CHEMISTRY. 1007 



and Scuts |iinc at <liffcri'nt dates arts rc)>(irtrd. The relation uf tlie ash contcnl and 

 (•(inijiosiliiin ol' tlie asli In t he character of the soil on which tiic trees ,i,n-e\v, is hrielly 

 discnssed. 



Potable water, woman's milk and cow's milk, food substances, and medi- 

 caments, H. Lajoux {L^ EaupotabU', la lait de femine ct le lait de cache, vKilii'nx <iH- 

 iiini(iiiv)'^ ct incdk-amenteuses. Rehni^: F. Michmul, 1900, pp. 172,fi(js. 6) . — (lives methods 

 of examination of water, milk, wines, butter, and other oils and fats, and foi- the 

 determination of alkaloids, niorphin, caffein, and theobroniin, with analytical data 

 ohiaineil in the t'xaniination of such i)roducts, in the nnniicipal la])oi-atory of Reims. 



A practical method for determining the hardness of w^ater, (i. Mourruoo 

 {(liiivii. Farm. Vhiin., 50, pp. 440-445). 



The gravimetric determination of fat in milk by means of anhydrous 

 sodivim sulphate, (). Le Comte {Jonr. I'liann. cl CJinn.. (i. kcc, /■> (1901)', JVo. 2, pp. 

 58-iUJ). — By this method the water in the sample is al)S(jrbed by anhydrous sodium 

 sulphate, 20 gm. sulphate to 10 cc. of milk. From the mixture the fat is extracted 

 with I'ther and estimated in the usual manner. 



The logwood test for alum, J. K. Colwell and A. E. Parkes [Brithh Fnoil 

 .Inin-....' {1900), Xo. ^4, pp. .'U'!, 347). — In testing baking powders for alum it^ was 

 foun<l that many made of tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate gave the blue color 

 witii logwood extract. Upon testing the ingredients singly it was found that the 

 icaction was ])roduced with the tartaric acid, those samples containing small (pianti- 

 ties of iron and lead responding to the test. Freshly prepared logwood extract made 

 faintly alkaline with annnonium carbonate was sensitive to the presence of lead or 

 iron in 1 part per 1,000,000, while a decided blue color was produced with 1 to 

 1()0,()0() parts. A nund)er of samples of commercial cream of tartar, pure potassimn 

 bisulphate, ami calcium phosphate failed to give the reaction. 



The blue color was also obtained with copper, zinc, and magnesium salts, although 

 with the latter it was faint and rajndly faded. 



Delicate tests for the determination of citric and tartaric acids, (i. Paris 

 {/Ischr. V)itcr.'<iicli \alir. n. (i'liiis.^nitl., 4 (1901), No. 4, }>!>■ lOO-l'J^). — A discussion 

 of methods. 



The estimation of gluten in flour, Marion and Man<;et (.1;///. ('Iiini. Ana/i/l. ct 

 .1/7'/., .7 (1900), pp. 249-252; ab.^. in Anah/st, 21; (1901), Xo. 299, pp. 44, 45).— A 

 mo.litication of Fleurent's method (E. R. R., 11, p. 1075). 



Note on the estimation of glycerol, J. Lewkowitsch ( Analyst, 26 ( 1901 ) , No. 299, 

 jiji. .15, 36). — An extended test was made of that method of determining glycerol in 

 fermented liquors by which the liquor is treated with sulphuric acid and the glycerol 

 estimated from the jnu-e carbon oljtained. The method was found to l)e wholly 

 unreliable. 



The treatment of rancid table oils and fats with soda solution, P. Huxii 

 (Zlsclir. AiKjcir. Cliciii., 1901, No. 7, p. 166). — The author recommends mixing com- 

 mon salt with the soda s(jlution in order to reduce saponification and to remove the 

 saponified matter and clarify the fats and oils. 



Investigations on the formation of nitric acid during combustion, M. 

 P.KRTiiELOT (Ami. Cltliii. ct J'lii/K., 7. ficr., 21 (1900), pp. 145-201). — This is an account 

 of studies of the formation of nitric acid during the combustion in a calorimeter 

 uniler different piosures and with mixtures of gases of various forms of carbon, sul- 

 pluir, iron and zinc, and hydrogen, with a discussion of the results as elucidating 

 the piinci])les involve<l. 



Investigations on the method of Berthier for determining the heats of 

 combustion of solid fuels, U. Antony and E. I)inoi,a (Oaz. ('him. Jl/d., .;(> {!:/(>')), 

 IL pp. 21S-224). 



Chemical and calorimetric investigations of fuel, H. Langbein (Zlschr. 

 Aia/cic. Vliciii., 1900, pp. 1227-123S, 12:J9-1272). 



