434 Proceedings. 
the whole, of the ether solution is passed through the U-shaped tube, uncon- 
taminated with any of the heavier saline fluid beneath. By regulating or 
cutting off the supply of mercury, it is easy to take determinate quantities 
of ether, measured if desired by drops, as discharged from the delivery 
tube. The object of having the mercury tube narrow is, that the ether may 
be forced along with the rest, on the principle of the mercurial air pump. 
The author illustrated this paper by experiments. 
. 11. “On the Solubility of the Alkaloids generally in certain Hydrocar- 
bons, and the proposed Substitution of Benzol for Ether in the Separation 
of certain of the Alkaloids,” by W. Skey. 
ABSTRACT. 
When strychnia or veratria is warmed for a short time with benzol, 
kerosine, or turpentine, it dissolves to a large extent, but only a small 
deposit of the alkaloid takes place when the solution is cooled. When an 
aqueous solution of strychnia and chloride of calcium, or hydrate of potash, 
is agitated with benzol or kerosine, it seems entirely to attach itself to the 
oil. To obtain these results it appears necessary to employ heat in the one case, 
and powerful affinities of some foreign substance in the other—affinitiés 
which, of course, must not extend to the alkaloid itself. Nicotina is also 
extracted from an aqueous alkaline solution by benzol or benzine, and, 
analogically, it may reasonably be assumed that the greater part of the 
remaining alkaloids are also soluble therein, under certain conditions. The 
alkaloids mentioned can be completely removed from the several solvents by 
re-agitation with hydrochloric or sulphuric acids, &e. The solubility of 
these alkaloids in benzol, Mr. Skey proposes to turn to account, by sub- 
stituting the latter for ether in those methods of analysis where ether or 
ethereal solutions are in use as mediums for their separation from organic 
matter. The great advantage to be gained by the substitution would be 
derived from the fact that water has no chemical affinities for benzol, while 
for ether it has sufficient affinity to interfere with its use. 
12. * Notes on the proposed Substitution of Cyanide of Potassium for 
Sodium, in certain amalgamating Processes for the Extraction of Gold from 
metallic Sulphides, &c.," by W. Skey. 
ABSTRACT. 
The results of some experiments (not, however, fully completed), made 
by Mr. Skey, for the purpose of ascertaining the value of cyanide of potas- 
sium as a preventive of the flouring of mercury used for the extraction of 
gold, shows that cyanide of potassium does certainly prevent the sickening 
and flouring of mercury, or its tarnishing and granulation ; but as cyanogen 
~ appears capable of dissolving metallic mercury, and is certain to be liberated 
. from cyanide of potassium by carbonic acid, always present, it is question- 
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