xxiv Proceedings. [April yt/i,igo8. 



said that, in a paper read before this Society in November 

 last, on " New Reactions for the Characterisation of Mer- 

 cerised Cotton," he pointed out that the action of other 

 salts and acids in the presence of very small quantities of 

 iodine was still under investigation. He had found in the mean- 

 time that characteristic reactions on mercerised cotton were pro- 

 duced by a large number of acids and salts in the presence of 

 iodine. Among others he wished to mention here oxalic acid, 

 citric acid, formic acid, and tartaric acid. With all these acids 

 mercerised cotton exhibited a greater reactivity than did ordinary 

 cotton. Glacial acetic acid was found to be less suited for this 

 purpose. 



