1868. | Engineering—Civil and Mechanical. 83 
oxidation, and the production of formic and acetic acids. Dr. Hof- 
mann showed, however, that by suspending a heated platinum spiral 
over warmed methylic alcohol and sending a current of air through 
the bottle, a limited oxidation of the vapour of the wood-spirit took 
place with the production of a body, the chemical behaviour of 
which left little doubt of its being true methylic aldehyde. 
The next experiment illustrated the fact discovered by Cloez, 
that ammonia is transformed into prussic acid by the action of 
chloroform. The speaker showed that when chloroform is heated 
with alcoholic ammonia and caustic potash, chloride and cyanide of 
potassium are produced. It was also shown that all the primary 
monamines lend themselves to a similar reaction. The experiment 
was made with aniline, by means of which a body isomeric with 
benzonitrile is produced. It possesses an intensely disagreeable 
odour, which is common, it seems, to all bodies of its class.* 
It would not be right to conclude the Proceedings of the Che- 
mical Society for the past year without noticing the decease of Mr. 
R. Warington, F.BR.S., F.C.S. He was one of the founders, and we 
believe it may be said with truth, the projector of the Chemical 
Society ; and in the early days of the Society one of its most active 
members. Mr. Warington was well known as one of the most able 
practical chemists of the day. He died on November 12th, 1867, 
aged sixty. 
6. ENGINEERING—CIVIL AND MECHANICAL. 
Tue depression in all matters of private enterprise, to which we 
have on former occasions referred, still continues, and the 
Engineering profession will for many a long year remember the 
financial crisis of 1866-67. The price of all railway stocks con- 
tinues to be quoted at a very considerable discount, but we think 
we see at last a slight glimmer on the horizon, the forerunner of 
more prosperous days. New railway companies in this country 
would scarcely meet with a shadow of support, and, consequently, 
the Bills before Parliament include but very few relating to such 
works. Two Metropolitan Extensions in London and a revival of 
the attempt to construct tramways, to be worked by animal power, 
through the principal thoroughfares north and south of the Thames, 
constitute, we believe, the most important part of that class of Bill. 
But although few new works of any importance have actually been 
commenced during the past quarter, several have been successfully 
completed, others are still in active progress, and many new projects 
have been determined on. 
* «Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ vol. xvi., p. 144. 
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