SCIENCE. 
307 
CHEMICAL NOTES. 
Adulterations of Saffron. — Saffron is sophisticated 
with muscular fibre, the flowers of Calendula officinalis, saf- 
flower, Crocus vermis, Punica granatum, fragments of san- 
ders-wood, glucose, glycerin, oil, chalk and heavy-spar. 
Preparation of Ashes Destined for the Extraction 
of Iodine from Sea-weeds. — The most advantageous 
weeds for this purpose are the two varieties of Fucus 
digitatus. Dr. Thiercelin states that he has succeeded in 
extracting from the plant 3 per cent, of iodine. 
Manufacture of Phosphoric Acid. — -Natural phos- 
phates, unground, are dissolved in dilute hydrochloric acid. 
When the acid has ceased to act the clear solution is run 
off from the insoluble matters and mixed with sulphuric 
acid enough to saturate all the dissolved lime, leaving a 
mixture of hydrochloric acid, dilute phosphoric acid, and 
calcium sulphate. This mixture is submitted to pressure 
to separate the sulphate from the free acids, which are 
then concentrated, and the hydrochloric acid is condensed 
and collected for use by means of ordinary columns. — 
M. A. Colson. 
Complex Acids Containing Boric Acid. — Dr. F. 
Mauri has formed boro-tungstic acid by dissolving tungstic 
anhydride in a solution of borax, and continuing to add 
the former until the liquid is no longer rendered turbid bd 
hydrochloric acid. He is engaged with the formation any 
the study of the boro-molybdic acid and its salts 
Compound of Titanium Tetra-chloride and of Phos- 
phorus Proto- Chloride. — The composition of this com- 
pound is represented by the formula TiCl 4 PCl 3 . — M. Ar- 
mand Bertrand. 
Compound of Titanium Tetra-chloride and Ethyl 
Oxide. — If the vapors of these two bodies are brought 
in contact, fine crystals of a greenish yellow color are pro- 
duced. — M. Armand Bertrand. 
Reduction of Ethyl Nitrate by Alcohol. — Nascent 
ethyl nitrate is reduced in presence of alcohol, yielding 
ethyl nitrite and aldehyde.— -M. Armand Bertrand. 
Products Contained in the Coke of Petroleum. — 
Experiment shows that the accumulation of the carbon is 
effected with an increasing lapidity, and the weight of the 
molecule rises to a limit still little known, but which 
can be no other than the formation of insoluble bodies 
whose richness in carbon is equal or even inferior to that 
of the bodies which have remained soluble. We reach 
thus, by a progression easy to conceive, the term of the 
series which must equally include crystalline bodies such 
as graphite and diamond. It is known, on the other hand, 
that the higher polymers, when submitted to very high tem- 
peratures, seem to depolymerise themselves (as happens 
with metastyrolene), yielding easeous carbon compounds. — 
MM. L. Prunier and Eug. Vareune. 
Action of Mono-bromated Diphenyl-methan upon 
Ammonia. — If the ammonia is in alcoholic solution, am- 
monium hydro-bromate is deposited ; and the alcoholic 
liquid, if precipitated with water, yields, as a principal pro- 
duct, a mixed ethyl-benzhydrolic ether. Concentrated aq- 
ueous ammonia acts differently ; the crystalline bromine 
is gradually transformed, and in twenty-four hours the 
mass becomes liquid. In forty-eight hours more it becomes 
solid, and then it no longer contains bromated diphenyl- 
methan. — MM. C. Friedel and M. Balsohn. 
Synthesis of Chinoline. — The alizarin blue of Prud'- 
homme has the composition Ci-H a N 0 4 , and is probably a 
dihydroxjdised quinon of anthrachinoline. It is formed 
from nitro-alizarin and gljxerin, with the elimination of 
water. Chinoline is actuall)- obtained on heating together 
nitro-benzol, glycerin, and sulphuric acid. — Z. H. Skraup, 
Wiener Anzeiger, 1880, 6q. 
Function of Lime in the Life of Plants. — E. v. Raumer 
and Ch. Kellermann assert that lime is absolutely necessary 
for the life of plants, and its function is most closely con- 
nected with the utilization of the carbohydrates. 
Chemicl Investigations in the Bohemian Central 
Mountains. — J. Stocklasa has recently made an examina- 
tion of the marls and clays of Priesen . — Listy Chem., 4, 135. 
Bodecker’s Method of Detecting Albumen in Urine. 
— The urine is slightly acidified with acetic acid, and a 
few drops of a solution of potassium ferrocyanide are 
added. In presence of even very slight traces of albumen 
a turbidity at once appears, and in a short time there is 
deposited a flocculent sediment. The test is exceedingly 
sensitive. 
Chloraluminium used at Cloth Works. — A sample 
contained 15.49 P er cent. A 1 2 C 1 6 , 1.13 A 1 2 0 3 , 2.59 NaCl, 
0.14 Na 2 S 0 4 , 80.65 H 2 0 . Apparently formed by decom- 
posing aluminium sulphate with barium chloride. F. 
Stolba. — Listy Chem., 4, 193. 
Crystalline Prussian Blue. — W. Gintl states that if re- 
cently precipitated Prussian blue be treated with a moderate 
excess of hydrochloric acid at a gentle heat, it dissolves to 
a slightly yellowish liquid, which, on exposure to the air, 
gradually deposits Prussian blue as a crystalline sediment, 
which displays a splendid coppery lustre by reflected light. 
So-called Turnbull’s blue dissolves in hydrochloric acid 
in the same manner as ordinary Prussian blue, and 
yields similar crystals — a further evidence of the identity of 
the two compounds. 
True Clay in so-called Clay Soils. — A. Funaro has 
shown that the highest proportion of clay does not exceed 
33 per cent. 
PHYSICAL NOTES. 
Certain Modifications Undergone by Glass.— J. 
Salleron often meets with well made thermometers, the 
indications of which are erroneous to 8° or 10°, or more. 
Such changes occur at printing ink works, where oils 
are heated for several days to 270° ; in glycerin works, and 
with rectifiers of benzol. Glass is not merely modified 
when heated to 300° ; it undergoes true deformations 
at far lower temperatures. Thus the hydrometers used 
in sugar works, which are often exposed for a con- 
siderable time to temperatures of 95 0 , are affected. After 
an immersion of some days they are completely modified : 
their weight decreases, and they become erroneous to the 
extent of 7° or 8° B. 
The Magnetic Apparatus of M. Edard. — Among 
other electric or magnetic appliances for the treatment of 
various diseases is mentioned a magnetic sand, which M. 
Edard imports from the Isle of Bourbon, and which has 
been subsequently found near Morbihan. Its application 
is said rapidly to revive diseased plants. 
Spectroscopic Studies of the Sun, Conducted at the 
Observatory of Paris. — L. Thollon asserts that the sun 
has entered on a period of activity, and he has described 
and figured certain luminous protuberances, to one of 
which he ascribes a height of more than 100,000 kilometres. 
Dr. J. H. Gladstone read a paper “ On the Specific Re- 
fraction and Dispersion of Isomeric bodies ” before the Phy- 
sical Society of London. He concluded that the dispersion 
of a body containing carbon of the higher refraction, is 
very much greater than that of a body containing carbon of 
the normal refraction (5), and that isomeric bodies which 
coincide in specific refraction coincide also in specific dis- 
persion. 
Ultra-violet Rays. — J. L. Shonn has ascertained the 
position of the ultra-violet rays of the spectra of cadmium, 
zinc, thallium, calcium, indium, magnesium, iron, and 
I aluminium. His apparatus is well adapted for the study 
: of absorption spectra ; a column of water of 10 centime- 
I tres contained between two plates of quartz absorbs 
the greater part of the ultra-violet rays, whilst a block of 
I very pure ice of 21 centimetres does not sensibly absorb the 
| rays of cadmium in this portion of the spectrum. 
