388 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, Aug. 29.—A single paper only was 
read at this meeting by M. J. Boussinesq, a theoretical essay on 
the laws, found by experiment by M. Bazin, for the uniform flow 
of water in open channels. The formulae deduced by the writer 
from theoretical considerations he found to agree with those in- 
dicated by M. Bazin from experiment, and also not to differ 
materially from those which M. Darcy has given to represent the 
yapidity in circular pipes full of liquid, for the axis of the pipe 
or at one-third or two-thirds of the radius. 
NEw York 
Lyceum of Natural History, May 9.—The President 
in the chair. Professor Charles A. Seely ‘‘On the Con- 
stitution of Ammonium-amalgam.”—Dr. Isidor Walz’s ‘‘ Notes 
on the Extinction and Reducing Power of Mercury.” ‘At 
the last meeting of the Chemical Section of the Lyceum, 
I drew attention to the conversion of liquid zinc-amalgam to 
a gray powder, when shaken with a solution of potassium 
bichromate. Subsequently I became convinced that this phe- 
nomenon was solely due to the extinction of the mercury, 
and have made a number of experiments regarding the pheno- 
menon of which I present the following results. It is hardly 
necessary to state that the mercury used was absolutely pure. It 
is very difficult, but essential, to use chemically pure mercury, as 
even a very small trace of a foreign metal is often sufficient to 
influence the results materially. The experiments were made in 
ordinary test-tubes, in which the materials were shaken a length 
of time varying from a few seconds to ten minutes. I believe 
that we ought to distinguish between two methods or kinds of 
extinction, namely the mechanical and the chemical. The 
former is effected by a very large number of solutions of neutral 
salts, which exert no chemical action on mercury, and even by 
pure water, if shaken long enough. ‘The extinction of the mer- 
cury in this case is produced simply by the interposition of fine 
films of the liquid between the globules, into which the mercury 
is separated by the mechanical agitation, and which are thus 
prevented from running together again. By mechanical extine- 
tion mercury is converted into what appears to be a fine powder, 
which, however, never loses its white colour and metallic 
appearance, and under the lens its globular structure is clearly 
seen. Quite interesting in many cases are the reactions which 
accompany the chemical extinction of mercury, which takes 
place when the metal is shaken with a solution of a salt, by 
which it is chemically affected. In these cases the newly-formed 
mercury compounds act in the same way as the films of liquid 
in the former instance, preventing the separate globules from re- 
uniting. A finer division of the metal is obtained in less time 
than by the mechanical method, and the resulting metallic 
powder is generally of a dull gray leaden colour. When a 
solution of potassium bichromate is poured upon mercury, the 
convexity of the surface is at once destroyed ; presently the 
surface is tarnished and begins to look wrinkled, while at the 
same time a greenish-black powder commences to deposit itself. 
This greenish-black powder is a mixture of chromic and mer- 
curous oxide ; it is formed abundantly when the two liquids are 
agitated more or less strongly ; the mercury is at the same time 
completely extinguished, and at the end of the reaction neutral 
potassium chromate alone remains in solution, which is not acted 
upon by mercury. Ferric chloride extinguishes mercury ; ferrous 
and mercurous chlorides are formed, Potassium permanganate 
also acts upon the metal ; manganic and mercurous oxides are 
deposited, while potassic hydrate remains in solution. Mercury 
shaken with Fehling’s solution is simply extinguished mechani- 
cally, when all the reagents used are pure; but when a very 
small quantity of zinc-amalgam is added, Cu,O is reduced from 
the solution. A solution of potassium ferricyanide does not 
affect the fluidity of mercury ; but when the two are shaken 
together a green powder is formed in large quantities, which, if 
allowed to stand, changes to a dark, and later still to a light 
blue colour. Potassium ferrocyanide appears to be formed at 
the same time. Iam still engaged in studying this interesting 
reaction, and will endeavour to determine if this blue powder is 
Prussian blue or not. Sodium hyposulphite, also, does not affect 
the mercury physically ; on agitation, however, a heavy black 
powder, mercuric sulphide, is formed. Its amount increases 
NATURE 
[ Sept. 8, 1870 
with the lapse of time, and in one of my test-tubes, which has 
hardly been disturbed for weeks, the original black sulphide has 
assumed a yellowish red colour. I conclude from these obser- 
vations that the reducing power of pure mercury is greater than 
is generally supposed, and I expect to be enabled to obtain some 
interesting results from an extension of these experiments. I 
have repeated some of Lowe’s experiments, which he described 
at our last meeting, and can state that similar results are obtained 
by substituting palladium bichloride for the platinum salt. I 
cannot, however, yet coincide with him in considering his final 
product as hydrogenium-amalgam, as by every method by which 
it has yet been made it contains another metal besides mercury 
and hydrogen, namely, either platinum, palladium, gold, or 
silver, in no inconsiderable proportion. ” 
May 16.—The president in the chair. Mr. Frederick Prime, 
jun., read a paper on the Metallurgy of Argentiferous Galenas, 
giving details of the several processes at present in use, with 
their various advantages and disadvantages. He entered into a 
detailed account of the methods put into practice in Freiberg, and 
showed how these could, and would, be used in the United States. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
American.—Alaska and its Resources: W. H. Dall (Boston: Lee and 
Shephard).—Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, No. 82.— 
Transactions of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, 1869. Parts 1 and 2.— 
Report of the Smithsonian Institute for r868.—Proceedings (vol. ii. pt. 1) and 
Bulletin (Nos. 1-12) of the Essex Institute-—The Indians of Cape Flattery : 
G. G. Swan (Smithsonian Institute). ; 
CONTENTS 
Pace 
Tue Mepicat ScHooLts OF ENGLAND AND GERMANY. II. By Prof. S. 
STRICKHR “> sje re! « sjsiehiseesd © ie 3 aed ke ee ae ee 
On AN UNPUBLISHED ITALIAN MS, oF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. 
379 
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By GrorGE FARRER RODWELL. . . + «© « © © © © «@ @ 
Catiin’s American GeoLocy. By Prof. T. Rupert Jones . . 
THE MopeRN BUDDHIST . « « « © © «© «© «© © © «© «© @ « 
Qur Book SHEtR: 00%, ss) @ + < tere © « isis! wip tele 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
The Gulf Stream.—P. L. SIMMONDS » ss ss ss 
The Intended Engineering College.—Prof. G. C. Fosrrr, 
Hollyberries and Birds —-W. E. Hart. . - . . «© « 2 = « 
Mirages.—W. Percy SLADEN. (With [llustrations.). . . . 
Kant’s Transcendental Distinction.—C. M. INGLEBY . . . . - 
Volcanic Agency v. Denudation.—A. H. GREEN. . . » . s 
Geology of Devonshire.—W. LuscoMBE. « » + + + + + + © 
Hereditary Deformities. —-WmM. Firpp « « «© « + « + «©  « 
374 
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376 
376 
Poisoning by Ginanthe crocata . . . + « + « « 
Note on SoME INSTANCES OF PROTECTIVE ADAPTATION IN MARINE 
376 
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ANIMALS. GEORGES. BRADY . - . + » «© © + « «© © « «@ 
Swatitows’ Nests. ALFRED NAQUET . «© + © « © © + © « « 
FACULTY OF SCIENCE tN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE . + « + 2 + « = 
Tur Science or War. III. Guns anp GunrowpEr. (With [tlus- 
379 
379 
trations.) . » s «+ 2 *© ee & 
Noresicveebamenrte dels “cue: (ois) gra) iat bola 
Scrmntiric INSTRUCTION AT THE JowA STATE UNIVERSITY. « . 2 382 
New CLassiFicATIon oF Croups. Prof. Pory. . . +... + + 382 
Tur ANCIENT LAKES OF WESTERN AmgrICA, THEIR DEPOSITS AND 
385 
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DRAINAGE. Prof, J.S. NEWBERRY. « - + + + + + © # © 
Sctentiric SERIALS . . 0 6 6 6 se & © ee ee 
SocigETIES AND ACADEMIES + s+ + + + © #© © © @ © & 
