81 
to matches in his ‘‘De Natura Fossilium.” On examining 
the original work of Agricola (edition of 1558), the passage 
alluded to was found, commencing thus: “ Plinius scribit: 
sulphuratis quoque ellychnijs, * #7 ® rida ligna et cande- 
las accendimus * * * 
Hoefer, apparently, has not examined the original work of 
Agricola, for he quotes the passage erroneously, and omits 
the important words “ Plinius scribi.” This takes the use 
of matches back to the first century A. D. <A search in the 
Natural History of Pliny the Elder was rewarded by finding 
the following passage (Lib. xxxv, 15.) 
“Tn terrae autem reliquis generibus, vel maxime mira 
natura est sulfuris * * * *, Quarto autem ad ellychnia 
maxime conficienda.” 
Dr. Bolton also quoted passages from the Epigrams of 
Martial, and from the Satires of Juvenal, containing plain 
allusions to sulphur-tipped slips of wood, or matches in their 
earliest form. 
December 8th, 1878. Chemical Section. 
President Newberry in the chair. Thirty persons present. 
Pror. A. R. LeEps read a paper “On the Compounds of 
Tungsten,” in which he described the several modes of pre- 
paring tungstic acid, and gave an account of a new class of 
salts which he had succeeded in forming, for which he pro- 
posed the name of tungsto-molybdates.* 
Mr. WILLIAM FALK read a paper upon Renal and Urinary 
Caleuli, illustrated by an extended suite of specimens of 
almost every known variety of calculus, from various parts 
of the body both of man and of animals. 
Dr. H. C. Bouton read by title a paper giving the “ Out- 
lines of a Bibliography of a History of Chemistry,” published 
in the Annals, vol. x, No. 12, pp 352 to 361. 
Mr. PrerRE DE P. RIcKETTS read a paper upon “ Assays 
* The full discussion of this whole subject is reserved by the author 
until a further series of investigations is finished. 
