requisite to extract any alkaloids or their salts that may be present, and to ensure success these must be reduced to the solid state. In the application of reagents for the production of the colour-tests, care should be observed not to add any more sulphuric acid to the strychnia than what is necessary to dissolve it; and, in like manner, the powdered bichromate of potassa, or ferricyanuret of potassium, should only be moistened, as by touching a glass rod with the point of the tongue and then rubbing it over the powder. In this manner, two saturated solutions or mixtures are obtained, which show the play of colours as soon as their margins are brought into contact, even though the quantity of alkaloid present be very minute. -Amer. Journ. Med. Science. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Thursday, June 19, 1862. Mr. W. CRUM in the Chair. DR. MARCET gave a lecture "On the Chemistry of Digestion." Until very recently but little attention had been bestowed by chemists on those changes which go on under the influence of organic life, and, in consequence, many vague speculations had been entertained and published concerning this most interesting department of science; of late years, however, many able investigators had taken the subject in hand, and much progress had already been made. Many obstacles attended these inquiries on account of the difficulty of observing the conditions of the immediate principles during life; the term "immediate principles" being applied to those substances produced by organic life from which no less complex body could be obtained without a complete destruction of the substance in question. As an example of the power possessed by organic substances of preventing ordinary chemical reactions, the influence of albumen or the serum of blood on lactate of iron was shown. A mixture of this salt with white of egg gave no colour with ferrocyanide of potassium, although the lactate itself furnished the ordinary blue precipitate. With respect more especially to the chemistry of digestion, it appeared that after a long fast the contents of the stomach were alkaline, and very small in quantity; as soon, however, as food was introduced, the gastric juice was secreted in quantity, and an acid reaction was perceptible. The object of the action of the gastric juice was, no doubt, to render the food capable of absorption; and accordingly it was found that albuminous, gelatinous, and other similar matters introduced into the stomach, became converted into a substance called "peptone," which, according to Lehmann, might be viewed as the same body, whatever nitrogenous food was employed; it had been shown, however, that the peptones resulting from the digestion of cartilage and the mucous membranes rotated the plane of polarisation of light, whereas peptones from albumen had not this power. The gastric juice, which was at first abundant, gradually diminished in quantity and became more acid, probably in order that it might act on the less masticated or less easily digestible portions of the food. Besides the conversion of the albuminous matter into peptone, another important change took place in the stomach, namely, the decomposition of the neutral fats and setting free of the fatty acids; this was an important decomposition, for the bile would form an emulsion with a fatty acid, but not with a neutral fat; some of the fat sometimes escaped decomposition, but the pancreatic secretion formed an emulsion with this portion. The formation of an emulsion seemed to depend on the incrustation of each globule with a layer of soap, which prevented the globules from coalescing, and increased their specific gravity, so that they remained for a long time suspended in the liquid. Dr. Marcet considered that in experijuice obtained directly from the stomach of an animal, instead ments on digestion it was always better to employ gastric of an artificial compound, such as was employed by some physiologists. There was some dispute as to the nature of the free acid existing in the gastric juice,—some supposed it consisted of hydrochloric acid, while others imagined that other free acids, especially lactic acids, were present; since quantitative determinations of the amount of hydrochloric acid and of the bases present in the gastric juice showed that there was more hydrochloric acid than was sufficient to combine with all the base, it was evident that there must be some free hydrochloric acid present; it was highly probable, however, that other acids were present in a free state, for on placing some gastric juice in a dialyser and leaving it until all the hydrochloric acid had passed away, the remaining matter was found to be still acid. It had been supposed that the soda introduced in the shape of common salt with the hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice, was employed in the formation of bile; but it appeared from the interesting researches of Dr. Bence Jones that this was not exactly the case, for healthy blood was always alkaline, but appeared to have an incessant tendency to become acid; the acid was, however, as rapidly removed by the secreting organs; and it had been found that when the secretion of gastric juice was active the urine became less acid, and it gradually increased in acidity as the gastric secretion was moderated, so that the two actions balanced one another. It appeared that if no salt were supplied with the food eaten, the hydrochloric acid secreted was totally absorbed again with the food, furnishing an example of that wonderful power of adaptation to circumstances which enabled animal life to continue under varying external conditions. The only materials of the food that passed through the stomach and intestines undigested were such substances as hair, horns, &c. ; together with these, however, a small quantity of excrementitious matter, obtained from the various secretions poured into the intestines, was always present, and a crystalline matter of definite chemical composition, and bearing some analogy to cholesterine, might be extracted from it. Dr. BALY remarked that he did not altogether agree with Dr. Marcet as to the advantage of employing gastric juice obtained directly from the stomach in physiological experiments; he had found that an extract of the membrane of the stomach, when mixed with hydrochloric acid, acted very energetically; the substance ordinarily sold as pepsine was worthless in most instances, consisting principally of starch or other matters of a like nature. Mr. NEWLANDS observed that with respect to the nondetection of iron when mixed with albumen, he would suggest that it was possible that the lactic acid was the substance really affected, and that the oxide of iron being left in an uncombined state would be incapable of producing Prussian blue with ferrocyanide of potassium until an acid was added to neutralise the potash set free. Mr. PORRETT drew attention to the fact that a solution of protoxide of iron did not afford a blue precipitate with ferrocyanide, but on exposure to air the white precipitate formed under these circumstances soon changed to blue. Dr. GLADSTONE remarked that the separation effected by dialysis would probably prove an important auxiliary in chemico-physiological experiments; it might be considered to have set at rest the question as to the presence of more than one free acid in gastric juice. The next paper was by Mr. PERRINS," On Berberine.” Different sources of this organic base were mentioned, and an analysis of many salts had been performed, which had led to an alteration in the formula expressing the composition of this body; the old formula being CHEMICAL NEWS, Notices of Patents-Correspondence. 355 1650. Manufacture of Coal Gas by the Surplus or Waste Heat of the Puddling and Blast Furnaces used in the Manufacture of Iron. T. SWINTERTON, Dudley, Staffordshire. Dated June 28, 1861. CHINO9, and the new one CH,NO3. Among the salts were mentioned the double hyposulphite of berberine and silver, CH17NO8,S2O2+AgO,S2O2, the bichromate CH,NO,HO,2C2O3. The hydriodate of biniodo-berberine, C10H1NÖSI2,HI, formed THE patentee claims the adaptation of gas retorts to the by adding a solution of iodine in excess to a salt before-mentioned iron furnaces for the purpose of economisof the base, and a second iodide having the same composi-ing the waste heat; using it in the production of coal tion as the former, but of a beautiful green colour, formed gas in preference to rendering it available as a source of by adding a deficiency of iodine to a solution of a berberine steam power, or for heating the air-blast. salt. Berberine appeared to be a base very widely diffused in nature, and worthy of more notice than was usually bestowed upon it in Manuals of Chemistry. Extracts from a paper by Mr. Greville Williams were also read. Availing himself of a reaction pointed out by Berthelot, to the effect that when olefiant gas and hydriodic acid were brought together, iodide of ethyl was formed, Mr. Williams had prepared from Boghead naphtha a series of iodides homologous with iodide of ethyl, and this method of formation might eventually prove to be of some commercial importance. NOTICES OF PATENTS. 1580. Compounds of India rubber and Gutta-percha with other Substances. J. F. WILLIAMS, Queen Square, London. Dated June 19, 1861. THIS invention consists in combining with india-rubber or gutta-percha the black residuum obtained in the distillation of palm and other vegetable oils by superheated steam. These substances are intimately mixed by being masticated, and, when it is desired afterwards to vulcanise the indiarubber compound, a certain quantity of sulphur must be added and thoroughly combined with the other materials. It is recommended, in most cases, to introduce a small proportion of chalk into these compounds, and, when the nature of the application permits, some fibrous matter also to give strength to the mass. J. CULLEN, North 1582. Preserving Wood and Iron. London Railway Works, Bow. Dated June 19, 1861. A COMPOSITION is prepared from coal-tar, quick-lime, and charcoal, the two latter ingredients being reduced to the state of fine powder and intimately incorporated with hot coal-tar. The wood to be preserved is dipped into the hot composition; iron may be painted with the same. 1592. Improvements in the Manufacture of Fuel from Peat, and in Apparatus employed therein. C. HODGSON, Ballard, Rathdrum, Wicklow. Dated June 20, 1861. 1593. An Improved Method of Partially Drying Peat before removing the same from the Bog. C. HODGSON, Ballard, Rathdrum, Wicklow. Dated June 20, 1861. THESE Specifications describe a mode of treatment adopted by the inventor for the preparation of compressed blocks of peat to be used as fuel. The top surface of the bog having been cleared from roots and the unconverted vegetable structures of recent origin, trenches are dug at intervals for the purpose of draining the peat. As soon as the surplus water has been thus got rid of, the upper layer is harrowed to the depth of three or four inches, and in this condition left exposed to the wind and air until, in the course of a day or two, the loosened turf has become sufficiently dry. This matter is then collected by raking, and submitted to great pressure without the application of heat, being retained in the press until it has been transformed into permanent blocks of the requisite degree of compactness, and dry enough to be used as fuel. 1666. Distillation of Solid and Liquid Combustible Matters. W. CLARK, Chancery Lane, London. A Communication. Dated June 29, 1861. THIS invention consists in injecting into the midst of the combustible materials undergoing distillation a blast of heated gas not itself combustible. The gases best adapted for the purpose are nitrogen, carbonic acid, or a mixture of these procured by passing a current of air over red-hot charcoal. Under these circumstances the materials operated upon are said to be brought more immediately under the influence of heat, and to afford products differing from those obtained in forms of apparatus in which the heat is applied externally. The inventor further recommends the application of this system to the rectification of crude liquid and solid products, obtained as the first result of distillation, and particularly when it is desired to convert these into permanent gas. This method is stated to furnish excellent results when adopted in the case of the destructive distillation of peat, and carried out in the same manner as when coal gas is made in retorts through which a current of uninflammable gas is passed during the time heat is being applied. CORRESPONDENCE. On the Nitro-prusside of Sodium as a Test for certain Alkaloids. To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEWS. SIR,-Since announcing the above test I find by using it in the manner stated, that the plea for the non-detection of strychnia in the presence of morphia no longer holds good, as subsequent experiments with five and even ten times the amount of morphia prove. I find also that one drop of a solution of strychnia of one per cent. strength, agitated with one or two drops of a saturated solution of the nitro-prusside, produces an abundant crop of crystals for an infinitude of experiments with sulphuric acid, -the crystals under the microscope being in long nitre shaped tufts and needles. A similar experiment with brucia produces larger and broader needles having lancet points, totally different from etrychnia, besides being different in its reaction with sulphuric acid. A similar experiment with morphia also shows certain characteristics; thus, the crystals are for the most part of a peculiar star-fish shape for the larger compound crystals, which appear to be made up of plates or layers of single squares. These crystals when collected on a filter and dried, produce the usual orange-red coloured reaction with nitric acid, but unlike pure morphia, when touched with sulphuric acid, assume a deep sepia brown with a purplish shade, which is more or less persistent,-totally different from the reaction on any other alkaloid. Possibly, by applying this test to some other alkaloids, we may obtain some useful characteristics by which they can be recognised better than by some of our present methods.-I am, &c. Cheltenham. JOHN HORSLEY. 356 Index. INDEX. June 28, 1862. sulphindig tic, products of oxida- sulphuric, arsenic in, 95 reduction of, by nascent hydro- tartaric, action of chloracetyle on, 195 titanic in clay, 320 citric, butyeric, and valeric, 122 Acidimetric method, generalisation Address of the chairman of the of butter with animal fats, 43, 99 of articles of food and drink, law of milk, 278 of tin foil, 59 Air and ammonia, action of, on Air, filtration of, and the influence Alcock, Dr. Thomas, on the tongues quantitative determination of, in Alkaline hydrates and carbonates, 311 matters, presence of rubidium Alkaloids, poisonous, 229 a process for the extraction and Alloys in fusion, action of voltaic of lead and tin, 121 of soda and its uses, 296 53 recent researches on metallic, and on the origin of their 184 American chrome iron ore, 56 upon the salts of magnesia, 235 113 bicarbonate of, 325 in contact with oxides, action of of, bluish vapours, 335, 319 spectrum, 40, 201, 214, 251 Dr. T. on the chemistry of opium, 265 Dr. growth of cinchona in India, 317 71 colouring matters, 130, 141, 151, 155 products from manufacture of, 235 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126, 140, the a natural oxide of, stibiconise, 74 Arsenic, sulphide of, in commercial thermal water, 6 Arseniate of soda, preparation of,56 Arseniferous sulphur from the sol fatara of Naples, and prepara- Asbestos paper, 56 Aschoff, M. H. on perchromic acid 129 Assay of silver by the moist way, 2 modifications of, consequent on electricity observations on, 175 poisons not always poisons, 120 BALDOCK, J. H. on the adulteration salts, use of, in dyeing, 42 able by most acid or alkaline Bassano, E. De, and A. Bruden, Bandrimont, M. preparation of chlo- rosulphide of phosphorus, 41 process for testing the purity of, Bernoulli, M. F. A. on tungsten, Bisulphide of benzyl, 252 the Minjak Lantoeng of Java, Bloxam, Prof. on the capacity of on arsenic in sulphuric acid. 95 Boghead coal, on the indifferent Böttger, crystalline structure of Boudault, M. on pepsine, 235 Bourne and Taylor, Messrs. im Boussingault, M. gases given off by nitrogen in meteoric iron, 41 109 Briggs, J. artificial substances to be British Association for the Advance- Bromine, detection of, 254 and iodine, behaviour of essential Broughton, J. Esq. on adjusting the needles of a galvanometer, 301 Messrs. Spencer, and Co. new Brudenn and E. De Bassano, CADMIUM, sulphate of, a quick and easy method of preparing, 311 natural and commercial alka- Cajuput, oil of, to distinguish be- provements and progress in, ments and progress in dyeing on the composition of a carbon- on the employment of galvanised on some applications of carbolic . wood for ship-building, 42 and Mr. Richard Johnson, on the conductibility of heat by Cameron, Dr. C. A. contributions Carbolic acid, 182 or hydrate of oxide of phenyle, Carbon in iron, 252 estimation of, 5, 210 of potash crystals, composition and alkaline hydrates, new method of estimating, 311 ratus for the estimation of, 142 237 Index. Chemical nomenclature, 41 206, 235, 265, 293, 319, 332, 354 at the International Exhibition, of soils, a handy-book of the, 306 Chloride of ammonium, bluish of lime as an insecticide, 247 substitutions, new method of Chlorobenzoyl, compound of nico- Chloroform, estimation of the commercial analysis of, 199, 254 Mr. A. on the isolation of phenyl, 177 electric telegraph apparatus, 209 distillation of solid and liquid Clifton, Professor, on the effect of increased temperature upon tar to prevent potato disease, 42 aniline, 130, 141, 151, 155 production of new, by decom Carbonaceous substance, composi- double sulphides of, 122 metallic as a test for sulphurous Copper, on the products resulting Croll, A. A. sulphate of alumina, Mr. J. on specific heat in relation on a means of increasing the in- nations in coal, coke, &c. 245 Cullen, J. preserving wood and Curiosities in chemical evidence, Cuisinier, J. a new method of clari- the animal charcoal used in the Cyanides of the platinum metals, Cyanogen, acetate of, 210 357 Dropet, M. on the adulteration of Dusart, M. L. on some naphthalic Dyeing and calico printing, on im- EARLE, O. lubricating compound, 27 Electricity, atmospheric observa- Ethylene, oxide of, action of sodium considered as a link between Ethyl bases, preparation of, by reaction of, with Dr. Knop's Evidence of "Experts," 183 cho- mistry, &c. at the, 239, 256, chemical substances and pro- Class III. substances used as food, Class III and IV, animal and jottings from, 319 list of jurors in classes and sec- Experts, evidence of, 183 FAUCHER, M. L. on the preparation Fermentation as a cause of various influence of silicic acid on, 98 Firmenich, Magnus, on the prepa- Diseases, fermentation as a cause of Fitzgerald, D. G. obtaining electric currents for telegraphic pur- Fizeau, M. H. on the light emitted by sodium burning in air, 150 Food, adulteration of, 70 and drink, the law against adul- substances used as, at the Exhi- bition, 326, 342 Foreign and English weights and Formic acid, preparation of, by Fresenius, M. on the detection of Fruits, amylaceous matter in, 98 GALLS, estimation of tannic acid in, Galvanised or zinc covered pipes, corrosion of, when used for con- iron for armour-plated ships, 193 Gases given off by plants under Gaudin, M. on aluminate of baryta and pure alumina salts for Gentele, M. J. C. on crystallised voltaic pile on salts of potash and adapting certain vegetable points in connection with the phosphoric acid in presence of 281 Gladstone, Mr. on the reciprocal Glass, soluble, 210 which tarnishes, analysis of, 115 transparency of, 84 Graham, G. improvements relating to ornamental cotton fabrics, 161 on the presence of rubidium in Gravity, specific determination of of liquid and solid substances, 40 Ground ice, 94 Guano, estimation of, 308 Peruvian, 268 Gueymard, M. on the estimation 139 Gun-cotton, to make, 140 Gye, F. obtaining light, 69 HAGAR, the adulteration of bees- Hardy, M. on the estimation of the Heat, absorption and radiation of, Heeren, Dr. Max, ethyl and methyl Hesse, M. on iodide of calcium, 337 Hippuric and uric acids, variation Historical and scientific facts about memoir of the late, 175 Iodine, new method of separating, 111 manufacture of, 125 and ammonium compound, 154 estimation of, 5, 210 analysis of, 170 and copper, double sulphides of, 122 pyrites, on the estimation of grey cast, on the composition of meteoric, nitrogen in, 41 on the oxalates of, 16 JAQUEMIN, M. E. on the reduction Jame, W. R. manufacture of kamp- Jevons, W. S. spectrum analysis, 251 decoloration and disinfection of liquids, 138 Mr. R. and Dr. F. C. Calvert, F.R.S. on the conductibility of W. W. and R. and Sons, manu- on the simultaneous variations of Dr. on the probable cause of elec- Jurors, list of, of classes and sections KALISCH, M. H. on the construction chemie oder der chemie der 237 Kirnot, C. N. obtaining ammoniacal on the constitution and artificial Kuhlmann, M. Fred, on the oxides LABORATORY reference, chemical Lead, quantitative determination 52 Lea, Mr. C. on the action of nitric further remarks on the prepara- on the estimation of nitrogen, 28 on the production of nitrate of reaction of ethyl bases with Dr. on the reactions of ethylamine on Lemaire, M. coal-tar to prevent the Loplay, H. a new method of clari- fying saccharine liquids, juices, to the ventilation of sewers, 104 on the nascent oxygen tests for the poisonous effects of carboni Leuchs, J. C. influence of silicic Light, a course of six lectures on, emitted by sodium burning in emitted by the vapour of certain gases given off by plants under Lime, experiments n the deport- |