514 SCIENTIFIC EECOl^D FOR 1884. 



Besnlts of analyses of eighty sumples of woman'' s millc. 



Reaction uniformly alkaline 



Constituents, &-o. 



Specific gravity 



Albuminoids . . - 



Sugar 



Fat 



Solids not fat . . 



Ash 



Total solids 



Water 



4.8G 



7.92 



G.89 



12. 09 



0.37 



16.66 



89.0b 



With the exception of the ash, these figures agree very closely with 

 those of Kiiuig, deduced from the analysis of 190 samples by a great 

 variety of methods. Kouig's mean for albuminoids is 1.95, Leeds's 1.09.5 ; 

 2 per cent., therefore, may be regarded as the average amount of albu- 

 minoids in woman's milk. 



The author considers also the relations between the physical history 

 of the milk and its composition, especially the (1) color, taste, consist- 

 ency, and specific gravity ; (2) age of the mother ; (3) jieriod of lactation 

 and interval since nursing ; (4) nationality ; (5) physical constitution of 

 the mother. 



Unlike cow's milk, the appearance is no indication of the quality of 

 the fluid. Bluish samples often contain most fat, while thin samples 

 often give most total solid matter. A fatty acid of a greenish color was 

 extracted from human milk, which the author thinks is particularly 

 characteristic, and unlike anything obtained from cow's milk. Unfort- 

 unately the entire mass of fats was lost by accident in the early stages 

 of manipulation. The characteristic point was the emerald-green color 

 of the ethereal extract of the copper albuminate obtained from numerous 

 samples. 



The results of analysis are presented in a graphic chart, which exhib- 

 its in a striking manner the great variability in the constitution of 

 woman's milk. (Eead before the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 

 May 7, 1884, and published in Chem, JSfeics, l, 263 et seq.) 



Continuous Etherifieation as applied to other Alcohols than Uthylic, by L. 

 H. Norton and 0. F. Prescott. — The authors worked upon mixtures of 

 various alcohols with sulphuric acid and studied the conditions neces- 

 sary to produce the best results. Beginning with ethyl alcohol, they 

 found that by dropping the alcohol into mixtures of sulphuric acid and 

 alcohol, with boiling-points ranging from 120° to 150° C, they obtained 

 fiom 7.35 to 28.87 per cent, of the theoretical yield of ether. The best 

 temperature to obtain the maximum yield of ether was found to be from 

 140° to 145° C, higher temperatures giving nO greater yield, while lower 



