272 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOKD. 



expcllfd from tlio ilnsk l.y iiicans of a ciinent of steam [using a special form of appa- 

 ratus, which is illustrated and descril)edj. The operation is usually complete when 

 r.OO cc. have passed over, although as an extra precaution 50 cc. more should bcs dis- 

 tilh'd over and titrated separately. For titration, decinormal soda solution and 

 phenoli)hthaleiu are used." 



In determining the insoluble acids tlie apparatus is rinsed l>iuk into 

 the distillinii ilask with hot water, the residue extracted with hot water, 

 and the .solution when cold passed through the sajne filter used for the 

 distillate. This operation is repeated until the washings contain no 

 trace of pliosplioric acid, when the filter is exhausted with hot, strong 

 alcohol and the extract added to the insoluble acids. The alcohol is 

 driven oft" on the w^ater bath and the fatty acids dried at 100° C. in the 

 air bath until they begin to gain weight. "The expulsion of the volatile 

 acids by means of a current of steam i)roved to be a decided improve- 

 ment over direct boiling of the solution containing the fatty acids.'' 



Contribution to the examination of fats and fatty acids, W. 

 Tii()RNEi'v {Chcin. Ztfi., IS {ls[)4). No. 61, pp. IhU, 1155).— A reference 

 table is given showing the values for the fatty acids, specific gravity, 

 index of refraction, polarization, melting point, point of crystalliza- 

 tion, saponification equivalent, and iodiu numbers of some 20 difterent 

 nnimal and vegetable oils. An apparatu's is illustrated for maintaining 

 the fat at the desired temperature while taking specific gravity with a 

 Westphal balance. 



Report of chemical division of 'Kentucky Station, 1893, A. M. 

 Pinter {Kmiiivly aSY«. 'h'2)f. l.s9o, pp. 10-15).— A trial of t^weetser's 

 method for determining fat in butter; analyses of soils, hickory- wood 

 ashes, nitrate of potash, pho.sphatic limestone, OrientaL fertilizer and 

 insect destroyer, and malt sprouts with reference to fertilizing ingredi- 

 ents; and a note on the presence of arsenic in sprayed tobacco (p. 315). 

 Sweetser's nnnhod (E. S. E., 6, p. 108) was compared Avith the ofticial 

 method on 7 samples of butter. On an average it gave results about 1 

 per cent higher than the ofticial method. 



"The results obtained are not satisfactory, though of course the test of the method 

 was not ))y any means as thorough as could be desired. They seem to indicate that 

 the method would be improved by drying the butter before solution and decanting 

 the solution from the salt before making up, a? suggested by Mr. Sweetser.'" 



Butyric acid fermentation, A. Bkchamp ( Ihtl. Soc. ('Jam. Paris, 11 {lS04),No. 12, 

 p. /iSl). — The author states that the formula Tisn.ally given for the production of 

 butyric acid fnmi lactic acid by fermentation, e. (/., 2C:iH,-50:i=C4H80: + 2C(): + 4H, 

 is incorrect. The fermentation of calcium lactate is said to give invariably some 

 alcohol, more or less acetic acid, butyric acid, and usually propionic, caproic, and 

 caprylic acids. 



A contribution to the know^ledge of vegetable albuminoids, W. Palladin 

 (Ztsclir. Biol., 31, No. 2, pp. 191-202). — Vitellin was prepared from the seeds of yellow 

 lupine and studied. The author classes it as an albumose with some characteristics 

 of the globulins, and places it between the globulins and the allmmoses. Vegetable 

 albuminoids are said to be accompanied by an unknown nitrogenous substance. The 

 author believes that the number of different albuminoids in plants is not as large as 

 has been generally stated. 



