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that crystalline sulphur by contact with acids is converted into amorphous 
sulphur, is not found to be correct when experiments were purposely in- 
stituted to test this. 
Amygdaline and an Asparagine-like substance in Vetch. — Herren Ritt- 
hausen and Kreusler have contributed a paper on these substances to the 
“ Journal fur praktische Chemie ” (No. 18, 1870), which is thus abstracted 
in the “ Chemical News.” The authors, while experimenting with vetch 
obtained from Attica (Greece), found, on treating the coarse powder of this 
seed with water, that it gave off the smell of hydrocyanic acid, which, on 
nearer investigation, was found to be due to an amorphous modification of 
amygdaline. As regards the presence of an asparagine-like substance, the 
authors found a crystalline body, which, on being submitted to elementary 
organic analysis, gave results leading to the formula C 8 H 16 N 3 0 6 ; this sub- 
stance is difficultly soluble in water, more readily so in boiling dilute alcohol, 
and almost insoluble in boiling alcohol at 85 per cent. 
The Chemistry of Compressed Leather. — In “ Dingler’s Journal ” for De- 
cember Dr. Dingier states that offal of leather, cuttings, and scraps are first 
cleansed from dirt and dust, then soaked in water containing 1 per cent, of 
sulphuric acid, until the material becomes soft and plastic, next compressed 
into the shape of blocks, dried by steam, and lastly rolled out in mills. In 
order to soften the mass, 1 lb. of glycerine is added to 100 lbs. of material. 
The leather thus again obtained is applicable for the inner soles of boots, &c. 
Dr. Wagner's Chemical Technology and Gmelins ’ Work. — The eighth 
edition of Dr. Wagner’s well-known work on 11 Chemical Technology ” is, 
according to the “ Chemical News ” of January 27, soon to appear. An 
English edition of this valuable work is in preparation, and will be published 
shortly after the German edition. From a short notice which appeared in 
the 11 Zeitschrift fur Chemie,” No. 21, we learn that Dr. K. Kraut has edited 
four of the hitherto unfinished parts of Gmelins’ work, including an excel- 
lently arranged general index. The publisher is M. K. Winter, of Heidelberg. 
Decomposition of Sulphide of Carbon by Heat. — In the u Journal fur 
praktische Chemie” (No. 16) W. Stein relates a series of experiments made 
with perfectly pure sulphide of carbon. His results show that sulphide of 
carbon is not decomposed by a very high temperature if charcoal is simul- 
taneously present ; it is therefore necessary to keep the retorts plentifully 
supplied with either charcoal or coke. 
Hoio to Estimate the Total Carbon in Iron. — In u Dingler’s Journal ” (first 
number, for November 1870), Dr. Wittstein first states that the method 
suggested for the estimation of carbon in iron (crude cast-iron) by the late 
M. Berzelius, is the best and most simple. It consists in treating the iron 
with chloride of copper. The author’s experiments with this method were 
conducted as follows : — 1*25 grms. of coarsely pulverised iron were added 
to a liquid contained in a flask, and consisting of 50 grms. of water, 10 grms. 
of chloride of sodium, and 10 grms. of sulphate of copper. The iron was 
left in this solution for a couple of days. Ten grms. of hydrochloric acid, 
sp. gr. 113, were then added. The flask was next heated on a sand-bath. 
By this operation the hydrated oxide of iron and the finely-divided metallic 
copper were dissolved, and after the liquid had been diluted with about 
twice its bulk of water, the carbonaceous matter was collected on a 
