428 
ropuLiVR scie:<ce review. 
accuracy is wanted. 7. Oxygen of the dissolved air as indicating the 
activity of the decomposition. 8. Total organic matter. (This the author 
found by weighing.) 9. The usual inorganic analysis. The author con- 
sidered that, for purely sanitary purposes, the Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 6 were 
the most important. Vide Chemical News, September 3. 
The Fermentation of Bed-root Sugar , — In the Comptes-Rendus of July 12 
a memoir lias been published by MM. Pierre and Puchot on the results of 
the fermentation of beet-root sugar. They state that in certain cases they 
had found besides amylic alcohol — whose presence had been already ascer- 
tained — vinic aldehyde and butylic alcohol. Their researches were made 
on a large scale, for they manufactured no less than 50 litres of amylic 
alcohol, 13 litres of butylic alcohol, and 7 litres of propylic alcohol. They 
have also investigated the products of fermentation of apple-juice, but in 
these they found only propylic alcohol and no amylic alcohol. 
The Synthesis of IJydrocanellic Acid . — A very long and valuable paper by 
Herr Fittig will be foimd in L'lnstitut of August 18. 
Jargonia . — A paper on jargonia was sent to the British Association by 
Mr. Sorby. It showed that the substances known as zinconia and jargonia 
are distinct, especially in colour. The colour was thought due to the exis- 
tence of iron, though subsequent experiments may show the colour is due to 
some other substances ; but, taking all the facts now known into considera- 
tion, it seems extremely probable that, after ignition, jargonia is of a clear 
straw-colour, paler than that of tungstic acid, but deeper than that of 
ceroso-ceric oxide. 
Isomery in the Salicyl series. — M. Louis Henry, in a memoir read before 
the Royal Academy of Belgium and reported in Scientific Opinion (August 
11), explained some recent researches in the above subject. Tie tried, if 
possible, to determine the chemical relation which exists between the various 
members of this, series. With this view he has produced the bichlorated 
salicvlic cresol, the trichlorated metatoluene, and the metachlorobenzoic, or 
chlorosalylic, aldehyde. The well-known properties of salicylic aldehyde 
and its intimate relations with salicylic acid, whose chemical significance is 
weU kno^^’n, enables the author to view it at once as an aldehyde and a 
phenol. The following formulae express these relations : — 
^“”'{cao 
If this interpretation is true, salicylic aldehyde ought, in this double capa- 
citv, to be able to develop — by successive or simultaneous replacement of 
the hydroxyl, IK), or of the aldehydic oxygen, by chlorine in equivalent 
quantity, under the action of an agent suited to these processes of substitu- 
tion, such as pentocbloride of phosphorus — the three foregoing derivatives. 
The first two have been obtained by the action of the pentachloride on the 
aldehyde itself; decomposed by water with heat, the second furnished the 
third. 
77<e Chemidry of the Air . — In the report just issued by the Inspector 
under the Alkali .Vet, the inspector gives the following as a summary of 
conclusions in reference to the state of the air : “ The rain from the sea 
r Western Islands) contains chieliy common salt, which crystallises clearly. 
