Το and concentrated sulphuric acid with an intense violet-red colouration. From the formation of aniline and azobenzol it is highly probable that the green body contains nitroso-benzol. The benzol employed as solvent plays no part in the reaction, since it may be replaced by chloroform or bisulphide of carbon without affecting the result. produce nitroso-naphthalin hydrargyro-naphthyl was dissolved, with the aid of heat, in 50 parts bisulphide of carbon, and when cold treated with a mixture of bromine and bisulphide of carbon, previously saturated with NO at - 20°. Nitroso-naphthalin combines with aniline at once, forming a red substance; in concentrated sulphuric acid it dissolves with a cherry colour; if heated with alkalies and acids it is decomposed; and if dissolved in phenol it yields a blue colour on the addition of sulphuric acid-all phenomena which point to a nitroso derivative. PATENTS. ABRIDGMENTS OF PROVISIONAL AND COMPLETE Improvements in the treatment of sewage, night-soil, and towns'refuse, and like matters to utilise them as manure, and in the production of an artificial fuel to be employed in the said treatment, and for ot er purposes. William Henry Hughan, Southport, Lancaster. June 5, 1874.-No. 1959. The petitioner throws into closets, sewers, or sewagetanks a preserving powder to prevent decomposition, which he calls the sanitary powder; then he adds a second powder, which causes the manurial products to be precipitated, which he calls the precipitating powder; he then drains off the water by downward filtration, and the residuum is mixed with hot superphosphate manufactured in the usual manner, and in about twenty-four hours becomes a dry sewage phosphate manure or night-soil phosphates. The petitioner forms the above-named sanitary powder of portland cement or like materials, sulphates of soda, magnesia, and potash, mixed in oil (mineral oil preferred) until of a consistency of mortar, and decomposed by sulphuric acid, well boiled, and when dry is ready for use. He also manufactures a powder for the same purpose from material such as kainit and seaweed boiled with clay (china preferred) and soda waste, all reduced to pulp until saponified, the mass being then treated with sulphuric acid. The precipitating powder is formed of portland cement or like material with a little fluor spar mixed, soaked, or set in oil, mineral, or the distilled oil from the carbonisation of coal-ashes hereinafter mentioned, until indurated, and then powdered. For use in dry closets the petitioner forms a powder from the carbonisation of coal-ashes in gas revolving-retorts, the gas and oil being collected. The cinders are separated, and the black ash portion is the powder for closets. The contents of the closets and powder are mixed with animal cement powder, viz., farm-yard manure (or rich street-sweepings or sea-weed) triturated in a mill with diluted sulphuric acid (or plaster of Paris), and further incorporated with clay and quartz or sea-weed until capable of being moulded into bricks, which are dried, calcined, closed from, and then burnt in the open air as cement until all the charring has disappeared; the resuit of the mixture is a rich nitrate manure. The fuel is formed by mixing peat, pulp, sand, and clay with hot Yorkshire or other similar lime, and slaking in closed vessels. The ashes from this fuel form a good portland cement. Improvements in the manufacture of sulphate of potash, and in apparatus employed therefor. Gharles Stuart Gorman, chemist, Irvine, Ayr, N.B. June 6, 1874.-No. 1971. The features of novelty which constitute this invention are:-First. Mixing with chloride of potassium, alkali or chrome waste, lime, and magnesia, as and for the purposes described. Second. Introducing the gases and vapours into the decomposing chamber through a pipe extending throughout the chamber before the gases and vapours are allowed to mix with the chlorides, and terminating the gas inlet-pipe in or about the centre of the top or bottom of the decomposing chamber. Third. The employment of metallic oxides unmixed with the chlorides to promote the oxidation of sulphurous acid before it is introduced into the chlorides under conversion. Fourth. The employment of chlorine to promote the oxidation of the sulphurous acid as and for the purposes described. Fifth. The employment of nitric acid to promote the oxidation of the sulphurous acid as and for the purposes described. Improvements in the treatment of sugar and cane juice. James Duncan, sugar refiner, Mincing Lane, London. June 8, 1874.-No. 1989. The reduction of the glucose in sugar by means of lime and the precipitation of the lime by means of sulphuric acid as hereinbefore described; also the neutralisation of the free acids arising in the course of the foregoing process by means of carbonate of time. several other agents may be substituted for the bichromate of potash; aniline black is also obtained by heating this product, or emeraldine, or other insoluble aniline black along with an excess of aniline, and with or without chlorhydrate of aniline or other aniline salt. The product is soluble in alcohol, and may be rendered soluble in alkali or water by heating with sulphuric acid. Improvements in the manufacture of sulphate of soda and sulphate of potash. William Hunt, manufacturing chemist, of Castleford, near Normanton, York. June 10, 1874.-No. 2016. According to this invention the chloride of sodium (common salt) or chloride of potassium, before it is decomposed in the chambers by a mixture of sulphurous acid gas, steam, and air, is made or moulded into layers or blocks, and perforated with a series of holes at short distances apart. By means of these perforations the direct entrance of the gaseous mixture into the interior of the layer or block is secured, greater surface for the gaseous mixture to act upon is produced, and the draught of the gaseous mixture through the chambers is less impeded than when the Jumps operated upon are solid. The decomposition of the salt is effected in less than one-half the time required in the ordinary process, and finely ground rock-salt may be advantageoasly employed. Improvements in the manufacture of sulphates, and in apparatus employed therin. James Hargreaves, chemist, and Thomas Robinson, ironfounder, both of Widnes, Lancaster. June 10, 1874.-No. 2018. This relates to further improvements in and in connection with the patentees' direct action process of producing sulphates of soda and potassa, or either of them. First. For preventing loss of heat by radiation from the sulphurous acid flues, the arch or covering connec tion between the chambers is lowered, and the connecting pipe between the sulphurous acid flues is laid in the solid brickwork, and the heated gases conveyed through the said connecting pipe. By preference the said cor necting pipe is laid below the circulating pipe at one end of the sulphate chambers. Second. For keeping cool the bearings of rotary exhausting apparatus employed in the manufacture of sulphates we form the bearing brackets hollow at a distance from the sides, and cause a current of water to flow through the said hollow bearings. We also use oil or other lubricant over and over by pumping or raising it, and allowing it flow over the bearings. Third. Instead of using a syphon to take the products of combustion into the chambers when heating chloride with the products of combustion, we employ a cover for the feed-hole of such form that an annular passage is left around the feed-hole, and we cause the products of combustion to flow through the said annular space and through the feed-hole. By reversing the current of gas we cause the remaining sulphurous acid and steam to pass through the said feed-hole and annular opening previous to discharging a chamber. Fourth. For preventing gases from passing through the walls of brick chambers we build into the said walls plates of iron or other metal. Improvements in the treatment of animal charcoal used in the decolorisation of sugar solutions. Charles James Crossfield, and James Barrow, sugar refiners, and Edmund Alleyne Cook, analytical chemist, all of Liverpool, Lancaster. June 10, 1874.-No. 2024. This consists essentially in so treating spent or used charcoal as to produce pyrophosphate therein. Improvements in the manufacture of soft white soap. Gerard Joan Jacobson, Opollo Stearine Works, Schiedam, Holland. June 10, 1874. No. 2030. A very useful household soap is made of oleine (oleique acid) mixed with soda or kalie lye and hot water in the quantities specified as follows:-2 gallons of distilled oleine, 1 gallon of lye, 5 gallons of hot water. While pouring the hot water into the olein: the mass should be constantly stirred, and at the same time the lye must be slowly dropped in; stirring must be continued until the whole mass has assumed the appearance of a thick yellowish soap without curdles. After twenty-four hours' rest the soap is perfectly white and ready for use. Improvements in preserving fresh uncooked meat and other animal food, and antiseptic m xtures for that purpose. Alexander Herzen, coctor of medicine, Florence, Italy. June 11, 1874.-No. 2032. This invention relates to the preservation of fresh uncooked meat and other animal food in its natural condition, without change of colour or flavour, by immersing it for a time in a solution of a mixture of boracic acid, borax, salt, and saltpetre, and then packing it, preferably in fat of the same kind. THURSDAY, 8th.-Royal Institution, 3. Prof. Seeley, "On the Fossil Quekett Club, 8. Royal Institution, 8. Improvement in the preparation of products of aniline, and matters from which aniline is or may be derived, suitable to be used in dyeing and printing, and in the preparation of colouring matters. John FRIDAY, 9th.-Royal Astronomical, 8. Casthelaz, manufacturing chemist, Crumpsall Vale Chemical Works, near Manchester, Lancaster. June 10, 1874.-No. 2009.-According to this invention aniline or nitrobenzine is treated with sulphuric acid in excess, and with bichromate of potash or other oxidising agent with or without heat. From the product a soluble colouring-matter can be extracted, which imparts a brown tint to woollen or other matters, the said brown tint changing to black when the dyed matters are treated with a bath of bichromate of potash, followed by an alkaline bath. Chromic acid, or ammoniacal solution of copper, or salt of copper, and I Weekly Evening Meeting, 9, Sir William Thomson, "On Tides." SATURDAY 10th.-Royal Institution, 3. Mr. G. Smith," On the History of Assyria." Physical, 3. Prof. H. M'Leod, "On an Experiment 1. Steatite. A year or more ago I obtained from Mr. The iron found might, in part at least, be due to a trace of iron pyrites, which also occurred in the matrix of the specimen. Neither gold nor copper were present. Richard Talling, of Lostwithiel, some small specimens of ON SOME PROPERTIES OF NITRO-GLYCERIN a very pretty pink variety of soapstone. It presented a considerable resemblance to certain pink figure stones from China, but exhibited a rather more saliny lustre in places, while in other spots it was more sub-translucent. Its hardness was above 1 on the surfaces of the plates and fibres of which the mineral consisted, while in a direction at right angles to these fibres the hardness exceeded 2. The specific gravity was 2.70. The mineral, on analysis, proved to be a hydrated magnesium silicate, with mere traces of alumina, iron, and manganese. It contained less than 1 per cent of hygroscopic water; removed either over sulphuric acid in vacuo, or at 100° C. The dry mineral gave the following percentage: It is a silicate of magnesia, in which one-fourth of the magnesia is replaced by water. Analyses 10, and 12 to 22 in Dana's " Mineralogy," p. 453, referring to similar minerals from different localites, also agree well with the above formula. In other analyses, likewise referred to talc by Dana, the divergences can often be explained on the supposition of the presence of about 1 per cent of hygroscopic moisture, and the replacement of some of the magnesia by ferrous oxide. Some experiments now in progress on saponite, pagodite, and agalmatolite will, I hope, clear up some remaining difficulties connected with the so-called soapstones. 2. Not many months ago I received from Mr. Talling a nearly white crystalline mineral, which I have been unable to identify with any known species. It occurs in short, silky crystals, implanted on a translucent pale green vitreous substance, not unlike allophane. The crystals there have a slight greenish hue resembling that of ferrous sulphate. The quantity received as yet has been sufficient merely for a qualitative examination. The mineral contains much water, some fluorine, and a good deal of silica, and of ferrous oxide. It loses 15'14 per cent of its weight at 100' C., and 20'24 per cent at a red-heat; the total loss thus amounting to no less than 35:38 per cent. 3. Native Gold from Cornwall. Some grains of gold from Ladock gave, on analysis,— [C3H5(NO2)303]. By SERGIUS KERN, St. Petersburg. STUDYING now the properties of some explosive substances, I think this preliminary notice on nitro-glycerin will be of some interest. The nitro-glycerin for the experiments was prepared in the ordinary way, only the apparatus was slightly altered. The glycerin (C3H8O3) was poured into a funnel, 5 grms. capacity, with a long glass tube and a tap near the neck of the funnel. The mixture of equal quantities of fuming nitric and sulphuric acids was poured into a high glass surrounded with another filled with water. The glass tube of the funnel was next introduced into the acid mixture, and the tap was opened. Then, as the glycerin flowed into the mixture, it was quickly stirred together by the same funnel-tube. The operation finished, all the liquor was poured into a deep glass vessel filled with water; the nitro-glycerin sunk was collected and dried over sulphuric acid under a glass bell-jar. The nitro-glycerin obtained was nearly colourless with a light yellow tint. The sp. gr. was found to be 16 at 15°; it solidified only at 4° in a crystalline mass. - At the following temperatures nitro-glycerin underwent the following modifications:187°-ebullition; separation of orange vapours. 220°-strong explosion. 262°-the most strong explosion. 294° very feeble explosion, accompanied with a yellowish flame. It is seen from this small table that the explosive properties of nitro-glycerin nearly disappeared at a high temperature. LECTURES ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF AT THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY. By NEVIL STORY MASKELYNE, M.A., F.R.S., &c. (Continued from page 121). LECTURE XII. THE symmetrical system next passing under review was that in which two original planes of symmetry intersect at an angle of 60°. Two such planes will result in a third plane of symmetry inclined on each of them at 60°; and if we first consider the repetitions that, for instance, a pole lying independently on the sphere (that is to say, not engaged with a circle of symmetry) would undergo as the result of the form to which the pole belongs, being symmetrical to these three planes and to a centre, we shall see that it will result in twelve poles, the faces of which would be parallel in pairs and grouped as in Fig. 11, with the form kk1} where the spots represent the poles as distributed on one hemisphere, and the eyelets those opposite to them on the opposite hemisphere of projection. 4. Native Silver. A beautiful old specimen of native It is, however, to be observed that the zone plane persilver from Huel Herland recently came into my posses-pendicular to the three plane of symmetry itself fulfils the Gold 92 34 per cent. Iron Silica and loss 6'06 trace 160 ICO OO conditions necessary for a potential plane of symmetry. If, now, we call the first three planes of symmetry, S1, S2, S3, and their zone plane the plane C, and if we suppose the plane C to be actually symmetral, the poles of either hemisphere in the last figure will be repeated on the oppo. site hemisphere, as in Fig. 12; and one sees at once that we have a series of systematic triangles, e.g., S3, S2, C, containing each two poles, so disposed that the whole figure will be symmetrical to a new triad of planes 2, viz., 23, 22, E1, which will evidently be inclined each at 30° to two, and at right angles to the third, of the planes S. Thus a symmetrical system, in the former case trigonal in symmetry, becomes a system hexagonal in symmetry without the introduction of any new condition that was not involved in the first case. The sphere will be divided, in the latter case, into twenty-four systematic triangles, with C. These axes are parallel to the edges of a rhombic in which the only variable element is that single angle at I I π their sides, S and E, quadrants, and their angles, s σ, The selection of an axial system for hexagonal crystals presents some difficulties. The system adopted by Professor Miller has, however, this advantage, in point of geometrical simplicity, over that of the crystallographers who take four axes, viz., the normals of the planes Σ and C, that the latter have a redundant axial element to deal with; and it further presents the symbols of the forms in the system in a more symmetrical manner than that of an "ortho-hexagonal" axial system proposed by Schrauf, in which the normal to the plane C, and two of the perpendicular axes of symmetry lying in that plane, serve for the axes, the parameters on the two latter being in the relation The pole in which a great circle passing through the poles (111) and (100) would intersect with the zone circle [S] of the planes S and E, i.e., the zone circle [I I 1], is obviously, by the zone rule, (211). While, further, any pole lying on the great circle, S, must fulfil the condition =1, and its symbol will be {h kk). Since the pole (211) is that of the zone circle 2, the symbol of E, is seen to be [211], and a pole on this great circle must fulfil the condition and by the zone rule the great circles [C] and [E], will intersect in a pole (o II); and, further, a pole lying on the great circle, [C], i.e., on [1 I 1], must satisfy the condition p+q+r=0. We have then determined the symbols for each of the one of the planes of symmetry being a parametral different kinds of forms of this system. Thus, recapitulating plane. The axial system of Professor Miller is formed by three edges lying in the planes of symmetry, S, equally inclined upon the morphological axis normal to the plane these results, the general form, the poles of which lie scalenohedron, which we shall term the di-scalenohedron. within the systematic triangle, is a twenty-four faced Its symbol will be {h kl, ef g}, where the second member of the symbol represents the poles equidistant with the poles {k} from the poles of the form (I I I) on the same zone circles, and of these the symbols are easily obtained by the problem of four tantozonal planes. They are e=2(k+1)-h. f=2(l+h)-k. g=2(h+k)-l. The form, of which the poles lie on the sides, S, of the systematic triangles, will have the symbol {hkk, eff}; it is the di-rhombohedron, and consists of two correlative rhombohedra building up a double pyramid, its faces being sosceles triangles. The poles that lie on the Σ sides of to the planes C and to a centre. The former of these, FIG. 12. hkl} the systematic triangles will belong to forms similar to the preceding, but in no case congruent with them; the symbol of such a form is {min}, where the index, i, is the arithmetic mean of the other two. The form of which the poles lie on the sides C of the systematic triangles is a dihexagonal prism; twelve-faced, with its alternate edges alike and its adjacent edges dissimilar. Its symbol is pqr, and the sum of its indices is zero, since its poles lie on the zone-circle [1 I 1], and fulfil therefore the condition p+q+r=0. The form with its poles at the angles in which S and C intersect is the proto-hexagonal prism; its symbol is (2). The deutero-hexagonal prism, {10}, has its poles, as we have seen, in the intersections of the sides Σ and C; and, finally, the hexagonal pinakoid is the twofaced form, {111}, lying at the intersections of the sides S and 2. I Of the numerous mero-symmetrical forms of this system, the general characters of which were described by the lecturer, two in particular were considered which belonged to the hemi-systematic variety. The first presented symmetry only to the planes S and to a centre, the other only I have remarked that if on packing a batch of caustic soda the slightest turbidity appear, the finished product will on cooling be very inferior. If a drum of such caustic be broken up, the section will probably show a white ring or corona, where the mass has first cooled, but which gradually changes to a dirty grey towards the central or last solidified portion. And it might be fairly imagined by any one inspecting a drum of this unsatisfactory character, that samples taken from the bad core would produce either a tinted solution, or would contain a pretty fair amount of insoluble matter. Such, however, is not usually the case, for even the most hopelessly bad pieces generally give, together with a perfectly colourless solution, the veriest trace of a beautiful white sediment consisting of lime. Occasionally, however, a little iron is present, but the two combined rarely exceed to of a per cent. Sometimes also alumina separates on neutralising the clear liquor with an acid, showing aluminate of soda to have been present. This latter is not a little singular, for the bottoms invariably contain alumina, and why the caustic soda should at an odd time take up a portion seems rather curious. Sometimes in inferior looking samples of caustic soda the aluminate is present without any other impurity exhibiting itself, which would go to prove the insolubility of aluminate soda in the concentrated hydrate. The caustic drums should never be packed straight ahead till completely full, but by three or four instalments. In the former case, as it cools, it contracts or withdraws from the centre, leaving a hollow core right through the axis of the drum, and causes a loss in drums of nearly 10 per cent, equal to Is. 6d. to 2s. per ton of caustic soda. In the manufacture of caustic soda, the water employed is an item of considerable importance, for in the production of every ton of 70 per cent, no less than 14 tons water must be converted into steam; and it is rather strange that, with one or two solitary exceptions, not the slightest attempt is made to utilise the enormous waste and loss of heat. I feel quite satisfied that by judiciously fixing a hood over the boat-pans or caustic pots, communicating with some simple description of surface condenser, not only could a considerable amount of water be saved, but the expenditure of steam for causticising, &c., might be also materially lessened. But it requires a little courage on the part of managers to move out of the beaten track, for in Lancashire especially there is little sympathy with failures. The production of salt cake (including "bottoms," if sold) is, in well-conducted works, 54 to 57 per cent of 60 per cent caustic soda, and the proportion of "bottoms" is 9 to 11 per cent of the good caustic. If, however, much "red" liquor from the soda ash department be used, this proportion will be larger, or say 12 to 14 per cent. The amount of salt necessary for reduction to 60 is 15 to 16 per cent of the caustic soda packed, though it varies considerably; and the amount of nitre is 1 to 2 per cent. Reckoning, however, to be recovered in the form of caustic alkali, the real loss only amounts to to I per cent. The total quantity of fuel for all purposes should not exceed 6 to 6 tons, but in many works the consumption is over 7 tons per ton of caustic soda. It may be divided as follows: Tens. Cwts. Qrs. B. A. Furnaces Mixing I .. 2 2 I O ΙΟ Total 6 ΙΟ I have but briefly entered into the manufacturing details of cream caustic soda, my desire being principally to describe minutely those of white. The colour is due to the presence of peroxide of iron, which is held in solution or suspension by the soda at its comparatively low finishing temperature, but which separates on solution of the caustic in water. Tate suggests the presence of ferrate of sodium, which would be decomposed on treatment with water. If the cream caustic be prepared from uncausticised "red" liquors, a considerable quantity of nitre is necessary, namely, about 1 cwt. per ton of soda produced. In the latter case, also, much less fuel is required, as in place of being evaporated down from about 15° T. the concentration of the liquors only commences at about 60°, that being their average strength. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Anniversary Meeting, Tuesday, March 30th, 1875. THE President, Dr. ODLING, in his annual address, con- In evidence of the greatly increased activity of the Society, he might say that the average number of Fellows in the three years ending March, 1872, was 586, and the number of communications 30 per annum; whilst in the three years ending March, 1875, the number of Fellows was 739, and the number of communications had increased to 59. The development of chemical industry in its application to the manufacture of so-called organic products had been very striking during the last twenty years, and thus the practical fruit of the pursuit of abstract chemical science had again largely contributed to the progress of abstract investigation, since many of the compounds, manufactured on a large scale, are amongst the most valuable raw materials of the scientific chemist. The analytical methods for the detection of food adulteration which, with few exceptions, had long been in a The raw materials and total expenses per ton of 60 per most unsatisfactory condition, are now being replaced by cent may be put down as follows: |