166 



The oxidation is less destructive in neutral or alkaline solutions. 



A current of .2 to .5 ampere causes a rise in temperature and the appear- 

 ance of a yellow color if the solution be alkaline. 



Acids and sometimes acroleine are formed. 



The oxidized solutions reduce Fehling's solution strongly in the cold 

 and give the fuchsin-sulfurous acid reaction for aldehydes. 



To a solution which gave strong reactions for glyceric aldehyde was 

 added enough caustic soda to make a 2 per cent, solution in order to induce 

 polymerisation. After standing some days, a pherylhydrazin compound 

 was obtained, which melted at 200°. This indicated the production of 

 glyceric aldehyde and its polymerisation to glucose. 



The product of a second oxidation was polymersed and underwent 

 alcoholic fermentation with yeast. 



The electric current, therefore, produces some glyceric aldehyde from 

 glycerine, although the amount is small. 



< >N SULPHON-PTHALEINS. By WALTER JoXES 



Modification of Grandeau's method of determination of iiumi s in soils, 

 By H. A. Huston and W. F. M( Bride. 

 The paper discusses the numerous methods proposed and used for de- 

 termining the total carbon in the soil and for determining the organic 

 matter and shows that none of these methods are entitled to consideration 

 excepting the process of Grandeau. This method, which consists essenti- 

 ally of removing the bases combined with the humic acid by means of 

 hydrochloric acid, subsequent washing with water and extracting on a 

 filter with ammonia water, is compared with a modification of the method 

 in which the preliminary washing with acid and water is the same b ut, 

 instead of leaching the soil upon the filter with ammonia water, the soil 

 is transferred to a 500 cc. cylinder, treated with 500 cc. of 4 % ammonia, 

 allowed to remain in contact with the ammonia for thirty-six hours, with 

 frequent shaking. During the earlier part of the digestion the cylinder 

 is left upon its side, thus exposing a large amount of surface to the solvent ; 

 during the last twelve hours of the digestion the cylinder is placed upright, 



