36 REPORT—1852. 
We have now three fatty acids, isomeric in composition, and differing only by a 
few degrees in their points of fusion, viz. 
Caw Dy WO Fusing-point. 
Palmnigie acid — ..ccseesesaccesees es ws o2 32 4 58° Cent. 
Cetylic acid ..,..sssesessoeceener seees 32 32 4 Hs 
Butyro-limnodic acid .........+.40+- 32 32 4 Bat sk 
On the Principle of the Endosmose of Liquids. 
By Professor T. Granam, JA, F.RS. 
‘On the Phosphatie Nodules of the Greensand of the North of Ireland. 
By Professor Joun F. Hopces, M.D., Queen's College, Belfast. 
Professor Hodges, of Queen’s College, gave an account of his discovery of the 
existence, in the greensand of the north of Ireland, of nodules rich in phosphate 
of lime, the important fertilizing ingredient of bones. The beds of greensand, he 
remarked, occurred immediately under the chalk, and belonged to what was called 
the chalk formation. ‘They extended from the neighbourhood of Moira to the Giant’s 
Causeway, forming in some places a broad belt, and in other parts a narrow stripe, 
and presented various shades of colour, from yellowish green to a rich dark green 
colour. The nodules which he had analysed were found imbedded in the greensand, 
and possessed peculiar interest, as affording the agriculturist a native source of the 
phosphoric acid. The beds of greensand contained about 5 per cent, of the bone-earth 
phosphate, while the nodules afforded so much as from 30 to 50 per cent. He gave 
the analysis of a sample of the greensand from the neighbourhood of Kilroot, in 
Antrim ;— 
100 parts were found to contain— 
WALCE, cavancetache canis sans Caceeeh cskphisgaldesacsealans oa tide Nvacuees 0:97 
OTA DIC TG ELEI ary a= de, ecocsraaerss-aserenenc-s0etsac<pisrasiactees 0°73 
Potas ers ea nastica da trons tene Gace ten daekta arate car Sac tahees waste ame 0°56 
Soda eececcece Cee cecrecccereesccececsorer ececcvccsescecscces seeeeesorse 0°25 
SGU oe trae tana aepaciovs saan tcenerunsancerensdo A Tel ee » 4:14 
Magnesia, ...cscesrsssesesenss HEE SPS He eG 0°41 
OSTEND RATT RR Ae ee danasecuaaccaoe uh canes = aaeewe 4°85 
PRIVEE Livia GE ican vig hcald sca ceitasine ns a0'sansne deve tuaenente cies senr 2:4) 
StL) Pla Mi AC Cate sates asblarsiindenpapmatiuaersatatsensstepnsasckeaaee a trace 
ODIDIIN G2 onc s Mask dip ane snechashusank on Vebiekciadceeney maash oseekeeeean 0°04 
Phosphoric acid, equal to 6°68 bone-earth phosphate ...... 3°24 
Silica, soluble in potash ........ssssseeeeeees Waconesogad is spgaee: oEL 
Insoluble siliceous matters .........eeeceecesees eT 74:88 
Carbonic acid and 1088 .........esescessesscees aie se hgae's Grae PROBA) 3 cai 
100-00 
One ton of the sand would, therefore, convey to the soil 1494 lbs. of bone-earth 
phosphate, worth, at $d. per Ib., 9s. 3d. 
Dr. Hedges also directed attention to the valuable discovery of phosphatic nodules 
in England, and of a mineral in America, rich in phosphate of lime ; and gave an 
account of some successful experiments which had been made with greensand applied 
as a manure. 


On the Effect of the Moon’s Rays. By Knox. 
’ This paper described the effects of a large lens in fusing different substances, 
giving the effects produced upon silica and other bodies, noting the temperature of 
the day at the period of experimenting and the time occupied. By concentrating the 
moon’s rays upon two individuals, sensation was excited. 
On the Atomic Weight of Magnesium. By ALnx. MacDonneELL. 
The results of experiments were stated, which induced the author to conclude that 
the atomic weight for magnesium was 11-95 or quam prox. 12, and the atomic weight 
of magnesia as 19°95 or quam proxime 20, instead of 12°7 and 20-7, numbers that have 
usually been assigned in chemical works. 

