THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
Ill 
A NEW DEPARTURE IN GAS MAKING. 
In a recent communication to the Academie des Sciences MM. Felix- 
Hembert and Henry describe an improved method of making water gas, which 
promises to affect in no inconsiderable degree the consumption of coal, and 
modify some of the processes of iron manufacture. Briefly described, the process 
is as follows : — A jet of superheated steam is directed into a retort filled with 
incandescent coke. The oxygen unites with the carbon to form carbon 
monoxide, and hydrogen is liberated. Up to this point there is nothing new in 
the process. But now these gases are led away to a second retort, filled with 
lumps of some refractory substance maintained at a red heat. The use of the 
refractory material is to expose a large surface to the incoming gases. Into 
this second retort there is led away at the same time a jet of steam superheated 
to the point of dissociation. The oxygen of this steam seizes upon the 
carbon monoxide, to form dioxide, and more hydrogen is liberated. To remove 
the carbon dioxide the gases are passed through miik of lime, and the pure 
hydrogen is led away to the reservoir. The authors of the communication say 
that one ton of coke produces about 96,000ft. of gas, which is about eleven times 
the quantity obtained from a ton of coal. Hot the least astonishing part of 
the process is the cost of gas, which is said to be about one-fifth of a penny 
per 1000ft. It is easy to see the numerous applications of such a gas for 
heating purposes ; but the inventors have arranged to make a start with it for 
lighting. How the carburation is to be effected is not stated, but it is 
announced that the little town of Boulogne-sur- Seine is to be lighted with this 
gas during the winter. The result of this experiment will be watched with 
great interest. 
USES OF SULPHURIC ACID. 
Some of M. Pasteur’s latest experiments have proved that water containing 
2 per cent, of concentrated sulphuric acid possesses the property of destroying 
bacteria, and this mixture of acid and water is recommended for disinfecting 
efficaciously the floors of stables, mangers, cattle-stalls, court-yards, areas of 
dwellings, dust bins, etc. Sulphuric acid, properly diluted, is a valuable cooling 
and astringent remedy. It is used to acidify certain decoctions or infusions. 
Only the dilute acid (in most countries, one part pure acid, nine parts water) is 
ever used medicinally. Ten to twenty-four drops of this dilute pharmaceutical 
acid will give an agreeable acidity to one quart of the infusion or other liquid. 
As many fever patients are fed principally on milk, care must be taken never 
to give liquids containing sulphuric acid or acid lemonades of any kind too soon 
after milk has been given, otherwise it may produce unpleasant symptoms of 
indigestion. In France, an alcoholised sulphuric acid is sometimes used. It is 
made by adding concentrated sulphuric 'acid, 100 parts, to alcohol (of 85 per 
cent.), 300 parts, and is generally coloured red by the addition of 4 parts of the 
petals of the red poppy. Sulphuric lemonade is made from this according 
to the formula : — 
parts. 
Alcoholised sulphuric acid ... ,,, ... ... 3 
Simple syrup ... ... ... ... ... qq 
Water ... ... 1000 
This is also known as “mineral lemonade .”— Chemist and Druggist. 
Sublimation of Oxalic Acid.— According to M. Siegfried, oxalic acid 
sublimes at several degrees below 100° C.— American Journal of Pharmacy. 
