TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. Ob 
proportions of copper than haye been found in any other specimens of ancient 
gun-metal, the results of which have been published. 
The results of analysis were as follows :— z 
From the Moulding at Rear-end of the Breech-piece. 
Ia. 
(In close proximity to I.) 
Coppemencactcrc sin oe: OKOOMraeaton iat tote terse 89:58 
Mintimer era Ae sts FCS ny a alicia b 10°15 
From the Moulding at Front-end of the Breech-piece. 
Il. Ii. Illa. 
Top of moulding. Side of moulding. 
PEGA EE ate vicleisis clore iets SV Ape Sor on SET O" SMAI aa 94:22 
MPAs thors sists isle ge pies NRO! Ss tevevarsia tents CRABB ats tercrscaids 2 5:60 
From the Moulding at Rear-end of the Chase. 
IV. 
(CHIC o akncmondmnegodanmocne + 91:22 
SLES Sie 8 IA Sait etree trap n i 2.08. aie 8:49 
From the Moulding at the Muzzle. 
Vv. 
ORRER Pisiariet.ia iets olotiiely sees 95:20 
WsaDers, aeelns. fot = shilee’ tip atalara clears ate 4-71 
The greet guns of the Dardanelles appear to have been produced from the metal 
of small cannon; and there is little doubt that no approach to a uniformity of mix- 
ture of the alloys composing those cannon could be attained with the crude means 
at command for melting the metal. It is, however, interesting to note that, in 
the seyen specimens taken from the great gun at Woolwich which have been 
analysed, only traces of other metals than copper and tin have been discovered. 
Lead and iron were detected in minute quantities, and traces of antimony and 
arsenic were also discovered; but a careful examination of the specimens for gold, 
silver, and zinc failed to furnish any indication of the presence of these metals. 
Note on Liwig’s Researches on the Action of Sodium Amalgam on Oxalic Ether. 
By Aurrep R. Carron, M.A. 
On Mitscherlich’s Law of Isomorphism, and on the so-called cases of Dimorphism. 
By Aurrep R. Carton, M.A. 
On the Coal-Tar Bases. By J. Dewar. 
Last year the author communicated a paper to the Royal Society of Edinburgh 
on the Oxidation of Phenol by Permanganate of Potash. He found that the prin- 
cipal product of the reaction was oxalic acid, mixed with a small quantity of an 
acid giving a violet reaction with (Fe, Cl,) ferric chloride. He found it im ossible 
to procure this acid in quantity, but what he had succeeded in making had the 
melting-point and reactions of salicylic acid. He has attacked the coal-bases by 
the same reagent. 
Picoline can be easily attacked by permanganate of potash at 100° C. The 
oxidation products are ammonia, nitric and carbonic acid, a small quantity of 
 yolatile acids, oxalic acid, and a beautiful crystalline bibasie acid, which the 
author calls Dicarbopyridenic. The empirical formula of the acid is pyridine 
plus 2 carbonic anhydrides or typically (CALN) GO. Tt is a seyen-carbon acid 
2 
obtained by the destructive oxidation of a six-carbon compound. The formation 
of this acid is a true synthesis by oxidation, comparable to the elegant synthesis 
3% 
