478 NATURE 
[Marcu 18, 1897 
assemblages of linked particles. A number of other properties 
of linked assemblages analogous to those of crystals are also 
described. In the domain of chemistry the author cites the 
continually accumulating experimental evidence of the exist- 
ence of geometrical arrangement in the molecule, both that 
established stereochemically and that derived from the study of 
isomerism, as revealing a state of things precisely such as is 
arrived at by the law of ‘‘closest packing” in assemblages 
afterwards broken up into similar groups of particles. Atten- 
tion is called to many groupings of the latter order fulfilling 
very exactly the conditions of disubstitution in the case of 
many carbon compounds. While he does not regard his work 
as throwing any light on the nature of change of state, or 
change of bulk, the author observes that the distribution in 
precise proportions of the constituents, which must obviously 
accompany or precede a chemical combination, may fairly be 
claimed as a resemblance to the regular intermixture brought 
about according to the law of ‘closest packing.” He further 
suggests that the reason why some bodies do not readily interact may 
be due to the ‘‘ close packing” of one or both. Prof. Herschel said 
he was particularly pleased with the models. Ie thought it prob- 
able that a very wide application would be found for the author's 
results. There was, no doubt, much to be learnt from models 
built up of spheres of two or more sizes, but it would be neces- 
sary to learn a great deal more about these symmetrical arrange- 
ments before they could be applied with any degree of certainty. 
Mr. Fletcher said it was impossible to criticise the paper with- 
out long and careful study. From certain hypotheses the author 
had deduced a law of ‘‘closest packing” that seemed adequate 
to explain many results observed by chemists and crystallo- 
graphers ; at the same time admitting that the law might be 
presumed from other reasoning. By his models he had tried to 
present a picture not of the forms of atoms or molecules, but 
merely analytical representations of the probable structure of | 
particles. Hitherto, the research had been confined to deter- 
mining the possible arrangements of particles all of one kind, 
but here were examples of packed spheres of various sizes. It 
was not quite clear how, in an elementary substance, there could 
be such a structure, although there certainly were cases of 
polymorphism awaiting explanation, as for instance with sulphur. 
The paper with its 188 pages of MS. represented a vast amount 
of clear thinking, and many years of admirable work. Prof. 
Adams called the attention of Fellows of the Physical Society | 
to the museum at King’s College, where were the original 
models as made and used by the early investigators of this 
branch of physics. Prof. Miers (communicated, too late for read- 
ing). The principle of ‘‘ close packing”’ was not new,. but Mr. 
Barlow was the first to extend it to explain solution, diffusion, 
and stereochemical problems. His remarks on the growth of 
curved crystals, vicinal faces, and pseudo-symmetrical crystals, 
were open to criticism, With regard to vicinal faces, however, 
lencite seemed to be a mineral in accord with his hypothesis. 
The author regarded a crystal as consisting of mutually repel- 
lent particles of different sorts ; this seemed a very right way of 
attacking the problem of crystal structure, and would explain 
some recent observations of Rinne on crystals consisting of 
water particles and silicate particles, Further, Mr. Barlow had 
considered the way in which an assemblage might be broken up 
by the loosening of the ties, and the change of partners, among 
individual members. That is to say, he had considered erystal- 
lisation and solution ; features quite ignored by ordinary theories. 
His view of crystal structure failed to explain why crystals 
should have faces, and gave no hint as to the controlling forces 
which keep mutually-repellent partlcles together. | Nevertheless 
it suggested, among other striking analogies, those bearing on 
the relationship between crystal structure and chemical consti- 
tution ; and the irregularities of crystals, such as were commonly 
neglected in accepted theories. Mr. Barlow had opened up a 
very promising line of inquiry. Mr. Barlow, in replying, said 
he greatly appreciated the interest shown in his work.—The 
President then proposed a vote of thanks to the author, andthe 
meeting was adjourned until March 26. At the invitation of 
Dr. S. P. Thompson, the Society will on that occasion meet at 
the Technical College, Leonard-street, Finsbury. 
Chemical Society, February 18.—Mr. A. G. Vernon 
Harcourt, President, in the chair.—The Longstaff medal of the 
Society was awarded to Prof. Ramsay.—The following papers 
were read :—The formation of dithionic acid in the oxidation of 
sulphurous acid by potassium permanganate, by T. S. Dymond 
nd F. Hughes. In oxidising sulphurous acid by potassium 
NO. 1429, VOL. 55] 
permanganate the authors find that, in addition to sulphuric 
acid, a constant proportion of dithionic acid is produced ; an 
explanation of this fact is suggested.—On the production of 
pyridine derivatives from ethylic B-amidocrotonate, by J. N. 
Collie. Ethylic 8-amidocrotonate hydrochloride condenses on 
heating to give the ether of an oxylutidine Cjj)H,,NO3; an 
isomeric ether is obtained on heating a mixture of the amido- 
crotonate and its hydrochloride. The corresponding acids 
decompose on heating, yielding pseudolutidostyril.—Sodamide 
and some of its substitution derivatives, by A. W. Titherley. 
Sodamide yields substitution derivatives with amines or amides 
of the composition NaNHR or NaNH.CO.R respectively.— 
Rubidamide, by A. W. Titherley. Rubidamide, or RbNHg, is 
obtained by heating rubidium in ammonia ; it is crystalline, 
melts at 285-287°, and is decomposed by water or alcohol.— 
On the spectrographic analysis of some commercial samples of 
metals, of chemical preparations, and of minerals from Stass- 
furt potash beds, by W. N. Hartley and H. Ramage. The 
spectroscopic examination of a large number of materials has 
enabled the authors, in continuation of their previous work, 
again to demonstrate the wide distribution of many of the rare 
metals. —Dissociation pressure of alkylammonium hydrosul- 
phides, by J. Walker and J. S. Lumsden.—Supposed conden- 
sation of benzil with ethyl alcohol. A correction, by F. R. 
Japp.—The viscosity of mixtures of miscible liquids, by T. E. 
Thorpe and J. W. Rodger. The authors contribute the results 
of measurements made on mixtures of carbon tetrachloride and 
benzene, methyl iodide and carbon bisulphide, and of ether and 
chloroform. The densities of the mixtures cannot be caleu- 
lated by the ordinary admixture rule, whilst the viscosity is 
rarely a linear function of the composition.—Magnesium nitride 
as a reagent, by H. L. Snape. The author has investigated 
the action of magnesium nitride on chloroform, perchlorethane 
and benzaldehyde, in the hope of obtaining hydrogen cyanide, 
cyanogen and (C,H,;.CH),N. respectively ; the experiments, 
however, were unsuccessful. —The identity of Laurent’s amarone 
with tetraphenylazine, by H. L. Snape and A. Brooke. Tetra- 
phenylazine is obtained by the action of magnesium nitride on 
benzaldehyde ; it is identical with Laurent’s amarone.—Studies 
on the interaction of highly purified gases in presence of cata- 
lytic agents, by W. French. In absence of light spongy platinum 
does not induce combination in a mixture of dry hydrogen and 
oxygen.—Contributions to the knowledge of the B-ketonic 
acids. Part iii., by S. Ruheniann.—Contributions to the know- 
ledge of the B-ketonic acids. Part iv., by S. Ruhemann and 
A. S. Hemmy.—Oxidation of phenylstyrenyloxytriazole, by G. 
Young. Vhenylstyrenyloxytriazole is oxidised by permanganate 
to phenyloxytriazolecarboxylic acid, which immediately decom- 
PhN. NW 
| COH.—Apiin and 
HC:N 
apigenin (preliminary notice), by A. G. Perkin. Apigenin 
C,;H,,0;, the product of hydrolysis of apiin, the glucoside of 
parsley, contains no methoxy-groups, and yields a tribenzoyl- 
compound.—Note on the constitution of the so-called “ nitrogen 
iodide,” by J. W. Mallet. 
Geological Society, February 24.—Dr. Henry Hicks, 
F.R.S., President, in the chair.—On the nature and origin of the 
Rauenthal serpentine, by Miss Catherine A. Raisin. This 
serpentine has been already described by Herr Weigand as one 
of those which occur in regions of gneiss or schist related in 
their origin to these rocks. In order to test this hypothesis as 
to the formation of the serpentine, the author examined the 
district and studied its rocks with the microscope. Herr 
Weigand asserted that transitions could be recognised from typical 
gneiss to a peculiar amphibolite, and that the latter rock had 
been changed to serpentine. The author could find in the field 
no evidence of a passage from gneiss to amphibolite, and called 
attention to the general difficulty of the supposition. —On two 
boulders of granite from the middle chalk of Betchworth (Surrey), 
by W. P. D. Stebbing. The author noticed cases of occurrence 
of boulders in chalk which have been previously described ; and 
recorded the occurrence of two boulders which were obtained 
from the chalk of the Zerebratulina-gract/is zone. The largest 
weighed 7 Ib. 7 oz., measured 5”°8 x 6°25 x 4”°125, and con- 
sisted of decomposed granite; valves of Spondylus /atus and 
Serpula were still attached. The other, also granite, though of 
a different character, weighed 3 lb. 12 oz., and measured 
36 x 58 x 4/5. Prof. Bonney furnished a description of 
the microscopic characters of the two boulders, which are possibly 
poses, yielding phenyloxytriazole 
