TOXIC ACTION OF CERTAIN GASES. 9 
The germination of wheat, oats, and barley is lowered noticeably by 
treatment with cyanogen chlorid, and that of Salvia hispanica, 
kaohang, velvet bean, milo, millet, and grass is injuriously affected. 
Based onits action on Ascochyta, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, 
Penicillium, and Sclerotium, cyanogen chlorid shows possibilities of 
being an effective fungicide at a concentration of approximately 3 
per cent, after an exposure of about 2 hours. The resuits of numerous 
experiments with fungi and bacteria on seeds indicate that this gas 
may be used against such organisms. Further work, however, is 
necessary to definitely determine this. 
It having been shown that cyanogen chlorid is as poisonous to 
insects as hydrocyanic acid and also that it might prove useful as a 
fungicide for the treatment of stored products, some experiments 
were conducted to determine its effect on metals, paint, varnish and 
fabrics. 
No effect was visible on the following metals, which, after having 
been cleaned and polished, were exposed to 1 per cent cyanogen 
chlorid for 24 hours in a fumigation box: 
Aluminum. Tron. 
Brass. Steel. 
Copper. Tin. 
Galvanized iron. Zinc. 
Several paints and varnishes were exposed to a 1 per cent concentra- 
tion of cyanogen chlorid for 24 hours in a fumigation box. In making 
these tests, a double coat of the paint or varnish was put on a 2-inch 
strip of pine and allowed to dry thoroughly. The treated strips were 
then fumigated, after which they were examined microscopically for 
change in finish, and also their color was compared with that of the 
corresponding unfumigated coating. No effect was visible in the case 
of the following: 
American blue. Lampblack. 
American vermilion. Lead and oil. 
Burnt sienna. Raw sienna. 
Burnt umber. Red lead. 
Chrome green, medium. Rose pink. 
Chrome yellow, medium. ° Valspar varnish. 
Drop black. ~ Wall finish, white. 
Inside varnish. Yellow ocher. 
CHLOROPICRIN. 
Chloropicrin (C(NO,)Cl,), molecular weight 164.39, has a liquid 
density of 1.654 under its own pressure at 20° C. Its boiling point 
is 112°C. The vapor pressure at 20° C. is 18.9 mm. of mercury: It 
is colorless, very stable, and insoluble in water. It is said to explode 
on rapid heating, but no mention of any such accident is found in 
recent reports. Chloropicrin is a lachrymal and respiratory irritant. 
