any solid matter nor resin after standing for some months exposed to air; neither does its reaction alter. The oil rapidly absorbs oxygen from air. It is most energetically acted upon by strong nitric acid, also by sulphuric acid, which appears to polymerize some of the constituents of the oil. Hydrochloric acid gas produces one or perhaps two liquids, but no solid chlorhydrates; these are scarcely, if at all, decomposed by prolonged agitatation with warm water. The specific gravity of sageoil is 0-9339 at 14° C. After prolonged fractionation the oil splits up into four main portions-two liquids, almost certainly terpenes, boiling respectively at 157° and at 167° C.; a liquid, probably containing oxygen, boiling at 1980-203°; and a solid camphor melting at 187° C. The terpenes both appear to contain cymene, as by treatment with sulphuric acid, the liquid being carefully kept cold, and distillation in steam, cymene is obtained. These terpenes yield brominated compounds, which split up, on distillation, into hydrobromic acid and cymene; the brominated compound from the lower boiling terpene is much more stable, however, than that from the terpene of higher boiling-point. For the oxygenized liquid constituent of the oil the name of salviol is proposed. The terpenes both yield terephthalic acid on oxidation with weak chromic liquor. On the action of Dilute Saline Solutions upon Lead*. By M. M. PATTISON MUIR, F.R.S.E. After generalizing former results the author describes experiments carried out under varying conditions, which seem to prove: (1) That increase of surface of lead exposed is generally associated with increase of lead dissolved. This conclusion does not, however, invariably hold good; the nature of the salt in solution, the time of action, &c. influence the action. (2) That exposure of large surfaces of liquid to the surrounding air very generally causes an increase in the quantity of lead dissolved, this increase being most marked in the case of those salts (nitrates &c.) which enable water to exercise a notable solvent action upon lead, and after the expiry of lengthened periods of time. (3) That the solvent action of dilute saline solutions upon lead increases in an ever-increasing ratio with increase of time of action (longest period tried = 505 hours), except in the case of potassium carbonate solutions, where a point of maximum action appears to be reached after the expiry of about 340 hours. On certain Compounds of Bismuth†. By M. M. PATTISON MUIR, F.R.S.E. In this paper the following salts of bismuth are described: 15 Bismuthous trichloride and tribromide: the action of hydrogen upon these salts is detailed. Attempts to prepare a chloride higher than Bi Cl,, which led to no positive results, are described. Ammonio-bismuthous tribromides, Bi Br,.3NH, Bi Br,. 2NH,, and 2Bi Br,. 5NH,; bismuthyl oxybromides, Bi, Br. Os and Bi,, Br, O; bismuthic bromo-nitride, Bi N, Br; hypobismuthic hydrate, Bi, O.HO; and a number of chromates of bismuth, the principal of which are:-bismuthyl chromate, (Bi O), CrO; bismuthyl dichromate, (BiO), Cr, O.; monohydrated bismuthyl dichro mate, (Bi O), Cr, O,.H2O; and monohydrated bismuthyl tetrachromate, (Bi O), Cr, 013. H2O. On Relations among the Atomic Weights of the Elements. On the Alum Process in Sugar-refining. By J. A. R. NEWLANDS. * Vide Proc. Manch. Lit. and Phil. Soc. 1876-77, pp. 1 & 142. Journ. Chem. Soc. vol. i. 1876, p. 144, vol. ii. p. 12, and vol. i. 1877, p. 24. On Sugar. By T. L. PATTERSON. Note on some new Anthracene Compounds. By W. H. PERKIN, F.R.S. A very dilute solution of anthracene in carbon disulphide, when cooled to 0° C. and treated with bromine, yields an addition product, a" dibromide of anthracene," C1 Ho Br. It is a very unstable body, rapidly decomposing at the ordinary temperature of the air, with evolution of hydrobromic acid; when heated it also gives off this acid, and is converted into monobromanthracene, C1, H. Br. 14 10 14 9 14 10 If chlorine be used in place of bromine, a "dichloride of anthracene," C1, H1o Cl2, is produced, which is even less stable than the corresponding dibromide; when heated it decomposes and yields monochloranthracene, Ĉ1, H, Čl. On Picoline and its Derivatives*. 14 By WILLIAM RAMSAY, Ph.D. The following salts of picoline were prepared :- The hydrobromide, melting at 187°. These two salts may be crystallized from with bromine. soluble in water. The diiodide of picoline hydriodide.-Formed when picoline hydriodide is distilled. Reddish-brown crystals, which melt when brought in contact with water; soluble in alcohol and in ether. Melting-point 790. The formula of Anderson's trichloropicoline hydrochloride is disputed, both from the results of analysis, from its method of preparation, and from its properties. It appears to be a hypochlorite, and to contain the group (OCI). The white powder to which Anderson ascribes the formula C, H, Cl, N. Cl is a product of the action of water on an oil obtained by projecting picoline into chlorine gas. Picoline dibromide, C, H, N. Br, formed by the action of a solution of bromine in chloroform on picoline, and Picoline iodochloride, C, H, N. CII, prepared in a similar manner, are crystalline solids. The halogens, therefore, act on picoline to form at least four distinct substances:-1, a direct addition compound containing picoline plus two atoms of halogen; 2, a substitution compound which undergoes alteration when brought in contact with water; 3, a salt of the halogen acid; and 4, an addition-product containing two atoms of the halogen combined with the haloid salt. The ferrocyanide forms white crystals. The platinocyanide consists of large pale yellow rhomboids. It crystallizes with 4H, O The tartrate forms long white needles. The citrate is uncrystallizable. The phosphate is a white deliquescent crystalline mass. The chlorate forms very thin diamond-shaped crystals. The following compounds with alcohol radicals were prepared : The methyl iodide, by mixing equivalent quantities of methyl iodide and picoline. Long white needles, which melt at 2260-5-227°. The methyl chloride is an extremely deliquescent salt, and crystallizes from alcohol in needles. The methyl nitrate forms large transparent prisms. The methyl hydrate, prepared by means of moist silver oxide, rapidly becomes discoloured in the air, and when acted on, first with bromine, then with ammonia, assumes a red colour. No methylamine was evolved on boiling its aqueous solu tion. The diiodide of the methyl iodide, C, II, N (CH,I) I,, crystallizes from alcohol in * Vide Phil. Mag. 1876, vol. ii. p. 269. feathery bluish-black crystals. It is prepared by dissolving iodine in an alcoholic solution of the methyl iodide. The ethyl iodide is analogous to the methyl iodide; and the ethyl hydrate gives a similar reaction with bromine and ammonia. The ethene bromide forms small hard prisms, which melt at about 276°. The ethene chloride crystallizes from alcohol in needles. Picoline allyl compounds are all sirups, with exception of the platino-chloride. The hydrate is more stable than the methyl, ethyl, or ethene hydrates, and after evaporation at 100° dissolves in alcohol with a brilliant purple colour, which may be communicated to silk. As picoline is not decomposed by potash in any form, it cannot be a nitrile or a carbonine. It is not altered by being passed through a red-hot tube filled with lime or lead peroxide. Boiling sulphuric acid and nitric acid, or a mixture of both, have no action on picoline; but when the nitrate is heated it undergoes complete decomposition into carbonic acid and probably water. Picoline probably does not contain a methyl group; for on oxidation it yields Dewar's pyridene dicarbonic acid. This acid is not derived from lutidine, as was supposed by Wright. Experiments to prepare the aldehyde and alcohol from dicarbo-pyridenic acid lead to a prospect of success; and from the alcohol true methyl pyridine may possibly be obtained. On Glucinum, its Atomic Weight and Specific Heat. On the Utilization of Sewage. By W. C. SILLAR. On the Action of Hydriodic Acid on mixed Ethers of the General Formula CnH2n+1+O.CH3*. By R. D. SILVA. On Sodium. By ANDERSON SMITH. On the Manufacture of Iodinet. By EDWARD C. C. STANFORD, F.C.S. The author gives an interesting account of this manufacture, which in Great Britain is confined to Glasgow and its neighbourhood. He gives a résumé of the remarkable fluctuations in the price of iodine, and also of the changes in the uses of kelp, or sea-weed ash, from its first manufacture about a hundred years ago to the present time. He traces its use from the beginning of the present century, when it was the principal source of alkali, and when Scotland alone produced 20,000 tons annually, worth £20 to £22 per ton. During the following 22 years the importation of barilla reduced the price of kelp to £10 per ton. Then the removal of the duty on barilla, followed by that on salt, reduced it further to £3 per ton, and in 1831 to even £2 per ton. In 1845 the manufacture of iodine commenced, and kelp was again in demand. The imports and prices are shown in the following table (p. 69). It was impossible to give the imports of kelp earlier than 1845, as this table was obtained with difficulty from indirect sources, the Clyde trust having disposed of their books previous to 1859, thus rendering the early history of this interesting subject at present inaccessible for statistics. It is shown that a large number of makers of iodine in Glasgow at that time had been now reduced to three. *Vide Compt. Rend. lxxxi. pp. 323-325. † Published in extenso in the Chemical News,' 1877. The working of kelp for iodine is minutely described, with the remark that all the text-books on the subject describe only processes and apparatus abandoned by manufacturers many years ago. The large production of iodine which may be expected from the Chilian caliche is fully investigated and it is shown that the possible production far exceeds the utmost output of Great Britain and France; but there are difficulties in the manufacture which have hitherto prevented very large imports from this source. The quantities of iodine in several species of sea-weed, and from a large number of analyses of specimens from all parts of the coast, are tabulated. The author shows that all sea-weeds contain iodine; but few contain it in the quantity worth working. These are the deep-sea algae exclusively. His own researches are alluded to (Society of Arts, Silver Medal, Feb. 14, 1862) in reference to the great loss of iodine in the present wasteful method of burning kelp; and his suggested improvement of collecting the winter tangle, now generally wasted, and distilling it in closed retorts, is described. The sea-weed is thus converted into charcoal (which remains in the retorts), and ammoniacal liquor, and tar condensed in suitable condensers, and gas, which is used to light the works. The gas liquor yields ammonia and acetic acid. From the charcoal, the salts of potassium and sodium, with iodides and bromides, are easily washed out, and a residual charcoal is obtained which resembles that from bones. This charcoal is fully equal to animal charcoal as a decolorizer and deodorizer, and can be very cheaply obtained. The manufacture affords winter employment to a large and indigent population in the winter, when they most need it. It has been carried out on a large scale in some of the outward Hebrides, and has quadrupled the produce of iodine and greatly benefited the people. On Lead Desilverizing by the Zinc Process. By J. E. STODDART. On the Atomicity of Oxygen and on the Constitution of Basic Salts. On Zinc. By D. SWAN. 1876. 7 On the Prevention of the Pollution of Rivers. By Rev. R. THOMSON. On the Growth of Mildew in Grey Cloth. By WILLIAM THOMSON, F.R.S.E. The author described the size used by Lancashire manufacturers, which is nearly always more or less strongly acid. Two series of experiments on the relative actions of salts, often added by manufacturers to their size, in aiding or retarding the development of mildew, showed that the free acid present, together with dampness, is the most fruitful cause of mildew; and if the acid be neutralized with soda ash, mildew develops with much difficulty, and only after a very considerable lapse of time. On the Nitroso Derivatives of the Terpenes. By W. A. TILDEN, D.Sc. Preliminary Note on a new Iso-purpurine. By W. A. TILDEN, D.Sc. On the Prevention of Fraudulent Alterations in Cheques &c. By F. WARD. On the Means of Suppressing Alkali Waste. By WALter Weldon. New Cotarnine Derivatives. By C. R. ALDER WRIGHT, D.Sc. When dilute bromine water is added to a solution of cotarnine hydrobromide combination takes place, and a crystalline orange precipitate is thrown down consisting principally of dibrom-hydrocotarnine hydrobromide; if excess of bromine be used, the precipitate chiefly consists of tribrom-hydrocotarnine hydrobromide, these two brominated bodies being formed thus :— C12 H1,Br, NO,, HBr+Br,=H Br+C12 H,, Br, NO,, HBr. 12 If hydrocotarnine hydrobromide be used instead of cotarnine hydrobromide, and excess of bromine be added, the same tribrom-hydrocotarnine hydrobromide is formed, thus: Hydrocotarnine. Tribrom-hydrocotarnine. 12 121 12 C12 H15 NO3, HBr+3Br2=3H Br+C12 HI1,Br12 NO, HBr. Dibrom-hydrocotarnine hydrobromide loses the elements of hydrobromic acid, forming bromocotarnine hydrobromide on boiling with water, aqueous caustic potash, or alcoholic silver hydrate, thus: C12 H13 Br2 NO3, HBr=HBr+C12 H12 BrNO3, HBг. 2 12 The bromocotarnine thus formed resembles cotarnine in many respects; its salts are crystallizable and very soluble; the base when crystallized from ether is represented by CH.Br NO,, HO, the associated water being lost at 100° with partial decomposition just as with cotarnine. When heated to about 180°, hydrobromic acid is evolved; the residue contains a blue product insoluble in boiling alcohol, benzene, chloroform, petroleum, turpentine, carbon disulphide, and ether, but sparingly soluble with a brilliant blue colour in boiling glacial acetic acid, glycerine, or amline, and readily soluble in cold concentrated sulphuric acid to a most intensely coloured magenta liquid: the colorific power of this body is most remarkable, a minute speck scarcely visible giving a deep coloration to a considerable bulk of |