175 
lest it might in any way appear as if the conclusion that 
continuous liquids are as capable of resisting tension as 
solids, at which I arrived simply from considering the phe- 
nomena of surface tension was based on such assumptions. 
I was not aware, however, that Laplace had at all inferred 
or attempted to apply his theory to prove the ability of 
liquids to resist great tensions, nor do I find on again read- 
ing his memoir that he anj^where, with the exception of the 
almost casual reference quoted above, treats of such a pro- 
perty of liquids. His purpose appears to have been solely 
to explain the phenomena of capillarity. It appears obvious, 
moreover, that his line of reasoning must have forced upon 
his notice the conclusion that according to his hypothesis 
liquids ought to possess the property of very great cohesion, 
so that from the extremely slight notice which he has ac- 
corded to this property, one can only infer that he was not 
completely convinced of its existence. 
“ On the Estimation of Hyposulphites and Sulphites,” by 
J. Grossmann, Ph.H. Communicated by Professor Roscoe 
F.R.S. 
Bunsen, in his treatise “ On a Volumetric Method of very 
general applicability,” Ann. Chem. & Pharm., has shown 
what degree of exactness may under certain circumstances 
be attained by indirect analysis. Upon the latter I have 
founded a very simple method for the estimation of hypo- 
sulphites and sulphites, which yields exact results. I shall 
speak in the following only of the sodium salts of the above 
compounds, as it will make the explanation clearer. 
Let us assume first that we have only a mixture of sodium 
hyposulphite and sulphite, free from sulphate, in solution. 
If on the one hand we estimate how many grammes of iodine 
are required by an aliquot part of the mixture — acidulated with 
acetic acid — to yield the well known final blue reaction with 
starch, and if, on the other hand, we find how many grammes 
of sodium sulphate an equal measure of the mixture yields on 
perfect oxidation with chlorine or bromine, all the data 
necessary for the calculation of the respective quantities of 
