GENERAL NOTES, A7t 
5. Mixture B.—Take zinc cut small, 4; add muriatic acid, 3; then water, 5; 
then add of bismuth 2, of mercury 2. One-half of the bismuth and one-half of the 
mercury to be ground together in an iron mortar by a pestle, and kept free from 
damp or dust, and then added to the above after the other half of the bismuth and 
the other half of the mercury have been grounded with the zinc. 
Here we have some more curious chemical blunders. The first 
item, 4 parts of zinc, would require about 4.4 parts of muriatic 
acid, so that in this mixture part of the zinc and all of the other 
components are not acted on. If this is intentional, the inten- 
tion is immediately frustrated by paragraph 6. 
6. Mix A. and B, Add mixture A to mixture B, and evaporate to dryness. 
The nitric acid left in excess in A will dissolve the mercury, bis- 
muth, and zinc, and all the labour of grinding in a mortar per- 
fectly dry is thrown away. 
7, MIXTURE (X).—Then mix of kerosene 20; and sodium 4, and grind them 
ina mortar, Then mix of kerosene 10, and mercury (very dry) 24; total, 74; and 
grind them in a mortar. 
The object for this is not stated. The result of the grinding 
would be films of sodium, which would settle to the bottom of 
the mortar. Then, in paragraph 8, we are directed to 
8 A, B, and X GROUND TOGETHER,—Then grind together in a mortar all the 
above mixtures, 
I fancy the patentee would be rather startled if he were to grind 
large or even moderate quantities of metallic sodium with metal- 
lic chlorides and nitrates. Our chemical result so far is to have 
a mixture of nitrate and chloride of sodium with metallic oxides 
and kerosene. 
9g. MixtTuRE C.—Take of muriatic acid 480; and of nitric acid 80; then tak® 
of zinc (very clean), cut in small pieces, 240, Mix the acids together, and dissolve 
the zinc in the mixed acids. When the zinc is dissolved strain off the impurities 
by passing the solution through a porous substance. Then add to the solution—of 
kerosene 8000; total, 8,800, 
Here we have a strongly acid solution of chloride of zinc, to 
which he adds kerosene, as if the two fluids would mix. Then 
according to paragraph 1o— : 
10, STOCK.—Mixture A, as above stated, is mixed with mixture B, and the two 
are then mixed with mixture C, and the three together form stock No. 1, which may 
be kept in a stoppered vessel, and has a full total of 8,94) parts. 
So that if any of the sodium of paragraph 7, mixture X, escaped 
when it was ground with A and B, the acid of C would combine 
with it. For stock No. 2 we have the following— 
Ir, S1ock No, 2,—Stock No. 2 is thus made—Take of bismuth filings (very 
clean), 5; then add of mercury, 5. These are amalgamated together with kerosene, 
50; total, 60. Ina dry climate Sgr. of sodium may be added, 
A very simple preparation compared to Stock 1. How or why 
5 grains of sodium amalgamated with bismuth and mercury under 
kerosene is to be affected even by a moist climate is not very 
evident, or why it should be added in a dry climate. 
“Stock No. 3 seems to be simply an excuse for adding more 
kerosene. It is described in paragraph 12. 
12. Stock 3.—Stock No, 3is thus made :—Take an iron ladle, perfectly clean, warm 
it over a fire, put ina little suet to grease it, and while warmfput in of mercury 5, and 
of sodium 5, forming an amalgam which is cut into pieces about the size of a canary 
