392 - Scientific Intelligence. 
Chapman, and in the more recent disastrous explosions both in 
Germany and France. Grrarp, employing it largely for the pro- 
duction of colors, has made some experiments with it, with a view 
to obviate this difficulty. He finds, for example, "that methyl 
nitrate, like nitro-glycerin, detonates by a a blow; a drop on blot- 
ting paper producing, when placed on an anvil and struck with a 
hammer, an explosion quite as violent as nitro-glycerin. When 
mixed with pulverulent or porous substances, such as precipitated 
silica or infusorial earth, it yields dynamites "fully as effective as 
those made with nitro-glycerin, By admixture with other liquids, 
however, such as methyl, ethyl, or amyl alcohol, rome benzol 
or toluol, Girard finds that it is no longer explosiv ve. e part of 
methyl nitrate diluted with two or three parts of either of the 
liquids above named, does not explode either on heating its Piet 
or by a blow. In such solutions, “ay ners it is best kept for use. 
— Bull. Soe. Ch., UW, xxiii, 63, Jan ‘ . F. B 
3. On Pure Booting pr epared hom Malt.—Bonpvonyeav de- 
scribes the properties of dextrin prepared by the action of diastase 
on starch. A kilogram of dry starch, diffused in two liters of 
water, was treated in the co eae. an ee of 250 grams of 
se 
dextrin in this solution from the glucose (dextrose) present, It 
was pis faoresinicated five or six times with alcohol, then treated 
wit copper test made with cupric chloride and sodium hydrat e; 
this ster treatment destroying the dextrose. As thus obtained, 
the dextrin showed no coloration with iodine, gave only feeble in- 
dications with the copper test (equivalent to 1°85 per cent dex- 
Sido and ammonio-silver nitrate, gave an 
ments. care and ra idity in operating, de trin may 
tained devoid of ge power. The rotatory power of the dex- 
n thus obtaine 176° to the eh ; that ie by 
. On the cigs y of Liebermann’s Coerulignone with “Rei ade 
bach’s Cedriret.—Hormann has continued his re geggen upon 
the less volatika constituents of beech-wood tar. a previous 
paper he had shown that from these could be isolated aa ‘poil- 
ing at 270°, possessing a phenol-like character, and yielding, when 
treated with potassium dichromate, the beautifully erystallized 
substance described by Liebermann under the name of coerulig- 
and also a magnificently crystallized compound in long task 
‘bys clade dissolving in sulphuric acid with a carmine-red colo 
He has now been able by repeated fractioning and recrystalliza- 
