110 Proceedings. 



The analyses of the greasy and slipe wools used in this investigation are given, 

 from which it is seen that the slipe wools contain less moisture than the greasy wools ; 

 also, the amounts of wool-fat and sriint are lower in the slipe wool. 



The amounts of moisture absorbed were determined after exposing the ■\\'ool to the 

 atmosphere for from twenty-fonr to 408 hoiirs after drying absolutely, determinations 

 of the relative humidity of the atmosphere and the amount of moisture in grains per 

 cubic foot being made at the same time. 



The results obtained show that greasy wool absorbs from 24J to 29J per cent, of 

 moisture, and slipe wool under the same conditions absorbs from 16 to "20^ per cent, 

 of moisture. It is found that the amounts of moisture absorbed increase and decrease 

 as the relative humidity rises and falls, it being the relative humidity of the atmo- 

 sphere rather than the absolute amount of moisttire present which cletcimines the amoimt 

 of moisture which wool absorbs. 



Pure wool-fibre, of which greasy wool contains from 50 to 70 \>eT cent., and slipe 

 wool about 75 per cent., can absorb from 18 to £0 ]X'r cent, of its weight of moisture 

 from the atmosphere. This amount is not sufficient to accoimt for all the moisture 

 absorbed by dry normal wool. 



Natural wool-fat or yolk present in greasy wool in amounts up to 17 per cent., and 

 in slipe wool to 6 J per cent., is capable of absorbing 17 per cent, of its weiglit of atmo- 

 spheric moisture. 



Suint, or wool-perspiration, can absorb from 60 to 67 per cent, of its weight of 

 moisture when exposed to the atmosphere, this matter being very hygroscopic, and is 

 pn-esent in greasy wools in amounts up to 13 per cent, and in slipe wools to 2 j)er cent. 



Fatty matter other than natural wool-fat present in slipe wools in amounts of from 

 two to six times that found in greasj^ wools, and picked up by the wool from the greasy 

 underside of the skins during the washing process, has a retarding effect on the amount 

 of moisture absorbed. 



5. " The Formaldehyde Method for the Estimation of Nitrogen in Organic 

 .Substances," by A. M. Wright, F.C.S. 



Abstract. 



The reaction between ammonia and formaldehyde whereby hexamethylenetetra- 

 mine is formed has been used for some time as a means of estimating formaldehyde, 

 but the reaction has only recently been utilised for the estimation of ammonia. 



Bennet* has applied the method particularly to the determination of nitrogen in 

 leather and tannery lime licpors. and has shown that accurate results caa be obtained. 



The author of the present paper has investigated this method as ai)]<lied to the 

 estimation of nitrogen in meat products, organic nitrogen in fertilisers, dried tankage, 

 and blood. 



Detailed restdts are given in the ])ape]' which show that the method can be success- 

 fully applied to the determination of nitrogen in the above-m.entioned substances. 



6. " On an Apparent Relation between some of the Physical Properties 



of Solids," by S. Page. 



This is an endeavoru' to show that all modes of breaking down solids haA-e the same 

 forces to deal with and require the same energy, and hence that solids, if arranged in 

 order of solubility, are also in order of mechanical strength, and vice versa. 



7. " A New Method of defining or expressing the Properties of Oxyacids, 



Bases, and Salts," by S. Page. 



The following expressioii is suggested as conta'iiiug in itself the essential properties 

 ■of the compounds named : " When any two elements or groups are ruiited by oxygen, 

 the more positive element is readily displaced by another positive element or group." 

 The ap])lication of this principle to typical cases is shown. 



8. " Some Theorems relating to Sub-polar Triangles," by E. G. Hogg. 



9. " Notes on the Geology of the West Coast Sounds," by R. Speight. 



A short act'ount is given of certain physiographical features of the &ound country, 

 and petrological notes on the rocks collected at a number of localities not previously 

 A-isited by a geologist. The rocks are almost entirely gneisses, chiefly diorite gneisses 

 and amphibolites, and probably are not Archaean, btit are metamorphosed diorites and 

 diabases. They sliow cataclastic effects very frequently', and contain mtich rutile and 

 ^pidote. 



* Journ. Soc. Chem, Ind., vol. xxviil, p.'. 291-92. 



