1870. J Chemistry. 261 



that substance for the purpose alluded to. It should be observed 

 that the quantity of snint contained in raw wool amounts to one- 

 third of its weight; and that in 1867 there were imported into 

 the United Kingdom 63,000,000 kilos, of raw wool from the Cape 

 and Australia, the quantity of snint contained therein amounting 

 to at least 20,000,000 kilos. 



The use of hypophosphoric acid in agriculture for the purpose 

 of destroying noxious insects has been proposed by M. Martin, for 

 the destruction of the Phylloxera vastatrix, which makes great 

 havoc in the vineyards. The makers of phosphorus obtain a quan- 

 tity of this acid in aqueous solution, which is thrown away as 

 waste ; but since the transport of this waste liquid is too costly (it 

 may be very usefully applied where it can be had with ease), the 

 author describes a method of making hypophosphoric acid by the 

 slow combustion of phosphorus. According to his experiments, 2 

 grammes of this acid dissolved in 10 or 12 litres of water, is a strong 

 poison for all kinds of insects, and not only does not hurt plants, 

 but actually does good by increasing the soluble phosphates in the 

 soil. 



The solution of oxide of copper in ammonia acts as an energetic 

 solvent upon cellulose ; this property is made use of by A. Jouglet to 

 waterproof paper in the following manner : — A tank is made to con- 

 tain the solution just alluded to, and the paper is rapidly passed just 

 over and in contact with the surface of the liquid, by means of pro- 

 perly-placed rollers moving with speed. The paper, on leaving, is 

 pressed between two cylinders, and next dried by means of so-called 

 drying cylinders,. similar to those in use in paper-mills. The short 

 contact of the felty paper-tissue with the liquid gives rise to just 

 sufficient solution of cellulose to form an impermeable varnish. 



A process for the preservation of butchers' meat, invented by 

 M. Georges, is now in use on the large scale at Monte Yideo. The 

 meat, in pieces weighing from 2 to 50 kilos., is placed in a mixture 

 of water, hydrochloric acid, glycerine, and bisulphite of soda. After 

 having been steeped for some time, the pieces are taken out and 

 dusted over with finely-powdered dry bisulphite of soda, and then 

 packed in air-tight boxes, filled as full as possible. In this state 

 the meat keeps fresh any length of time, and becomes perfectly fit 

 for use — equal to fresh butchers' meat — by steeping for a short 

 time in water to which vinegar has been added, and afterwards ex- 

 posure to air ; the price of the preserved meat, of which it would be 

 easy to supply to London and to Paris daily over 10 tons, is from 

 50 to 60 centimes per kilo. 



Hydrate of chloral, the new anaesthetic and sedative, is daily 

 increasing in importance, and many processes have been given for 



VOL. VII. t 



