250 Notices of Books-Notices of Patents. had been raised as to whether the Boghead mineral was a coal or a shale. Judging from the character which rendered this mineral so eminently well suited for that purpose, it should unquestionably be regarded as a shale, and not as a coal, by reason of its far greater resemblance in that particular to shale than to coal. Considerable attention had already been directed to the use of bitu minous shales for manufacturing oil from them by distillation. The first attempts that were made, long ago, to establish this branch of manufacture, were made before there was any demand for the oils which were now so largely used as a source of light and for lubricating purposes, and it was only since the use of these materials became general on the Continent, and a large demand for them had been created, that any attempts to manufacture them in this country proved successful. Now, the demand seemed to be limited only by the extent of the supply. This manufacture had been carried on since 1833 in France and in Germany, and it was now being prosecuted in the neighbourhood of Linlithgow, with some shales occurring at Broxbourne; and at several other places between Glasgow and Edinburgh there were works of a similar nature. As regarded the use of anthracite as fuel, the objections that were formerly found to obtain against it were only due to the misapplication of this mineral as fuel. Means had now been found of using it with success, and, in many instances, with great advantage, inasmuch as its large percentage of carbon rendered it highly valuable when intense heat was required. Bituminous coal, a century or so since, was objected to in a similar manner. People had been accustomed to use only woodcharcoal, and it was found that bituminous coal, used like wood charcoal, was not suitable for smelting iron and other metals. But it was very soon found that this was only a consequence of improper use, and the right mode of application was soon learned. Now, as was well known, scarcely anything else was used as fuel for these purposes. NOTICES OF BOOKS. CHEMICAL NEWS, morphis, and a number of others. It may be argued that in so small a work all the modern discoveries in chemical science could not be included, but we think that a short account of some of them might have been given, instead of some thirty pages of useless repetition in the form of a resumé, and fifty pages containing the South Kensington examination papers for the last four years, the only use of which could be to show the student the antiquity of the preceding matter. A glossary is added at the end containing some singular definitions, such as " ALLOTROPIC, a body having different physical forms. CARBIDES, substances in which carbon forms one of the constituents." Even the index misleads us as to the page on which at least twenty of the words are to be found. Mr. Buckmaster should call in this second edition of his book at once, or, if he does not do so, Messrs. Longmans ought to consider whether it is worth while to allow their reputation as first-class publishers to be injured by the circulation of a book such as this is with their name appended to it. 163. Treatment of Mineral Oils. L. MARTIN, Paris. Dated The Elements of Chemistry. By J. C. BUCKMASTER. Second action of an aqueous solution of caustic soda of the Edition. Longmans. 1863. THIS is one of the very numerous popular elementary works which it is our painful task to condemn somewhat strongly. It is a collection of chemical facts most loosely put together, in the driest possible language, at least seven years ago, and republished in 1863 with a new title-page and preface. Such every-day matters as spectrum analysis, dialysis, ozone, the aniline dyes, paraffin, the manufacture of sulphuric acid from pyrites, Spence's alum process, even the daguerreotype and photography are wholly ignored. strength indicated by 36° Beaumé; these are mixed in an agitator, and, after a sufficient interval, a small quantity of warm water is added; the alkaline solution being now separated, the partially purified oil is treated with diluted sulphuric acid, and finally with water. Having undergone the above operations, the oils are distilled from a retort heated by direct fire, or carried over by the aid of superheated steam, the products obtained below 400° Fahr. being mixed with colza or rape oil for illuminating purposes; whilst the distillate having a higher boiling point, from 437° to 600° Fahr., may be in like manner combined with cocoanut oil for similar applications. 204. Manufacture of Colours for Dyeing and Printing. W. SMITH, Manchester, and C. TIESSEL, Boulogne-surMer, France. Dated January 27, 1862. (Not proceeded with.) THE object of this invention appears to consist in the preparation of aniline and certain coloured derivatives from coal-oils and hydrocarbons by processes of distillation. Mr. Buckmaster announces himself on his title-page as "Certificated teacher of science by the Department of Science and Art," and "Examiner in Chemistry and Physics in the Royal College of Preceptors." Pray does he teach his pupils as well as his readers that the only uses of nitrate of silver are "as a dye for the hair, and for the manufacture of marking.ink for linen?" (page 169), or that nitre "becomes liquid (deliquesces) in a moist atmosphere," and that "it is a poison when taken in large quantities?" (page 177). Here we have been using a deliquescent material for gunpowder for the last three or four hundred years. Why has not Mr. Abel been long since drummed out of Woolwich Arsenal for having overlooked this important fact? The facts that are contained in the book are strung together in the most careless manner, the repetitions being numberless, and the language being in many instances ambiguous. Printers have a great deal to answer for, but we fear that Messrs. Clowes and Sons can hardly be made responsible for such cul- For the purpose of protecting stone, &c., from decay, the pable blunders as binoxide of barytes, binoxide of strontia, patentee washes the surfaces alternately with a solution of sesquichloride of alumina, conocine (?) emeline (?) meta-silica in water, or with a liquid which may be considered 220. Improvements in the Means of Preserving Stone, Brick, Slate, Wood, Cement, &c., from the Injurious Action of Atmospheric and other Influences, also in the Application of Colours to the Surfaces of Stone, Brick, Wood, Slate, &c. A. H. CHURCH, Great Portland Street, London. Dated January 28, 1862. chemically equivalent, viz., a mixture of silicate of potash or soda, and sulphuric, hydrochloric, or other mineral acid; which treatment is preceded or followed by an application of caustic baryta, or strontia, in aqueous solu tion. With the first announcement of Professor Graham's discovery of the principle of dialysis, it was anticipated❘ that his method would furnish the means of preparing a solution of silica in pure water, which might either directly serve for the hardening of stone, or be applicable, in conjunction with lime or baryta, to the purposes described by Mr. Church. These anticipations have not, however, been realised, for it has been found, when working on the large scale, impossible to produce in this way a solution of silica in water of a greater degree of concentration than about 5 per cent. 251 minerals and other metalliferous and metallurgical products 849. John Cassell, La Belle Sauvage Yard, London, "Improvements in stills for the distillation of petroleum and other heavy oils." 859. William Henry Perkin, Seymour Villa, Sudbury, Middlesex, "Improvements in the manufacture of red and orange colouring matters." 262. Treating Fatty and Oily Matters for obtaining their Acidification. P. SCHEURWEGHS and A. J. A. H. De BOISSEROLLE, Paris. Dated January 31, 1862. 861. Josiah Gimson, Leicester, "Improvements in the means of actuating shuttles in looms for weaving narrow ACCORDING to this invention, the patentees effect the fabrics." acidification of the fatty matters by the employment of a 863. Peter Spence, Newton Heath, near Manchester, mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids; and for the purpose of raising the acid to the required temperature, and sulphate of iron."-Petitions recorded April 4, 1863. Improvements in the manufacture of sulphuric acid and of causing the disengagement of nitrous acid gas, they 891. Arthur Kinder, Cannon Street, London, "Imadd a certain quantity of alcohol, and the fat itself is melted prior to being brought in contact with the before-provements in coating or covering lead or alloys of lead with tin or alloys of tin, and in the apparatus employed therein."-Petitions recorded April 8, 1863. mentioned materials. This operation is conducted in a closed vessel, so that the gases before escaping may be compelled to exert their full action; a slow current of air is introduced for the purpose of imparting motion to the two layers, and of ensuring proper contact. Towards the end of the process the speed of the air current may be accelerated, in order to cool the materials, and cause the fatty acids to solidify. A modification of the mechanical arrangements will permit of the operation being continuous. The primary object of this patent appears to be very similar to that of M. De Moreau, who employs starch in conjunction with nitric acid for effecting the same kind of conversion. Grants of Provisional Protection for Six Months. 355. Henry George Williams and Rowland Gwynn Price, Bontddu, near Dolgelly, Merionethshire, " An improved machine for crushing and amalgamating auriferous quartz, and pulverising and washing ores." Petition recorded February 9, 1863. 731. William Lorberg, Wyld's Rents, Bermondsey; Surrey, "Improvements in the treatment of rags, and obtaining valuable chemical products from the animal fibre therein.' Petitions recorded March 18, 1863. 761. William Clark, Chancery Lane, London, "Improvements in the separation or obtaining of ammonia from azoted matters in the preparation of manure." A communication from Lucien Henry Blanchard and Théodore Chateau, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris. Petitions recorded March 21, 1863. 878. Richard Archibald Brooman, Fleet Street, London, "Improvements in the manufacture of baryta and its derivatives, in obtaining by-products, and in revivifying or recovering certain agents employed in such manufacture." A communication from Julien Gabriel Lelong Burnet, Paris... Petitions recorded April 7, 1863. 3410. William Perkins, Churchfield House, Margate, Kent, "Improvements in the manufacture of a substiture for turpentine, which is also applicable to the manufacture of varnishes, and to purposes to which turpentine is now ordinarily applied."-Petition recorded December 20, 1862. 742. William Reay, jun., Thropton Hill, near Rothbury, Northumberland, "An improved machine for amalgamatin * Vide CHEMICAL NEWS, vol. vi., p. 203. 66 910. Robert Smith, Northampton Terrace, Crompton Road, Islington, London, "An improved medicated oil for the preservation of metal, wood, or stone." wark, Surrey, "Improvements in the manufacture of arti928. James Lark, White Lion Wharf, Bankside, South ficial fuel and cement." 998. Frederick Edward Bryant, Alfred Street, Bedford Square, London, "Improved apparatus for ascertaining the temperature of steam and its power of tension."A communication from Hans Ambrouseous Königsberg, Prussia. Inventions Protected for Six Months by the Deposit of 1020. Robert Lavender, Goswell Road, Islington, London, "A new compound to be used as a lubricator.' Deposited and recorded April 24, 1863. 1065. George Washington Fuller, Cambridge Port, Massachusetts, U.S., "A new and useful or improved submarine lantern to be used in explorations beneath the surface of the ocean or any other large body of water."Deposited and recorded April 28, 1863. Notices to Proceed. 3465. Frederick Tolhausen, Faubourg Montmartre, Paris, "The use of petroleum or coal oil as fuel, and also for machinery and apparatus to be employed for this purpose. A communication from Edward John Biddle, Faubourg Montmartre, Paris. 3469. William Billinghurst and Josephus Requa, Rochester, New York, U.S., "An improved portable battery."-Petitions recorded December 29, 1862. 13. Frederick Collier Bakewell, Haverstock Terrace, Hampstead, "Improvements in apparatus for burning oils and other inflammable fluids as fuel."—A communication from Augustus Theodore Schmidt, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. 126. Wiliam Johnson, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, N.B., " Improvements in the manufacture of chlorine and bleaching powder, carbonate of soda, and soda ash, and sulphate of iron."-A communication from Thomas Macfarlane, Acton Vale, Bagot, Canada.-Petitions recorded January 14, 1863. 185. William Clark, Chancery Lane, London, "Improvements in preparing and obtaining photogenic pictures or representations, A communication from Adolphe 252 Correspondence-Answers to Correspondents. Teissonniére, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.-Petition recorded January 21, 1863. 272. Arthur Pritchard, Derby, "An improved method of preserving the contents of packages from air, water, or damp."-Petition recorded January 29, 1863. 667. William Wood, Monkhill, near Pontefract, Yorkshire, "Improvements in the manufacture and ornamentation of Pomfret or liquorice cakes, rolls, sticks, and pipes, and other similar articles of confectionery."-Petition recorded March 11, 1863. 3176. John Halford, Great Barr, Staffordshire, "Improvements in the preparation and treatment of small coal or slack, whereby a certain carbonaceous product is obtained and rendered available for use in the manufacture of iron and steel in the processes of casting and moulding metals, and in the manufacture of paint and such like articles." 3221. Peter William Reuter, Buckland Crescent, St. John's Wood, London, "The preparation of a new compound to be used for dyeing and printing purposes.”—A communication from Edward Reuter, Paris.-Petitions recorded December 1, 1862. 307. William George Valentin, Oxford Street, London, and Frederick Levick, Blaina, Monmouthshire, "Improvements in generating combustible gases, and in the apparatus employed therefor."--Petition recorded February 3, 1863. 3317. Edward Toynbee, Lincoln, "Improvements in extracting oils and fatty matters from shoddy or refuse wool, skins, or skin pieces, glue pieces, cotton waste, and other animal or vegetable matter, and in producing an artificial manure." Petitions recorded December 10, 1862. CORRESPONDENCE. A New Hemostatic Agent. To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEWS. SIR,-At a recent meeting of the Société des Sciences Médicales et Naturelles of Bruxelles, to which I have the honour to belong, the subject of a new hemostatic agent, lately discovered by Dr. Piazza, Professor of Organic Chemistry in the University of Bologna, was brought forward. This substance, destined, as its name indicates, to stop a flow of blood from wounds, appears to be one of the most successful therapeutic agents ever prepared, and I hasten therefore to call attention to its composition; being yet known only in Italy and Belgium, it is certainly destined to render great services in our Hospitals, &c. Before alluding to the manner in which it is prepared, I should perhaps state that the liquid in question has been experimented already with the greatest success in the hospitals of Parma, Modena, and Bologna; also in several hospitals in Bruxelles by members of the Society above named, and has been unanimously declared to be the most effective agent in stopping a flow of blood from a wound ever discovered. In making numerous experiments upon the substances which are capable of coagulating blood, Professor Piazza found that the coagulum produced by chloride of iron was rendered so compact by an addition of chloride of sodium that the vessel containing the mixture may be reversed without a drop flowing out. No other coagulating liquid will produce such an effect as this. Now, when chloride of iron is used alone, it is necessary to employ it tolerably concentrated (25° to 30° Baumé) which occasions much pain and irritation. But if common salt be added, the liquid is efficacious with a much weaker solution (10° to 15° B.) of chloride of iron. The best means of preparing the new hemostatic liquid consists in taking a solution of chloride of iron marking 10° to 15° of Baumé's areometer, and adding to it an equal volume of a concentrated solution of pure chloride of sodium. One precaution must be May 23, 1863. attended to, namely, that the chloride of iron contain London, May 12, 1863. MISCELLANEOUS. School of Practical Chemistry.-A Society has been formed in France for the purpose of establishing by subscriptions a chemical laboratory for the purpose of instruction. This project has originated with some manufacturers, who, considering the services rendered to the arts by chemistry, believe that still greater advantages would be gained if there were adequate means of acquiring a knowledge of the science. SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL-53, Berners Street. 8.30 p.m. ZOOLOGICAL-11, Hanover Square. 9 p.m. ROYAL INSTITUTION-Albemarle Street. 3 p.m. Professor adopt the views of the writers. Our intention to give both sides of a In publishing letters from our Correspondents we do not thereby question will frequently oblige us to publish opinions with which we do not agree. Vol. VI. of the CHEMICAL NEWS, containing a copious Index, is now ready, price 10s. 8d., by post, 118. 2d., handsomely bound in cloth, gold-lettered. The cases for binding may be obtained at our Office, price Is. 6d. Subscribers may have their copies bound for 2s. 6d. if and II. are out of print. All the others are kept in stock. Vol. VII. sent to our Office, or, if accompanied by a cloth case, for Is. Vols. I. commenced on January 3, 1863, and will be complete in 26 numbers. J. M.-The nitric acid is got rid of by heat: it may be detected by sulph in digotic acid. A Practical Man.-The terminology of organic chemistry is no doubt a great obstacle to many students, but further study and perseverance will show you that it is not quite so absurd as you suppose. All attempts hitherto made to simplify it have proved failures. If the two substances quoted should even receive a technical application they will soon get simpler names. Strongly naphthalized would give a very faint picture; but the time H. M. H.-There is no light which will answer your purpose. of exposure must be very long. THE CHEMICAL NEWS. VOL. VII. No. 182.-May 30, 1863. SCIENTIFIC AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. Note on Iodine and Bromine, by JOHN HORSLEY, F.C.S. IT is a curious fact, that if the smallest portion of a dry iodide or bromide be smartly triturated in a mortar with two or three times its weight of powdered red prussiate of potash, the odour of the metalloids is strongly evolved, which may be utilised in the preliminary examination of powders and the saline residue of the evaporation of water for those substances. Upon the application of a very slight heat in a crucible over a jet the vapours will be still more perceptible. Powdered bichromate of potash possesses this property in a far less degree than the red prussiate, as was subsequently proved by the addition of the latter salt to a mixture of bichromate and an iodine, when starch-paper was strongly tinged, and the mixture continued for hours to evolve iodine most potently. Density of Vapours at Elevated Temperatures, by MM. SAINTE-CLAIRE DEVILLE and TROOST. THE study of the analogies among simple and compound substances has advanced immensely since the time when the law of volumes established by Gay Lussac admitted of a new mode of comparison between them, which has since acquired a gradually increasing importance. M. Dumas, by devising productive experimental methods, has contributed to a generalisation of the law of volumes which did not exist when the discovery was newly made, and which the researches of Mitscherlich have still more extended. However, some substances appear to deviate from the law, not on account of their vapour density, as observed experimentally-for singularly enough it so happens that their vapour densities might have a simple relation to the theoretical numbers-but because that relation is not what would have been expected. M. Cahours, by showing the variation, within certain limits, of the vapour densities according to their temperature, was the first to establish the rule followed at the present time, and to show the necessity of observing vapour densities at a temperature so high, in regard to the boiling point of liquids, that the density of the substances in the state of gas might be thenceforth determined. The advance made by this new method has been considerable, and gradually all vapour densities have been found to conform with the law of simple relations established by Gay-Lussac, Dumas, and Mitscherlich, for a great number of substances. However, sulphur still constitutes an exception; to remove that exception it would be necessary to find a safe means admitting of the determination of the *Comptes-Rendus, lvi., 891. vapour density at a high temperature. This step MM. Deville and Troost have endeavoured to make, by extending the limits of the temperature that may be employed to the boiling point of zinc, which they have determined to be 1040° C. The principles of that method† have already received have compared the weights of equal volumes of vapour numerous applications. Among other instances, they of iodine and of other substances at temperatures determined by the boiling of various liquids. cadmium, and zinc, the respective boiling points of The liquids hitherto employed are mercury, sulphur, which are 350°, 440°,‡ 860°, and 1040° C. number of substances, and the porcelain flasks § used for But these temperatures are still insufficient for a great the observations are capable of supporting much higher temperatures without being altered in form. furnace of such form that the temperature could be The experiments were made in a muffle placed in a always raised to nearly the same degree. employed was gas coke, which developes a great heat, and, by reason of its bulkiness, maintains the temperature almost constant. The fuel Two porcelain flasks containing dry air, weighed with to prevent the glaze from adhering to the earthy walls their stoppers and surrounded with plates of platinum muffle. One contained the substance under examinaof the muffle, were placed in similar positions in the tion, the other iodine or dry air. These flasks were made in the same mould, and were of exactly the same capacity. When they had acquired the desired temperature they were both closed at the same time by means of an oxyhydrogen blow-pipe. pared with the theoretical values of the vapour densiThe data obtained in these experiments were comties, calculated by multiplying the equivalents of the the products thus obtained require to be doubled in substances by the density of hydrogen o'0693. When order to equal, or be nearly equal to, the observed densities, the equivalent is considered as corresponding with tiplied by 1, 4, 4, the equivalent is considered as one volume of vapour. When it requires to be mulcorresponding with two, four, or eight volumes of vapour. In these comparisons the numerical value of works, and employed in teaching, were used. Those the chemical equivalents, adopted in almost all standard ↑ Annales de Chimie et de Physique (3), Iviii., 257. M. Regnault has quite recently found the boiling point of sulphur to be 447'7. This number does not affect the determinations of vapour dependent of it. But in cases where some corrections require the use density obtained by MM. Deville and Troost, which are quite inof this temperature, as it is a function of the co-efficient of expansion they retain their number, not because it is more correct, but because of the glass they used, and which they have not yet determined, it suits the conditions under which they experimented. § The porcelain flasks used were made with great care by M. Cosse, of Bayeux. Annales de Chimie et de Physique (3), lviii., 273. 254 Methods of Estimating Carbon in Iron and Steel. CHEMICAL NEWS, Substances whose Equivalents correspond with Eight Volumes of Vapour. numbers might be doubled or quadrupled, as has been Substances whose Equivalents correspond with One Volume Tantalum chloride Niobium chloride 350 density. 9'6 10'9 hydrobromate bisulphate Ethylamine hydrochlorate Double ammonium and mercury (To be continued.) Methods of Estimating Carbon in Iron and Steel,* by Dr. EGGERTZ. THE method hitherto adopted for this purpose is both difficult and tedious. It requires great care, and apparatus which is not generally to be found in metallurgical laboratories. Dr. Eggertz has therefore sought to devise another method more convenient for the purpose. He first tried dissolving the iron by copper chloride, burning the residual carbon by means of oxygen, and weighing the carbonic acid after absorption by potash. The use of iodine instead of copper chloride has been recommended by some for dissolving iron, and the weight of the carbonaceous residue obtained was thought to afford an approximate indication of the amount of carbon. But for this purpose it is necessary to dry the carbonaceous residue under the air pump, or at a temperature of 120° to 130° C. Dr. Eggertz found that the quantity of carbon thus obtained was too great, though the weight of the residue was constant. It was also found that the residue contained iodine and water. To ascertain whether the quantity of carbon in the residue so obtained was uniform, he burnt the residue from several different kinds of pig iron and hard steel, and found that the average amount of carbon was 59 per cent. Other analyses of the residue obtained from white pig iron (free from graphite) gave as a mean result, after deducting the silica, the following as the composition of the carbonaceous residue :— Carbon Iodine Water Sulphur Loss. Disregarding the sulphur and nitrogen, the ratios of carbon, iodine, and water are such as may be expressed Substances whose Equivalents correspond with Four Volumes by the formula C80I+20HO, which would require— |