378 



non-iutlammable by being dipped iu a solutiou of equal parts of acetate 

 of lime and chloride of calcium dissolved in twice their weight of water. 



Chromium steel. — A patent was obtained some time since, by Mr. 

 Bauer, for the production of steel, in which a part, or the whole, of the 

 carbon of common steel is replaced by metallic chromium. It is claimed 

 for this variety of steel that it is capable of sustaining, without injury, 

 a higher heat than ordinary steel, and is less liable to become oxidized 

 or " burnt" in working. It is said to work quite as easily, and to give 

 a much smoother surface when rolled than common steel. From the 

 report of Captain Eads, chief engineer of the Saint Louis bridge, we 

 learn that this steel has been employed in those parts of the bridge 

 where great strength is required, antl that it has given entire satisfac- 

 tion, even where bolts of the best cast steel had failed. 



Progress of cliemistrij. — One by one the organic products are being 

 copied in the laboratory. The last triumph in this direction which has 

 come to our notice is the production of glycerine by Friedel and Silva. 

 If the vapor of fusel oil be x^assed through^ a red-hot tube, propylen is 

 formed, which readily combines with chlorine, and from this chloride of 

 l^ropylen glycerine is produced by a process in which no glycerine is 

 employed. As glycerine is the base of all true fats, this is an imj^ortant 

 step in the direction of oil making. . 



Chloralum. — Professor Fleck reports to the government of Saxony a 

 series of experiments with a disinfectant bearing the above title, manu- 

 factured by the "Chloralum Company" in London. It is sold in the 

 fluid form put up in neatly-labeled vessels, each containing 037 grams, 

 (17.82 fluid ounces,) costing 15 groschens, (37^ cents j) or iu the form of 

 a white powder put up in tin boxes, each containing 370 grams, (7.39 

 ounces,) at 6 groschens (12^ cents) per box. 



Dr. Fleck ascertained that the fluid consisted of — 



Water 82.32 



Chloride of lead ; 0.15 



Cloride of copper = 0. 10 



Chloride of aluminum 13.90 



Chloride of iron *. 0.42 



Chloride of lime 3. 11 



# 



Total 100.00 



The powder had substantially the same composition with the addition 

 of 32.15 of uncombined clay and sand. The process of manufacture is 

 reported at follows : " A calcareous clay containing but little iron is 

 tlissolved, as far as possible, in fuming hydrochloric acid. The clear con- 

 centrated liquid above the imdissolved clay is dra,wn off in bottles, and 

 sold as ' Chloralum.' The residue, with the liquid adhering, is evapo- 

 rated to dryness in leaden pans, and put up in box^s to be sold as ' chlo- 

 ralum powder.'" Its pox^sers as a disinfectant were carefully examined 

 by Dr. Fleck, and reported in the following language : 



In order to test the importance of chloralum as a disinfectant, efjual volumes of sew- 

 ago -were treated with chloralum, chloride of lime, alum, sulphate of iron, quicklime, 

 and chloride of magnesium, and the impurities remaining in the clarified solution deter- 

 mined with the alkaline silver preiiaration. The result is given iu a tabular form, the 

 effect of chloride of lime being assumed as the standard. 



Chloride of lime 100.00 



Caustic lime 84. 00 



Alum, (sul])hato of alumina and potassa) 80. 40 



Sulphate of iron : - TO. 70 



Chloralum "l.OO 



Chloride of maguesiuin 57. 00 



