38 
Kebler, L. F., as chairman of the committee on testing of chemical 
reagents, describes the outline suggestions that were sent out to 
chemists for the examination of a number of widely used reagents. — - 
Proc. Ass. Off. Agr. Chein., 22 Ann. Conv. [1905], 1906, pp. 183-18-1. 
Gardner and North, as the result of a series of experiments with 
solutions of potassium permanganate and of ammonium oxalate, con- 
clude that the latter readily deteriorate and are no longer reliable 
after, at most, eight days. — Abstr. in Deut.-Amer. Apoth. Ztg., X. Y., 
1905, y. 26, p. IT. 
Biltz, H., describes and figures a modification of the sulphuretted 
hydrogen apparatus designed by Cl. Winkler. — Abstr. in Pharm. 
Ztg., Berlin, Aug. 19, 1905, v. 50, p. 695. 
Bupp, E., discusses the use of iodic acid as a reagent, and reports 
a series of experiments to demonstrate its efficiency as a reducing 
agent. — Arch. d. Pharm., 1905, v. 243, p. 98, ff. 
Alvarez, E. P., discusses a new color reagent for the polyphenols, 
their isomers and higher organic compounds. He also records ob- 
servations on diphenylamine as a reagent for nitrites, nitrates, and 
chlorates, and its use when mixed with resorcin and beta-naphthol. — 
Chem. News, Bond., 1905, v. 91, pp. 125, ff, 155. 
Sorensen and Andersen discuss the use of sodium carbonate in 
acidimetry, and outline the precautions that must be observed to 
avoid errors. — Ztschr. f. analyt. Chem., 1905, v. 44. pp. 156-184. 
Worden and Motion discuss the preparation of volumetric solu- 
tions and conclude that the most accurate and the most easily per- 
formed method is that of taking the specific gravity in carefully 
calibrated picnometers. A number of tables are included.— J. Soc. 
Chem. Ind., Lond., 1905, v. 24, pp. 178-182. 
4. ATOMIC WEIGHTS. 
Francis, John M., says that the conservative course of retaining 
“ H=1 ” as the unit, while waiting to settle the controversv over 
H=1 or 0=16, has the advantage of retaining the system hitherto 
in vogue.— Bull. Pharm., Detroit, 1905, v. 19, p. 275. 
Leffman, Henry, views with disfavor the adoption of the atomic 
weights based on H=1 instead of 0=16. — J. Am. M. Ass., Chicago, 
1905, v. 45, p. 1440. 
Hinrichs, Carl G., criticises the statement made in the preface of 
the pharmacopoeia regarding the atomic weight table used, depre- 
cates the decision that has been made, and asserts that “ the U. S. P. 
will stand for years to come as a relic of the past.” — Am. J. Pharm., 
Phila., 1905, v. 77, p. 512. 
Wilbert, M. I., discusses the atomic weight table and compares the 
molecular weights of a number of compounds based on the atomic 
