15 
Dr. ENDEMANN read the following note; “On the action of 
Todoform on Potassic Sulphydrate, by H. ENDEMANN, and 
Oscar: Lorw.” 
The reaction of potassic sulphydrate on iodoform was 
studied by us with the view of obtaining the proto-sulphide 
of carbon. This substance, however, we did not succeed in 
procuring. 
_The reaction which we anticipated was ; 
CHI; + 3KHS=3KI+CS+2H.S. 
After the evolution of sulphuretted hydrogen had ceased, 
no other gas being mixed with the sulphuretted hydrogen, 
the residue in the retort was examined and found to contain 
various substances, the exact nature of which could not, from 
want of material, be determined. A gray powder containing 
carbon and sulphur, and insoluble in ether, alcohol, or water, 
is probably a polymerized protosulphide. Another substance 
of garlick-like odor, seems to be sulpho-formic acid, in which 
case 1t would seem that the reaction had been ; 
CHI3;+3KHS=3KI-+CH.8.+H.S. 
The acid is obtained in combination with potassium, as 
potassic sulphydrate (CHKS:), which would indicate as the 
probable reaction ; 
CHI; +4KHS=3KI-+ CHKS,+2H.8. 
One of us having left the city for some time, we have not 
thus far, been able to repeat the experiments on a scale suffi- 
ciently large, to obtain more light on this reaction. 
Dr. Lorw gave an account of his chemical examination of 
the peculiar red liquid obtained by Dr. Habel from the cave 
of the Fuente de Sangre, or blood-spring, of Honduras.* 
Reviewing all its chemical reactions, he concluded that it 
could not arise from any excrementitious matter of bats, as 
‘had been suggested; but it corresponds almost perfectly 
with the behavior of the aqueous extract of rhatany (Avameria 
triandra, DeC.). This plant is a native of Peru, and is used 
as an astringent in pharmacy. . Jxina is a closely related 
West Indian species; and the presumption seems quite strong 
that this red liquid arises simply from the drainage of water 
through the roots of some species of rhatany growing above 
the cavern. 
* This communication has appeared in full in the Scientific American, 
