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Proceedings of the Royal Society 
melt. The residue is a brown powder, which on being further 
heated is carbonised, no definite compound being obtained. 
IV. The ferricyanide of trimethylsulphine is obtained by the 
action of ferricyanide of silver on the iodide of trimethylsulphine. 
On evaporation of the solution the salt crystallises out in pale 
orange-yellow transparent plates, which effloresce in the air. The 
salt gives all the reactions of an alkaline ferricyanide. On drying 
over phosphoric acid the crystals lose all their water of crystallisa- 
tion. Analysis leads to the formula {(CH 3 ) 3 S} 6 Fe 2 Cy 12 + 15H 2 0. 
The salt when heated behaves similarly to the ferrocyanide. 
3. Comparison of the Salts of Diethylmethyl-sulphine and 
Ethylmethylethyl-sulpliine. By Professor Crum Brown 
and J. Adrian Blaikie, D.Sc. 
(Abstract.) 
It seemed to the authors to be desirable to ascertain the mode in 
which the salts of diethylmethyl-sulphine and ethylmethylethyl- 
sulphine respectively decompose when heated. 
They prepared the iodides by the method described by Kruger, * 
whose observations on the iodides and chloroplati nates they sub- 
stantially confirm. 
The benzoates were prepared from the iodides by action of benzoate 
of silver. They are exceedingly soluble substances, and were only 
obtained as thick syrups. Heated to between 110° and 120° C. 
they decompose in exactly the same way, yielding benzoate of methyl 
without any benzoate of ethyl. 
4. On the Bursting of Firearms when the Muzzle is closed by 
Snow, Earth, Grease, &c. By Professor George Forbes. 
It is well known that if an ordinary fowling-piece, charged with 
shot or ball, have touched the ground or snow, so as to close the 
muzzle of the gun, or if the muzzle of the gun be in any way arti- 
ficially closed with grease or other substances, the fowling-piece is 
certain to burst at the muzzle when it is discharged. This would 
not be the case if, instead of firing a shot, a piston were driven up 
the tube by hand. In this case the compressed air would drive out 
* Journal fur practische Chemie, xiv. 193-213. 
