fact that the heavy compact and the crystallised silica often occur together, and hence we may infer the similarity of the conditions of their formation. I am sadly afraid that I may lead to some confusion about this crystalline and amorphous silica, and, therefore, to be quite clear, allow me to say one or two words further upon the subject. We have quartz which is distinctly, manifestly crystallised. The specific gravity of that quartz is, as I said a short time ago, very high as compared with the other-2-6. Then we have another form of silica having the same specific gravity, yet not appearing crystalline to the eye, although there are certain reasons for supposing that it may be composed of an aggregation of excessively minute crystals. Then there is the other distinctly amorphous non-crystalline variety, which has the low specific gravity of 23. You see there are two apparently amorphous varieties of silica. There is the chalcedony, for example, and there is the mineral called opal. If we compare that piece of common quartz with opal, they both appear non-crystalline, and they both, therefore, might be confounded under the term "amorphous;" but the term "amorphous" is restricted to this particular form of solid silica having the low specific gravity. . Graham has so well given the name of "colloidal, or jelly. like silica." This silica is obtained in various ways, which are very well known in the laboratories of chemists. It is obtained by the decomposition of silicates by acids. If I take a silicate of potash or a silicate of soda, which will dissolve readily enough in water, the solution of which is known by the name of water-glass, about which we have heard so much with regard to the preservation of stone and the like, and add, under certain conditions of dilution and so forth, an acid to that water-glass, the silica will immediately separate in the form of a jellysuch a jelly as I have here; it might be mistaken for a piece of ordinary jelly. Under other conditions of dilution there would be no immediate separation of jelly whatever, but the whole of the silica will be retained in solution, though it be separated from its combination with the base by the addition of a stronger acid; but, on keeping, it will ultimately gelatinise, or during evaporation, by the application of heat, the silica will be thrown down in the same jelly-like state. We will make this experiment before you, that you may see the result for yourselves. These experiments may seem very small; but, at the same time, they are extremely interesting in reference to certain geological phenomena. Here it is immediately a great lump of jelly. There is no mistake about the fact. It may be inverted without being spilled. Well, now we will try the other condition, and see if we can retain it all in solution. Sometimes things do not go quite as they ought. It depends entirely upon the degree of dilution. There it is; but still there is a large amount of water contained in the silica; and, if time permitted, we could soon ration; but it would take more time than we can devote for the purpose. When evaporated to dryness this jelly forms a white, amorphous powder, exactly like that which I hold in my hand. This gelatinised silica, or colloidal state of silica, is produced by the action of water on a peculiar compound termed "fluoride of silicon"-a wellknown compound in the laboratory of chemists. It is a gaseous compound, consisting of silicon in combination with the element fluorine, which is an essential constituent of common fluor spar. It is a perfectly transparent, colourless gas, which immediately suffers decomposition by contact with water: hence, when this gas is allowed to escape into the atmosphere, under ordinary circumstances it produces a copious white smoke, due to the formation and deposition of silica. We will endeavour to prepare it here. We have in the flask a quantity of fluor spar and sand. We mix that with sulphuric acid, and, under these conditions, the fluoride of silicon is formed, which, in passing through water, becomes immediately decomposed, depositing gelatinised silica. If we were to plunge the deliverytube, conveying the gas, into water, the quantity of silica immediately produced would be so great as to stop up the tube, and to burst the flask. In order to avoid that effect, it is usual to place at the bottom of the vessel a quantity of mercury, over which is the water, and to let the gas escape in the mercury, and below the water. This gelatinous silica, when dry, forms an exceedingly light powder. In fact, it is in a state of the extremest possible division. As far as I know, there is no other way of making amorphous silica in such a fine state of division as this. All attempts to crystallise silica by fusion have hitherto failed. Many experiments were made upon this subject a long time ago by means of the oxy-hydrogen blow-pipe. Silica has been distinctly fused into small globules. There is no great difficulty about that. More recently, Deville, who has paid special attention to the application of high temperatures to metallurgical purposes, has succeeded in fusing silica in considerable quantities, and he has sub-render that evident by the application of heat and evapojected it to slow cooling, but never in a single instance has there been the slightest trace of crystallisation; and such silica-silica fused at these high temperatures--has always the low specific gravity of 2.3. You will see the bearing of that by-and-by upon the supposed formation of granite and certain other igneous rocks. If we take a piece of this crystallised quartz of a high specific gravity, and fuse it, we convert it into a substance somewhat resembling the silica of the low specific gravity, having the gravity of 2.3. Now that is apparently a small fact, but in a geological point of view it is one of the highest interest. Formerly, it was a marvel to melt a bit of platinum as big as a pin's head. Now, Deville has succeeded in melting it in a mass as big as that of which this is a model. The real piece was in the Exhibition of last year. This platinum sometimes contains silicon, and in fusion the silicon becomes oxidised, and converted into silica, and you get the melted silica swimming on the top of the melted platinum in the form of a thin, transparent, colourless liquid, so high is the temperature. I have now to speak especially of certain important experiments, made by Gustave Rose, upon the subject of the specific gravity of silica as determined by temperature. It is a curious point that he found, that when perfectly transparent, entire rock crystal underwent long exposure, say for eighteen hours, to a porcelain furnace, in which the temperature is exceedingly high, though nothing so high as that required for the fusion of platinum-being estimated at about 2000° centigrade-there was no alteration in the specific gravity at this temperature; but when the same crystal was exposed to the same conditions of temperature, having been previously pulverised-reduced to fine powder-its specific gravity was reduced from 2.6 to 2.3. Again, he found in the case of common flint having a specific gravity of 2'591, owing to certain impurities which interposed, that by exposure to this high temperature for a long time, its specific gravity was reduced to 2 237. There, again, is another example of the influence of high temperature in reducing the specific gravity of silica in this particular state of aggregation. We have now to consider more particularly this amorphous silica, or that form of silica to which Professor We will now notice the solubility of silica. And this is a subject of very high importance to geologists. Now, in an aqueous solution of potash, for two parts by weight of solid potash in solution there is dissolved one part by weight of this extremely fine silica in fluoride of silicon. Of silicon in the state of quartz there is dissolved 009 for two parts by weight, and of silica in the state of flint there is dissolved 038. This difference is due simply, or, at all events, in a great measure, to a difference of aggregation. When rock crystal has been actually melted, and then pulverised, it is as soluble in this men struum-this solvent-as the silica from the fluoride of silicon, obtained by the decomposition of water. Silica dissolves, to a certain extent, in water containing alkaline carbonates. The light variety is far more soluble than the heavy variety. An aqueous solution of carbonate of potash, or soda, for example, dissolves fifteen times more amorphous than crystalline silica. With regard to the solubility of silica in pure water, Bischoff states, that one part of silica dissolves in 769230 parts of water. I have now to bring before your notice some results obtained by Professor Graham, which are as interesting as they are novel, and, I think, important. I allude to the phenomena of dialysis, which will possibly hereafter be found to explain many obscure geological phenomena. Now let us see what we mean by the term " dialysis." Here is a common vessel of glass, and here is some paper termed "parchment paper," prepared in a particular way. Here is a hoop of gutta percha. The paper is tied round this hoop, or fixed in this hoop, so that you get a circular vessel, the bottom of which consists of this parchment paper. Now, into this glass vessel we may suppose we place pure water, and into the hoop vessel we will place some of that solution that we had just now-a solution of silicate of soda to which the acid has been added in such a way as not to precipitate the silica. Here is that solution. Into the hoop we will put the solution, and then place the whole on some pure water, and there leave it. What will take place? Well, in the course of time a certain proportion of the silica will pass through that membrane into the other constituents in the solution, but eventually there will remain in the floating hoop vessel, covered with paper at the bottom, a pure solution of silica. All the hydrochloric acid will be gone by virtue of the operation of that paper. The chloride of sodium, or potassium, as the case may be, will be gone-with a certain proportion of silica, it is true-and there will remain at length a pure, limpid, colourless solution of silica. Professor Graham has been so kind as to supply me with illustrations for this lecture, which I will now place before you. I really do not know any discovery which is of higher interest, or promises more important results, or more beautiful results, than dialysis. Here is a 5 per cent. solution of silica. The water contains 5 per cent. of silica. There is no base there to retain that silica in solution. There it is-a pure limpid solution of silica in pure water. In the course of time, if the solution has a certain strength, it will gelatinise, or, as Professor Graham calls it, pectise--form jelly. The weaker and purer the solution, the less tendency it has to gelatinise. Professor Graham expresses an opinion, that with one per cent. of silica dissolved in it, the solution might be preserved for an indefinite length of time without change. There are some very curious properties about this solution to which I am very anxious to call the attention of geologists especially. This solution may contain as much as 14 per cent. of silica, and yet be perfectly limpid, and not in the least viscous. It may be boiled in a flask for a considerable time, and concentrated considerably without change. When heated in an open vessel a ring of insoluble silica is apt to form around the margin of the liquid, and this may soon cause the whole to gelatinise. The solution is, as I said, durable in proportion to its purity. It is not easily preserved beyond a few days unless considerably diluted. It becomes opalescent after a short time, and then the jelly separates; and once separated, it cannot be redissolved in water. When the jelly is formed suddenly it is always more or less opalescent. Here is some which has been formed slowly by Professor Graham, It is a perfect jelly, perfectly colourless and limpid, like rock crystal. If you just touch it slightly in that way you give rise to a vibratory tremor. It contracts, after a few days, even in a close vessel, and then pure water separates from it. It is a very curious fact in connection with it, that coagulation, or the separation of silica in the jelly-like state, is effected in the course of a few minutes by a solution containing one ten-thousandth part of any alkaline or earthy carbonate, but not by caustic ammonia or neutral or acid salts, nor by sulphuric, nitric, or acetic acid. Coagulation occurs in a short time after passing carbonic acid through the solution. We will make the experiment of producing the jelly by the addition of a little carbonate of soda to this solution. It is one of the prettiest experiments connected with the subject. I am sorry I cannot present it on a larger scale. This is a perfectly limpid liquid solution. Now, after adding a little of this solution of carbonate of soda to it, we shall soon have it, I think, so solid that we shall be able to invert the glass without spilling it. It always takes a little time; and when it is suddenly made, it is always, as I have said, opalescent, and not transparent like that which you have in the tube. Hydrochloric acid, on a small quantity of caustic potash or soda, gives stability to the solution. It has a slightly acid reaction, somewhat greater than that which may be produced by carbonic acid. Dried by the air-pump in vacuo, at the ordinary temperature, it forms a beautiful, transparent, glassy mass of great lustre, no longer soluble in water, and which reminds one greatly of that beautiful variety of opal termed "hyalite.' Here it is. It is, in fact, opal. This is some prepared by Professor Graham in the way mentioned. The jelly has been dried by evaporation in vacuo. It may retain as much as 21 or 22 per cent. of water. " I am just selecting all those points which I think have an express bearing on geology. Ordinary silicate of soda is not at all what is termed "colloidal;" that is to say, if I were to put this silicate of soda into this hoop-vessel, and leave it there floating upon the water, it would pass through, to a certain extent, to the water, but there would be no separation of its constituents. When hydrochloric acid is added and the constituents eliminated, then it is that you get this action set up. This soluble form of silica unites with various organic matters, as, for example, with common gelatine, or with skin. In fact, you may tan by means of silica, and produce leather containing as much as 70 per cent. of silica. We will now inquire, with regard to this peculiar solution of silica obtained by Professor Graham, whether there is any reason to suppose that a similar process to that by which this is prepared may play any part in the operations of nature. The condition required is, that there should be a soluble silicate, and there is no difficulty in explaining how this may be produced. This we shall examine hereafter, when we speak of the silicates. The condition is, a soluble silicate dissolved in water, and the decomposition of that silicate by some agent, such as hydrochloric acid. We thus get the solution, and now for the apparatus. Does nature present us with any apparatus which can take the place of this so-called dialyser? All that we want is the porous bed of some rock like sandstone, in some convenient position, and that sandstone will act exactly as the dialysing apparatus here acts. It remains now for practical geologists to look out for these conditions, and see how far an application can be made of these important discoveries of Professor Graham. I now call your attention to the separation of the silica. Every bubble of the fluoride of silicon as it passes up through the water becomes immediately decomposed, and a portion of the gas escapes, not being thoroughly in contact with the water everywhere, and produces a slight smoke. We want to avoid the production of that smoke as far as possible. I think we may really have reason to believe that this solution may play an important part in the phenomena of nature; for I think, as we shall see hereafter, that there is no difficulty in explaining how such a solution may be obtained as is requisite to exhibit the phenomena of dialysis; and I think that, very probably in nature, we may find conditions exactly suitable for dialysis. Well, then, if this be the case, we shall be at no loss to understand how in many instances silicification has occurred. We know that it has occurred, and occurred to an enormous extent, in nature. The mineral termed "opal," which I have referred to several times, is nothing more than amorphous silica containing a little water. The proportion of water is not definite; it is variable, the extremes being somewhere about 3 per cent. and 13 per cent. of water. Sometimes this opal exhibits most beautiful colours, and then it acquires the name of "precious opal." These colours are due to a peculiar structural arrangement, and may be explained by the laws of optics. Now, here is a mass of opal from Mexico; and if any one will just examine these two in contact-the substance prepared by evaporation in vacuo by Professor Graham's experiment, and the natural opal-he cannot fail to be struck with the resemblance between the two. The mineral termed "hyalite" is also a kind of opal met with in basaltic rocks. It is another form of amorphous silica. This hyalite contains an amount of water, the extremes of which are 3 and 6 per cent. Here is another specimen of it. I will now call your attention for a minute or two to a peculiar substance which has been found in our blast furnaces or iron-smelting furnaces; and I think we shall see reason in the course of these lectures to believe, that even these processes which are so abundantly practised, or rather, practised on so large a scale in various parts of this country, may really furnish indications of great importance to the geologist. In the hearths of blast furnaces is occasionally found a white, delicate, fibrous substance, to which the name of "fibrous silica" has been given. It has been carefully examined, especially by Rose, who finds it to consist essentially of silica. It is silica in the amorphous state-silica produced at a high temperature, and, therefore, having a specific gravity not exceeding 2.2 or 2.3. It has been found in many furnaces. We are not perfectly certain yet as to the precise conditions under which it has been generated, but most likely it may have resulted from the oxidation of silicon. Sorby informs us that he obtained fibrous silica, exactly similar to that occurring in the hearths of blast furnaces, by pass ing that gas which we are now passing though the water, fluoride of silicon, together with the vapour of water, through a porcelain tube heated to red-whiteness. By introducing the fluoride of silicon at one end of the tube, and the steam at the other, he obtained silica only in small vitreous grains. That is the amorphous silica. Now, I cannot forbear, before concluding this lecture, just for a second forestalling what I shall say hereafter in speaking of the formation of certain igneous rocks, especially of granite. I will make one or two remarks by way of inference from the facts I have now laid before you. For a long time it has been the received notion, that all granite, which occurs so abundantly in the crust of the earth, has been the result of igneous fusion at a very high temperature; but there are certain difficulties which have always been in the way of accepting this view of the subject-difficulties known, at all events, to those who have been accustomed to make experiments on the fusion of mineral substances at high temperatures. Now, let us look at the fact of quartz occurring in this granite. Granite consists, as most of us know, of three minerals quartz, mica, and felspar. Quartz is crystallised, and always has the specific gravity 2.6. There is not a single instance known to the contrary. There is, therefore, reason to believe that that quartz never could have been fused; for we have seen that the moment we fuse silica, no matter in what state it was previously, you obtain a glass-like colloidal or non-crystalline mass, having a specific gravity never exceeding 2.3. If this be so, then I think you will agree with me that there is something like a foundation for the inference, even from this single fact, that such granite could never have been produced under the condition of a high temperature. What those conditions under which it was produced may be we shall hereafter consider. PARIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. THE only paper of interest read on this occasion was by NOTICES OF BOOKS. The Pharmacopoeia of the United States of America. Fourth Decennial Revision. By Authority of the National Convention for revising the Pharmacopoeia held at Washington A.D. 1860. Philadelphia: Lippincott and Co., 1863. On the eve of the publication of the British Pharmacopoeia, it may be of some interest to notice what has been doing in the same way in other parts of the world. tish, has been compiled by a national committee. Delegates The Pharmacopoeia of the United States, like the Briof the various medical associations, colleges, and univer sities met at Washington in May, 1860; and it is worthy of notice that we find among them seven representatives of three colleges of Pharmacy. The preface to the work is dated June, 1863; so we conclude that the convention finished its labour in three years. alterations, and the present work appears to us, after a materials, and careful directions are given for conducting coarse; and through one of twenty meshes, coarse. The Materia Medica is arranged on just the same plan of the substances known here as the "New American as is followed in our own Pharmacopoeia. It includes most Remedies," some of which we believe will be found in the British compilation; and other things, which, though in great repute, are seldom prescribed, at all events, in Latin, as for example, the following:"SPIRITUS FRUMENTI.—Whisky. - Spirit obtained from fermented grain by distillation; and containing from 48 to 56 per cent. of absolute alcohol. Whisky for medicinal use, should be free from disagreeable odour, and not less than two years old;"-in fact just the article proper for convivial purposes. In the list of preparations there is much that we should like to extract, for in most cases the processes are practical, and the results we should think would be excellent. The list is arranged alphabetically, and one of the first things we come upon is Aconitia. The directions given for the preparation of this alkaloid are similar to those which we believe will be given in the British Pharmacopoeia. But by the American process the aconitia is obtained in the anhydrous state as a hard, brittle, resinous substance, NEWS which has to be scraped from the dish, and reduced to powder. Now, in the case of so active a substance as aconitine, this must be a dangerous operation-one we would rather decline to perform-and it would be much better to render it unnecessary by precipitating the alkaloid in a hydrated form from an acid solution. The aromatic aquæ we find directed in most cases to be made with the essential oils, by means of magnesia, in the way well known to all English pharmaceutists. A very useful class of preparations has been introduced under the name of fluid extracts. These are in many instances really concentrated tinctures; but in some cases, where the greater part of the spirit is lost by evaporation, sugar is added to preserve them, as, for example, in Extractum rhei fluidum, the directions for preparing which are as follows: "Take of rhubarb, in moderately fine powder, sixteen troyounces; sugar, in coarse powder, eight troyounces; alcohol, a pint; diluted alcohol, a sufficient quantity. Moisten the rhubard with four fluidounces of the alcohol, introduce it into a conical percolator, stir it gently, and pour upon it the remainder of the alcohol. When the liquid has disappeared from the surface, gradually pour on diluted alcohol, until a pint of tincture has passed. Set this aside in a warm place until reduced by spontaneous evaporation to six fluidounces; and continue the percolation until two pints more of tincture have been obtained. Evaporate this by a gentle heat to six fluid ounces; then add the sugar, and, when this is dissolved, the reserved tincture, and continue the heat until the whole s reduced to the measure of a pint." In some instances a small quantity of acetic acid is employed in these preparations, with advantage probably in the cases of ipecacuanha, ergot, and colchicum, but we do not see the object in the case of hemlock. The chemistry of the Pharmacopoeia, as illustrated in the preparations of iron and mercury, is, so far as we have seen, unexceptionable; but we remark that our American brethren in their nomenclature pass over differences of composition, and found their names on physiological and physical differences. Thus we have Hydrargyri chloridum corrosivum, and Hydrargyri chloridum mite, for the two chlorides of mercury; and Hydrargyri iodidum rubrum, and Hydrargyri iodidum viride, for the two indides. Among the Infusa we find nothing worthy of note, excepting that a small quantity of sulphuric acid is employed in cold infusions of bark prepared by percolation. NOTICES OF PATENTS. 2277. Improvements in Extracting the Sulphur and Sulphurous Acid from the Oxy-Sulphuret of Calcium which is contained in the Residues or Waste Material obtained in the Manufacture of Soda. W. SCHNELL, Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, London. Dated August 13, 1862. (Not proceeded with.) IN carrying out this invention, the waste material is in the first instance freely exposed to the action of the air. For this purpose it is spread out in thin layers upon frames or hurdles placed one above another, at such intervals as will allow of unrestrained access of air, the material being kept constantly moist for a period varying between two and three weeks, but never longer than a month. At the end of this time it is removed and lixiviated with water at a temperature not exceeding forty degrees centigrade, whereby a solution of hyposulphite of lime is obtained, and that portion remaining insoluble is again collected and exposed to air as before, until no further quantity of the hyposulphite can be extracted. For the recovery of the sulphur and sulphurous acid from these solutions, they are to be decomposed by hydrochloric acid at a boiling temperature, when the sulphurous acid gas is given off, and the remaining sulphur deposited in an elementary form; this last product is, after washing, perfectly pure. If it be desired to obtain the sulphur only, the hyposulphite solutions are evaporated to dryness, and distilled in iron retorts, but by this process only half the total amount is obtained, since the residue in the retort contains much sulphite and sulphuret of calcium. If, on the other hand, it be desirable to economise the whole of the sulphur in the form of the gaseous product (sulphurous acid), this process of distillation should give place to one of roasting, whereby in a current of air the main portion of the sulphur is driven off in an oxidised form, whilst the lime, in admixture with a certain quantity of the sulphate of that base, remains behind in the furnace. The advantage of this mode of proceeding stands in unfavourable comparison with that by which the hyposulphite liquors are made to furnish the crystallised soda salt as the marketable product. 2295. Manufacture of Colouring Matters. JOHN S. BLOCKEY, Leeds. Dated August 14, 1862. (Not proceeded with.) THE inventor prepares red, blue, and purple colouring matters by acting upon aniline, or its homologues, with a The Misturæ are mostly identical with those in our own Pharmacopoeia; and many of the Pilula are well-known to us; but there is a form for Pilulæ ferri iodidi which we may quote, as some medical men have a fancy for prescrib-mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids, employed at the ing iodide of iron in pills. It is as follows: "Take of iodine half a troyounce; iron, in the form of wire, and cut into pieces, one hundred and twenty grains; sugar, in fine powder, a troy ounce; marshmallow, in fine powder, half a troyounce; gum arabic, in fine powder, reduced iron, each sixty grains; water, ten fluid drachms. "Mix the iodine with a fluidounce of the water in a thin glass bottle, add the iron, and shake them together until a clear, green solution is obtained. Mix the powders in a small porcelain capsule, and filter upon them, through a small filter, first the solution previously heated, and afterwards the remainder of the water to wash the filter. Then, by means of a water bath, with constant stirring, evaporate the whole to a pilular consistence, and divide the mass into 300 pills. "Dissolve sixty-grains of balsam of tolu in a fluid drachm of ether, shake the pills with the solution until they are uniformly coated, and put them on a plate to dry, occasionally stirring them until the drying is completed. Lastly, keep the pills in a well-stoppered bottle." If successfully prepared, we have no doubt these pills will be "unchangeable." (To be continued.) temperature of about 180° F. The several coloured pro ducts are formed simultaneously; they may afterwards be separated by known processes. The production of one or other of these dyes may be, however, to some extent, controlled, either by modifying the proportions of the two acids employed, or by taking more or less aniline or other homologous base. 2294. Decolorising Solutions of Sugar, &c. WILLIAM BIRD HERAPATH, Bristol. Dated August 14, 1862. (Not proceeded with.) THE inventor adds to the saccharine juice or solution of sugar a small quantity of the hypochlorite of an alkali or alkaline earth, using by preference the common bleaching powder, or hypochlorite of lime, dissolved in a small proportion of water. The lime thus added is afterwards separated by precipitation with the phosphate of soda or potash, and the insoluble phosphate of lime removed by filtration. It is probable that this last-named compound would, like alumina, directly serve in the removal of colouring matters and suspended impurities from the raw juice or sugar. 2296. Treating Crystallisable Sugar, to render it more suitable for Fermentation and Conversion into Alcohol and Vinegar. WILLIAM BIRD HERAPATH, Bristol. Dated August 14, 1862. IN the treatment of highly-coloured samples of cane or beet sugar, it is recommended to bleach with hypochlorite of lime before proceeding to operate upon it by the mode which forms the subject of this patent. The sugar is dissolved in hot water (about 180 F.), with which a small proportion of moderately pure hydrochloric acid has previously been mixed; or the acid may be added subsequently to the solution of the sugar in water. The temperature is now raised to boiling, and maintained at that heat for two or three hours, after which the free acid is neutralised by the addition either of carbonate of potash or soda, lime water, milk of lime, chalk, or other suitable material, taking the precaution not to use any of these in excess. At this stage the saccharine solution will be found to undergo the alcoholic fermentation with unusual facility; it merely requires to be cooled and diluted to the point at which brewers are in the habit of starting the fermentation of beer-wort, and may be turned into vinegar by following the usual processes. The action of hydrochloric acid at a boiling temperature would induce the conversion of cane into grape-sugar, which is known to undergo fermentation more readily than the original or crystallisable sugar. To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEWS. SIR,-In your last number you give a contribution to the fun of the season, and I am not sure but there is something similar on the same page, contributed by Mr. Williams. He compares capitalists, whose operations are hampered by the patent laws, to those who take other people's "pocket-handkerchiefs, watches, plate, purses, &c., burglars, pickpockets, and area sneaks." This may be good fun, but is it good sense? Is there any relation between the fancies of a schemer's brain and a man's purse? Seriously, this patent law is a gigantie incubus on everything like work. In proof of what I say, let me give you a sample of its working. I have a tract of land which I believed to contain valuable minerals, and some time ago, I, acting under the advice of a mining engineer, proposed to explore my land by boring. I learned this could be done in two ways-one by the power of men, which is slow, the other by the power of steam, which is the quick way. Of course, I chose the quick way, but here the patent law stopped me. I found the steamboring apparatus was patented, and I must buy it from the patentee or his licensees, paying them enormous profit, or be content with the old way. Surely this is a great grievance, but that is little to what followed. When I had gone through all the trouble and all the expense of exploring, sinking pits, and bringing the minerals to the surface, I found I could not use them to the best advan Royal Institution,-Tuesday, January 5, 3 o'clock, Professor Tyndall, "On Electricity at Rest and Electricity in Motion.". - Juvenile Lectures. Thursday, January 7, 3 o'clock, Professor Tyndall, On Electricity at Rest and Electricity in Motion."-Juvenile Lectures. Pharmaceutical Society.-The next Pharmaceutical meeting will take place on Wednesday evening, the 6th of January, at Eight o'clock. The chair will be taken at half-past Eight precisely. The following papers will be read:-"Note on the Root-Bark of Calisaya." By John Eliot Howard, F.L.S. "Note on Cassia moschata." By Daniel Hanbury, F.L.S. "On Goa Powder." By Mr. David S. Kemp. "Note on the Recovery of Essential Oils from their Watery Solution." By Mr. T. B. Groves. Thompson's Patent Bottles, and Thonger's Patent Label for the Prevention of Accidental Poisoning, will be exhibited at the meeting. Alkali Works.-On the 1st inst., the Act passed in the late session for the more effectual condensation of muriatic acid in alkali works, will take effect. The object of the statute is to secure the condensation of the gas to the satisfaction of the inspector or sub-inspector appointed under the Act. If it should appear to the court before whom any proceeding for the recovery of a penalty is instituted, that 95 per cent. at least of the muriatic acid gas evolved has not been condensed, a penalty not exceeding 50l. will be levied, and for a second offence 100l. The owner is to be liable for the offence in the first instance, unless he prove that the offence was committed by some agent without his knowledge, in which case the agent, &c., is to be liable. We have not yet seen the inspectors and sub-inspectors gazetted. Talmi Gold.—A beautiful gold-coloured alloy, sold under the above name, gave, on analysis, the following results: Copper Zinc Tin. Iron The iron was probably an accidental ingredient. The alloy besides was very thinly gilt. It is a good deal used to make watch chains.-Centralblatt, No. 52, 1863. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. In publishing letters from our Correspondents we do not thereby adopt the views of the writers. Our intention to give both sides of a do not agree. question will frequently oblige us to publish opinions with which we ** All Editorial Communications are to be addressed to the EDITOR, and Advertisements and Business Communications to the PUBLISHER, at the Office, 1, Wine Office Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C. F. Ruschhaupt (Berlin), shall receive a private communication. A Subscriber.-We know of no work specially devoted to the chemistry of explosive compounds. E. Fontanella.-There is a practical work on oil refining, we believe, among the series published by Roret, Paris. Books Received.-Culley's Handbook of Practical Telegraphy;" "Spectropia ;" "The Dircksian Phantasmagoria;" Braithwaite's "Retrospect," Hardwich's "Photographic Chemistry," new edition. |