34 transactions of thb [oct. 20, 



Charles F. Prentice, 

 by Wm. L. Elseffer. 



Dr. Frank D. Skeel, 

 by Dr. Bashford Dean. 

 President Newberry nominated as Fellow of the Academy: 



Dr. Bashford Dean. 

 Dr. H. T. Vulte read a few brief notes on 



the analysis of grains and cereals. 



(Abstract.) 



The paper is a brief review of some of the well-known methods, 

 but makes special reference to the Kjeldahl method foralbumen- 

 oids and the Von Asboth process for starch. An outline of 

 both is here given. 



Kjeldahl Method. 



Consists of two operations: — 



1st. The digestion or conversion of albumenoid bodies into 

 compounds of ammonia by means of concentrated sulphuric 

 acid, alone or with other suitable oxidizing agents. 



2d. The decomposition of the ammonium sulphate by caustic 

 alkali, distillation, and condensation of the ammonia in standard 

 acid. 



Digestion. — From 0.8 to 1.5 gms. of the substance are intro- 

 duced into a long-necked, pear-sliaped flask of hard glass, from 

 10 to 20 c.c. of concentrated C. P. sulphuric acid, free from ni- 

 trogen, and about 0.5 gm. of metallic mercury added. The flask 

 and contents are then placed on a ring stand and slowly heated 

 until violent action has ceased. The heat is then increased, and 

 continued until the solution is of a pale-yellow color; this usu- 

 ally takes from one-half to three-quarters of an hour. The 

 heat is then removed, and finely pulverized potassium perman- 

 ganate is cautiously added in small portions until the liquid as- 

 sumes a green tinge (if pink, water is present, and reheating for 

 some time is necessary). Heat is now applied for a few minutes, 

 when the liquid will clear. This indicates the completion of 

 the digestion; the heat is removed and the flask allowed to cool. 



Distillatioti. — The contents of the digestion flask are then 

 rinsed with about 200 c.c. of cold water into an Erlenmeyer flask 



