f 
1884. ] Scientific News. 845 
On THE USE OF VASELINE TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF ALCOHOL 
FROM SPECIMEN JARS.1—The petroleum preparation known as vas- 
eline is known to be practically unaffected by ordinary tempera- 
tures and by most substances. In the Journal of the Chemical 
Society, July, 1882, p. 786, it is said to be “sparingly soluble in 
cold strong alcohol, and completely in hot, but separates out on 
cooling.” After trying various substances, wax, paraffine, oil and 
glycerine with but partial success, the use of vaseline was sug- 
gested by the two authors independently and nearly at the same 
time. The experiments tried this spring indicate that, during 
three months, at ordinary spring and summer temperatures, there 
is no appreciable loss of ninety-five per cent alcohol from glass 
vials or jars, whether upright or inverted or on the side, provided 
corks are anointed on the bottom as well as on the side, provided 
ground glass stoppers are anointed and firmly inserted, and pro- 
vided the rubber rings of fruit jars and the specimen jars made 
by Whitall, Tatum & Co., are anointed on both sides and the 
covers well screwed down. 
_ We have also used the vaseline for preventing the loss of other 
liquids, excepting chloroform and spirits of turpentine ; as a lubri- 
tor of drawers, and to prevent the sticking of the covers or stop- 
pers of cement vials; and for the prevention of rust upon steel 
instruments, 
——:0:—— 
SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
among the best known regions. a : 
A second prize of 2000 francs fell to M. Peron for his “ Geologi- 
In botany the “ Prix Desmazieres ” was awarded to the memoir 
of MM. G. Bonnier and L. Mangin, entitled “ Researches on the 
respiration and transpiration of Fungi.” This work marks a 
great advance both in the special physiology of fungi and in gen- 
tral physiology. ; 
An “ encouragement” of 500 francs was accorded to M. Klein 
for his memoirs on “ Vampyrella” (which he places near the 
Myxomycetes) and on the “ Crystalloids of marine Alge. 
1 i 
Wilder and Gage. Proc. A. A. A. S., XXXII, p. 318. 
