of Edinburgh, Session 1884 - 85 . 
71 
with a band of sea-weed and shells for a thickness of several inches • 
the nickel plates were, however, completely free of all growth, and 
quite clean, the only alteration in appearance being a slight violet 
discoloration, such as tarnished silverplate. Otherwise they were 
without any dirt or slime, so that they could have been written 
on with a lead pencil. The sheets seemed to be bright eyes or 
windows, and the nickel plates were not blistered or damaged in 
any way. The plates having been brushed were as clean as new 
ones. It should be remembered that the ‘Roma’ was at sea 
for eleven months, and that she was in some of the worst places — 
such as the Straits of Magellan — for the accretion of sea-weed and 
barnacles.” 
Recently culinary and other vessels made of sheet iron, coated 
inside and out with thin sheets of malleable nickel, have been the 
object of manufacture. These articles, of which 1 have here some 
specimens, are indistinguishable of course from vessels made of pure 
nickel throughout. (I have here some examples of the latter for 
comparison.) The object of coating these vessels is to save expense 
compared with the pure metal. Lastly, I may just mention 
that another important outlet for nickel is in the coinage. Many 
countries have now a nickel coinage, and it is probable the use of 
nickel in this direction will be soon largely extended. 
In conclusion, I should like to give a few details of some experi- 
ments I have recently made in regard to the solubility of nickel in 
acids, and its behaviour in some other ways. 
First, in regard to the solubility of nickel in acids, I began 
with acetic acid, and the treatment in this acid w T as repeated very 
much in the same w r ay as in case of other acids — that is, the nickel 
was boiled in a large quantity of acid of various strengths, and 
allowed to remain under this treatment four to five days. 
1. In acetic acid, Q - 21 per cent, of nickel dissolved. 
2. In tartaric acid, the nickel was not acted upon. 
3. In a mixture of solution of citric and tartaric acids, the nickel 
upon the treatment as described lost 0 08 per cent. 
4. In oxalic acid, the loss amounted to 0*14 per cent. 
5. In cold dilute hydrochloric acid, no loss was sustained (the 
HC1 sol. was 1 to 6); but on heating the solution the nickel 
dissolved. 
