1864. | Chemistry. 671 
equivalent proportions, and that one cannot be formed without the 
other, thus satisfactorily demonstrating the triple nature of oxygen. 
Meissner’s results and opinions, however, do not pass unchallenged, 
and Von Babo* throws great doubt on the existence of the so-called 
antozone. 
Some experiments by Weyl on the combinations of ammonium 
deserve a passing notice. By placing potassium in contact with 
ammonia in a closed tube the author obtained an unstable compound 
in which he supposes one of the hydrogen atoms of the ammonia to 
be replaced by potassium. He proposes to ascertain if it be possible 
to obtain oxides and salts of this compound, and in this way to arrive 
at some conclusion respecting the metallic nature of ammonium. 
Tungsten, a metal which presents some anomalous characteristics, 
has been made the subject of some investigations by the MM. Persoz.t 
They have not yet published their results in detail, and now only 
announce the discovery in the metal of several distinct radicals which 
give rise to various oxygen compounds, acids, and bases. 
The colouring matter of the emerald has been a subject of dis- 
cussion. By some the colour was supposed to be due to organic 
matter only; but Wohler and Rose§ have recently determined the 
presence of a very minute proportion of oxide of chromium to which 
they attribute the colour, admitting the possibility of some organic 
matter being present. A stone, however, which they kept for an hour 
at the temperature of melted copper showed no sign of alteration. 
It may be worth mentioning that M. Aupin has determined the 
presence of silver in the water of the Dead Sea, a ton of the saline 
residue of which contains seven grains of the precious metal. 
In organic chemistry we may announce the discovery of yet 
another hydrocarbon in that highly complex mixture, coal tar.|| The 
discovery seems to have been made about the same time by MM. 
Bechamp and Naquet. The new body boils at about 140° C., and 
M. Naquet announces its composition to be C; H,,. Beilstein, how- 
ever, asserts it to be identical with Xylene C; Hy. 
Some recent cases of poisoning have caused a considerable exten- 
sion of our knowledge of vegetable poisons. Digitaline has been 
made the subject of investigation by several French chemists, and 
especially by MM. Grandeau§ and Lefort.** The experiments of 
the former were principally directed towards obtaining a ready and 
decisive means of detecting the poison in organic mixtures, in which 
he has to some extent succeeded. He has found that digitaline passes 
with tolerable facility through a dialyser, and may be extracted from 
the evaporated diffusate by means of alcohol. The most characteristic — 
reaction he has found to be that produced when digitaline is moistened 
* «Annal. der Chem. und Pharmacie,’ Dec. 1863, p. 265. 
+ ‘Poggendorff’s Annalen,’ No. iv., 1864, p. 601. 
t «Comptes Rendus,’ June 27, 1864. 
§ Ibid. 
|| «Comptes Rendus,’ July 6, 25, and Aug. 4. 
{ ‘Comptes Rendus,’ vol. lviii. p. 1048. 
** «Chemical News,’ vol. x. p. 99. 
