200 
NATURE 
[Dec. 16, 1869 
resist the pressure of the backing. The work had since been 
completed, by driving an outer row of piles and putting in fresh 
capsills, jointing, and planking; and locomotives had been 
running for twelve months over the embankment without any 
further slipping, or more than the ordinary amount of settle- 
ment. It was worthy of notice, that no effect whatever was 
produced upon the sea-wall, or the jetties, by the great earthquake 
wave of August 16th, 1868, although the sea receded so as to lay 
dry a great portion of the harbour; and it might have been 
reasonably expected that the removal of the pressure upon the 
ground in front of the sea-wall would have been accompanied by 
the subsidence of the station ground. The breakwater was still 
in progress by prison labour.—The second paper, on Ocean 
Steam Nayigation, with a view to its further Development, 
by Mr. John Grantham, Memb. Inst. C.E., was read in part, 
and it was announced that it would be resumed at the next 
meeting. 
EDINBURGH 
Naturalists’ Field Club, November 30.—Annual Meeting. 
The retiring president, Mr. Brown, delivered an address on the 
Education and Ethics of a Naturalist.—The following officers 
were then elected for the ensuing session :—Mr, R. Scot-Skirving, 
president; Mr. A. Craig-Christie, vice-president ; Mr. Andrew 
Taylor, Lecturer on Geology, hon. treasurer and secretary ; Drs. 
Black, McBain, R.N., Richardson, and Cameron, and Messrs. 
Brown, Sadler, Jackson, Panton, C. W. Peach, Herbert (Trinity), 
Kannemyer, and Archer, council. The club recorded its thanks 
to Mr. Thomas Edmonston, the late secretary, for his services. 
Miss Phoebe Blyth, of Abbotsford Park, was admitted without a 
ballot, and on a ballot the following gentlemen were elected 
members :—Lieut.-Colonel Rankin (Trinity), Dr. H. W. Nachot, 
and Messrs. Leitch and Macfie. The annual dinner took place 
the same evening, the president in the chair. 
DUBLIN 
Royal Geological Society of Ireland, December 8.—On 
this date a joint meeting of the fellows of this society and of the 
fellows of the Royal Zoological Society was held in one of the 
lecture-rooms of Trinity College, Sir Dominic Corrigan, Bart., 
in the chair. The Rey. Prof. Haughton read a paper on the 
Comparative Mechanism of the Flexor Tendons of the Feet and 
Hands in Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles ; Prof. Traquair read a 
paper on Griffithides mucronatus, McCoy. 
Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland, December 8.— 
Mr. J. Ball Greene, president, in the chair. Mr. J. Price read a 
paper by Mr. W. Anderson, one of the ex-presidents, entitled 
“Record of some Experiments on Heating Water and on Con- 
densing Steam by tubular and double-cased yessels.” 
MANCHESTER. 
Literary and Philosophical Society, November 16.— 
J. P. Joule, LL.D., F.R.S., president, in the chair. Professor 
Osborne Reynolds, B.A., of Owens College, was elected an 
ordinary member of the society. A communication by Mr, E. 
W. Binney, F.R.S., F.G.S., on the Permian Strata of East 
Cheshire, was read. The author questioned the correctness of 
the Government map of the district lying between Macclesfield 
and Stockport, as far as regards the so-called ‘* red rock fault,” 
by which the coal measures are supposed to be bounded on their 
dip. According to his observations there is no more evidence of 
a fault between Macclesfield and Stockport, where the trias and 
permian beds cover the coal measures, than is to be found on the 
eastern side of the Pezie chain between Sandyacre and Sunder- 
land, where carboniferous strata disappear under permian.— 
Professor Roscoe, Ph.D., F.R.S., communicated a paper on 
the Combinations of Phosphate of Lime and Sulphurous 
Acid, by Dr. B. W. Gerland, of Macclesfield. Phosphate of 
lime, in whatever state it may be, readily dissolves in an aqueous 
solution of sulphurous acid. The solution can be obtained of 
great strength: thus, from freshly precipitated tribasic phosphate 
of lime a liquor was prepared of 1°3 specific gravity, and from 
bone ash one of 1°708 specific gravity. The former, on analysis, 
gave results which agree tolerably with the formula 3CaQO, 
PO;, 6SO,. The solution of bone ash in sulphurous acid of 
11708 specific gravity was also found, on analysis, to contain the 
amount of phosphoric acid required by that formula. The 
solution of phosphate of lime in sulphurous acid possesses the 
taste and smell of the acid, but to a much smaller extent than an 
aqueous solution of the acid containing the same amount of 
sulphurous acid, Under the influence of boiling heat the phos- 
phate solution is decomposed slowly, sulphurous acid escapes, 
and a heavy white crystalline precipitate is formed. Under the 
microscope this appears to be composed of crystals of the hex- 
agonal system, like those of rock-crystal. Washed and dried over 
sulphuric acid, it gave, on analysis, results agreeing with the 
formula 3CaO, PO;, SO,, 2HO. This sulphited phosphate of 
lime has no smell or taste, and is distinguished from all sulphites 
by its stability. Heated in an air bath for three hours to 130° C. 
it lost 0-64 per cent. of water, but the amount of sulphurous 
acid remained unchanged ; neither had a humid atmosphere 
the slightest effect upon it. The water is held in intimate com- 
bination, and is only expelled at a higher temperature when 
it is accompanied by fumes of sulphurie and sulphurous 
acids. The residue contains, besides lime and phosphoric acid, 
sulphate and sulphide of calcium. The sulphite, which with- 
stands the action of the atmosphere indefinitely, is rapidly 
oxidised when incorporated with soil. In the soil it 
acts as a soluble phosphate of lime. It has in fact for 
several seasons been used as manure, and has given great 
satisfaction. The new sulphite possesses remarkable antiseptic 
and disinfecting powers, and on this account will command a 
general interest. The efficacy of sulphurous acid as a dis- 
infectant is well known; it would be more appreciated if 
it could be conveniently applied. The aqueous solution is 
expensive by transport, it is very changeable, and in many 
cases it is unavailable on account of its pungent smell: whilst 
for medical purposes it can only be used in exceptional 
cases, in consequence of its irritating action. The sulphites 
are still more changeable. Exposed to the air they are 
acted upon by carbonic acid and by oxygen, and when 
mixed with decaying organic matter for disinfecting pur- 
poses they very often increase the mischief, and sometimes 
cause an abundant escape of sulphuretted hydrogen. The com- 
pound of phosphate of lime with sulphurous acid has none of 
these disadvantages. Acids, as well as ammonia, are neutralised 
by it. From a sanitary point of view, ammonia is particularly 
objectionable ; being a product of putridity it helps to accelerate 
it, and also serves as a yehicle for disseminating other products, 
which, without it, would not be volatile, or only so to a less 
degree. The sulphited phosphate, when applied to putrid matter, 
will probably do its first service by neutralising the ammonia 
present (including compound ammonias), and also prevent its 
further formation, as the test paper will show. ‘The smell will 
soon cease, or at least be greatly diminished and altered, and the 
mass will be safe for a long time, so that it may be removed or 
dried without danger or inconvenience. Dr. Gerland remarked that 
large quantities of putrid matter in open spaces are more com- 
pletely and speedily disinfected by small portions of the phos- 
phate, than samples in glass bottles. The compound recommends 
itself as a disinfectant by its physical properties. It is a clean 
white powder, which stains and soils nothing, dusts off garments 
or carpets, leaving no mark; it is free from smell and taste, 
and harmless to animal life. The solution of phosphate 
of lime in sulphurous acid also possesses disinfecting powers, 
and acts in many cases even with greater energy than the 
powder. It might be used with advantage as being applicable to 
places which could not be reached by the other. ‘The neutrality, 
regularity of composition, utter harmlessness, and freedom from 
smell and taste recommend the sulphited phosphate of lime for 
trial in therapeutics. It would be of interest to investigate it in 
relation to putrid puerperal fevers, pyeemia, &c. 
Microscopical and Natural History Section, November 8.— 
Joseph Baxendell, F.R.A.S., vice-president of the Section, in 
the chair.—Mr. W. J. Rideout presented the Section with one 
of the ‘f Diotamaceen Typenplatte” prepared by J. D. Moller, 
of Holstein. —Mr. J. B. Dancer sent for the inspection of the 
members a young cuckoo, which had been caught by a cat in his 
garden, Old Manor House, Tipping Street, on the 19th August. 
—The following note was read from Mr. Joseph Sidebotham ;:— 
““About fifteen years ago, I had a large cabinet made, of forty- 
five drawers, to contain shells and carpological specimens, the 
drawers being made of pencil cedar. Very soon I found that the 
resinous vapour from the wood became deposited on some of the 
fruits and shells, making them appear as if they had been dipped 
in varnish. Chloroform appeared to be the only solyent, and the 
specimens were obliged to be washed with it. This became 
so bad that I had the whole of the drawers remoyed, and replaced 
with drawers of baywood. Some time afterwards, Mr. Carter 
advised me to have the cedar drawers sized and papered inside, 
and a new cabinet made to contain them; accordingly he made 
