192 



SCIENCE 



[X. S. Vol. XXVIII. No. 710 



The Crystallization of Soap: W. D. Eichaboson. 



When crystals form in transparent soap they 

 usually first appear as bundles of two or three 

 long slender needles pointed in opposite direc- 

 tions from a central nucleus. Later more needles 

 appear until the crystal looks something like 

 two whisk-brooms with the handles together. 

 The nucleus does not appear to grow larger with 

 age, but more needles form from the center until 

 a circular disk of radiating needles is formed 

 and this may increase in size indefinitely. Some- 

 times only one or two crystals will form in a 

 bar of soap, at other times they will form in 

 such numbers that the whole bar of soap becomes 

 opaque and at a little distance can not be dis- 

 tinguished from a piece of opaque cold-made soap. 

 In cold-made soap the same crystal-form is ob- 

 served, with radiating needles starting from 

 nuclei of fibrous structure which occupy the 

 spaces originally occupied by fat globules in the 

 emulsion of fat and alkali solution. It is sug- 

 gested that in old bars of ordinary curd soap the 

 same structure may be found, although it is dif- 

 ficult to observe microscopically. The composi- 

 tion of the nuclei has not been determined. 

 Glue Standards and Methods for Determining 



their Viscosity and Jelly Strength: Jerome 



Alexandeb. 



Although the viscosity and jelly strength of 

 glues and gelatines are the most important test 

 figures, no standard methods have been agreed 

 upon for their determination. It is proposed to 

 establish as standards the methods described by 

 the author in J. S. C. I., Vol. 25, p. 158, which 

 in brief are as follows: To determine — Viscosity. 

 A glass pipette of convenient size and con- 

 struction, which delivers 45 c.c. of water at 80° C. 

 in fifteen seconds. Exact measurements and in- 

 structions for making the pipette are given. 

 Jelly Strength. The jelly tester described, by 

 which is determined the weight required to efi'ect 

 a certain compression of an unsupported block of 

 jelly of definite size, composition and tempera- 

 ture (see also U. S. Patent No. 882,731). Six- 

 teen uniformly graduated grades of glue were 

 selected as standards, which include not only the 

 so-called " Cooper grades," but also all other 

 grades of glues and gelatines. The standards 

 vary per grade under the conditions given, about 

 one second in viscosity, and about 622 grams 

 (22 oz. ) in jelly strength. 



Abstracts have not been received for the follow- 

 ing papers: 

 Ga^ Producer Practise: Geoege C. Stone. 



The Influence of Fine Grinding on the Ferrous- 

 Iron and Water Content of Minerals: W. F. 



Hillebeand. 

 The Stability of Rosin at Slightly Elevated 



Temperatures : C. H. Hebtt and W. S. Dickson. 

 A Rapid Method for the Determination of Oil in 



Cottonseed Products: C. H. Herty and M. Oek. 

 The Effect of Leaching Alcoholic Distillates 



through Wood Charcoal: Wm. L. Dtjdilet. 

 The Mercerizing Process: 3. M. Matthews. 

 Coal Modifications, Natural and Artificial: S. W. 



Pabb. 

 Modifications of Illinois Coal by Low Temperature 



Distillation: S. W. Pabb and C. K. Francis. 

 An Initial Coal Substance having a Constant 



Thermal Value: S. W. Pabb and W. F. 



Wheeleb. 

 Reactiotis in Water Softening: Edward Baeiow. 

 The Relation between Teachers of Chemistry and 



the Chemical Industries: B. B. Feeud. 

 Note on the Determination of Unsaponifiable 



Matter in Oils and Fats: A. G. Still well. 

 A Method for Preparing a Standard Alkaline 



Solution: David Wilbur Hoen. 

 The Nature of the Volatile Matter of Coal as 



Evolved under Different Conditions: Horace C. 



Porter and F. K. Ovitz. 

 Refining and Testing Wood Turpentine: F. P. 



Veitch and M. G. Donk. 



The Determination of Vanadium,, Molybdenum, 

 Chromium and Nickel in Steel: Andbew A. 

 Blair. 



Selective Economy in Raw Materials : H. F. MORK. 



The Basis of Quality in Paper: A. D. Little. 



The Calorific Po-ioer of Petroleum Oils and the 

 Relation of Density to Calorific Poiver: H. C. 

 Sherman and A. H. Kbopff. 



A Comparison of the Calculated and Determined 

 Viscosity, Flash and Fire Tests in Oil Mix- 

 tures: H. C. Sheeman, T. T. Gbat and H. A. 

 Hammebschiag. 



Paint Analysis: Percy H. Walker. 



A Microscopic Investigation of Broken Steel 

 Rails: Henry Fay. 



Industrial Chemistry as Taught at Pratt Insti- 

 tute: Allen Rogers. 



B. E. Cubby, 



Secretary 

 (To be co>itinued) 



