271 
until the fluid mass began to solidify. This residue, dis- 
solved in water gave a solution that seemed faintly alkaline, 
so faint, however, as to be scarcely perceptible. Prolonged 
heat and perfect decomposition of perchlorate of potash might 
perhaps have made it more marked. 
The above experiments were made in Mr. Spence’s 
laboratory. The same method had been tried in Mr. 
Rumney’s laboratory, by Mr. Bocharoff ; his results, however, 
did not agree with the true percentage. He also ascribed 
the disagreement to the same cause as that suggested in this 
notice. 
Mr. Baxendell gave the details of some observations he 
had lately made at Southport to determine the velocities of 
rifle balls. Three kinds of rifle were used by the firing party, 
the Whitworth, the Henry, and the Enfield ; and the distance 
of the target being 600 yards, it w ; as found that the average 
times required by the balls to traverse this distance were 
Seconds. 
With the Whitworth rifle 1'59 
,, Henry 1^*5 
„ Enfield 1*87 
The velocities were therefore— 
Feet per Second. 
With the Whitworth rifle 1,132 
„ Henry 1,028 
„ Enfield 962 
