April 28, 1899.] 



SCIENCE. 



623 



The first paper of the eveniDg was read by 

 Dr. F. K. Cameron and was entitled ' Acetone- 

 Chloroform, 2d paper,' by F. K. Cameron and 

 L. J. Briggs. 



The second paper was read by Mr. T. H. 

 Means and was entitled ' Estimation of the 

 Salt Contents of Soil Waters,' by T. H. Means 

 and F. K. Cameron. This method has been 

 devised for a rapid estimation of the relative 

 proportions of chloride, sulfates and carbonates 

 in the ' alkali ' soils of the Western districts. It 

 is used as a check upon the electrical method 

 for the determination of the soluble salt con- 

 tent of soils, as well as to furnish approximate 

 analyses in the field without waiting for com- 

 plete analyses to be made in the laboratory. 

 The method determines chlorides, sulfates and 

 carbonates in terms of the sodium salt. A 

 sample of water is taken, or an extract is made 

 of the soil, and the solution filtered or decanted. 

 The solution need not be clear. An excess of 

 barium nitrate (10 cc.) is added to 10 cc. of the 

 soil extract, thus precipitating sulfates and car- 

 bonates. The excess of barium nitrate is ti- 

 trated back with potassium chromate, using sil- 

 ver nitrate on a porcelain plate as an indicator. 

 In the same vessel silver nitrate is added, using 

 potassium chromate on the plate as an indica- 

 tor, thus precipitating the chloride. A few 

 drops of nitric acid are now added and the 

 liquid heated, driving off the carbon dioxide 

 from the barium carbonate. The excess of 

 nitric acid is neutralized by powdered mag- 

 nesium carbonate. Again the solution is ti- 

 trated with potassium chromate, the quantity 

 required giving the amount of carbonates. 

 This subtracted from the sum of the sulfates 

 and carbonates, as found above, gives the sul- 

 fates. This method makes the three titrations 

 in one vessel, the apparatus being of such a 

 simple nature that all can be carried in a camp- 

 ing outfit. 



The third paper was read by Mr. J. K. Hay- 

 wood and was entitled ' The Determination of 

 Calcium and Magnesium in Ashes.' The au- 

 thor has found that in determining calcium and 

 magnesium it is not essential to wash the volu- 

 minous ppt. of basic acetate of iron and phos- 

 phate of iron, but that results of almost equal 

 accuracy are obtained by making the precipita- 



tion in a 500-cc. flask, filling up to the mark, 

 passing through a dry filter and using aliquot 

 portions of the filtrate for analysis. The above 

 is substantiated by experimental data. 



The last paper was read by Dr. H. C. Bolton 

 and was entitled ' The Classification of Chem- 

 istry Proposed by the International Catalogue 

 Committee of the Royal Society, a Critical An- 

 alysis,' by W. P. Cutter and H. C. Bolton. 

 The paper analyzed the proposed scheme of 

 classification of chemical titles drawn up by the 

 Committee on the International Catalogue of the 

 Royal Society. It characterized the system as 

 conglomerate, since numbers, Roman capitals, 

 lower case, italic letters and Greek letters are 

 mixed up with alphabetical headings. The 

 system embraces also methods of notation 

 which are very objectionable, inasmuch as the 

 symbols are analogous in structure and appear- 

 ance to chemical formuliE, yet they are essen- 

 tially different. The scheme proposed, if in- 

 tended to facilitate research, is pronounced by 

 the authors of the analysis an almost total 

 failure. Wm. H. Krug, 



Secretary. 



THE MINNESOTA ACADEMY OF NATURAL 

 SCIENCES. 



At the regular monthly meeting of April 4th 

 three papers of general interest were presented. 

 Dr. F. W. Sardeson discussed the primitive 

 structure of theCrinoid stem. Specimens were 

 exhibited showing the manner of development 

 from the first Cystidean type of structure, i. e., 

 an elongation of the body wall supported by 

 hexagonal plates ; the arrangement into five 

 vertical rows of the alternating transversely 

 elongated six sided plates ; the arrangement of 

 these plates in transverse circles forming dis- 

 tinct sections and joints, this being the most 

 primitive structure of the stem seen in the 

 Crinoidea ; the circle of five plates in each sec- 

 tion united in such manner as to form a solid 

 ring with a central pentagonal perforation or 

 canal. 



Dr. U. S. Grant described a driftless area in 

 northeastern Minnesota. The area in question 

 is a small one, 8 by 12 miles, around Wilder 

 Lake, entirely free from the drift which covers 

 the country around it so deeply. The rock 



