1867.] Chemistry. 399 



At the same meeting, Dr. Squire exhibited a specimen of " frozen 

 glycerine," imported from Germany, which attracted much attention, 

 glycerine being reputedly non-congealable. It was said that no 

 sugar or other crystallizable matter could be detected in the specimen.* 



The annual meeting of the Society was held on March 30th. 

 We need only mention that the Report showed the increasing pros- 

 perity of the Society, and contained a notice that the Council had 

 under their consideration a proposal for raising the standard of 

 qualification for the Fellowship. 



On April 4th, Dr. Calvert's paper " On Oxidation by means of 

 Charcoal " was read. The author experimented with freshly burnt 

 charcoal saturated with oxygen. Such charcoal quickly changed 

 sulphurous into sulphuric acid, and sulphide of hydrogen into 

 water and sulphuric acid. The vapour of common alcohol diffused 

 in oxygen was converted into acetic acid, and any lie alcohol 

 similarly into valerianic acid. Many other bodies were experi- 

 mented with, but the results obtained are not yet accurately made 

 out. Dr. Calvert speculates that the condensation of oxygen and 

 other gases within the pores of the charcoal amounts to actual 

 liquefaction. 



The President referred to the condition of some solid bodies — 

 metals, for example, under great pressure, when they seemed to 

 behave like liquids, a subject which has lately received further illus- 

 tration at the hands of M. Tresca. 



On April 18th, Mr. J. Spiller read a paper, entitled " Observations 

 on the Weathering of Copper Ores." The paper referred to the 

 action of air and water on some Devonshire ores containing mundic, 

 spathic iron ore, mica-schist, and copper pyrites. The experimental 

 observations showed that not only sulphate of copper is produced by 

 the action of air and moisture, but that secondary reactions occur 

 in the presence of spathic iron, aluminous schist, and other 

 minerals, the metallic bases of which are converted into sulphates 

 at the expense of an oxidized portion of the sulphur in the original 

 ore. Mr. Spiller obtained some of his results by an examination 

 of the water of a stream in which the ore referred to was washed ; 

 and he points out the advisability of adding lime or chalk to such 

 water to avert the ill-effects of water so impregnated with mineral 

 poison on the meadows irrigated by it. 



Professor A. H. Church, who had visited the locality, referred 

 to the poisonous effects of the sulphates of copper, iron, and 

 manganese on vegetation, and mentioned that while the stream 

 above the workings was full of water-weeds, they, as well as fish, 

 disappeared immediately below. 



At the same meeting, a paper by Messrs. E. T. Chapman and 



* Mr. John Williams has since found a considerable amount of sulphate of soda 

 in a portion of the quantity imported. 



