INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1875. cclxxxv 



from certain formulae derived from the crude meter-indica- 

 tions and the final weighings. For further details, we refer 

 our readers to the memoir in full (vide Journal of the 

 Franklin Institute, Vol. LXIX., p. 146 et seq.). 



Schering affirms that the burning of glycerine may be 

 readily effected in any form of lamp which permits the 

 flame to be brought directly above the surface of the com- 

 bustible. A long wick will not afford a steady flame, be- 

 cause of the sirupy consistency of the glycerine. The 

 flame of glycerine is, like that of alcohol, very slightly lu- 

 minous; and as the latter is of great utility as a solvent, Scher- 

 ing was induced to experiment with the glycerine flame, 

 with the view of substituting the latter for the alcohol 

 flame for laboratory and other purposes. The results ob- 

 tained were quite satisfactory. 



The assertion of Raoult, that pure cane-sugar in aqueous 

 solution, and with the complete exclusion of air and ferments, 

 would gradually undergo inversion under the influence of 

 light, has been called in question by Kreussler, who has re- 

 peated the experiment with every possible precaution. The 

 last-named chemist asserts that a pure sugar solution, kept 

 in glass tubes, the open ends of which were drawn out and 

 sealed with the blow-pipe, after the air contained therein had 

 been completely driven out, failed to respond in the slightest 

 degree to Fehling's test for glucose. Where the air had 

 not been completely excluded, however, the contents of the 

 tubes upon examination indicated the conversion of from 52 

 to 90 per cent, of the cane-sugar into grape-sugar. 



Albumen for printing purposes is said to be becoming 

 scarce, and a new source of supply is greatly needed. The 

 debasement of silks by foreign admixture, if we may infer 

 from the comments of journals devoted to textile interests, 

 has of late reached such a height as to promise shortly to 

 rival that of a class of cotton-goods which have added large- 

 ly to the notoriety, if not to the fame, of one of the manufact- 

 uring centres of England. A writer to one of the French 

 journals shows that the weighting of black silks which be- 

 gan with the modest aim of making up for the loss sustained 

 in ungumming is now carried to the extent of 100, 200, and 

 300 per cent. This increase of weight is effected by treat- 

 ment with salts of iron and astringents, salts of tin and cy- 



