668 



REPORT 1887. 



and is spariugl}- soluble in water. It has only a very slightly saline taste, and may 

 be therefore employed for preserving food without communicating any taste to it. 



Many experiments have been made with it for surgical purposes. A saturated 

 solution which contains 061 per cent, of the salt is not irritating to wounds, 

 whilst it possesses greater antiseptic power for animal tissues than one pai-t of per- 

 chloride of mercury in 600 of water, which is a stronger solution than that 

 which can be generally employed for surgical purposes without producing poisonous 

 effects. 



3. On the Composition of Water hy Volume.^ 

 Bij Alexandek Scott, M.A., D.Sc, F.B.S.E. 



Two years ago, at the meeting of the Association in Aberdeen, the author 

 pointed out that, owing to the difference in the behaviour of oxygen and hydrogen, 

 especially with reg^ird to the effects of pressure on them, it was extremely 

 improbable that the relative volumes in which they combine to form water should 

 be exactly 1 : 2. An a'^count of some preliminary experiments was then given, 

 which seemed to indicate that one volume of oxygen required rather less than two 

 volumes of hydrogen. Many subsequent experiments with larger volumes of gas 

 and different apparatus have confirmed the results then obtained. Over thirty 

 experiments have been performed, and in every case with the same result: the most 

 probable ratio seems to be 1-996 to l'&97 volumes of hydrogen to 1 of oxygen. The 

 apparatus used enables the gases to be prepared of such purity that the amount of 

 nitrogen amounts to only -7 in 10,400, or about one part in 15,000. The volumes 

 of gas used in the latest experiments are about 280 cubic centimetres of oxygen 

 to 560 cubic centimetres of hydrogen. Taking Regnault's density for oxygen as 

 15-9627 and the above ratio, we get the atomic weight of oxygen = 15-99. 



4. On some Vapour Densities at High Temperatures.'^ 

 By Alexander Scott, M.A., D'Sc, F.U.S.E. 



The following vapour densities were determined by Meyer's method in an 

 apparatus of platinum at a temperature above the melting point of cast iron. 



Proc. Boy. Soc. vol. slii. p. 396 



Proc. Poy. Soc. Ed hi. vol. xiv. 



