1865.] Chemistry. 283 



metal would be formed and the anhydride set free. The supposition 

 was confirmed by experiment. Acetate of lead heated with the 

 sulphide yielded acetic anhydride. The principle of the reaction is 

 also applicable to the formation of compound ethers, since it allows 

 the anhydride in a nascent state to react on an alcohol. Mr. Brough- 

 ton prepared acetate of phenyl, by making bisulphide of carbon re- 

 act on the corresponding lead salt in the presence of phenylic alcohol. 

 It would seem possible also to effect the isolation of anhydrides of 

 electro-positive radicals, or ethers, by taking advantage of the above- 

 mentioned general reaction, and the author has commenced experi- 

 ments with the view of eliminating phenylic ether from phenate of 

 lead. For a more precise account of these interesting experiments, 

 we must refer the reader to the ' Journal of the Chemical Society,' 

 for January. 



Another paper of more technical interest was by Mr. J. Spiller, 

 on the Oxidation of India-rubber. The article of commerce known as 

 Patent Waterproof Felt, is found to undergo in the course of time a 

 remarkable change. It loses its strength, close texture, and waterproof 

 qualities, and becomes hard and inelastic. This led the author to 

 make a chemical examination of the new as well as the altered fabric. 

 From the former benzol extracted perfectly pure and elastic India- 

 rubber ; but the solution from the latter yielded only a resinous, 

 brittle, brownish-yellow substance, resembling shell-lac. The pro- 

 perties of this resin differ considerably from those of India-rubber. 

 It is freely soluble in warm alcohol, in wood spirit, in chloroform, and 

 in benzol ; but is not appreciably soluble in ether, in bisulphide of 

 carbon, or in oil of turpentine. Alkalies dissolve it with ease, and it 

 is precipitated from such solutions on the addition of an acid. Like 

 India-rubber it is bleached when immersed in strong ammonia. It 

 fuses at a low temperature, and when strongly heated gives off an 

 empyreuniatic oil and water. When dry it is extremely brittle and 

 highly electric. It can only be regarded as oxidation product of 

 India-rubber formed by the absorption of atmospheric oxygen in much 

 the same manner as resins are formed from essential oils and other 

 hydrocarbons ; and it was further remarked, that gutta percha and 

 caoutchouc seem both to furnish the same product by the absorption 

 of oxygen. In the course of a short discussion on the subject, Mr. 

 De la Rue observed that the material which had undergone the change 

 described, contained no sulphur ; he had had, however, in his posses- 

 sion for eighteen years, samples of a similar material, containing 

 sulphur, which had undergone no change. 



An account of some Brine Springs in Nova Scotia, by Professor 

 How, introduced a short discussion on the mode of stating the results 

 of a water analysis, in the course of which Professor Williamson 

 observed that it was not always correct to follow the directions of 

 Fresenius, and combine the strongest acids with the strongest bases. 

 A truer method would probably be to place every acid in part combi- 

 nation with every base, but such an arrangement would be practically 

 impossible. 



Several papers of much interest to advanced chemists have, as 

 vol. n. x 



