Xxii. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



having been introduced into Europe as a perfume by Cortes, 

 the celebrated Spaniard. It was known in Queen Elizabeth's 

 time in England as a medicine, and to it was ascribed cer- 

 tain curious physiological properties. Its chief interest to- 

 the chemist is the fact that its active ingredient, to which 

 it owes its characteristic odour, namely, vanillin, was one 

 of the first important substances to be synthesised. This 

 vanillin, which was originally sold at £160 per pound, can 

 now be purchased for less than £1, and this great reduction 

 is due to systematic chemical research. The chief point 

 of the paper dealt with the determination of the vanillin, 

 which should be present in a certain proportion in genuine 

 essences, and a simple accurate and expeditious method 

 was shown which can replace the more elaborate one now 

 in use. 

 Remarks were made by Messrs. Hamlet and Maiden. 



3. "A flame test for chloral hydrate," by W. M.Doherty. 

 Remarks were made by Mr. Hamlet and Dr. Quaife. 



4 " On some transverse tests of Australian and Foreign 

 Timbers," by James Nangle, f.r.a.s. 



Remarks were made by Mr. Olunies Ross, Mr. Bishop,. 

 and Mr. Halligan. 



exhibit : 



Fossil leaves from Torbanelea Colliery, Queensland, by 

 Mr. W. S. Dun. 



These specimens give evidence of the occurrence of a 

 species of Phyllopteris, smaller in form than P. Feist- 

 manteli, which has been recorded from the Styx River 

 coalfield, and Stewarts Creek, near Rockhampton in 

 Queensland, and Kuntha Hill, mouth of Leigh's Creek r 

 South Australia. These horizons have been regarded of 

 Ipswich (Lower Mesozoic) age — Trias-Jura of Queensland 

 Geologists. The specimens are of Marine Cretaceous beds 



