* 
4 
276 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
be of such strength that each fluid ounce should require for re 
neutralization fifty grains of carbonate of potash, was surpris 
be told ei it was found to fall far short of the beara Not 
many barrels, he measured out a fluid ounce. Then weighing fift 
grains of the carbonate, he added it little by little, to the cold vin- 
egar till the effervescent solution turned litmus paper blue, and 
had two grains left. The chemist repeated the experiment, he eating 
the vinegar, of course, and erin him that by oe manipulation 
‘twenty-nine grains of carbonate were required. Moreover, 
only - 
the carbonate was in siepicioualy. large crystals aha turned out to | 
@ pure pate an twenty-nine grains of which would be equiv- 
alent to but twenty-five grains of the crystallized carbonate. ‘This 
manufacturer is not the only one who has for years rested satisfied 
with c8ld testing by — supposed to be carbonate of — 
but really of unknown s h. 
The author eae a shin full description of the wrought iron 
retorts which he himself has used in charring wood; but in size 
arrangement they do not seem to us to bes cially 
thy of imitation. He also describes a judicious modification 
of Reichenbach’s kiln, which he prefers for operating on the ae : 
scale, because, as he says, the horizontal iron retorts soon burn 
and they allow but small quantities of wood to be distilled-at ie 
e first cost of iron is great, especially in regions where wood is 
cheap, and those who have wood in abundance and wish to His 
wood, but not when re acid is the chief <he of the ponte 
Our makers of Pyro Zneous acid distil wood in iron retorts, and 
seldom so large, so that it takes a great rae 0 
work. Some of our gunpowder manufacturers char the 7” 
an th wh which in som asure combines the advantages of 
with those of the older form of retort. It consists of & 
are e of quarter-inch boiler da 
x ito heads of east iron. Through the lower part, about eight 
inetd izontally a very thick cast 1rop 
e consisting 0 of a a fire-place one foot in diameter, 
long, bolted to the front and an extension six inches in 
eter slipping loosely through ‘a hole in the back head. ‘There is 8 
Se! ie EE oe ee ee, Sk RE eI RER RTS SL Pee TS pe poe Se ea 
