488 Scientific Intelligence. 



CO,H, containing one asymmetrical carbon atom and rotating 

 (a')=3°-3 ; and (3) Succinic acid COgH . CH^ . CH^ . COgH, con- 

 taining no asymmetrical carbon atom, and being inactive. — Ber. 

 Berl. Chem. Ges., ix, 215, Feb., 1876. g. f. b. 



12. On the Re-conversion of Paroxyhenzoic acid into Salicylic 

 acid. — Neutral potassium salicylate, as Ost has shown, when heated 

 to 210°-22U°, splits up into potassium paraoxybenzoate, phenol, 

 and carbon dioxide ; while the sodium salt affords no paraoxyben- 

 zoate. KuPFEBBEBG has succGcded in effecting the inverse reac- 

 tion and in converting the paraoxybenzoate again into salicyk 

 39o grams sodium paraoxybenzoate, heated to 280" to 295° for 



3 acid ; or 56 per cent of the acid present, 

 rerted into paraoxybenzoate by heating the neutrai poiassium 

 ) 220° ; paraoxybenzoic acid is converted into salicylic by 



heating the sodium salt to 290°.— J: pr. Gh., II, xiii, 103, Feb., 

 1876. G. F. B. 



13. On a new Hydro-oxy-benzoic Acid, — In the hope of obtain- 

 ing trimesinic acid — an acid containing three carboxyl groups — 

 Emmeelixg and Oppenheim oxidized oxyuivitinic acid by means 

 of potassium manganate. The product, precipitated by hydrochlo- 

 ric or sulphuric acid, is purified by crystallization from hot 

 water. It appears in thin colorless needles, fusing at 274° -5, and 

 giving a vellow precipitate with ferric chloride. Analysis gave it 

 the formillaC^HgOa, the barium salt being (C,H,03)2Ba, (HgO), 

 and the silver salt C^H^AgOj. Fusion with potash separates 

 water and converts it into benzoic acid, 



—Ber. Berl Chem. Ges., ix, 326, March, 1876. g. f. b. 



14. On Vicin, a Constituent of Vicia sativa.—'&ome time ago, 

 RiTTHAusEN described a crystallized highly nitrogenous substance 

 obtained from the seeds of the vetch. He now shows that it is a 

 new body, and has the composition CgHjeNgOg. He assigns to 

 it the name vicin. A kilogram of seeds yielded 3-2 grams of 

 vicin.— J5en Berl. Chem. Ges., ix,301, March, 1876. g. f. b. 



14. Acoustic Attractions.— M. Dvorak has examined the attrac- 

 tions and repulsions of small pendulums hung near sonorous bod- 

 "^ " .*-„,.,*, a silken thread, 



tions of the pendulum it is sometimes attracted and s 

 repelled. These motions seem to be due to the air-currents ap 

 preaching or receding from the rod, and the motions of the cork 

 served to determine approximately the directions. These results 

 were verified by the motions of a flame and the indications ot a 

 very sensitive water manometer. The air thrust aside by the 

 vibrating rod escapes laterally, repelling light bodies. This is re- 

 placed by air forming counter-currents toward the rod, producing 

 the effect of attraction. When the amplitude of the vibrations is 

 small, the rod acts like the prongs of a tuning fork, and attraction 

 takes place in every direction. 



