308 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOliD. 



A volumetric naethod for the simultaneous determination of carbon dioxid 

 and other acids in the air, H. IIenriet and M. Bouyssy (Campt. Rend. Acad. 

 8ci. [I'ari.sl. L',6 (I'JO^), A o. 21, iip. IJOO, 1101; ubs. ht licr. Hci. [Paris], 5. set:, 

 D iW08), Xo. 23, p. 131; Chein. Zcntbl., 1908, II, No. 2, p. I<)6).—V,y thoroughly 

 washing the current of air in a soda solution of known strength the carbon 

 dioxid and other acids are absorbed and may be determined by titration 

 with acetic acid, using phenolphthaleiu as indicator, then adding barium 

 chlorid and titrating a second time, as is done in the determination of free 

 soda in the conunercial product. 



The detection of small quantities of carbon monoxid in the air, J. Ogiek 

 and E. Kohn-Abrkst {Ann. CItiin. AnaJyt., 13 (1908), Nos. 5, pp. 160-113, fig. 1; 

 6, pp. 218-22-'i, figs. 2). — The appai'atus and procedure for methods based upon 

 the absorption of carbon monoxid in blood and the spectroscopic examination 

 of the blood after the fixation of the oxid are described in some detail in this 

 article. The author believes that such methods are of great value and that the 

 reactions observed are such as are produced by carbon monoxid alone and not 

 by any hydrocarbon gas. 



A new method of enumerating bacteria in air, C. E. A. Winslow (Science, 

 n. set:, 28 (1908), No. 105, pp. 28-31, figs. 2).— The method described is a 

 moditication of that used by Hesse, in which the bacteria are collected by 

 slowly aspirating air through a long roll-tube, the walls of which are covered 

 with melted gelatin. The modification consists mainly in an increase in the 

 size of the culture vessel relative to the sample of air. This is accomplished 

 by drawing the air in succession through two lA liter bottles, on the bottom of 

 each of which is a layer of nutrient gelatin. 



Tests are reported which indicate that the method " seems to offer a more 

 accurate procedure for bacterial examination of air than any yet available," 

 although it is not so convenient as the sand filter method commonly used. 



Determination of nitric acid in water, L. Geunhut (Ztsclit: Analijt. Chem., 

 Jfl (1908), No. 5, pp. 32'i-321). — This is a review of a number of recent contri- 

 butions to the subject, namely, those of li. Woy (E. S. It., 14, p. 328), A. Miiller 

 (E. S. R., 15, p. 3.3G), P. Drawe (E. S. R., 18, p. 7), II. Noll, H. Grosse-Bohle 

 (E. S. R., 15, p. 851), and A. F. Dokuchayev (E. S. R., 15, p. 10.-)2). 



Observations on hardness in water and its removal, E. E. Basch (Ztsclit: 

 Offcntl. Chetn., IJ, (1908), No. 7, pp. 12 ',-1 33 ).^This is a discussion of the value 

 for technical purposes of various methods of determining and removing hard- 

 ness in water, especially the method proposed by Hundeshagen (E. S. R., 10, 

 p. 80!) ). 



Lead in drinking water, its harmfulness and methods of determination, 

 H. W. WouDSTRA (Chem. Weekhl.. .J (1908), Nos. 12, pp. 185-20J,; 13. pp. 

 207-216). — The literature of investigations on the poisonous properties of lead 

 in water is reviewed and gravimetric and volumetric methods of determination 

 are described. 



Stichting's improved method of determining the acidity of soils, A. J. 

 Van Schermbeek (Jour. Frakt. Chetn., n. set:, 77 (1908), No. 10-11, pp. 

 .',89-.'i91; ahs. in Jour. Soc. Chetn. Indus., 21 (1908), No. 11, p. 581; Jout: Chetn. 

 Soc. [London], 9.', (1908), No. 550, II, pp. 7^3, 7.).'/).— The author criticises 

 Siichting's modification of Tacke's method (E. S. R., 19, p. 1009), asserting 

 that the modified method does not determine the amount of acid in the soil 

 but that which accumulates in a mixture of finely divided soil and calcium 

 carbonate stirred up with a considerable amount of water and allowed to stand 

 for several hours. If the mixture is not sterilized considerable acid may be 

 formed by the decomposition of the organic matter. 



