SOCIETY OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRY.
(LONDON SECTION).

Ordinary Meeting, March 7th, 1910.

Dr. J. LEWKOWITSCH in the Chair.

THE following papers were read and discussed :

"Rational Analysis of Clays." By WALTER C. HANCOCK, B.A. (Cantab.), F.I.C.

The ultimate analysis of a clay shows the total amounts of the acidic and basic oxides present, whereas the "rational" or "proximate" analysis is really a mineralogical separation of the constituents of clay into three speciesclay substance, quartz, and felspar (acid silicates). Certain inferences can be drawn from each, and serve as guides in the employment of the clay. From a short survey of the development of the process of the rational analysis, and the investigation of particular points in it, the necessity of a uniform method of procedure is apparent in order to arrive at comparable results, and from an examination of the portion soluble in the acid and alkali treatments, and of the insoluble residue, and comparison of the results with the ultimate analysis, the extent and limitations of the process can be judged. In a number of clays which have been fully analysed the amounts of silica and alumina in the soluble portion have been determined, and also the silica, alumina, and alkalis in the residue, all of which serve as checks upon the clay substance, quartz, and felspar found.

Application of High Pressure Gas to Furnace Use." By A. W. ONSLOW.

The author has found, during a long experience, that the ordinary method of using low pressure gas for furnace use is unsatisfactory owing to the difficulty, caused by varying pressures of gas, of regulating temperature and of obtaining constant temperatures from hour to hour. He describes arrangements of furnaces and injector burners in which constant and easily reproduced temperatures up to 2600° F. can be obtained by the use of gas at carefully regulated pressures varying from 100 inches of water downwards.

The application of high pressure gas to glass making, to lead melting, either by direct heat or by radiation, to the tempering of axletrees and similar long steel bars, is described.

Large combustion chambers are not necessary for use with high pressure gas, and by restricting the air and gas to the object to be heated the consumption of gas can be reduced by two-thirds.

The use of high pressure gas for warming buildings in an economical manner, as carried out under Col. Baynold's superintendence at the Royal Arsenal, is described.

These improvements, in addition to giving better heating results, naturally tend towards economy and a lower cost of production, an end which is furthered by the use of smaller combustion chambers and the simplification of installations.

"New Gas Sampling Tube." By G. NEVILL HUNTLY, B.Sc., F.I.C.

The author describes a sampling tube which fulfils the following conditions which must be satisfied in taking an average sample of flue-gases extending over the whole period of a trial:—

1. Since mercury is used as the confining liquid the tube sample must necessarily be small.

2. The gas must be drawn into the sample tube at a uniform rate per hour.

4. The gas in the sampling tube must not be allowed to diffuse back into the main tube, or to be drawn back into the main current by sudden changes of pressure.

"Complete Analysis of Leather and a Common Mistake in the Determination of the Degree of Tannage." By Dr. J. GORDON PARKER and M. PAUL.

The authors give a complete survey of the method in general use (devised by Von Schroeder) for the analysis of vegetable-tanned leather, outlining the various processes, determinations, and calculations, and the application and significance for the purposes of the tanner and currier of the figures obtained.

Special attention is drawn to a hitherto undiscussed error in the calculation of the "tanning figure" or "degree of tannage." This "figure" is the ratio of the amount of tannin actually combined with hide fibre and the amount of hide fibre itself, and gives, along with a consideration of other things, valuable information to the tanner and currier as to the character of the leather and its suitability for different purposes.

The error in Von Schroeder's calculations arises as follows:-The amount of tannin combined is got by subtracting the amount of hide substance (by Kjeldahl's This method) from the amount of leather substance. latter figure is obtained by subtracting from 100 the sum of four factors-moisture, fat, matters soluble in water, and mineral ash.

The error arises from the fact that the soluble matter contains some of the mineral substance which is determined separately as mineral ash, so that all the mineral matter which is soluble in water is deducted twice in the calculation of the leather substance. Therefore by Von Schroeder's method the leather substance is too low by the amount of mineral ash soluble in water.

The authors show how to correct the error, and give a number of examples with the correction applied, illustrating the important difference between the "tanning figures obtained by the two methods, especially with leather made under modern conditions.

In addition they describe an alternative method as a check upon the ordinary one, and also a more suitable apparatus for the extraction of the water soluble matters.

"Spontaneous Decomposition of Blasting Gelatin." By J. B. HENDERSON, F.I.C., and T. MCCALL, F.I.C.

The authors describe an unexplained case of spontaneous decomposition of blasting gelatin, which was observed in Queensland in December last.

SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS AND OTHER ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS.

Ordinary Meeting, March 2nd, 1910.

Mr. E. W. VOELCKER, President, in the Chair. MESSRS. Charles Thomas Bennett and Herbert Frederick Stephenson were elected Members of the Society.

Certificates were read for the first time in favour of Messrs. Clayton Beadle, Oakbank, Sidcup, Kent; and John James Morgan, The Laboratory, Church Road, Harrington (Cumberland).

Certificates were read for the second time in favour of Messrs. Arnold Backe, Joseph Arthur Brown, and Henry

Potter Stevens.

March 18, 1910

used under varied and often unfavourable conditionssome such admixture appears to be necessary.

A table showing the composition of eleven samples of so-called "patent driers" proves conclusively that a large amount of inert white base, varying from about 70 to 86 per cent of the driers, is frequently added to paints as a means of introducing what is often a ludicrously small amount of siccative material. The authors thinks this practice is largely influenced by considerations of a

financial character.

Where the necessity of additional drying properties is indicated in paints such as red oxide, natural earths, black, &c., the use of (1) boiled oil, (2) terebene driers, or (3) manganese borate-the two latter substances being used in suitably small quantities - would be the best course to pursue, as by this procedure the pigment would not be diluted unnecessarily with white opaque material, and the drying power of the oil would be materially increased.

Cobalt oxide is mentioned as having been recently utilised as a siccative agent, and the paper concludes with a table showing the composition of samples of terebene

driers.

"Analysis of Ultramarine Blue." By E. R. ANDREws. The author describes a method of decomposing ultramarine blue, which enables one to arrive at the composition of the pigment in a readier and more expeditious manner than that in which the decomposition is effected by means of hydrochloric acid.

After pointing out that the latter treatment, at the outset, gives a mixed precipitate of silicic acid and sulphur which masks the presence of any matters insoluble in acid which may be present, the author describes the behaviour of the pigment on agitation with a saturated solution of bromine in water, the result being a complete decomposition of the blue with practically all the products of decomposition remaining in solution. Any insoluble extraneous matters are at once detected by mere observation. After removal of the silica, the alumina, and sodium, &c., may be determined in one aliquot portion and the sulphur in another by direct precipitation with barium chloride.

The author has only found calcium and sodium sulphates present as impurities in more than reasonable amount.

The Society of Dyers and Colourists.-The Twentysixth Annual Meeting of the Society will be held in the Municipal School of Technology, Sackville Street, Manchester, on Friday, March 18th, 1910, at 4 p.m. The President, Prof. Meldola, will deliver an Address on "Tinctorial Chemistry-Ancient and Modern." The Meeting will be presided over by the President-elect of the Society, Sir Frederick Cawley, Bart., M.P. On the evening of the same day, at 7 p.m., at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, the Annual Dinner will take place.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

131

A List of Official Chemical Appointments. Compiled by RICHARD B. PILCHER. London: The Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland. 1910. THIS book, which has been compiled under the direction of the Council of the Institute of Chemistry, contains complete lists of scientific appointments in the British Empire, and also gives information relating to societies and institutions which are interested in the advancement of chemical science and technology. Some details of the constitution and chief objects of the societies are included, and the qualifications necessary for various important appointments are briefly outlined.

Systematic Practical Organic Chemistry. By G. M. NORMAN, B.Sc., A.R.C.Sc., F.C.S. Second Edition. London: University Tutorial Press, Ltd. 1909.

THE second edition of this useful little handbook on practical organic chemistry has been revised in accordance with the new syllabus recently issued by the Board of Education for Stages I. and II. in practical organic chemistry. Some preparations have been omitted in both stages, while a little elementary quantitative work has been added. This relates to the determination of molecular weights of acids and bases, the process of titration being described, as well as such easy gravimetric estimations as the decomposition by heat of silver salts of organic acids. Some additional preparations are included of substances which are not among those mentioned in the syllabus, and the examination papers of both stages from 1901 to 1908 are reprinted.

London: Williams and

Science, Matter, and Immortality. By RONALD CAMPBell
MACFIE, M.A., M.B,, C.M.
Norgate. 1909.

IN this book an earnest attempt is made to provide rational and trustworthy solutions of such problems connected with the origin of life, the structure and true nature of matter, as force themselves upon the notice of the thoughtful reader of the present day. Without displaying any. thing akin to dogmatism the author shows the marvellous advances which have recently been made in physical science, dealing especially with the development of theoretical conceptions, and points out what science has already done and what she aspires to do. The author subject interesting by graphic writing and apt illustration, possesses to a marked degree the power of making his and he has always a telling quotation at hand to drive home the point of his argument. The text is easy has no special scientific training, and every chapter will for the average well-informed reader to follow, even if he provide him with food for reflection and give him some fresh knowledge with which to attack new problems. The author makes no secret of the fact that the materialistic theory of the universe appears to him untenable, and his sympathies are with the seeker after truth who finds inadequate the explanations of the cosmos offered by materialism. One small error has been omitted from the

list of corrigenda, viz., the atomic weight of sulphur is

stated to be 12 on p. 43.

Warning. A respectable looking man is going about calling on chemists and presenting a card of introduction purporting to come from some well known man of science. A few weeks ago he called on Sir William Crookes, introducing himself with a card from an eminent professor, and a few days ago he called on another scientific man with a card purporting to be sent by Sir William Crookes. He varies his tale according to circumstances, but generally it is to ask for tickets for a hospital, and that failing he begs for money to buy food. The man is a professional beggar, and should be handed over to the police.