198 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



It possesses a very complex ptniclnro, and its products of decom- 

 position separate it remarkably iVom other known substances. He 

 considers that tlie glycerin-phosphoric and olco-j)hosphorie acids, 

 cei'ebrin, etc., of the l)ooks are secondary products of the decom- 

 position of protagon. — Ann. der Chemie und Pharm., 134. 29. 



CHEMICAL ACTION OF THE PANCREATIC JUICE. 



The study of the function performed by the pancreatic secretion 

 in the animal economy has led to the discovery of properties jjos- 

 sessed by it, which, in a chemical point of view, ai'c of great inter- 

 est. In ordinary circumstances, fat is inca])al)le of mixing with 

 water. After having been heated along with that lluid, it will 

 separate perfectly from it, even before cooling. Sucii is not the 

 case if it has been previously heated with fresh and acid pancre- 

 atic juice. It will then form an emulsion by mere mixture with 

 water, a circumstance which is I'cmarkaljle, as its constitution has 

 undergone fio change that our present chemical knowledge will 

 enable us to detect. That a change has taken place in it is, how- 

 ever, certain ; and it is equally certain that this change is not sapon- 

 ification, as the fat globules remain perfectly distinct, and of nearly 

 iinilorm size. Tlie reseai'ches of chemists will, no doubt, ulti- 

 mately throw light on the circumstance, which may lead to impor- 

 tant results in more departments than one of practical science. — 

 Intellectual Observer, 18G6. 



PROTECTION OF IRON. 



It has been ascertained that sheet-iron may be protected from 

 oxidation by coating it with a thin fused layer of magnetic! oxide. 

 For this purpose it is embedded in haematite, or some otlier native 

 oxide of iron, reduced to a fine powder, and kept for several hours 

 at a red heat, and then is allowed to cool gradually. The black 

 coating produced in the same way by a combination of the oxides 

 of zinc and iron is probably still more efiective. It may be found 

 very advantageous to cover in this way the iron used in ship- 

 building. 



DISINFECTANTS. 



As an illustration of the want of general knowledge of the laws 

 of disinfection, and of combined action between local authoi-ities, 

 the author said he might refer to what is being done in London. 

 The drainage of 1000 acres, saturated with a powerfully oxydiz- 

 ing disinfectant, mingles in the sewers with that of another 1000 

 acres, to w^iieh a powerfully deoxydizing agent has been applied. 

 The result is, that an enormous amount of money is expended 

 with but very inadequate results, and many valualjle agents may 

 fall into discredit from the want of discrimination in their applica- 

 tion. Disinfectants of great value ai-e being used for purposes 

 for which they are totally unfit; useful, but incompatible, disin- 

 fectants are recommended in the same paper of instructions, and 

 chemicals of the most potent description are given to ignorant 



