312 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 738 



The Fertilizer Industry — An Historical Sketch: 

 F. B. Cabpentkb. 



A Comparison of Various Methods in bringing 

 about the Solution of Potash in Mixed Fertil- 

 izers and Tobacco Stems: M. H. Pingreb. 



A Discussion of Methods for Determining the 

 Availability of Phosphoric Acid in Thomas 

 Phosphate Powder: Geo. D. Leavens. 



A Discussion of Methods for the Determination 

 of Iron and Alumina in Phosphate Rock: P. P. 

 Veitch. 



Note on the Determination of Insoluble Phosphoric 

 Acid: F. B. Caepenter. 



Chemistry and Geology of the Inland Phosphates 

 of the United States: Ltrcius P. Bbown. 



Loss of Potash in Commercial Fertilizers: F. B. 

 Porter. 



Remarks on the Gladding Method for Phosphoric 

 Acid {weighing direct the phospho-molybdate 

 precipitate) : A. G. Stillweh. 



PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY SECTION 



Edward Kremers, chairman 

 Determination of Acetanilid in Hydrogen Peroxide 



Solutions: Elwyn Waller. 



In a side neck flask of 200 c.c. capacity, place 

 about half a stick of caustic potash or soda (6 to 

 7 grams ) . Add about 20 c.c. of water to dissolve, 

 and then 25 to 30 grams of granulated metallic 

 zinc. Then add a measured amount, not over 

 50 c.c. of the solution to be tested. Connect the 

 flask on the one side with a flask to supply steam, 

 arranging the tube to deliver steam near the 

 bottom of the solution; connect on the other side 

 with a condenser. The condenser should deliver 

 into a Peligot bulb tube or some other arrange- 

 ment by which the distillate is immediately 

 jrought in contact with moderately strong hydro- 

 chloric acid. 



Raise the heat on the flask slowly, and when 

 nearly half of the contents have distilled over, 

 start the steam to passing through. The end of 

 the distillation is a matter of guess. When the 

 anilin is coming over in quantity, fumes are to 

 be seen in the receiver, but for the last portions 

 they can not be seen. When it is judged that all 

 has come over, detach the receiver and catch what 

 comes over later in a fresh receiver or a beaker, 

 and titrate it separately. 



To prepare the volumetric bromine solution, 

 dissolve 25 grams of caustic potash in 20 to 40 c.c. 

 of water, cool, and add liquid bromine until it 

 appears supersaturated. Then dilute to about 

 200 c.c. and boil out excess of bromine (judged 



by the color). Cool, and dilute to one liter. This 

 should give a solution of which 1 c.c. = nearly 

 0.01 gm. acetanilid. Standardize by means of a 

 solution containing 0.5 gm. acetanilid in 200 c.c. 

 of water, using 30 to 50 c.c. lots at a time, treated 

 either by distillation on the manner above given, 

 or by boiling with strong hydrochloric acid. 

 Either method was found to give the same result 

 with the same amount of acetanilid. 



The method was tested by first distilling known 

 quantities of the sample and titrating the distil- 

 late, then adding known amounts of acetanilid to 

 the same quantities of the sample, and distilling. 

 The distillates took just the additional amount 

 required by the acetanilid added. 



The presence of acetanilid was indicated by 

 obtaining the isonitril reaction on the original 

 sample. 



Recent Developments in Preparations for Admin- 

 istering Sulphur: Elwyn Waller. 



This paper discusses the reasons why attempts 

 are being made to obtain sulphur in an unoxidized 

 but soluble condition. The therapeutic eflFects of 

 sulphur seem to be inversely proportional to the 

 degree of oxidation. 



Sulphur in solid form does not lend itself read- 

 ily to absorption. The ordinary solvents of sul- 

 phur have therapeutic efi'ects of their own and are 

 not desirable for use. 



Lac sulphuris leaves much to be desired. These 

 facts have caused the appearance of preparations 

 of colloidal sulphur. It is claimed these are the 

 equal of lac sulphuris and are soluble in water. 



Analysis of two such preparations are as fol- 

 lows (results were in grams per 100 c.c.) : 



Total sulphur 3.05 



Lime 1.51 



Residue on evaporation 4.94 



Lime appeared to be the only base, and no sul- 

 phate was present, the sulphur was probably pres- 

 ent as in the lac sulphuris. 



A second sample soluble in water contained 

 sulphur probably as sodium sulphite. This sample 

 contained resin probably as solvent for the sul- 

 phur. The presence of hydrogen sulphide could 

 not be established in either sample. 



Abstracts have not been received for the follow- 

 ing papers: 



The V. S. P. Method for Making Precipitated 



Sulphur: Edwabd. Kbemebs. 

 The V. S. P. Test for Petroleum in Turpentine 



Oil, and the New Process Oils: Edwabd 



Kbemebs. 



