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LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
greater number of facts than were at present known, must be observed before 
a satisfactory theory could be formed. 
Dr. Attfield said the substance before them, in the condition in which it 
was, appeared highly interesting from any point of view, and still more so 
after the remarks of Dr. Redwood. If there really was a definite chemical 
compound which the name borotartrate of potassium represented, it would 
perhaps be well to have a quantitative analysis made, as it was quite possible 
tliis might be but a particular condition of the constituents in which the sub¬ 
stance assumed the solid form, as with crystallized sulphuric acid. They 
knew very little at present of this substance and its constitution, and it seemed 
hardly natural to regard it as a salt in which boracic. acid took the place of 
oxide of antimony, so as to assimilate it to tartar emetic. It had now for 
the lirst time been obtained in wliat possibly was a definite condition, and pro¬ 
bably quantitative analysis of the washed solid might throw light on the sub¬ 
ject. With reference to this and some of the other substances that had been 
referred to, he thought they were hardly justified in calling them uncrystalliz- 
able, because they had never yet been crystallized. They were so spoken of 
commonly, but perhaps not correctly. A few months ago they would have so 
designated glycerine, but it had now been obtained in large crystals, and 
persulphate of iron had also been obtained in small crystalline masses. He 
was inclined to the opinion that the present result was the consequence of a 
certain proportion in the constituents, but this was amenable to experiment. 
Dr. Redwood said the composition of borotartrate of potash had been 
made the subject of investigation repeatedly by several chemists, the 
results of whose experiments were described in Gmelin’s ‘ Chemistry,’ where 
also a constitution was assigned to it similar to that of tartar emetic. The 
proportions of the ingredients used in this case had been such as were usually 
employed, but the product being incapable of separation from its solution by 
crystallization, it was not likely to be perfectly definite in composition, and, 
of course, they could only infer what might be its constitution. 
PROVINCIAL TRANSACTIONS. 
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION, ANNUAL MEETING, 
EIGHTEENTH SESSION. 
The Annual Meeting of this Association was held at the Royal Institution, September 
2G. 1867. The President, Mr. R. Sumner, in the chair. 
The following gentlemen were elected Members:—Mr. Hilditch; Mr. S. W. Lee ; Mr. 
G. Horton ; Mr. J. D. Jones; Mr. Edward Evans, jun. 
Mr. Reginald Evans was elected an Associate. 
The following donations to the Library were announced :■—Medicinalia Ph. Br. 1867, 
by Messrs. Clay and Abraham ; Report of the Philomathic Society, 1866-7 ; The Phar¬ 
maceutical Journal; The Chemist and Druggist; The New York Druggists’ Circular. 
The thanks of the meeting were voted to the donors. 
The Secretary then read the Annual Report:— 
small proportions of lime and potash which suffice to neutralize this acid, the true numbers of 
its formula must be several times greater. It is difficult to avoid associating the inertness of 
colloids with their high equivalents, particularly where the high number appears to be at¬ 
tained by the repetition of a smaller number. The inquiry suggests itself, whether the colloid 
molecule may not be constituted by the grouping together*of a number of smaller crystalloid 
molecules, and whether the basis of colloidality may not really be this composite character of 
the molecule .”'—Philosophical Transactions, 18G2. 
