June 3, 1 880] 



NATURE 



109 



ingenious hypothesis, while being a fruitful cause of re- 

 search, was ultimately found to be untenable. It involved 

 the author in a somewhat bitter discussion with Liebig 

 and his school, who finally proved protein to be by no 

 means a homogeneous body, and to contain a notable 

 quantit)- of sulphur, in opposition to Mulder's opinion. 

 While failing to solve the problem of the constitution of 

 this group of compounds, a problem which, even despite 

 Schtiztenberger's remarkable experiments during the past 

 few years, is but half-way toward solution, Mulder vastly 

 increased our knowledge of the proteids by numerous 

 analytical results and thorough studies of the chemical 

 properties of the dil^erent members of the group and of 

 their deri\-atives. As especially interesting papers in this 

 connection should be mentioned his research on the 

 nature of the albuminoid forming the crystalline lens of 

 the eye (1S39), and that on the natural and artificial 

 formation of peptone from the albuminoids (1858). Closely 

 allied to this subject were the important researches on 

 chondrine and other gelatinous bodies carried out in 

 1839. From this same year dates also his extended 

 investigation of the chemical properties of hematin, the 

 colouring matter of the blood. The examination of blood 

 enlisted his attention at various intervals, and led to 

 numerous analytical tests, to one of which we owe the 

 proof of the presence of carbonic acid as a normal con- 

 stituent of the blood. In addition to the topics alluded 

 to, Mulder has contributed to physiological chemistry a 

 large variety of minor isolated observations and numerous 

 analyses of various products of the animal economy. 



In the chemistry of vegetable physiology he developed 

 a scarcely less noteworthy activity and diversity. In 

 1839 and 1840 were published important papers on inulin 

 and starch, and on pectin and pectic acid. At the same 

 time appeared his analytical investigations on the compo- 

 sition of silk, of gum arable and other gums, of the poison 

 of the upas, of various sorts of tea and coffee, of tannic 

 acid, of numerous ethereal oils, of the resinous matter in 

 lurf, of salicin and phlorizin, and of the compounds rufin 

 and rutilene, derived from them, and of gluten. In 1839 

 he published an extensive research on cassia-oil and 

 cinnamon-oil, and on benzone, in which numerous deri- 

 vatives of these bodies are described. In the year 

 following he completed an elaborate investigation on 

 the ulmic bodies, which forms the chief basis of our 

 knowledge in this still comparatively obscure field. This 

 was followed by interesting researches on yeast (1844), on 

 chlorophyll, on the presence of waxy constituents in 

 many ordinary plants (1844), on the action of acids on 

 woody fibre (1S46), on chrysamonic acid and odier 

 derivatives from aloes. In 1865 he published a very 

 complete and valuable study on drying oils and their 

 chemical properties, based on a wide range of experi- 

 mental observation. Mulder made two important contri- 

 butions to the special chemistry of the aromatic compounds 

 by his discovery in 1839 of mcta-nitro-bcnzoic acid — one 

 of the earliest representatives of the nitro acids — and by 

 his study in 1 85 8 on the formation of picric acid from 

 indigo, in which he advanced the now generally accepted 

 opinion of a transition, by means of isatin and nitro- 

 salicylic acid, from one compound to the other. Organic 

 chemistry is likewise indebted to him for several improve- 

 ments in analytical methods, and he was one of the first 

 to devise gas furnaces for use in organic combustions. 



As an author and editor Prof. Mulder was scarcely less 

 active than as an investigator. His principal works, 

 which are better known in their German translations, 

 are : — '■ Proeve eener allgemeene physiologische Schei- 

 kunde" (1843), translated into German by Prof. Kolbe, 

 under the title of '" \'ersuch einer allgemeinen physiolo- 

 gischen Chemie ; " " Die Erniihrung in ihrem Zusammen- 

 hang mit dem Yolksgeist" (1847); "Die Chemie des 

 Weins" (1856); "Die Chemie des Hiers" (1858); 

 "Die Silberprobirmethode" (1859); "Die Chemie der 



Ackerkrume," 3 vols. (1864); " Beitriige zur Geschichte 

 des chemisch gebundenen Wassers" (1864); "Die 

 Chemie der austrockenden Oele" (1867). As an editor 

 he published, in connection with Van Hall and Vrolik, 

 the "Bijdragen tot de natuurkundige wetenschappen " from 

 1826 to 1832. During the six years following he edited 

 the " Natuur- en scheikundige Archief." After uniting for 

 several years with Miquel and Wenckeback in the editor- 

 ship of the " Bulletin des Sciences physiques et naturelles 

 en Nderlande," he has issued since 1842 the "Scheikun- 

 dige \'erhandelingen en Onderzoekingen" (Rotterdam), 

 the only chemical journal of Holland. 



Prof. Mulder was frequently intrusted by his Govern- 

 ment with important commissions, and has contributed 

 greatly by his pen and speech to the cultivation of che- 

 mistry in Holland. In i860 he was elected an honorary 

 member of the London Chemical Society. T. H. N. 



NOTES 



A CONSIDERABLE number of the Fellows of the Royal Society 

 have decided to add a portrait of Sir Joseph Hooker to the 

 valuable coUecdon of historical jiortraits belonging to the 

 Society, and they invite others to join in the subscription. 

 Cheques crossed " Barclay and Co., for the Sir J. Hooker 

 Portrait Fund," to be paid to Messrs. Barclay and Co., 54, 

 Lombard Street, E.C. 



At the last meeting of the Chemical Society it was announced 

 that the Longstaff Medal had been awarded to Prof. Thorpe, of 

 the Yorkshire College, Leeds. Prof. Thorpe is the first recipient 

 of the medal. 



On Sunday, May 23, M. Dumas was presented by the Societe 

 d'Encouragement with a civic crown, in acknowledgment of the 

 services rendered to science and to France during more than half 

 a century. 



The Emperor of Germany has appointed Prof. Baron_yon 

 Nordenskjold a foreign Knight of the Ordre pour le Merite for 

 Arts and Sciences. 



The Visitation of the Royal Observatory takes place on 

 Saturday. 



The funds for the erection of a monument in memory of the 

 great philosopher, Leibnitz, at Leipzig, have now reached the 

 sum considered necessary, and Prof. Hanel of Dresden is about 

 to execute the monument. It will be erected on the southern 

 side of the St. Thomas Churchyard. The statue of Leibnitz 

 will be of bronze, and will measure 3! metres in height. 

 The pedestal will have the same height, and will be adorned by 

 four bas reliefs. 



We have to record the death of Mr. Alfred Swaine Taylor, 

 F R.S., the physician and toxicologist. He was born at North- 

 ne'et,' Kent, in December, 1S06. He was a pupil of Sir Astley 

 Cooper and Mr. T. H. Green at Guy's Hospital, and afterwards 

 studied in the leading medical schools of France, Germany, and 

 Italy In 1S30 he entered the Royal College of Surgeons, was 

 admitted ;a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians m 

 iS -8, and" was elected a Fellow of the same five years later. In 

 1S45 he was chosen a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was the 

 first holder of the chair of Medical Jurisprudence in Guy s Hos- 

 pital, and was for many years joint-Professor, and subsequently 

 sole Professor, of Chemistry. Dr. Swaine Taylor was the 

 author of several professional treafses, more especially on the 

 subjects of poisons and poisonings, chemistry, and medical 

 jurisprudence ; and he had received the honorary degree of >LD. 

 from the University of St. Andrew's. 



O.N May IS the Congress of Bohemian Naturalists was opened 

 at Prague. Dr. Albert, of Innsbruck University, was elected 



