144 
acid was formed. A number of the salts of the 
acid were prepared. 
On the Action of Potassium Hydroxide on Or- 
thomethoxysulphamine-benzoic Acid: By CHAS. 
WALKER. When the sulphonic acid described 
in the last paper was converted into an amide 
and fused with potassium hydroxide the pro- 
duct was not, as was expected, the correspond- 
ing dihydroxy-benzoic acid; but, as the author 
has shown, orthoxysulphaminebenzoic acid. 
The change can be represented thus: 
COOH COOH 
CHEE OCHA te reser ens C; H, , OH 
SO,NH, SO,NH, 
Several salts of the acid were also made and 
studied. 
A Simple and Efficient Boiling-Point Apparatus 
for Use with Low- and with High-Boiling Solvents : 
By H. C. Jones. The author has modified the 
apparatus devised by Hite by making it longer 
and replacing the inner tube by a platinum 
cylinder. By these changes he claims to have 
avoided the errors caused by the cold liquid 
returned by the condenser coming in contact 
with the thermometer, and also those due to 
radiation of heat from the bulb of the ther- 
mometer. He also replaces the outer vapor 
jacket, so generally used, by a cylinder of as- 
bestos. A number of results are given which 
were obtained with both high and low boiling 
solvents. 
Aluminum Alcoholates: By H. W. HILLYER. 
As was stated in a paper published some time 
ago, the authors found that when an anhydrous 
chloride was added to aluminum in alcohol a 
rapid deposition of the metal and an evolution 
of hydrogen took place. Dry hydrochloric acid 
gas or a solution in alcohol will cause a rapid 
evolution of gas when added to the aluminum 
in alcohol, and if the action is once started it 
will continue for some time even if no more 
acid is added. When the solution cools a 
crystalline compound, probably an addition 
product of the chloride and alcohol, separates 
out. When stannic chloride and hydrochloric 
acid gas are used it is very important that the 
materials should be completely dehydrated, as 
the presence of a small amount of water will 
stop the reaction. The results seem to show 
SCIENCE. 
(N.S. Vou. VI. No. 134. 
that it is necessary, in order to get asatisfactory 
action of aluminum on alcohol, that it should 
be anhydrous; that it should contain an an- 
hydrous chloride with which it can form an 
addition-product; and, that the aluminum 
should be coupled with a more easily reducible 
metal. 
Behavior of Chloral Hydrate with Ammonium 
Sulphide: By J. LESINSKY and C. GUNDLICH. 
The authors found that a mixture of chloral 
hydrate and ammonium sulphide will, after a 
longer or shorter time, depending upon the 
temperature, form a dark precipitate. They 
suggest it as a possible test for the purity of 
chloral hydrate and propose to study the reac- 
tion and the product. ; 
A New and Rapid Method for the Quantitative 
Separation of Iron, Aluminium, Chromium, Man- 
ganese, Zinc, Nickel and Cobalt: By A. R. 
CusHMAN. This method, which is more rapid 
than those generally used, has been found very 
satisfactory ; but no details can be given in a 
review, as it is already in the most condensed 
form possible. The following reviews are also 
given: A Resumé of Progress in the Chemistry 
of the Carbohydrates during 1896; Traité élé- 
mentaire de mécanique chimique fondu sur 
la thermodynamique, P. Duhem; Elektro- 
Chemische Uebungsaufgaben, F. Oettel; The- 
orie und Praxis der Analytischen Electrolyse 
der Metalle, B. Neumann ; Le four électrique, 
H. Moissan. 
J. ELLIOTT GILPIN. 
NEW BOOKS. 
La structure du protoplasma et les théories sur 
Vhérédité et les grands problémes de la biologie 
Yves DELAGE. Paris, C. Rein- 
1895. Pp. xvi-+ 878. 24 fr. 
Geological Survey of Canada. Annual Report, 
Vol. VIII, 1895. GrorGE M. DAwson. 
Ottawa, S. E. Dawson. 1897. 
A Popular Treatise on the Physiology of Plants. 
PAUL SORAUER. Translated by F. E. WEIss. 
London and New York, Longmans, Green & 
Co. 1895. Pp. x + 256. 
Water and Public Health, JAMES H. FUERTES. 
New York, John Wiley & Sons; London, 
Chapman & Hull, Ltd. 1897. Pp. v + 75. 
générale. 
wald et Cie. 
