1908.] Agents in the Oxidation of Amorphous Carbon. 241 
naturally contained in the woody tissue into the oxide. This process was 
also important as an efficient means of sterilisation, and for the destruction 
of any organic matter in the shape of dust with which the material might be 
contaminated. 
Determination of CO by Titration. 
The apparatus employed was in main outline that used by Sachs in his 
classical experiment on Respiration, with modifications to suit the special 
difficulties in this case. After some preliminary trials the form of apparatus 
finally adopted was as follows :— 
Air drawn by means of an aspirator was passed first through a Reiset 
absorption apparatus containing 100 c.c. of a strong solution of caustic soda, 
next through a similar apparatus containing an equal volume of baryta water, 
then through the flask containing the material under investigation (known 
henceforth as the research-flask), and finally through a Reiset containing 
100 c.c. of baryta water. 
To avoid corks and the consequent difficulty of ensuring their perfect 
sterilisation, specially constructed research-flasks (Cloéz flask) were employed, 
in which the delivery tube, reaching nearly to the bottom, and the exit tube 
were fused into the neck of the flask. The flasks were thoroughly cleaned 
and subjected to the vapour of boiling nitric acid for some hours, a necessary 
precaution to remove any trace of organic matter, as such substances might 
give rise to CO, under bacterial action. All trace of nitric acid was then 
removed by water condensed in the flasks, this water being derived from the 
steam of distilled water. Such treatment rendered the flasks perfectly clean, 
and precluded the slightest fear of any contamination. Into such a flask 
about 5 grammes of charcoal, freshly heated as previously described, were 
introduced by means of a clean platinum spatula, the entrance and exit 
tubes were then plugged with asbestos heated to redness and short pieces of 
rubber tube fitted to them. The entrance tube was next connected with a 
flask containing distilled water, and steam from it blown through the research- 
flask. After enough water had condensed to cover the charcoal and all the 
air had been expelled from the flask, the apertures were securely closed by 
clamps while the steam was still passing through. The flask was then 
allowed to remain for 24 hours, during which time the charcoal would be 
exposed to a partial vacuum. After this interval air was allowed to enter 
the flask, the air being passed first through a Mohr’s bulb containing strong 
potash, and then through a short glass tube which was plugged with asbestos 
freshly heated. The entrance and exit tubes, after disconnection, were again 
heated to redness, steam passed through, and the flask closed as before. This 
