40 REPORT — 1875. 



" When they coutain calcium and magnesium soluble in water, they should 

 be stated thus : — 



Calcium. Sulphate. 



Potassium. 



Magnesium. Chloride. 



Sodium. 



" In the case of ' artificial sulphates,' which coutain iron, calcium, and 

 magnesium, in addition to potassium and sodium, and are usually acid, the 

 results may be stated thus : — 



Hydrogen. 



Calcium. Sulphate. 



Potassium. 



Iron. Chloride. 



Magnesium, 



Sodium. 



" The free acid I should state as sulphuric acid, as I cannot believe that it 

 exists as hydrochloric acid, considering the heat of the furnace during tlie 

 manufacture. 



" Of course it is evident that the acidity wUl not be really due to free sul- 

 phuric acid, but to an acid sulphate, probably acid sulphate of potassium 

 (KHSO J. Lumps of chlorides are often to be found in salt cakes and potas- 

 sium sulphates of decided acid reaction. 



"Of course carbonates should follow the same rules as the above." 



Mr. M. J. Lansdell holds the following opinions : — 



"I think in this, as in all other instances, it is a mistake to give detailed 

 analyses showing any particular arrangement of acids and bases combined. 

 I advocate a simple statement of the elements (or acids and bases) separately, 

 and any combining of them I am inclined to look upon as padding only 

 (to use an expressive word), and as having weight onlj-^ with the uninitiated. 

 I do not object to a statement of any one substance (say a base) as being 

 equal to a salt, not in the sense that that amount of that salt is present in 

 that sample, but as a trade valuation of the base (present) according to a well- 

 known or usual standard for its valuation. I find the practice of latter years 

 among our clients is to ask only for certain determinations (in potash salts, 

 generally of potash only, or for potash and its equivalent amount of sulphate of 

 potash or chloride of potassium), and not for detailed analyses, so getting them 

 done at a less fee. However, I should see no objection if the Committee 

 thought fit to prescribe a mode of statement for detailed analyses which they 

 found suited to the requirements of the trade, it being understood that such 

 analysis, quoted perhaps as the 'B. A. statement' or ' B. A. analj-sis,' Avas 

 only a statement in a conventional form. Yet a statement of the elements 

 (or acids and bases) determined — with at most their amounts in equivalent pro- 

 portions (each equivalent proportion =1 of hydrogen) — would give to each 

 manufacturer an easy means of making all calculations useful to him as to 

 value or the capabilities of the articles for separation or manufacture thereof 

 of any compound, and would not parade a lot of fictitious or supposititious in- 

 formation to impose upon or awe the ignorant. I incline to the belief that 

 every analyst should have respect to the ends sought and need not go beyond 

 them. A trader, only finding some constituent or constituents of value for 

 his purpose, should be accommodated with estimations of such on paying pro- 



