1864. | Geology and Paleontology. 673 
lessen the cost of producing soaps, if some effectual means of removing 
the sulphur compounds should be devised. 
Another discovery bearing on the same subject has been made by 
M. Mege-Mouries,* who notices that fats in the globular state, which 
is induced by agitating a melted fat with warm water containing a 
little yolk of eggs or even soap, are saponified by a much smaller 
amount of alkali and in a much shorter space of time than when in 
the ordinary liquid state. 
The colouring matters of madder have been the subjects of some 
investigations by M. E. Kopp,t who has found that yellow alizarine 
may be separated from the common commercial green substance by 
agitating the latter with mineral oil, in which the yellow is soluble 
but not the green. Caustic soda in weak solution will now separate 
the madder colour from the oil, and the addition of sulphuric acid to 
saturate the alkali now precipitates pure yellow alizarine. 
These are a few of the more generally interesting subjects which 
have engaged the attention of chemists within the last three months. 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 
The papers which have been read at the Chemical Society since 
our last publication include that by Professor Williamson and Dr. 
Russell, On a New Method of Gas Analysis; Professor Wanklyn, 
On Isomeric Hydrocarbons; Professor Williamson, On the Classifi- 
cation of the Elements according to their Atomic Weights ; Professor 
Stokes, On the Detection and Discrimination of Organic Bodies by 
means of their Optical Properties ; Mr. Schorlemmer, On the Identity 
of Methyl and Hydride of Ethyl; Mr. R. Dale, On the Action of 
Baryta on Suberic Acid; and A Description of Vacuum Experiments 
by Dr. H. Sprengel. The session was concluded by the reading of a 
discourse On the Philosophy of British Agriculture, written by Pro- 
fessor Way. 
V. GEOLOGY AND PALAONTOLOGY. 
(Including the Progress of the Geological Survey of the United 
Kingdom.) 
Tue most important event of the past quarter affecting Geology, is 
doubtless the appearance of the new ‘ Geological Magazine,’ with 
which is incorporated its predecessor, ‘The Geologist.’ The last- 
named periodical, though well supported when it began, had latterly 
become of a very inferior character, so much so that we have not had 
occasion to notice it in these Chronicles, and therefore its replacement 
* «Comptes Rendus,’ vol. Iviii. p. 864. 
+ ‘Comptes Rendus, Aug. 17, 1864. 
