Dr. Mohr on a Method of Estimating Chlorides. 57 



The acid has been named Anisoinic acid. It crystallizes from 

 an aqueous solution in small laminae, but on account of its great 

 solubility it is difficult to obtain in good crystals. Analyses 

 of its soda, silver, and baryta salts have been made. 



Limpricht proposes a nevv^ method for the formation of alde- 

 hydes. He considers that in the formation of acetone, 2 equivs. 

 of acetate of lime are necessary ; and he expresses the change as 

 follows, using Gerhardt^s notation : — 



Acetate of Ume. Acetate of lime. Carbonate of Hme. Acetone. 



From one equivalent of the acetate, the radical acetyle, and 

 from the other equivalent, methyle, unite to form acetone, the 

 other elements forming carbonate of lime. 



By heating together acetate of lime and formiate of lime, an 

 acetone is obtained which contains an equivalent of hydrogen in 

 the place of methvle; in other words, an aldehyde, — 



Acetate of hme. Formiate of hme. Aldehyde. 



By distilling valerianate of lime with formiate, valeraldehyde 

 is produced. 



This method has only theoretical interest, for the aldehydes 

 are produced only in small quantities, and so mixed with empy- 

 reumatic products that it is difficult to purify them. 



Mohr proposes a modification of the method of estimating 

 chlorides by a standard solution of nitrate of silver, by which 

 the point where the whole of the chlorine is converted into chlo- 

 ride of silver is rendered more distinct. 



Mohr adds to the solution of the chloride to be estimated a 

 little chrom'ate of potash solution, and then adds the nitrate of 

 silver solution. As long as any chloride remains not precipitated, 

 no chromate of silver is formed ; but when all the chloride is 

 precipitated, the addition of even a drop in excess of the standard 

 solution causes the formation of some chromate of silver, which 

 is instantly seen by its characteristic red colour. 



In the April Number of the same Journal, Gorup Besanez 

 gives the result of an investigation on the constituents of the 

 contents of certain glands. Two years ago he announced the 

 discovery, in the thymoid gland, of a weak basic body which he 

 named thymine. This he has since investigated more closely, 

 and finds that it is leucine. This body is an almost invariable 

 constituent of the glandular juices, and is contained in largest 

 quantity in the pancreas. He found in the pancreas a tolerably 



