of Organic Elementary Analysis. 157 
tion of the substance as the sulphur or chlorine, in a manner sim- 
ilar in other respects to that described for simple hydrocarbons.’ 
In pursuing this research some difficulty was experienced, as 
was anticipated, in finding a substance which would absorb and 
retain the whole of the chlorine, under conditions that would at 
the same time insure that every trace of the carbonic acid and 
water should pass through unabsorbed. 
The search for this substance was confined to the oxyds of the 
heavy metals, as these alone, from their strong affinity for chlo- 
rine, and weak affinity for carbonic acid, seemed to give encour- 
agement of success. 
The difficulty, however, in finding such a substance was chiefly 
due to the circumstance that most of the chlorids of these metals 
are either too volatile, or begin to suffer decomposition at too 
low a temperature; it being requisite that the absorbing sub- 
stance, and the newly formed chlorid of the same, should bear 
to be heated sufficiently to prevent both condensation of water 
and absorption of carbonic acid, and at the same time avoid a 
temperature high enough to occasion any appreciable decompo- 
sition of the chlorid. 
temperature of that part of the combustion tube which should 
contain this substance. 
ay 
For this purpose was constructed a sheet-iron air-bath or cham- 
ber, A, fig. 1, provided with two holes—one on each side—to 
Am. Jour. Scr.—Seconp Series, Vou. XLII, No. 125.—Sept., 1866. 
; 21 
