TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 89 



The cymene thus obtained ia identical with that described in former Reports to the 

 Association by one of us as being produced from numerous terpeues and substances 

 contained in essential oils and allied to the terpene family. 



It thus results that by a single reaction of decomposition a paraffine substitution 

 derivative breaks up, forming a beazene homologue, a somewhat unusual if not 

 quite novel reaction. 



Simidtaneously with solid Japanese peppermint-camphor a liquid oil is imported ; 

 this seems to be the liquid portion of an essential oil from which the solid has been 

 partially separated by standing and pressure. From the results obtained, it appears 

 that this oil consists either of the solid camphor or of a liquid isomeride dissolved in 

 or mixed with a liquid oil of composition 0^^ Hjg O, and identical or isomeric with 

 the similar substance constituting the majority of citronella-oil. By the action of 

 dehydrating agents, menthene, terpenes and their polymerides, and resinous bodies 

 are formed fi-om the liquid oil. 



Some further Experiments on Crystallization of Metals hy Electricity, 



By P. Braham. 



Some Account of the Manufacture and Rejtning of Sugar in Bristol, 1875. 

 By Henkt T. Ohambehlain. 



For about two centuries refining of sugar has' been cari-ied on here. The old 

 style was rude and little beyond melting in open pans by fire heat, and allowing 

 the sugar to gi-anulate. This old and uncertain process was much shortened by the 

 new style and improvements, which consisted of the use of animal charcoal and 

 the vacuum-pan, afterwards followed by the introduction of the centrifugal machine, 

 for all sugar except loaf. 



There is now scarcely any loaf made in England ; the French have an internation- 

 ally unfair monopoly. The refiners now make only finest crystals, fine and yellovr 

 pieces, and treacle, most of them pleasing to the eye and pure in quality. Scientific 

 knowledge is now brought much into use in sugar-refining, The following coui'se 

 of manufacture is used by most refiners. The raw sugar as imported is melted with 

 a little water, then filtered through bags, and afterwards through animal charcoal 

 into cisterns, the first runnings pm-e and colourless as water ; it is then boiled in 

 vacuo, at a low temperature, to the granulating point, taken from the pan to the 

 centrifugal machine, where in a few minutes of revolution all moisture is driven 

 oft^ and the sugar remains finished and fit for use. As far as possible, all syrups 

 are allowed to run by gravitation to save pumping. All syrups uucrystallizable 

 form treacle, all washings and sweet water are evaporated, and not a particle of 

 saccharine matter is lost. 



There are four sugar-refineries in Bristol, working, or capable of working, 1700 

 to 1800 tons weekly. 



Action of Ethyl-hromobutyrafe ujpon Ethyl-sodaceto-acetate. 

 By F. Cloaves, B.Sc, F.C.S. 



Ethyl-bromobutyrate was prepared by the method of Gorup-Besanez and Klink- 

 sieck*, and the fraction boiling between 175'^ and 185° C. was added slowly to a 

 benzene solution of ethyl-sodaceto-acetate prepared as directed by Wislicenus f. 

 A violent reaction occurred with evolution of much heat and separation of sodium 

 bromide. 



After heating the mixture on the water-bath tmtil no further separation of 

 sodium bromide occurred, the benzene was removed by distillation, and the sodium"' 

 bromide by washing with water. The resulting liquid was rapidly fractionated, 

 and the portion which distilled over between 200° and 203° again fractionated ; on 

 being subjected to an elementary analysis it yielded the following analytical num- 

 bers, which agree perfectly with those requii'ed by diethyl aceto-etliyl succinate : — 



* Ann, Chem. u. Pliarm. cxviii. 248. t Ber. Ber. tii. 685. 



