after some hours, from disorganisation of the blood; but the herbivora will live live for weeks, and will suffer from no acute disease.

7. The question whether the presence of ozone in the air can produce actual disease must be answered cautiously. Science has yet no actual demonstrative evidence on the point. But the facts approach to demonstration that common cold-catarrh-is induced by this agent. All else is as yet speculative.

8. During periods of intense heat of weather, the ozone loses its active power.

9. Un dead organic matter undergoing putrefaction ozone acts rapidly-it entirely deodorises by breaking up the ammoniacal products of decomposition, at the same time it hastens the organic destruction.

10. There is an opposite condition of air in which the oxygen is rendered negative in its action, as compared with the air when it is charged with ozone. Air can thus be rendered negative by merely subjecting it over and over again to animals for respiration. The purification of such air from carbonic acid and other tangible impurities does not render it capable of supporting healthy life; but ozone restores the power. In a negative condition of air, the purification of the organic matter is greatly modified, and the offensive products are increased. Wounds become unhealthy, and heal slowly in such negative air.

II. There is no demonstrative evidence as yet that any diseases are actually caused by this negative condition of air; but the inference is fair that diseases which show a putrefactive tendency are influenced injuriously by a negative condition of the oxygen of the air. It is also probable that during this state decomposing organic poisoning matters become more injurious.

12. As ozone is used up in crowded localities, and as it is essential that ozone should be constantly supplied in order to sustain the removal of decomposing substances and their products, no mere attention to ventilation and other mechanical measures of a sanitary kind can be fully effective unless the air introduced be made active by ozone. Fever hospitals and other large buildings in towns should be artificially fed with ozonised air.

Schultze's White Gunpowder.-This is tri-nitrocellulose, prepared from saw-dust by the following process. The saw-dust is first boiled for three or four hours with a weak soda solution, and then boiled a second time with a fresh lot of the same solution. It is then washed in running water, afterwards steamed for fifteen minutes, and then again washed in running water for twenty-four hours. It is now bleached with chlorine or chloride of lime, boiled in water, once more washed in a stream, and now dried. The saw-dust is now ready to be treated with nitric acid. For this purpose a mixture of 40 parts strong nitric acid (148 to 150) are mixed with 100 parts of sulphuric acid (184); and the mixture is allowed to stand two hours to cool. One hundred parts of this mixture are then placed in an iron vessel, around which a stream of cold water circulates, and six parts of the saw-dust are gradually added, stirring all the time. The saw-dust is allowed to remain in the acid two or three

hours, the stirring being continued. After this time the whole is transferred to a centrifugal machine, and the acid separated. The wood is then washed for two or three days in cold water, afterwards boiled in a weak soda solution, again well washed in cold water, and then dried. It is now ready for the final operation, which consists in soaking it for ten or fifteen minutes in a solution of 26 parts of nitrate of potash in 220 parts of water. After this, it is carefully dried at a temperature not exceeding 44° C.; the very fine dust is then separated by means of a drum sieve, and the remainder is ready for market.-Chem, Central Blatt, No. 44, P. 704.

Chromometrical Analysis.-Messrs. Siemens and Halske have devised an apparatus for determining the quantity of copper contained in a solution by comparing its colour with that of a standard solution. The apparatus consists essentially of two vertical tubes fixed side by side, in one of which is placed a piece of blue glass. The other tube dips into a larger tube, in the bottom of which is a piece of white glass. Light is reflected from a mirror through both these tubes. The substance to be of ammonia is added, until the well-known blue colour analysed having been dissolved in acid, a certain quantity is obtained. The solution is then to be placed in the larger tube. By means of a suitable mechanism, the frame carrying the two tubes is moved up or down, thus varying the thickness of the layer of the solution to be tested through which the light passes, until the depth of tint of the blue glass and of the solution appear to be the same.

The length of the column may be read off on

a scale, and the blue glass having been previously compared with a standard solution, the amount of copper in the fluid under examination may be easily estimated. Comparative determinations by ordinary analysis gave very slight variations in the results.-Reader.

Test for Otto of Roses.-Hager mixes five drops of the otto to be tested with twenty drops of pure concentrated sulphuric acid. Whether the oil be adulterated or not, a thick yellowish brown or reddish brown mixture results. When this mixture is cold, it is shaken up with three drachms of absolute alcohol. If now the otto is pure, a tolerably clear yellowish brown solution results, which, after heating to boiling, remains clear. But if the otto is adulterated with geranium, palm rose, or pelargonium oil, the solution remains very cloudy, and in some cases a darker fluid separates, in which a deposit forms. On heating this solution, the sediment melts together, and from the size of the mass the author infers the degree of adulteration. If, for example, the mass has one-fourth the volume of a drop, he concludes that the otto was mixed with at least one-third of foreign oil. If the otto is adulterated with spermaceti, this substance separates and floats on the surface of the solution, or remains suspended in the liquid as a scaly crystalline mass. above test is founded on the circumstance that pure otto of rose forms, with strong sulphuric acid, a resinous substance, which is completely soluble in absolute alcohol; while the substance formed with other oils is only partially soluble. Guibourt has observed that the odour of pure otto is not affected by mixture with strong sulphuric acid, but if other oils are present a disagreeable odour is developed.-Zeitscht. für Analyt. Chem., No. 4, 1864, P. 479.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The

Alpha.-Cochineal and oxalic acid. The quantities to be determined by strength of colour required.

E. M. N.-We do not dispute that caustic soda exposed to air becomes carbonate; but our correspondent asserted that the caustic soda parted with oxygen. This is incorrect.

C. S.-Ignition of solid residue with proper precautions is the most satisfactory, but not perfect method.

Received.-99; C. Greville Williams, F.R.S.

NEWS

pre

IN the course of some recent experiments upon the paration of pure cerium, I found Gladstone's optical test always to reveal the presence of didymium in oxide of cerium, no matter how carefully prepared by any of the methods at present in use. It is also well known that the oxide of cerium, from all the minerals which have as yet been discovered, contains didymium and lanthanum. This made me desirous of ascertaining whether the new and highly interesting mineral described by Professor Church in the CHEMICAL NEWs for September 15, 1865 (and for which I venture to propose the name of churchite), contained cerium only, as, if so, it would be the only one known from which pure cerium compounds could be prepared. It is true that Church assumes in his notice that the oxide of cerium obtained by him consisted of the mixed earths; but as he does not state that he specially searched for the other metals, I presume he took it for granted that didymium and lanthanum were present in the oxide weighed by him. I, therefore, seized the first opportunity of optically examining a solution of the mixed cerium earths from churchite, the result being that the lines indicative of didymium showed themselves

in the most distinct and beautiful manner.

The above experiment with the prism serves, there. fore, to confirm the results of Professor Church's chemical analysis, and indicates the cerium earths in churchite to consist of the same mixture found in cerite, allanite, orthite, &c.

i

Churchite is so tile known at present, and appears to be so excessively rare, that some time will probably elapse before enough will be obtained to enable the presence of lanthanum to be determined chemically.

=

These numbers closely accord with the experimental values previously recorded. The specimen analysed, though it might easily have been mistaken for autunite, contained the full percentage of CuO found in uranite. The arsenic acid has not, I believe, been previously observed in this mineral. The deficiency of water arose from the over-drying of the powdered substance. In vacuo over oil of vitriol it loses part of its water of crystallisation, and becomes yellow where a thin layer of the powdered mineral is exposed. In the ordinary air of a the water lost. room it reassumes its natural tint, and regains part of

PHARMACY, TOXICOLOGY, &c.

Report on the Quantity of Alkaloid in various Specimens of Citrate of Iron and Quinine, by Mr. J. C, BRAITHWAITE.*

IN a former paper, I gave the results of my investigation as to the quantity of alkaloid contained in various specimens of this valuable medicine, and expressed my opinion that quinidine, if not cinchonine, would be found firmed by further investigation. in more than one sample. This opinion has been con

In sample No. 1, containing 1'504 per cent. of quinine (equal to 2.35 per cent. of the citrate), I found neither quinidine nor cinchonine, but the quantity experimented upon was very small.

2Ü„Cu‚P + 8H.

But there is one point connected with the chemistry, of this mineral which seems to demand inquiry. The existence of a lime-uranite has been well established; it is now usually distinguished as a good species, and termed autunite. In autunite, which is generally of a pure lemon or sulphur yellow colour, the oxide of copper of the green uranite has been entirely replaced by lime. But there exist numerous specimens of uranite which are exactly intermediate in colour between uranite and autunite; these have sometimes been classed with one species, sometimes with the other. From my experiments I believe one may be justified, where other characters are indeterminate, in classing all apple-green VOL. XII, No. 307,-OCTOBER 20, 1865.

cinchonine.

These two alkaloids were also absent in No. 3, con

taining 3732 per cent. of quinine (equal to 5.831 per of quinine (equal to 6'437 per cent. of citrat ); in No. 5, cent. of the citrate); in No. 4, containing 4 2 per cent. containing 476 per cent. of quinine (equal to 7'437 per cent. of citrate); and in No. 6, containing 6 per cent. of quinine (equal to 9.375 per cent. of citrate).

No. 7 contained 7.372 per cent. of alkaloid, which, if pure quinine, would represent 11518 per cent. of the trace of quinine, the great proportion of alkaloid being citrate. This sample, however, contained only a mere quinidine, which crystallised out from the ethereal solution. I have reason to believe that cinchonine also occurs

* Read at the meeting of the Pharmaceutical Conference.

NEWS

solution closely resembled those of Nos. 22 and 23 in colour.

No. 22. This consisted of bright golden-coloured scales, rather darker in colour than No. 24. Exposed to the air at a temperature of 60°, it was unaffected. It dissolved very readily in water, yielding a somewhat turbid yellowish solution with an acid reaction upon test-paper, and a strongly bitter taste, but was not very chalybeate. The precipitate thrown down by ammonia was copious, and when dried had a brownish resinous appearance, its surface being covered with a white bloom, and was readily separable from the filter.

From two analyses of twenty-five grains each, I obtained 3'46, 3'54; mean 35, equal to 14 per cent. of quinine, and 21.87 per cent. of its citrate.

It was almost entirely soluble in ether, yielding a yellowish solution.

No. 23 was composed of golden-olive scales, having a greenish shade. Exposed to the air at the temperature of 60°, it was unaffected. It dissolved readily in water, yielding a yellowish solution much the same as the preceding, but not quite so clear, and having an acid reaction upon test-paper, and a strongly bitter but not chalybeate taste. The precipitate by ammonia much resembled that of No. 22 in appearance, having a resinous aspect and a brownish colour, covered with a white bloom, and separated pretty readily from the paper. From two analyses of twenty-five grains each, I obtained 3.76, 376, equal to 15'04 per cent. of quinine, or 23.5 of its citrate.

It was almost entirely soluble in ammonia, and closely resembled the preceding in the colour of its ethereal solution.

No. 24 occurred in the form of very bright fine golden green scales. Exposed to the air at a temperature of 60°, it remained unaltered. It dissolved very readily in water, yielding a fine golden-yellow solution, which was beautifully clear, and had an acid reaction upon testpaper. It was intensely bitter, but not chalybeate. Ammonia produced a very copious precipitate, which, when dry, was of a light brown colour, and of a very resinous appearance.

From two analyses of twenty-five grains each, I obtained 42, 418; mean 419, equal to 16.72 per cent. of quinine, or 26.75 per cent. of its citrate.

This is entirely soluble in ammonia, yielding an almost clear solution. I may mention that this specimen was prepared by my own formula, a little additional quinine having been purposely added, to ascertain if it were possible to combine a greater amount of citrate of quinine than 25 per cent., and at the same time retain brilliancy of colour and appearance, and ready solubility of the medicine.

54, Kentish Town Road.

THE EXCISE LABORATORY.

modity. It may be reasonably supposed that those manufacturers who have adopted the reprehensible practice will, finding that the revenue is at present powerless to repress their unscrupulous operations, avail themselves of the opportunity to increase, as far as possible, the proportion of lime which they add to their snuff: that they are doing this is, I think, proved by the fact that several samples of high-dried snuff from Ireland have been recently analysed and found to contain lime in proportions varying from 20 to 25 per cent., quantities considerably in excess of those found in previous years. The adulteration of snuff by other materials than lime is now, I believe, but seldom attempted, and this absence of fraud in the trade is no doubt partly due to the conviction which the fraudulent manufacturers have, from costly experience, at length arrived at, that owing to improved modes of analysis, the efficient use of the microscope, and the vigilant supervision of the revenue officers, it has become very unsafe to sophisticate their commodities; and partly to the sufficiency of the law, to deal with such cases of fraud, and to the large penalties imposed when the fact of adulteration has been proved.

Only one detection of importance of the adulteration of snuff with materials other than lime has been made during the past year, about half a ton of snuff containing a large proportion of ground fustic having been seized on the premises of a manufacturer in London. Two samples were also found to contain about 58 per cent. of sand.

Pepper. Perhaps no article subject to revenue duties is more sophisticated than pepper, a fact to which, in my former Reports, I have frequently adverted. That a substance which is only used in small quantities as a condiment should be so liable to adulteration may seem remarkable if the circumstance be overlooked that it may be mixed with its own weight of illicit and almost worthless ingredients without its being rendered unsaleable on the score of the want of pungency. It is not surprising, therefore, that needy and dishonest retailers should attempt to secure a little extra profit on an article which can be so easily tampered with, or that unscrupulous persons who may be extensively engaged in the grinding and sale of the commodity should seek to obtain large gains by resorting to the fraudulent practice.

Under this head thirteen samples have been analysed, seven of which were found to be illicit. Four samples were imitation pepper so skilfully prepared as to be indistinguishable by the naked eye from genuine black pepper, with which they were, no doubt, intended to have been mixed. These samples contained about 22 per cent. of gypsum (sulphate of lime), the remainder being starch,

OF THE INLAND REVENUE, 1865.

(Continued from page 174.)

Snuff. The adulteration of snuff with large quantities of lime still continues to be practised in Ireland, the existing law being insufficient for its suppression. In my last Report I dwelt at some length upon this subject, and endeavoured to point out the pernicious effects of the fraud, and that the use of lime in the manufacture of snuff was not only unnecessary, but that it actually depreciated the value of the com

was composed of a mixture of pepper with 45 per cent. of imitation pepper, whilst two samples of white pepper were largely adulterated with ground rice, one of them to the extent of 20 per cent.

Yeirs. 1862 1863 1864

Samples of Pepper Analysed. Number of samples.