simple scheme for registering each waggon as it passed up the incline. The up line was provided with catch rails for the purpose of derailing runaway waggons, and, as each waggon passed the open switch the wheel flanges moved the rail. Suitable levers and wires connected the switch with an automatic counting machine situated in the office, with the result that every complete movement of the switch rail registered a new unit on the counter. In this manner both the management and the workmen were satisfied that a correct record of the movements of the tram waggons could be kept. "Converting High-Grade Matte in Magnesite lined Converters. By H. C. ROBSON. This paper contains a record of work done at the Spassky Copper Mine, Siberia, where two 10-feet "Great Falls" magnesite-lined converters were installed in place of three 5-feet acid-lined converters, in 1915. From the start the new converters were run with the idea of keeping a protective coating of magnesite on the brick lining. This was effected by blowing to white metal a 5-ton charge of matte with flux, followed by a similar amount without flux, and 14 tons of cold matte, the whole being blown to blister-copper. One of the chief difficulties in converting highgrade matte is keeping the tuyeres open, especially with slags high in iron and low in silica. From his experience the author can see no reason why any commercial grade of matte should not be treated if correct working conditions be maintained; with matte assaying between 55 and 60 per cent copper it was not possible to produce a slag containing less than 6 per cent of copper. A blister-copper assaying about 98.8 per cent of copper with a small percentage of sulphur was always produced; attempts to produce copper of a higher grade caused difficulties by the cooling of the charge. The paper contains tables showing respectively the operating data of the converters, analyses of the converter products and by-products and particulars of the operating temperatures in three trial charges. SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS. Ordinary Meeting, November 3, 1920. Mr. ALFRED SMETHAM, President, in the Chair. THE following papers were read: "The Gravimetric Estimation of Bismuth as Phosphate and Its Application in Ore Analysis. By W. R. SCHOELLER, Ph.D., and E. F. WATER HOUSE. A modification of the method for the gravimetric estimation of bismuth as phosphate is described, the directions being sufficiently explicit to render the method easily applicable even if the operator has only an occasional determination to make. A process for the determination of bismuth in ores is also described in detail; in this the lead is removed by iron wire; copper, arsenic, and antimony by extraction of the sulphides with sodium cyanide and sulphide, and the bismuth converted into and weighed as phosphate. The authors endorse Moser's opinion of the phosphate method, i.e., that in the great majority Determinations were made of the rate of saponifications under certain specific conditions of temperature, solvent, and concentration of alkali, of various oils belonging to the different classes of oils and fats, with a view to ascertaining is such differences in rate are sufficiently great to form the basis of an analytical method for identifying individual oils and fats. "Apparatus for Collecting Samples of Water at Great Depths." By W. T. BURGESS, F.I.C. The device is supported by a single wire, and the sample is collected in a stout glass vacuum tube protected by a cylindrical casing through which the water can pass freely. When at the required. depth the upper end of the exhausted tube is broken by the motion of a plunger operated by a falling weight. The apparatus is suitable for taking samples from very deep wells or borings of small diameter. Ordinary Meeting, December 1, 1920. A Certificate was read for the first time in favour of Mr. W. R. Schoeller, Ph.D. Certificates were read for the second time in favour of Messrs. Urban Aspey, Herbert Corner Reynard, B.Sc. (Lond.), A.I.C., Edwin Burnhope Hughes, B.Sc. (Lond.), A.I.C., Harry Jephcott, M.Sc. (Lond.), A.I.C., Arnold Lees, A.I.C. The following was elected a Member of the Society Mr. T. K. Chose, B.A., L.M.S. (Cal.). The PRESIDENT referred to the regret with which the Council had received the resignation of Mr. J. L. Baker from the editorship of The Analyst, a position which he had so ably filled for the past 13 years, and congratulated him upon his appoint. ment to the editorship of the Journal of the Institute of Brewing. The President announced that the Council had appointed Mr. C. A. Mitchell as his successor. - The following papers were read "Estimation of Theobromine." By RAYMOND V. WADSWORTH. The author in the present paper criticises the ordinary processes employed for the estimation of theobromine, and suggests a new method based on the employment of calcined magnesia and extraction with tetrachlorethane. "A New Process for the Estimation of Small Quantities of Chromium in Steels." By B. S. EVANS, M.B.E., M.C., B.Sc., F.I.C. The process provides a means of estimating quantities of chromium of the order of o‘01 per cent which are outside the scope of the accepted methods The steel is dissolved in sulphuric acid and oxidised with nitric acid, about 25 grms. of ammonium phosphate added, and the whole boiled with excess of potassium permanganate to convert the chromium into chromate. The acid liquid is poured into excess of boiling caustic soda solution acidified with acetic acid and made up to a known volume; an aliquot part is filtered off, made strongly acid with sulphuric acid, and the chromium determined colorimetrically by match- "Some Notes on the Reactions between Fulminate of Mercury and Sodium Hyposulphite." By P. V. DUPRE, M.B.E., A.C.G.I., F.I.C., and F. H. DUPRE. Dr. possibility of displacements of this character occurring in the eclipse photographs was suggested to me by Prof. Silberstein. I invited him and Dr. Mees, the Director of the Research Laboratory of the Kodak Company, an expert on these questions, to come to Greenwich and inspect the seven photographs taken at the eclipse. Mees, as soon as he saw the photographs, said that he agreed with us at Greenwich that the displacements of the stars could not be accounted for in this manner. At a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society a few days later, Prof. Silberstein, in presence of Dr. Mees, stated that he had discussed the point in connection with the eclipse results, and believed the effect to be negliObservatory Magazine, June, 1920, p. 211). If Mr. Crookes will consult the current number of the Astrophysical Journal giving the results of Laboratory of the Kodak Company he will see how Dr. Ross' experiments made at the Research small displacements of this character are, and to what a short distance they reach. After this, a glance at the reproduction of one of the eclipse photographs given in Phil. Trans., A. 220, 291, will show that displacements due to chemical and mechanical causes in the film are negligible.-I am, &c., F. W. DYSON. The authors describe the titration of fulminate of mercury in sodium hyposulphite. The effect of boracic acid in retarding the secondary reaction causing loss of alkalinity, and the evolution of heat caused by secondary reaction is then discussed, together with the bearing of this on the method of destruction of fulminate by hyposul-gible phite. The effect of boracic acid on heat evolution is dealt with, and the final products in interaction between fulminate and sodium hyposulphite described. CHEMICAL NOTICES FROM FOREIGN SOURCES. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences. November 8, 1920. SPECTRA OF SAMPLES OF Mercury, Copper, ZINC, AND THALLIUM IN THE EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET.MM. Leon and Eugene Bloch.-I. Mercury.-The authors have continued Lyman's researches; they have found 36 new rays between 1650 and 1400 U.A., beyond those published by Lyman. II. Copper. The copper spectrum has been studied by Handke up to 1594 2 U.A. The authors have found that the spectrum seems to end with a group of four characteristic rays situated beyond the limit reached by Handke. III. Zinc.-The zinc spectrum extends much further than copper into the extreme ultraviolet. It has been measured by Saunders up to 1603.09, and by Handke up to 1632'9. Recently, Millikan has extended it almost to 1200 U.A. without giving any exact values. The authors give the results of their measurements between 1850 and 1445 U.A. IV. Thallium.-Up to now no definite record of the thallium spectrum has been made. The authors give a list of the rays between 1850 and 1477 2 U.A. CORRESPONDENCE. THEORY OF RELATIVITY. To the Editor of the Chemical News. SIR, A copy of the CHEMICAL NEWS for November 12 has been kindly forwarded to me with a letter by Mr. B. H. Crookes specially marked. Mr. Crookes states that a study of Prof. Einstein's book on "The Special and General Teory of Relativity" has led him to the conclusion that the whole theory of relativity is based on a fundamental error. In addition he considers that the results obtained at the solar eclipse which are taken as verifying Prof. Einstein's predictions are in reality due to distortion of the photographic film. He mentions displacements detected by Sir W. Crookes in spectra and assigned to this cause. Astronomers are alive to the possibility of such displacements. They are of very small amount, and extend over very limited distances. The INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS.-The Ordinary Meetings of the Institution during the Session 1920-21 will be held at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George Street, Westminster, at 6 p.m. APPOINTMENT.-Sir John Francis Cleverton Snell, Member of Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Past President of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, has been appointed by an Order of Council dated the 23rd day of November, 1920, to be a Member of the Advisory Council to the Committee of the Privy Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Blackie's New Books in Science and Philosophy THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL THEORY An Introductory Textbook. By R. M. CAVEN, D.Sc. (London), F.I.C., Professor of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry in the Royal Technical College, Glasgow. Royal 8vo. Price 12s. 6d. net. A concise account is given in this book of the foundations on which the structure of modern chemistry is reared. The story is simply told with the essential technique. The book meets the needs of degree students in chemistry, who require a book introductory to the larger treatises on physical chemistry. SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY THEIR COMMON AIMS AND METHODS By F. W. WESTAWAY. Royal 8vo. Price 15s. net. "This book travels through wide spheres of human knowledge in philosophy, science, and religion. There are, indeed, few branches of science which Mr. Westaway does not touch upon; and he successfully maintains throughout the work a high standard of accuracy and interest. As a survey of the main results of modern science it is admirable. Mr. Westaway is an able and lucid writer."-New Statesman. ELECTRICITY AND ITS PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS A Textbook of Electrical Engineering. By MAGNUS MACLEAN, D.Sc., Professor of Electrical Engineering, Royal Technical College, Glasgow. Fully illustrated. Demy 8vo, price 12s. 6d. This book is designed to cover the subjects treated in a first-year course of Electrical Engineering. Special care has been taken to explain clearly the physical facts which underlie the action of all electrical machinery and appliances. Ease in calculating electrical quantities must be acquired by every electrical engineer, no matter what special branch he may take up, and to make the path as easy as possible for the student, a large number of worked examples and exercises, with answers, are given, and a special Appendix has been written explaining the Electrical Units employed in Engineering. APPLIED OPTICS THE COMPUTATION OF OPTICAL SYSTEMS Translated from the German of STEINHEIL and VOGT. BY JAMES WEIR FRENCH, B.Sc. In Two Volumes. F'cap quarto. Price 30s. net. ". . . Mr. French has provided an excellent handbook, which we commend to the serious attention of every student of technical optics."-Philosophical Magazine. METEOROLOGY An Introductory Textbook. By A. E. M. Geddes, O.B.E., M.A., D.Sc., Lecturer in Natural Philosophy in the University of Aberdeen. (Ready Shortly.) A concise and clearly written account of the modern science of Meteorology. A knowledge of the elements of the subject is now essential to air pilots, naval and military officers, and navigators; while "the weather'' and the "how and " why" of its vagaries are full of interest to everyone. SCIENTIFIC METHOD ITS PHILOSOPHY AND ITS PRACTICE By F. W. WESTAWAY. New Edition. Demy 8vo. Price 10s. 6d. net. "Mr. Westaway has a singularly acute and active mind which has engaged itself with almost all branches of human study; and he has the rarest of all gifts among Englishspeaking philosophers, that of directness and lucidity of style. The problems of metaphysics; probability and causation; the higher principles of physics; space, time, and infinity; the origin of the earth, and of the universe; the evolution of the animal species, and of man; life's consciousness; instinct and intuition, all these are treated with an assured knowledge, a candour, and a lucidity which will, think, have a real fascination for any intelligent inquirer."-Times. we TIDAL LANDS A STUDY OF SHORE PROBLEMS By ALFRED E. CAREY, M.Inst.C.E., Fellow of the Royal Geographical, Geological, and Chemical Societies, and F. W.OLIVER, F.R.S., Quain Professor of Botany in University College, London. Copiously illustrated with 29 full-page plates in addition to figures in the text. Demy 8vo. Price 15s. net. "To the engineer, the subjects discussed in this work are of the greatest possible importance, and whether he may be interested in the facts here recorded from the point of view of river control. or of the reclamation of the foreshore, or of the arrest of sand-dunes, he will find much matter for serious thought and consideration, and many details likely to aid him in his undertaking."-Times Engineering Supplement. LIFE AND ITS MAINTENANCE A SYMPOSIUM ON BIOLOGICAL The contributors include: W. M. Bayliss, F. G. BLACKIE & SON, LIMITED, 50, OLD BAILEY, LONDON, E.C.4. 34124-Casale, J.-Apparatus for catalytic synthesis of Ammonia. Dec. 2nd. 33948-Dreyfus, H.-Manufacture of solutions, compositions, and having a basis of cellulose acetate, &c. Dec. 1st. 33958-Dunningham, A. C.-Manufacture of sodium thio-sulphate. Dec. Ist. 33848-Farbwerke vorm. Meister, Lucius, & Bruning-Manufacture of derivatives of 3: 31-diamono-4: 41- Dioxyarsenobene. Nov. 30th. 34273-Fox, N. T.-Means for concentrating liquids. Dec. 4th. 33983-Fyleman, M. E.-Separating asphaltum, bitumen, tar, &c. from mineral matter. Dec. Ist. Specifications Published this Week. 154304-British Cellulose & Chemical Manufacturing Co., and Soller M. Hotz, J.-Manufacture of Acetic Acid. 154309-Nielsen, H., and Marshall, F. D.-Gas-washing apparatus. 154310-Nielsen, H., and Marshall, F. D. -Air saturating towers. 154382-Wilton, N.-Manufacture of sulphate of ammonia, and apparatus therefor. 154368-Matheson, H. W.-Apparatus for the manufacture of acetic acid. 154472-Napp, H. R.-Manufacture of hydrobromic acid form bromine and hydrogen. may now be obtained. Price 2/- each (post free 2/3). Volumes bound in Cloth Cases, Lettered, and Numbered at 3s. per volume. CHEMICAL NEWS OFFICE, 97. SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4. |