232 Chronicles of Science. [April, 
briefly, however, that the determination is effected by a combustion 
of the fixed residue after the expulsion of the carbonic, nitrous, and 
nitric acids, by the addition of sulphurous acid. For a full deserip- 
tion, we must refer our readers to an excellent report in the 
‘Chemical News’ for February 14, and the ‘ Journal of the Chemical 
Society’ for March. 
For an account of Mr. Crum’s process for the determination of 
nitric acid, which is adopted by Dr. Frankland, we must refer our 
readers to the same places, or to the original paper, “On the 
Analysis of Bodies containing Nitric Acid” in the ‘ Philosophical 
Magazine,’ vol. xxx., 1847. 
Lastly, for the determination of the ammonia, Dr. Frankland 
employs Nessler’s test with the original water, decolorized, if neces- 
sary, by the addition of a little chloride of calcium, carbonate of 
soda, and a few drops of potash. 
The lecture was followed by a very long discussion, which 
turned mainly upon the value of the process of Messrs. Wanklyn, 
Chapman and Smith for estimating albumenoid nitrogen in waters. 
(See ‘Q. J.8.,’ vol. iv., p. 532.) We believe we state fairly the 
general opinion, when we say that the value of the process is con- 
sidered doubtful, scarcely two experimenters obtaining concordant 
results with it. The discussion occupied the greater part of two 
evening meetings. 
At the meeting on February 6, Dr. Russell gave a lecture 
“On Gas Analysis,” in which he described a greatly improved and 
simplified form of the apparatus he devised some years ago. A 
description and drawing of the original apparatus is given in the 
‘Chemical News,’ vol. ix., p. 282; and an account of the improve- 
ments now made are contained in the same journal, vol. xvii, p. 95. 
Mr. W. H. Perkin, F'.R.S., afterwards read a paper “On some 
New Benzylic Derivatives of the Salicyl Series.” 
At the same meeting the Secretary read a short note from Pro- 
fessor Kolbe, announcing the discovery by Dr. E. Drechsel of a 
means of reducing carbonic to oxalic acid. A mixture of pure 
sodium and dry sand is placed in a flask, and heated to the boiling 
point of mercury. A current of carbonic acid is then passed. 
After some time the metallic appearance of the sodium is lost, and 
the metal becomes almost black. The heat is then moderated to 
avoid reduction of the carbon, and the mass is allowed to slowly 
cool. When the mass is afterwards extracted with water, the solu- 
tion is found to contain oxalate of sodium. Potassium amalgam it 
has been found will effect the same reduction. 
Dr. Frankland described this discovery as one of the greatest 
triumphs of modern synthetical chemistry. 
On February 20, Mr. David Forbes, F.G.S., delivered a lecture 
“On Chemical Geology,” which attracted a large audience. An 
adequate report of this highly interesting discourse, and the dis- 
