220 Scientific Intelligence. 



obtained from 90*6 to 91*9 per cent of the sodium in the form of 

 hydrate. — Ber. Berl. Ghem. Ges., xviii, 3286, Jan., 1886. G. f. b. 



5. On the Phenol constituents of Blast Furnace tar. — A pre- 

 liminary examination of a coal tar obtained from the Gartsherrie 

 iron furnaces in which Scotch coals of low grades are used, 

 showed that the oils of higher boiling point contained more 

 compounds absorbable by acids and less phenol constituents 

 absorbable by soda, than the oils boiling below them. Watson 

 Smith, aided by Messrs. Coutts and Brothers have examined 

 these lighter oils in order to ascertain the proportion of phenol- 

 constituents, by treating them with soda solutions of progress- 

 ively increasing density, decanting and liberating the phenols by 

 an acid. In this way 23 - 1 per cent of these substances were 

 obtained from the oils. With regard to the basic constituents 

 1160 c.c. of the tar oils were shaken for a day with 840 c.c. dilute 

 sulphuric acid of about 1*2 sp. gr. After 12 hours the acid was 

 removed, neutralized with soda and salt added, and the whole 

 allowed to stand in a graduated jar. The volume of basic bodies 

 was read off and they were then dissolved in ether, the ether 

 decanted and evaporated. In this way 150 c.c. crude bases or 

 11 - 09 per cent were obtained. This richness in phenols is excep- 

 tional, and far exceeds the yield of ordinai-y coal tar. The crude 

 phenols were fractionated and it appeared that only 5 "63 per cent 

 distilled over between 180° and 210°, while 30 per cent passed 

 over between 210° and 240°, and 18 per cent between 260° and 

 300°. The fractionings were repeated and the products classified 

 as A, boiling below 230°; B, between 230° and 300°; and C, 

 above 300°. On examination of A, the product boiling between 

 180° and 185° was phenol and readily solidified in a freezing 

 mixture, melting again at 3°. With it boiling between 180° and 

 200° were cresols. The portion passing over between 210° and 

 225° was distilled over hot zinc dust and gave a mixture of 

 xylenes with a little toluene; showing that the original material 

 was xylenol, mixed with some cresol. Group B when similarly 

 treated yielded trimethylbenzeue, showing the original phenol to 

 have been pseudocumenol; and naphthalene derived from naph- 

 thol present. Group C yielded naphthalene on distillation over 

 zinc dust and a yellowish mass of the consistence of butter 'which 

 is reserved for further examination. — J. Ghem. Soc., xlix, 17, 

 Jan., 1886. g. f. b. 



6. On the presence of Baffinose in Barley. — O'Sullivan has 

 submitted to examination some crystals obtained several years 

 ago from barley and at that time labeled " sucrose from barley." 

 Under the microscope they were elongated flattened prisms ter- 

 minated by a dome parallel to the shorter axis, the crystals radi- 

 ating from a center. Optically, one specimen gave [<*]-j=125° 

 and another [ff]j = 114°. On solution, filtration, and the addition 

 of alcohol, the liquid was filled with radiating groups of beautiful 

 silky crystals, well defined rhombic prisms, having a brachydome. 

 On recrystallization the crystals gave [o , ]j=134°— 135°, and their 



