1854.] 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



113 



Prof. MiLLEE, in thanking tlie author for his valuable researches, 

 made some remarks on the interesting results that the investigation 

 had brought to light ; and drew especial attention to the remarkable 

 fact stated in the paper, that the blue rays retarded the action of 

 germination at first, although they probably accelerated the growth of 

 the plant afterwards, — the act of germination being attended with the 

 absorption of oxygen, but the process of developement being, on the 

 contrary, attended with the extrication of this gas. — Prof. Anderson 

 remarked that a similar difference in the rate of growth of the legum- 

 inous plants and grasses to that described by Mr. Gladstone had been 

 observed when they were manured with the same material. Nitrate 

 of soda, which was found to be an excellent fertilizer for grasses, had 

 comparitively little influence upon leguminous plants. 



On the Physiological Properties of some of the Compounds of the Organic 

 Radicals — Methyl, Ethyl, and Amyl, by Dr. James Turnbcll. 

 The author commenced by saying, that considering the vast num- 

 ber of new compounds discovered of late years, it was surprising 

 that so few of real value should have been added by medical men to 

 their stores of remedies. The progress of therapeutics, though dis- 

 proportionately slow when compared with the advance of organic 

 chemistry', was marked in our day by the discovery of a new and most 

 valuable class of agents — the anossthetics. The efTect of this narcotic 

 and the antiperiodio alkaloids, morphia and quinine, were well under- 

 stood ; but nothing was known of any relation that may exist between 

 their chemical constitution and the different actions they exert on the 

 animal economy. It is probable that an examination of the action of 

 the artificial .alkaloids upon the system would throw some light on this 

 subject. Already one of them, Furfurine, has been found by Dr. 

 Simpson to possess antiperiodio properties like quinine. The physi- 

 ological properties of the pure hydro-carbons were then alluded to : 

 several of them were stated to act as local and general stimulants, 

 and some of the volatile ones had been found to possess antesthetic 

 properties, as had been demonstrated by Dr. Snow and Mr. Nunnerley 

 with regard to benzine, and by the author with eupion and Persian 

 naptha. 



On the Physiological Properties of Carbcaotic Acid : 

 by Prof. C. Calvert. 



The author stated that Dr. Bell, Physician to the Royal Infirmary, 

 Manchester, had cured several cases of intermittant fever with this 

 acid. He also said, that he should be very happy to furnish any 

 physician with a small quantity of this substance, so that its real 

 medical value might be ascertained. After describing the process by 

 which purccarbazotic could be procured from carbolic acid he impressed 

 upon the meeting the value of the pure acid as a yellow dye for silk. 



Mr Warrington observed that carbazotic acid was first employed in 

 silk-dyeing at Lyons — that in 1851 its price at Paris, where it was 

 manufactured, was 10s. per lb. ; and that if the grass tree or black 

 bay gum (which could be imported into this country from Australia 

 for lis. per cwt.), were employed and treated with nitric acid (a pro- 

 cess originally suggested by Dr. Stenhouse) he believed that it might 

 be prepared for a shilling per lb. 



On the Results of Experiments on the Preservation of Fresh Meal: 

 by Mr. G. Hamilton. 



This inquiry was undertaken with a view of discovering a method 

 by which beef could be brought in a fresh state from South America. 

 The experiments were made by inclosing pieces of beef in bottles con- 

 taining one, or a mixture of two or more of the following gases : — 

 chlorine, hydrogen, nitrogen, ammonia, carbonic acid, carbonic oxide, 

 and binoxido of nitrogen. Of these, the last two only possessed tho 

 power of retarding putrefaction. Beef that had been in contact with 

 carbonic oxide for the space of three weeks was found to be perfectly 

 fresh, and of a fine red colour. Binoxide of nitrogen is capable of 

 preserving beef from putrefaction for at least five months, during 

 which time the beef retains its natural colour and consistence. "iVhcn 

 meat that had been preserved by the last process was cooked by 

 r;asting, it was found to possess a disagreeable flavour. If cooked by 

 boiling, the ebullition must be continued for a much greater length 

 of time than is necessary for fresh meat. 



Dr. Calvert remarked, that he had opportunities of ob.serving the 

 woU-known valuable anti-putrid properties of carbolic acid,— and in- 



stanced the case of the carcase of a horse that was at present in a fresh 

 state, although four years had elapsed since it had been soaked in 

 liquor containing the acid. He recommended the use of this acid 

 for preserving bodies intended for dissection, as it neither affects the 

 tissues nor discolours the organs. 



On the Preservation of Mill: ; by the Abbe MoioNO. 

 This was a description of the process invented by M. Mabbru, which 

 consists in expelling the air and gases from milk by heating it in 

 tinned or glazed iron cylinders to a temperature of 217°, in an atmos- 

 phere of steam. 



On the apparently Mechanical Action accompanying Electric Transfer : 

 by Mr. a. Crosse. 

 The author found that by electrifying a sovereign positively in close 

 contact with a piece of carbonate of lime, under nitric acid diluted 

 with fifty times its quantity of water, that a portion of the milled edge 

 of the coin was struck off in pieces, some of which were large enough to 

 retain the milled edge upon them distinctly. The voltaic action was kept 

 up for fifty hours ; and at the expiration of that time the coin had lost 

 three grains in weight ; and a ground glass rod that used to keep the 

 coin in contact with the limestone was permanently gilded ; and this 

 took place at the positive pole. The weight of the portions removed 

 from the coin exactly corresponded with the deficiency. The solution 

 being tested contained nitrate of lime, but no gold nor copper. I like- 

 wise found on repeating this experiment with sulphuric acid, similarly 

 diluted — the voltaic being kept up for ninety hours — that six grains of 

 gold were removed from the edge of the coin ; and the pieces broken 

 off weighed the same. A strip of glass being placed on the edges of 

 the jar containing the dilute acid, and half an inch above its surface, 

 and in a line with the electric current, had its lower part covered with 

 crystals of sulphate of lime, each one of which was at right angles to 

 the electric current. The friction of the carbonic acid gas liberated 

 from that part of the limestone in contact with the coin, was apparently 

 the mechanical cause of the removal of the edges. The author stated 

 that he had tried various experiments both with frictional and voltaic 

 electricity upon different substances, which in his opinion proved the 

 effects of the mechanical action accompanying electric transfer. 



On the Action of Gallic and Tannic Acids on Iron and Alumina 

 Mordants : by Prof. Calvert. 

 The author drew the following conclusions from the facts contained 

 in his communication: — 1st. That there can be no doubt that tannic 

 acid is the matter in tanning substances which produces black with 

 iron mordants ; 2ndly. That the reason of gallic acid producing no 

 black dye is, that it reduces the peroxide of iron in the mordant, 

 forming a colourless and soluble gallate of protoxide of iron; 3rdly. 

 That gallic acid has the property of dissolving hydrate of alumina, and 

 also of separating alumina mordants from the cloth on which they are 

 fixed; 4thly. That the reason of extracts of tanning matter losing their 

 dyeing properties is, that the tannin is transformed into gallic acid ; 

 5thly. That gallic acid possesses the property of dissolving iron, and 

 thus lays claim to the character of a true acid ; whilst tannin, not 

 having this action, appears to me to be in reality a neutral substance. 



On the Action of Citric, Tartaric and Oxalic Acids on Cotton and Flax 

 Fibres under the Influence of Dry Heat and Pressure of Steam : by 



Mr. F. Grace Calvert. 

 Mr. Calvert has observed that when two to four parts of these acids 

 are dissolved in 100 parts of water, and linen or cotton dipped into tho 

 solution obtained, and afterwards dried in the air, they, on exposure to 

 certain temperatures, completely destroy the tenacity of the fibre. 

 This action of organic acids is interesting when it is known that it 

 takes place even at the low temperature of 180", 212° and 260° Fahr. 

 He also found that cotton and flax fibres when prepared as above, and 

 then submitted to the influence of steam, of three lb. pressure, were 

 destroyed. 



On the Heating Effects of Secondary Currents : by Mr. J. P. Gassiot; 

 In January last Mr. Gassiot communicated to tho Editor of tho 

 Philosophical Magazine an account of experiments made with Ruhen- 

 kooff 's induction coil, and alluded to the fact, that the heating effect, 

 which had already been noticed by Masson, took place in the contrary 

 direction to that which is produced in tho primary current, which 



