816'5 With respect to the yellow combinations obtained by the action of ammonia upon gun-cotton of various kinds, I find that they are all distinguished by their ready solubility in wood spirit, and in mixtures of ether and alcohol, but that alcohol alone is for them but an indifferent solvent. The solutions obtained do not offer any promise of being successfully employed as photographic collodion; firstly, on account of their objectionable colour; and, secondly, by reason of the opaque and pulverulent qualities of the film left on evaporation.-Photographic News.

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.

Dr. Roscoe, therefore, suggested that I should under take some experiments on this subject, and kindly placed the necessary time and apparatus at my disposal. I may here be allowed to express my thanks for his kindness, and for the advice I have received from him during the prosecution of these experiments.

It appeared from the observations of Vogel on the air of the Baltic and of the Channel that the sea abstracts to a very considerable extent the carbonic acid from the atmosphere; and this conclusion was apparently confirmed by the experiments of Emmet on the air over the Atlantic and at Bermuda, and by the determinations of Watson at Bolton, made on the air blowing from the seaward. merely qualitative, and the circumstances under which These experiments were, however, for the most part, they were made, together with the inaccurate nature of the methods employed, render such a conclusion premature. In fact, the experiments of Lewy and Morren on the nature of the gases which sea water holds in solution at different periods of the day and during various seasons of the year would appear to show that the sea may possibly act in quite the opposite direction, and cause a sensible increase in the comparative amount of atmospheric

carbonic acid.

The air contained in sea water consists of variable quantities of free carbonic acid, oxygen, and nitrogen, and Morren and Lewy have shown that the changes in

SOCIETY.

November 28, 1865.

R. ANGUS SMITH, Ph.D., F.R.S., &c., President, in the

Chair.

DR. ROBERTS drew attention to the injurious effects produced by burning Pharaoh's serpents in close rooms, and gave the particulars of a case which had lately come under his notice.

Dr. Roscoe stated that in his opinion persons could not be too careful respecting the inhaling of even small quantities of mercury vapour, and he alluded in support of his opinion to the fact that two German gentlemen who were engaged in a London laboratory, in the preparation, for a scientific purpose, of volatile organic mercury compounds, had recently been poisoned by the accidental absorption through the lungs or skin of very small quantities of the vapours of these substances. The symptoms characteristic of this form of mercurial poisoning are of the most painful and distressing kind, the first patient dying in a state of mania shortly after his admission into the hospital, and the second, on whom the effect became first perceptible three months after he had ceased to work with the substance, now lying in a hopeless state of idiocy.

A paper was read "On the Amount of Carbonic Acid contained in the Air above the Irish Sea," by Mr. T. E. Thorpe, Assistant in the private Laboratory, Owen's College, communicated by Professor H. E. Roscoe, F.R.S.

The determination of the amount of carbonic acid contained in the atmosphere over the land has been made the subject of investigation by many experimenters, and from the results obtained by Theodore de Saussure, Brunner, Boussingault, Angus Smith, and others we are acquainted with the exact proportion of this gas contained in the atmosphere under varying circumstances of situation and weather.

But hitherto the influence which à priori must necessarily be exercised by large bodies of water on the proportion of carbonic acid in the atmosphere has scarcely been sufficiently studied. The fact that a considerable influence is exercised has certainly been noticed, but beyond the incomplete results of one or two observers, we have no numerical data from which to judge of the extent of this influence, and we therefore know but little of the changes in the comparative amount of the atmospheric carbonic acid as effected by the waters of the ocean.

alteration of temperature affecting the relative amounts of the dissolved gases in accordance with the laws of gaseous absorption; and (2) upon the variations in intensity of direct and diffused solar ligl.t, producing a corresponding effect upon the vitality of sea plants and animals, and hence altering the composition of the dissolved gases.

Some further experiments by Lewy, on the composition of the atmosphere above the Atlantic ocean in the tropics, tend to confirm the above supposition of the possible increase in carbonic acid in the atmosphere above the sea. In fact, if it is possible that the composition of the air above the sea in our latitudes can be sensibly altered by this phenomenon of the variation in the nature of the gases in solution in sea water, as Lewy and Morren assert, we might expect that the atmosphere above the tropical oceans would manifest to a much larger extent variations in the relative amounts of carbonic acid and oxygen, since infusoria exist, as is well known, in enormous quantities in these oceans, and the composition of the air in their waters must necessarily undergo rapid variation, and a considerable evolution of the dissolved gases must consequently occur. At the instance of the French Academy, Lewy collected air at different times during a voyage from Havre to Santa Marta, and on subsequent analysis not only did it appear that the mean quantity of carbonic acid was sensibly greater in the air of the Atlantic ocean in the tropics than in the air of the land, but also that the air of the day was appreciably richer in carbonic acid and oxygen than air collected in the night. On comparing the means of each series we have, in 10,000 volumes of air, for the

and this variation appeared to increase in proportion as the middle of the ocean was approached.

This remarkable phenomenon, of the variation in composition of the air above the tropical oceans, may doubtless be accounted for, without any reference to the direct action of infusoria, by the heating effect of the sun on the sea water and the consequent disengagement during the day of gas proportionately rich in carbonic acid and oxygen. During the night, on the other hand, as this source of action is removed, the disengagement may be assumed not to occur; and, following Lewy, one may

day and night air on the land-a conclusion subsequently confirmed by several experimenters.

In noting the above mean 308, and the apparent identity in the amount of carbonic acid in the air of day and night over the sea, it should be borne in mind that July and August are, in general, the hottest periods of the year (these months were unusually hot this year, 1865), and that, consequently, all the influences may be supposed at work which would tend to increase the relative amount of carbonic acid, and render appreciable any difference in the air of night and day.

The conclusions therefore to be drawn from these experiments are:

1. That the influence of the sea in our latitudes in abstracting the carbonic acid from the atmosphere is not so great as the old experiments of Vogel and others would lead us to suppose.

2. That the sea in our latitudes does not act in increasing the amount of carbonic acid in the air above the ocean, as found by Lewy over the Atlantic near the equator.

3. That the differences observed in the air of night and day by Lewy on the Atlantic are not perceptible in the

air above the Irish Sea.

4. That in the month of August, 1865, the mean quantity of carbonic acid in the atmosphere of the Irish Sea was 3'08 in 10,000 volumes of air.

In conclusion, I beg to acknowledge the kind attention which I received from Captain Temple and from his crew during my stay on board his ship.

PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY.
Wednesday Evening, December 6.

Mr. HILLS, Vice-President, in the Chair. AFTER the usual preliminary business, Mr. SQUIRE called the attention of the Society to "Cod Liver Extract." He had brought with him the extract resulting from the evaporation of the water which oozes out of the cod's liver when extracting the oil. He finds that on the average 28lbs. of large and fresh livers yield 12lbs. of oil and 1lb. of water; this evaporated yields 2 oz. of extract. 5 grs. of the extract, when purified, is stated by Messrs. Barr and Co. to be equal to a tablespoonful of cod liver oil. It was this startling announcement that induced him to have the water collected and evaporated, in order that the members of the Society might examine the product and judge for themselves, and if it was thought worth while to have it analysed in their laboratory. He thought it was highly important for us to know whether or not that we were throwing away so valuable a nutrient as these gentlemen state it is.

A gentleman who attended for Messrs. Barr and Co. explained that the cod liver extract was in no wise a secret or quack remedy. The method by which it was prepared, he said, had been patented, and he read the specification of the first of the two patents taken out by the proprietors. Mr. SQUIRE wished to know how the value of the extract was estimated, so as to compare it with the value of the cod liver oil.

It was explained in reply that the amount of extractive and inorganic matters yielded by a given amount of the oil, and supposed to be the same as those contained in the extract, give the means of determining the relative value of the oil and extract.

Dr. ATTFIELD said that he would not shrink from making the analysis suggested by Mr. Squire; but he thought the question one on which chemistry could throw but little light. It was a matter for physicians, who observed the effects of medicines, to decide.

Mr. DEANE thought it was no business of the Pharmaceutical Society to take up the analysis of proprietary medicines. If one was alleged to be poisonous or dangerous, it was another matter; but in general it was no part of the Society's business to expose nostrums.

Mr. SQUIRE replied that he had no wish to expose nostrums. In the present case it was asserted that this extract, which was usually thrown away, was much superior to the oil which was preserved, and he thought it of importance to establish the truth or falsehood of this assertion.

Dr. EDWARDS contended that the discussion was one which the Society could not enter upon. They could not decide upon the therapeutic value of a medicine.

The CHAIRMAN suggested that Mr. Squire should induce a medical friend to make some experiments with the extract, and report the results to the Society.

Mr. BARR (?) said that the extract itself was sold to druggists or medical men, who could use it in whatever form they pleased. Under the first patent, he might explain, only the aqueous extract was used, but under the second this extract was treated with alcohol and ether, and all the extracts (so we understood) were used together. The subject was then dropped.

Dr. ATTFIELD read a note from Mr. Groves, who claimed to have first made known, in a communication to the Pharmaceutical Conference on the " Rancidity of Fats," the fact that some essential oils, especially those of pimento and cloves, prevent ointments from becoming rancid.

Mr. REYNOLDS exhibited some models of fungi of German manufacture.

The CHAIRMAN expressed an opinion that a set should be purchased for the Society's museum.

Professor BENTLEY called attention to specimens of Victorian products lately exhibited at the Dublin Exhibition, and now presented to the Society. Among them was some of the oil of the Eucalyptus odorata, now imported into this country in considerable quantities, and used to scent soaps.

Dr. ATTFIELD then read a long communication " On the Physics of Filtration," a report of which we are obliged to defer.

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
December 11, 1865.

SEVERAL communications on the subject of "Cholera"
were read.
We need only mention that by M. Rezard de
Wouves" On the Diagnosis of Cholera by the Presence of
Albumen in the Urine of the Patient at the Commencement
of the Malady." The presence of albumen in the urine
is regarded by the author as the one characteristic and
distinguishing symptom between simple diarrhoea and
true cholera.

M. Nickles presented a note "On a New Character Distinctive between Cane Sugar and Glucose." The behaviour of cane sugar and glucose, when heated with bichloride of carbon, is as different as black from white. In other words, cane sugar sealed in a tube with the bichloride and heated for some time to about 100° C., soon turns black; while glucose, under the same circumstances, keeps its colour. Although the bichloride of carbon alone is not decomposable at a temperature of 98°, the author believes that in this experiment a decomposition takes place, chlorine being set free in the first instance, and passing subsequently to the state of hydrochloric acid by its action on the organic matter. That chlorine is formed first, and then hydrochloric acid, the author considers is proved by the following experiments :-In one tube, dry glucose and bichloride of carbon are sealed; in another, dry tartaric acid and bichloride of carbon; in a third, a mixture of dry tartaric acid and dry glucose, and bichloride of carbon. All three tubes are then heated in a steam bath. In the first two tubes no action is observed; in the third, the mixture is seen to swell up and turn brown, and on opening it the tube is found to contain free chlorine. The explanation of this appears to be that the decomposition of the bichloride is determined by the elements of water separated during the production of the gluco-tartaric acid.

NEWS

angular measurements, and after careful study of the cleavages. For these purposes my specimen must be far more suitable than the specimens which Professor Maskelyne possesses, and which, he says, are in every respect inferior. Professor Miller, of Cambridge, was good enough to inform me that from a small fragment which I forwarded to him he had not been able to detach a crystal so as to obtain the necessary reflexion. I stated this at the Society's meeting; I did not say that Professor Miller "could not meet with any angles good enough for measurement."

As to the fancied resemblance of Churchite to Wavellite, I never mistook the former for the latter. Had I been under this impression, I should not have been so glad to secure the curious fragment, nor so eager to investigate its chemical composition.

Professor Maskelyne very justly complains of the want of a laboratory at the British Museum. But when Mr. Talling sent the new mineral to the Museum on approba tion, might not Professor Maskelyne have tried a blowpipe experiment with it at home? Thus he might have saved me the labour of investigating, as far as I could, all the chief physical and chemical features of this new mineral, of which, I confess, I am now very fond; thus, also, I should have been spared the trouble of writing this reply. I wait for Professor Maskelyne's promised crystallographic determination of my new phosphate of cerium. I am sorry he did not accept my offer to lend him my own specimen. I am, &c. A. H. CHURCH. Cirencester, December 18.

"Associate of the Royal School of Mines." To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEWS.

SIR,-The reply of the Registrar of the Royal School of Mines to the inquiry I ventured to make is complete and to the point. It is satisfactory to know that this title of "Associate of the Royal School of Mines" is warranted by recognised authority, and conferred with the sanction of a representative of the Crown. The knowledge that the title is thus bestowed must tend to enhance its value in general estimation. I am, &c.

December 11.

J. DENHAM SMITH.

Removal of Bisulphide of Carbon from Coal Gas.

To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEws.

SIR,-Your notice at page 277 of the CHEMICAL NEWS for December 8 respecting the results obtained in my experiments upon the removal of bisulphide of carbon from coal gas by "scrubbing" with ammoniacal liquor of gas works is not quite correct, and you will oblige by allowing me to give some explanation.

You remark that my results are not equal to those obtained by others, and you mention it had been found that nine-tenths of the sulphur compounds is removed at the Nottingham Gas Works. In the summer of this year I found that all the bisulphide of carbon and such allied sulphur compounds, could be taken out of the gas without difficulty in this way; and some experiments conclusively proving this were published in the Journal of Gas Lighting for September 5 last, in reference to which a leading article in the same number I now quote from says: "The means by which Professor Anderson has succeeded in completely purifying coal gas from sulphur in any form is by repeated and copious washing with sulphide of ammonium."

I have heard that experiments have been made upon the same points at Nottingham; but as they have not been published until my own papers appeared in the Journal of Gas Lighting, gas companies have been, I believe, without much information upon this subject. It is also within my recollection that the Corporation of the City of London some fifteen months ago appointed a scientific commission to investigate the matter; but it does not appear that they

have yet reported thereupon. The indifference manifested by the metropolitan companies to this simple mode of purifying their gas from these troublesome sulphur compounds and ammonia, with correlative improvement in illuminating power, whilst not unprecedented in manufacturing annals, is certainly unique in its way. Thus they have been for a long time past constantly censured by the examining chemist to the Corporation for violating the Act of Parliament regarding the purity of their gas, until they have at last provoked the formation of a new company, backed by the Corporation itself, with, at the same time, a sort of waste product of their manufacture, generated in their own works, crying out, as it were, 'Why will you not let me purify your gas?"

I am, &c.

Royal Institution of Great Britain.-The following are the lectures for the ensuing week:-Tuesday, Dec. 26, Thursday, Dec. 28, and Saturday, Dec. 30, o'clock, Professor Tyndall, "On Sound” (juvenile lectures).

Suicide of Storer.-This young man, who, it will be remembered, was assistant to a surgeon at Salisbury, whose daughter he was accused of poisoning by stry chnia, committed suicide in Fisherton Gaol. From a letter he left behind him, it appears that he prescribed some pills for the young lady, each of which contained 4th of a grain of strychnia a dangerous dose, which could only have been ordered by a rash or ignorant prescriber. The young lady was directed to take but one at a time. She probably took four at once, or at short intervals, and death was the result.

How it Onght (?) to be Taught that Fat is Formed in the Body." Let him teach that the hydrogens are generated to a large amount in the system from the fat taken, and consequently absorb oxygen freely, the natural results being aqueous elements, which become inspissated, and fatty deposits are the result. When there is a diminished supply of oxygen to the intestines, with a full supply of hydrogen, then greater quantities of fat necessarily ensue. But let them give up the idea that eating fat itself, or fat-producing elements, supply fat per se, for they do no such thing. This can only be done in the way I have previously said, by their conversion into hydrogens, and then combining with oxygen; and if this is not done many persons, to my own knowledge, who are great consumers of fat, never made fat nor carried fat themselves in any like proportion."-Writer in a Medical Journal.