of Edinburgh, Session 1878-79. 277 
Per cent, of Pt. 
41 ‘6 in methylamine double salt (calculated). 
42 ’0 in double salt from a (found). 
43*1 ,, „ b „ 
43*43 ,, ,, c ,, 
43*67 „ „ d „ 
44*1 in ammonium double salt (calculated). 
These numbers represent a percentage of hydrochlorate of methy- 
lamine present in the crude salt of — 
in (a) 84 per cent, 
in (b) 40 „ 
in (c) 27 „ 
in ( d ) 17 „ 
This is also confirmed by the deliquescence of the crude hydro- 
chlorates, which is in exactly the same order and very much greater 
in the case of (a) than the others. 
3. On the Composition of “ Beh,” an Efflorescence on the Soil 
of certain Districts of India. By J. Gibson, Ph.D. 
The following brief statement concerning “ Beh ” is chiefly 
derived from the Beport of the Committee on Beh, November 
1878 : — 
Large tracts of country in the north-west of India have from 
time immemorial been covered with a white alkaline efflorescence, 
which renders them incapable of supporting any form of vegetable 
life. These tracts are called “ usar ”* plains, and the white efflores- 
cence “reh.”f The appearance of this reh on the surface is owing 
to the subsoil water, which is impregnated with sodium salts, being 
sucked up to the surface by capillary attraction and there evaporated 
by the fierce heat of the Indian summer sun. The reh is often 
very irregularly distributed, — bald patches occurring in the midst of 
cultivation, or cultivated patches surrounded by reh, — and this 
capricious distribution has rendered a right comprehension of its 
* From the Sanscrit, signifying “barren land.” 
t Hindee word for saltpetre. 
