532 Chronicles of Science. [Oct., 



small piece of a crystal of fuclisine is added to tlie chlorofonn in 

 question ; when the slightest trace of alcohol is present, a deep-rai 

 solution will ensue. Perfectly pure chloroform yields, with fuchsine, 

 a solution which is only sHghtly pinkish tinged. 



In a long research on the subject of atmospheric ozone, M. 

 Houzeau demonstrates that the air of the country is of a different 

 character from that of towns ; that the former is strongly disin- 

 fectant, has far greater bleaching power, and, especially after rainfall, 

 affects bright and oxidizable metals far more than is the case in 

 towns. In his paper the author calls attention to some facts readily 

 observed — as, for instance, the rapid bleaching of all kinds of woven 

 fabrics, be they made of liaen, cotton, or woollen fibre ; the rapid 

 fading of very many dyed tissues ; the far more active rusting of 

 iron, steel, and even copper, in the country, as compared with large 

 towns. Curiously enough the author does not mention the well- 

 known fact of the effects of the air at sea, even at comparatively 

 short distances from the shore, nor the peculiar effects produced 

 by the mountain air at no greater height than from 2000 to 6000 

 feet above sea-level. 



Oenoline is the name given by M. Morat to the colouring 

 matter met with in genuine red wines obtained from grapes. It is 

 obtainable by treating the wine by a very complicated process, and 

 ultimately the colouring matter is precipitated as a red-coloured 

 flocculent substance, insoluble in ether, very difficultly soluble in 

 water, soluble in alcohol, and insoluble in benzol. 



Professor Kochleder, of Prague, has found that when madder 

 is treated with dilute mineral acids, it yields, besides alizarine and 

 purpurine, a small quantity of a third tinctorial substance, which, 

 in alkaline solution, has a great similarity to chrysojihanic acid. 

 This substance is soluble in alcohol and in acetic acid, and crystal- 

 lizes from these solutions in orange-yellow coloured crystals; its 

 aqueous solution, mixed with acetic acid and brought to the boiling- 

 point, imparts to silk and wool immersed in it a beautiful and 

 durable golden-yeUow colour. 



There is met with in commerce, under the name of Victoria 

 yellow, or aniline orange, a reddish powder, which yields highly 

 yellow-coloured solutions, and bears in general great likeness to the 

 binitro-naphthol compoimds. MM. Martins and Wichelhaus have 

 instituted some researches on this material, and have found it to be 

 a nearly pure binitro-cresol salt. The biuitro-cresol they separated 

 from it is readily soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, and boiling 

 water. It may be obtained in crystalline shape. The diy substance 

 fuses at about 110'^ C The authoi's have tried in vain to obtain, 

 by the experimental method, a clue to the mode of manufacture and 



