July 1, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



27 



for solid, two solutions and vapor in the system 

 acetone-cliloroform-water, is 75°. 2. 



V. The melting point is near, but above 97°, 

 and in all probabilitj' perfectly anhydrous ma- 

 terial has not yet been obtained. 



VI. The system acetone-chloroform-water 

 seems to present the remarkable case of a solid 

 solution and two liquid solutions. 



The next paper was presented by Messrs. P. 

 Fireman and E. G. Portner, and was entitled 

 ' The action of normal propyl alcohol on phos- 

 phonium iodid.' 



The authors, having undertaken to fill up 

 some of the most important gaps iu our knowl- 

 edge of individual phosphines, communicated 

 as the first contribution the method by which 

 they prepared tri-n-propyl phosphine and tetra- 

 n-propyl phosphonium iodid, and described the 

 properties of these bodies. 



Messrs. P. K. Cameron and E. P. Thayer 

 presented a paper on ' The boiling point curve 

 for benzene-alcohol solutions. ' 



When a mixture of pure benzene and alcohol 

 ■containing more than 66.5 per cent, of benzene 

 is partially distilled, it will yield a distillate 

 richer in alcohol. Complete fractional distilla- 

 tion will yield a mixture with a minimum con- 

 stant boiling point of 66°. 7 and containing 66.5 

 per cent, of benzene and a residue of pure 

 benzene. If the original solution contained less 

 than 66.5 per cent, of benzene it will yield a 

 distillate richer in benzene, and complete frac- 

 tiouing will ultimately yield a distillate of the 

 constant boiling solution and a residue of pure 

 alcohol. Under no circumstances can a com- 

 plete separation of the two compounds be ob- 

 tained by any process of distillation. 



The last paper of the evening was presented 

 by Mr. F. K. Cameron and was entitled ' The 

 benzoyl-ester of acethydroxamic acid.' 



The benzoyl-ester of acethydroxamic acid was 

 obtained by Jones as a product of the reaction 

 between sodium isonitroethane and benzoyl 

 chlorid. If ligroin be added to the mother- 

 liquor obtained by the crystallization of the 

 substance from ether another compound is 

 precipitated, isomeric with the first. The 

 isomer is on standing gradually but completely 

 converted into the first modification. Jones re- 

 gards it as a probable ester of acethydroximic 



acid, the relative orientations of the molecules 

 being indicated thus : 



,0 

 CH3 . C^ 



^NH-OCO CeHs 

 Ester of acethydroxamic acid. 



CH3 • cC 



N-O-COCfiH. 



Ester of acethydroximic acid. 



The authors have studied the two modifica- 

 tions, designating, for purposes of conven- 

 ience, the former as the a-compound and the 

 latter as the /3- compound, and have arrived at 

 the following conclusions : 



I. Both modifications exist in the liquid 

 phase. 



II. The a-, or less fusible modification, is 

 the stable one at ordinary temperatures. 



III. Crystals of the /i!-compound can be ob- 

 tained by dissolving the a-compound and pre- 

 cipitating the ester suddenly from solution. 



IV. The equilibrium concentration changes 

 with the temperature. 



V. The a-compound is converted into the 

 /3-compound with absorption of heat. 



VI. By raising the temperature of the sys- 

 tem and cooling suddenly the point of solidifi- 

 cation may be brought below the stable triple 

 point. It was not possible to realize the eutec- 

 tic point in this manner because of decomposi- 

 tion of the substance. 



VII. The eutectic point of the system was 

 shown to be below 66°, and is near 65°. 



William H. Keug, 



Secretary. 



ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILA- 

 DELPHIA, JUNE 7. 



Me. Stewaedson Beown made a communi- 

 cation on plants recently collected by him in 

 the neighborhood of Canogo Lake, Pennsylva- 

 nia. He described the location and character 

 of the lake, which has an elevation of 2,360 feet, 

 with the finest surroundings of virgin timber in 

 the State. Among other peculiarities of the 

 flora the almost entire absence of blue violets 

 and the profusion and size of Viola hlanda were 

 noticeable. It was interesting to observe a 

 flora corresponding to our own but with entirely 



