264 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. YoL. XII. No. 294. 



used for establishing the identity of two 

 compounds from different sources consist- 

 ing in determining whether any change of 

 melting point occurs on mixing the two sub- 

 stances — a far more reliable criterion than 

 mere identity of melting point. Though 

 this method has been used before it is not 

 commonly employed. 



Eeference should also be made to the 

 beautiful investigation of Dr. A. S. Wheeler 

 on the reduction-products of dehydromucic 

 acid, who has prepared the various stereo- 

 i^mers of the hydrogenated acids ; also to 

 the extended researches of Professor C. F. 

 Mabery and his co-workers on the composi- 

 tion and characteristics of the products ob- 

 tained from petroleums of different origins. 



An interesting account was given by Mr. 

 C. L. Eeese of the recently developed proc- 

 ess of manufacture of sulphuric acid by 

 the direct union of sulphur dioxide and 

 oxygen through contact with finely divided 

 platinum. The preparation and regenera- 

 tion of the contact-mass was minutely de- 

 scribed, as well as other details of the man- 

 ufacture, which is at present being carried 

 on industrially on a fairly large scale. 

 Samples of the contact-mass were exhibited, 

 and a striking lecture experiment illustrat- 

 ing the formation of the trioxide by means 

 of it was shown by the speaker. 



Professor "W. O. Atwater gave an interest- 

 ing description of the results obtained with 

 his respiration calorimeter on the income 

 and outgo of matter and energy in the bodies 

 of men under experiment, proving that the 

 Law of the Conservation of Energy is ap- 

 plicable to the human organism. 



Much discussion was excited by the papers 

 read by Professor Louis Kahlenberg who 

 presented a series of experimental results 

 of various kinds, with which, according to 

 his interpretation, the Theory of Electro- 

 lytic Dissociation is inconsistent. The 

 validity of his arguments was, however, 

 called in question, and the great value and 



wide scope of that theory strongly empha- 

 sized by some other members of the section. 

 The following is a complete list of the 

 titles of the articles presented : 



Some Besults of Experiments with the Respiration Calori- 

 meter : By W. O. Atwatee, Middletown, Conn. 



Experiments witJi some Substituted Benzoic Acids and 

 their Nitriles : By Maeston Tayloe Bogeet and 

 August Heney Gotthelf. 



The Direct Synthesis of Ketodihydroquinazolins from 

 Orthoamido acids : By Maeston Taylob Bogeet 

 and August Heney Gotthelf. 



TJie Direct Preparation of Imides of the Bibasic Acids 

 from the Corresponding Nitriles : By Maeston Tay- 

 LOE Bogeet. 



On Certain Seactions in Liquid Ammonia : By EdwAED 



C. Feanklin and Oein F. Staffoed, Lawrence, 

 Kan. 



Notes on the Constituents of Ligament and Tendon : By 

 William J. Gies, New York City. 



TIte Adulteration and Methods of Analysis of the Arseni- 

 cal Insecticides : By J. K. Haywood, Washington, 



D. C 



The Composition and Analysis of London Purple: By 

 J. K. Haywood, Washington, D. C. 



On some Derivatives of Phenyl Ether: By H. W. 

 HiLLYEE, Madison, Wis. 



A Plea for the Use of the Thermostat for the Laboratory 

 Boom : By Aethue John Hopkins, Amherst, Mass. 



Crystallisation of Copper Sulphate for Quantitative Anal- 

 ysis : By Aethue John Hopkins, Amherst, Mass. 



Apparatus for dispensing with tJie Assistant during Cal- 

 ibration hy Telescope : By Aethue John Hopkins, 

 Amherst, Mass. 



The Theory of Electrolytic Dissociation as viewed in the 

 Light of Facts recently ascertained : By Louis Kahl- 

 ENBEEG, Madison, Wis. 



TJie Toxic Action of Solutions of Acid Sodium Salts on 

 Lupinus Albus : By Louis Kahlenbbeg and Eol- 

 LAN M. Austin, Madison, Wis. 



The Toxic Action of Solutions of the Leech and the Vin- 

 egar Eel : By Louis Kahlenbeeg and John B. 

 Emeeson, Madison, Wis. 



Tlie Toxic Action of Electrolytes upon Fishes : By Louis 

 Kahlenbeeg and Hugo F. Mehl, Madison, Wis. 



Differences of Potential ietioeen 3Ietals and Non-aque- 

 ous Solutions of their Salts: By Louis Kahlen- 

 beeg, Madison, Wis. 



I. The Chlorine Derivatives of the Hydrocarbons in Cal- 

 ifornia Petroleum. 



