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SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IX. No. 218. 



curative serum for one of these diseases mixed 

 with a curative serum for the other. For pro- 

 tective vaccination it appears advisable to use, 

 in addition to the serum, the products of the 

 bacteria as well as their cell contents, including 

 the products of the secretion or excretion. 



The second paper of the evening was read 

 by Dr. F. K. Cameron, and was entitled ' On 

 the Estimation of Nicotine,' by E. A. de 

 Schweinitz, J. A. Emory and F. K. Cameron. 



This paper described a critical examination 

 of the analytical methods so far proposed, and 

 with special reference to the so-called ' Kissling 

 Method.' Attempts to devise a satisfactory 

 method were made by formation of double salts 

 with metallic compounds, precipitation of an 

 addition compound with bromine or iodine, 

 precipitation with picric acid, precipitation with 

 phosphomolybdic or phosphotungstic acid, de- 

 composition of accompanying amines with ni- 

 trous acid, decomposition of these compounds 

 with hypochlorous or hypobromous acid, sepa- 

 ration of the ammonia as oxalate by the addi- 

 tion of alcohol. The results were summed up 

 as follows : 



I. The so-called Kissling method was to be 

 regarded as the best so far proposed. For the 

 estimation of nicotine in tobacco leaves or pow- 

 ders it may be regarded as satisfactory, but its 

 application to tobacco extracts yields very un- 

 reliable results. 



II. A complete extraction of nicotine by ether 

 and some other solvents is readily accomplished. 



III. An evaporation of an ether extract will 

 afford a practicable separation from ammonia 

 alone, but not from other organic bases. 



IV. A complete separation by distillation 

 with steam is much more difficult than is 

 usually supposed. Certain deviations from the 

 usual practice were suggested. 



V. No method involving the precipitation of 

 the nicotine as an insoluble compound has been 

 found practicable. 



VI. No method involving the decomposition 

 of accompanying compounds has been found 

 practicable. 



VII. The presence of tertiary amines, and 

 probably some pyridin derivatives in tobacco 

 extracts, is as yet an insurmountable obstacle 

 in the separation or estimation of nicotine. 



Finally, it is to be observed that nicotine 

 comports itself as a tertiary amine. It does 

 not yield a nitroso compound. Its separation 

 from ammonia, primary and secondary amines, 

 can be more or less readily accomplished by 

 the adaptation of well-known general methods. 

 Its separation from tertiary bases must be de- 

 pendent on the discovery of some accidental 

 physical or chemical property of the substance 

 involved which cannot be predicated from 

 known general principles. It would seem that a 

 satisfactory solution of the problem is dependent 

 upon some empirical relation, and it is in this 

 direction that further investigation is indicated. 

 But it is to be hoped that a more profound 

 study of nicotine itself will yield satisfactory 

 evidence as to its true nature, and from the 

 knowledge thus gained the problem before the 

 analyst may not be so aimless or complicated as 

 it now seems. 



William H. Krug. 

 Secretary. 



MEETING OF THE NEW YORK SECTION OF THE 

 AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 



The February meeting of the New York Sec- 

 tion of the American Chemical Society was held 

 on the 10th inst., in the Assembly Room of the 

 Chemists' Club, at 108 West 55th street. Dr. 

 Wm. McMurtrie presiding. In accordance with 

 a resolution adopted by the Washington Section, 

 it was resolved " that it be recommended to the 

 Council that the Society confer, through appro- 

 priate channels, with the Chemical Society of 

 London, as to the feasibility of the separate 

 publication of their abstracts after the manner 

 of the Chemische Centralblatt, the preparation of 

 these abstracts to be undertaken by both So- 

 cieties conjointly." 



A report from the Committee on Patent Leg- 

 islation was read, recommending that the pres- 

 ent Committee be continued, with five additional 

 members to be appointed by the chair. 



The duty of the Committee will be to prepare 

 such alterations and amendments as may seem 

 advisable and submit them to the different mem- 

 bers of the Committee as well as to the Sections 

 of the Society before the first spring meetings. 

 From the reports of the Sections in different 

 parts of the country a general report will be 



