966 
Proceedings of the Eoyal Society 
are astringent, as will be seen in a study of this and of other groups. 
I do not think this astringency is generally looked upon as a taste 
at all, depending, as it does, upon the formation of insoluble albumi- 
nates. It is purely a local action on the mucous membrane of the 
tongue, and will not be again discussed. 
The sulphates are saline, not salt at all, and in addition they are 
distinctly bitter. I have not been able to obtain the sulphates of 
caesium and rubidium. 
Group II. 
Metal. 
Chlorides. 
Sulphates. 
Be 
Acid. Sweet Ast. 
Mg 
Bit. Sal. Wrm. Pung. 
Bit. Sal. 
Ca 
Bit. Sal. "Wrm. Pung. 
Insol. 
Zn 
Bit. Sal. Wrm. Pung. 
Bit. Sal. Ast. 
Sr 
Bit. Sal. Wrm. Pung. 
Insol. 
Cd 
Bit. Sal. Wrm. Ast. 
Bit. Wrm. Ast. 
Ba 
Bit. Sal. Pung. 
Insol. 
Hg 
In Group II. the chlorides are all bitter salines, with in nearly 
every case a warm pungent flavour. They are very disagreeable to 
taste, and it is long before the flavour leaves the mouth. Beryllium 
chloride with the sulphate is described as sweet. I have not tasted 
the chloride ; the sulphate is distinctly acid and astringent as well. 
Beryllium salts then come out as a well-marked exception to the 
other salts, giving, as they do, such constant taste sensations. The 
atomic weight of beryllium was long an open question. I am in- 
formed on competent authority that there is now no doubt on this 
head, and I am at a loss therefore to explain its action as a sapid 
substance. The soluble sulphates are saline and bitter. 
Group YII. 
Element. 
Sodium Comp. 
Potassium Comp. 
F 
Salt. 
Salt. Sal. 
Cl 
Mn 
Salt. 
Salt. Sal. Bit. 
Br 
Salt. Sal. 
Salt. Sal. Bit. 
I 
Salt. Bit. 
Sal. Bit. 
