46 



when a large quantity of cold water is added to the alcoholic solution, 

 the capric acid separates in crystals. The numbers obtained by 

 analysis shewed the formula to be C20 Hjg O3 HO. 



The author then describes the salts of capric acid that he examined, 

 — these were the silver, baryta, magnesia, lime, copper, and soda. He 

 also obtained capric ether and capramide. The capric ether is an oily 

 liquid, lighter than water, its specific gravity being -862, insoluble in 

 cold water, but readily soluble in alcohol and ether. The capramide 

 he obtained by acting on the ether with a strong solution of ammonia. 

 It forms beautiful crystalline scales, insoluble in cold water, soluble 

 in cold alcohol, and also in dilute spirit, when warmed. Its formula 

 he found to be C^q Hg^ 0^ N. 



2. On Iron and its Alloys. Part II. By J. D. Morries 

 Stirling, Esq. 



The following abstract contains a brief notice of this as 

 well as of the former part of Mr Stirling's paper, read at last 

 meeting : — 



The author gave a short description of the various kinds of cast- 

 iron, and a statement respecting their strengths, and of the uses to 

 which they are more especially adapted, pointing out the discrepan- 

 cies which exist between chemists as to the quantity of carbon con- 

 tained in each sort. That the author's experience led him to 

 believe that the quantities of carbon were different in the different 

 Nos. — greater in No. 1, less in Nos. 2, 3, and 4. Slow cooling of 

 large masses of iron renders them softer. In making the mixtures 

 of wrought and cast iron, different proportions of wrought-iron are 

 used ; for soft iron containing much carbon (or No. 1), more mal- 

 leable-iron, and for harder iron, less. Welsh, Scotch, Staffordshire 

 iron differing much from each other — the Scotch being the softest, 

 the Welsh the hardest. By the proper proportioning the addition of 

 malleable-iron, the strength of cast-iron is nearly doubled, both 

 transversely and tensilely. By melting this mixture of wrought and 

 cast iron, and then puddling the mixture, a very superior kind of 

 wrought-iron is obtained, and the process of refining is avoided. By 

 the addition of calamine or zinc to common iron, without the admix- 

 ture of wrought-iron, a very superior malleable-iron is produced, 

 equal in appearance, when twice rolled, to iron that has been thrice 



