1868. | Chemistry. 79 
reduced, and may be washed out. It may afterwards be pre- 
cipitated from the soda solution, and recovered in a state equal to 
the best commercial sort. 
Another inventor proposes to shorten the time of dyeing 
Turkey-red, by a previous oxidation of the oil used. This M. 
Bernard effects by heating the oil to 95° C. with a solution of chlorate 
of potash, and adding very gradually oxalic acid. The mixture is 
afterwards boiled for some hours. The oxidized oil, it is said, may 
be employed alone or in the form of an emulsion. 
In connection with technical chemistry, we may mention the 
publication of a valuable paper “On the Cumberland Hematite 
Ores,” by Dr. E. J. Tosh.* 
A very delicate test for hyposulphite of soda has been published 
by Mr. Carey Lea.t A very dilute, but rather strongly acid, solution 
of sesquichloride of Ruthenium is first rendered alkaline by ammonia, 
and then boiled with the suspected solution. If hyposulphite be 
present, the liquid assumes a red colour, which varies in intensity 
according to the amount of hyposulphite. A solution containing 
one four-thousandth gives a clear rose-red; one containing a 
twelve-thousandth, a well-marked pink colour. A strong solution 
gives a colour so intense as to appear almost black. Such a test 
will be highly appreciated by photographers; but, unfortunately, 
ruthenium is yet a very rare metal. 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CHEMICAL SocrIETY. 
The first meeting of the present season was held on November 7. 
After the adoption ‘of an address of condolence to Mrs. Faraday, 
Mr. W. H. Perkin read a paper “On the Action of Acetic An- 
hydride upon the Hydrides of Salicyl, Ethly-Salicyl, &c.” A paper 
by Messrs. Chapman and Smith, ‘On Nitrous and Nitric Ethers,” 
was next read. It gave an account of the methods adopted by the 
authors for preparing the nitrates and nitrites of methyl, ethyl, and 
amyl, and described the reactions and decompositions which these 
bodies undergo when treated in a digestion apparatus with metals, 
acids, and other re-agents. The most interesting part of the com- 
munications was the description of an easy mode of preparing nitrate 
~of amyl in large quantities. ‘Three measures of a mixture of one 
part of nitric and two sulphuric acid are placed in a beaker set in a 
freezing mixture, and to these is added very slowly one measure of 
amylic alcohol. The addition is best made with the aid of a 
dropping funnel, the stem of which, reaching nearly to the bottom 
of the mixture of acids, serves as a ‘stirrer. ‘The nitrate of amyl is 
* “Chemical News,’ Oct. 18-25, 1867. 
+ ‘Silliman’s Journal,’ Sept. 1867; and ‘ Chemical News,’ Oct, 25. 
