August 27, 1909] 



SCIEISCE 



287 



more smooth than the perfect fourth or the 

 perfect fifth. 



It is believed that these results are of sig- 

 nificance, in connection with a number of 

 problems in the field of musical esthetics. 



The experiment described above has stimu- 

 lated similar tests in other institutions. In 

 Wellesley College, under the direction of Pro- 

 fessor H. C. Macdougall, experiments were 

 made by Miss Hetty S. Wheeler, in classes 

 yielding 204 replies. Owing to a typograph- 

 ical error, 306 replies were received in the 

 case of the major sixth, and only 102 in the 

 case of the perfect fifth. The results from 

 Wellesley College, which are very similar to 

 those described above, are contained in the 

 following table: 



Smooth Harsh 



Minor second 204 



Major second 14 190 



Minor third 199 5 



Major third 204 



Perfect fourth 139 65 



Augmented fourth 166 3S 



Perfect fifth 72 30 



Minor sixth 202 2 



Major sixth 289 17 



Minor seventh 14 190 



Major seventh 204 



Professor W. A. White, of Syracuse Uni- 

 versity, also, made a similar experiment, with 

 somewhat different results. Inasmuch, how- 

 ever, as his tests were made on classes of 

 students more or less advanced in the study 

 of harmony, many of whom recognized the 

 intervals as they were played, the experiment 

 is obviously not comparable with those pre- 

 viously mentioned. Lj-qnard B. McWhood 



Columbia Univebsity 



TEE FORTIETH GENERAL MEETING OF THE 

 AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. II 



SECTION OF PHAKIIACEUTICAI, CHESIISTBT 



A. B. Stevens, chairman 

 A New Form of Separator: C. E. Paekeb. 



The " shaking out " method of extraction is 

 difficult or impracticable with solutions which 

 have marked tendency to emulsify. A separator 

 of flat form is described, in which, when in a 

 horizontal position, the immiscible liquids spread 



out in broad thin layers in contact with each 

 other. By gently tilting the separator by manual 

 or mechanical means the layers float about with- 

 out mixing and the extraction of soluble material 

 is readily effected. The operation may be called 

 " floating out " instead of " shaking out." On 

 placing the separator in erect position the lower 

 liquid may be drawn off through a stopcock as 

 usual. 

 Investigatiotis of Glacial Phosphorio Acid: L. F. 



Kebleb and B. Hebstein. 



It has been known for many years that the com- 

 position of glacial phosphoric acid is far from 

 uniform, and its use so far as a chemical reagent 

 and for the manufacture of medicinal products 

 is of questionable utility. Furthermore, solutions 

 of glacial phosphoric acid are comparatively un- 

 stable, the metaphosphoric acid reverting to the 

 pyro and the pyro gradually to the ortho. The 

 object of this contribution is: (1) to give a 

 method for determining the respective amounts 

 of the various hydrates of phosphorus pentoxid 

 present in ordinary glacial phosphoric acid; (2) 

 to determine the rapidity of reversion to the 

 higher forms of hydration; (3) to show the un- 

 desirability of using it either as a reagent or for 

 preparing medicines. 

 The Purity of Glycerin: H. C. Fulieb and L. F. 



Kebleb. 



In this paper is discussed results of investiga- 

 tions of the various brands of glycerin furnished 

 by manufacturers knowing the object and purpose 

 of such samples. The chief objects of the exam- 

 inations were : ( 1 ) To determine whether or not 

 the tests prescribed by the Pharmacopoeia were 

 unduly rigid. (2) Whether or not any glycerin 

 was available which when used in making up 

 Haines's solution would not be instrumental in 

 causing a reduction of the copper. 

 Note on the Determination of Morphin: C. E. 



Pabkeb. 



The use of a solution of thymol in chloroform 

 (or other volatile solvent) for extracting morphin 

 from solutions, especially those containing gly- 

 cerol and small amounts of morphin, is described. 

 Opium preparations are first freed from alcohol 

 and then extracted with chloroform, first in acid 

 or neutral solution and again after addition of 

 excess of potassium hydroxid. The solution is 

 then acidified, excess of sodium bicarbonate added 

 and extracted with the thymol solution. The 

 thymol solution is shaken out with one per cent, 

 hydrochloric acid and the latter evaporated. The 



