268 Chronicles of Science. [ April, 
ducing the subject at the Chemical Society was to obtain the opinion 
of chemists as to the most permanent material of which to construct 
the standards. He was himself in favour of bars of brass coated 
with gold or platinum, or speculum metal improved by the addition 
of a little arsenic. The general opinion of the meeting was perhaps 
in favour of graduated porcelain scales, such as used by Mr. Casella 
for barometers and thermometers, and upon which, as Dr. Frank- 
land stated, the weather could have no influence. White glass, 
with a coloured surface which could be ground away to show the 
divisions of the scale, was also suggested. 
On January 18, Dr. Gladstone read a paper on Pyrophospho- 
triamic Acid, and Dr. Wanklyn gave an account of his recent 
researches on the action of Carbonic Oxile on Sodium Ethyl. Dr. 
Debus afterwards made some remarks on the constitution of Gly- 
oxylic Acid. 
On February 1, Dr. Gilbert gave a lecture “ On the Composition, 
Value, and Utilization of Town Sewage.” In the course of his 
lecture he gave a rapid review of the whole subject; but we must 
content ourselves with placing before our readers the following 
propositions with which the lecture was concluded :—1. It is only 
by the liberal use of water that the refuse matters of large popula- 
tions can be removed from their dwellings without nuisance and 
injury to health. 2. That the discharge of town sewage into rivers 
renders them unfit as a water-supply to other towns, is destructive 
to fish, causes deposits which injure the channel, and emanations 
which are injurious to health, and is also a great waste of manurial 
matter. 38. That the proper mode of both purifying and utilizmg 
sewage-water is to apply it to land. 4. That, considering the 
great dilution, constant daily supply, greater amount in wet 
weather, and cost of distribution, it is best fitted for application to 
grass, although it may be occasionally applied to other crops under 
favourable circumstances. 5. That the direct result of the general 
application of town sewage to grass land would be an enormous 
increase in the production of milk (butter and cheese) and meat, 
whilst by the consumption of the grass a large amount of solid 
manure, applicable to arable land and crops generally, would be 
produced. 6. That the cost or profit to a town of arrangements 
for the removal or utilization of its sewage must vary very greatly 
according to its position and to the character of the land to be 
irrigated. Under favourable circumstances, the town may realize a 
profit, but under contrary conditions it may have to submit to a 
pecuniary loss to secure the necessary sanitary advantages. 
On February 15, Mr. G. T. Chapman read a paper “On the 
Action of Nitrous Acid on Naphthylanine.” A paper by Mr. G. 
Davies was also read “On the Action of Heat on Ferric Hydrate in 
presence of Water,” m which the author proved that water is 
