254 REPORTS FROM THE SECTIONS. 
WEDNESDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER, 1878. 
Dr. Lersrus in the Chair. 
Mr. Dixon brought under the notice of the meeting a process 
for making phosphorous acid. aving occasion to ma 
of the acid, he used the process by Schiff, by acting on phospho- 
rus with sulphate of copper, but found: the sulphuric acid set free 
in the reaction to be a cause of considerable trouble. He therefore 
tried whether oxide of copper would yield the acid i. the equation 
3Cu0+3H,0+5 P=2H,P 0,+3 
and found that by adding phosphorus and “oxide ‘of copper in the 
id 
represent the actus! geotcng it does so pepe as there re- 
mained no oxide of copper and mere traces of phosphoru 
Dr. Lernrusstated that some parcels ofsilverfrom near Tenterfield 
had been received at the Mint, and the metal was found to contain a 
considerable proportion of antimon. 
WEDNESDAY, 16 OCTOBER, 1878. 
Dr. Lererus in the Chair. 
Eighteen specimens of fossil leaves from Tertiary — e 
Iton, which had been sent by John K. Hume, Esq., 
mop 
WEDNESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER, 1878. 
Mr. Bensusan said he had received from Mr. Sleep, for the 
— cabinet, some fine specimens of copper 0 res from Clon- 
> ai. Damon anlidiitel silver ores from Boorook, and read ® 2 
7 aes : 
Pe eee 
