682 
CONVERSAZIONE. 
E.E.S.: and a specimen, of the chloride of a new base, termed apo-morphia, 
was shown by Dr. Matthiessen. This body has been quite recently disco¬ 
vered by Dr. Matthiessen and Mr. Wright. The specimen shown was said 
to have been produced from fifty pounds of morphia, supplied by Messrs. 
Macfarlan, of Edinburgh. It is described as being a powerful non-irritant 
emetic and contra-stimulant. 
Some fine specimens of hypophosphite of lime ; permanganate of potash ; 
i ron reduced by hydrogen ; and tobacco grown and manufactured in Vic¬ 
toria, were exhibited by Messrs. T. Morson and Son: some beautiful spe¬ 
cimens of metallic zirconium crystallized from aluminium ; metallic indium ; 
caesium and rubidium alums, etc.; by Messrs. Hopkin and Williams : some 
large masses of crystallized chloride of gold and nitrate of silver ; by Messrs. 
Johnson and Sons: specimens of extract of belladonna root and of plaster 
made therewith; by Mr. Balmer: a collection of the commercial kinds of 
india-rubber and of gutta percha, together with a few dried plants producing 
those substances.; by Mr. James Collins (Curator in the Society’s museums) : 
specimens of cinnamic acid from balsam of tolu, and cinnamates of calcium, 
cadmium, and zinc ; by Mr. E. A. Webb (student in the laboratories) : and 
some remarkably fine specimens of scammony root and resin; by Messrs. 
Hearon, Squire, and Francis. 
A collection of diamonds, and minerals found with the diamond, from the 
Cape of Good Hope, and specimens of Derbyshire and Italian inlaying were 
contributed by Mr. Tennant: a fine specimen of opalized wood from Tas¬ 
mania ; a coloured cast of a meteoric stone seen to fall in Griqualand, South 
Africa, on March 20th, 1868 ; models of celebrated large diamonds ; and a fine 
crystallization of acetate of lead; by Mr. James B. Gregory: a beautiful col¬ 
lection of beryls, emeralds, topazes, etc.; a collection of natural crystals ; 
mounted specimens of Cuplectella speciosa, Gray (Venus’s Flower-basket), and 
Hyalonema Sieboldii ; a case of corals, echini, etc.; and several Danish stone 
and bronze implements ; by Mr. Bryce M. Wright. 
Mr. Heates exhibited his new photometer standard light and balance. This 
apparatus has been designed with a view of providing an unvarying source of 
light to be used in the place of sperm candles as a standard in estimating the 
illuminating power of coal-gas. It consists essentially of a photometer-bar 
balance, from which is suspended a moderator lamp, so constructed as to ensure 
a uniform rate of combustion of the sperm-oil burnt in it. 
Dr. Dupre’s new polarizing saccharometer; a new electric lamp, in which 
both carbons move without clockwork ; a spectroscope, in which the dispersion 
may be instantly doubled or trebled without changing any of the adjustments ; 
a powerful magneto-electric machine, with quantity and intensity armatures ; 
a micro-spectroscope, with new blowpipe beads, by Mr. H. C. Sorby, E.B.S. ; 
and a new miniature spectroscope containing seven prisms ; were exhibited by 
Mr. Browning: an alphabetical dial telegraph instrument and a magnet of 
unusual power with regard to its size ; by Messrs. Siemens Brothers : an ozone 
generator for disinfecting sick-rooms or hospitals ; the polarization of crystals ; 
pocket spectroscopes; Ladd’s magneto-electric machine; and an improved 
kaleidophone ; by Mr. Ladd : Lecount’s polariscope and an assortment of un¬ 
annealed glass ; Steward’s polariscope and selenite designs ; improved polari¬ 
scope; brass body telescope, with 3 in. object-glass and day and night eye¬ 
piece ; and Ackland’s optometer and tables; by Messrs. Horne and Thorn - 
thwaite : a series of historical lantern-slides ; by Mr. Highley : a self-recording 
aneroid barometer; by the London Stereoscopic Company (scientific instru¬ 
ment department): a new form of stereoscope; a new miniature photo¬ 
graphic apparatus ; and enlargements of photographs in carbon by Edwards’s 
process ; by Messrs. Murray and Heath : the optic axes of uniaxial and biaxial 
