618 attendance of chemists in cases of sudden death. 
expense of picking. From Hanover there were shipped 7100 Jbs. in 1855, 8800 lbs. in 
1856, 67,G44 lbs. in 1857, and 184,459 lbs. in 1858. 
In 1850 1022 tons of pimento were imported into the United Kingdom; in i85o, 
2115 tons/of which 1200 tons were re-exported; in 1860, the imports were 1000 tons, 
and in 1865, 1279 tons .—Technologist. 
EXPLOSION OF NITRO-GLYCERINE. 
By the Royal Mail Company’s steamer 4 Shannon,’ which reached Southampton on 
Saturday, April 28th, we have news of the destruction of another vessel belonging to the 
fleet of the West India and Pacific Company—the 4 European.’ The steamer blew up 
alongside the wharf at Colon, near the railway station on the Atlantic side of the Isth¬ 
mus of Panama, and the captain, the chief officer, the second officer, the surgeon, and 
nearly all the crew, were killed on the spot. Among the cargo was a quantity of mtio- 
glycerine, an explosive oil, some seventy cases of which had been shipped from Liverpool 
for California, for use in blasting. It is supposed that one of these cases ignited, oi ex¬ 
ploded by concussion; and as the explosive force of nitro-glycerine is said to be much 
greater than that of gunpowder, the result was a tremendous shock, which destroyed 
the wharf, with property valued at 4111,000,000, and was fatal to many persons ashore 
as well as to those on board the 4 European.’ When the Royal Mail steamer 4 Tamai 
left Colon, the number of those who lost their lives had not been accurately ascertained, 
and the estimate varied from fifty to eighty persons. ‘The Panama Star and Herald, 
in describing the effects produced by this explosion, states that the wharf at which the 
vessel was unloading, and which was about 400 feet long, was literally torn to pieces, 
and that scarcely a. building in the whole place escaped without more or less damage. 
A second explosion took place, more violent than the first, but fortunately Captain 
Meir, of the Royal Mail steamship 4 Tamar,’ had previously, with great courage, towed 
out the burning vessel to the opposite side of the bay. The origin of the explosion 
is not known, the officers and nearly all the crew having perished, but it is supposed 
by some to be the result of spontaneous decomposition ; nor is it known whether the 
officers were aware of the explosive properties of the oil which made up so large a 
proportion of the cargo. At a meeting of the Mersey Dock Board, Liverpool, it was stated, 
that the packages had been forwarded from Germany to Hamburg, thence to Hull, and 
from thence to Liverpool, as ordinary merchandise. It appears that the Board, at present, 
have only the power of inflicting a fine in cases where goods are insufficiently descrioed. 
But from a conversation which took place in the House of Commons on the subject, a 
Bill will shortly be brought in to make such acts criminal. 
TESTS FOR CARBOLIC ACID. 
The following communication from William Crookes, F.R.S., has appeared in the 
‘Times:’— 
The Cattle Plague Commission have recommended carbolic acid as a disinfectant, and 
it is now extensively used as such. A spurious article composed of oil of tar, utterly 
valueless as a disinfectant, is now being imposed on the public. The iniquity of this 
fraud claims exposure, and I beg, through your assistance, to direct public attention to 
the fraud, as well as to the means by which it may be detected. 
Commercial carbolic acid is soluble in from 25 to 70 parts of water, or in twice its 
bulk of a solution of caustic soda, while oil of tar is nearly insoluble. To apply these 
tests:—1. Put a teaspoonful of the carbolic acid in a bottle; pour on it half a pint of 
warm water; shake the bottle at intervals for half an hour ; when the amount of oily 
residue will show the impurity. 2. Dissolve one part of caustic soda in ten parts of 
warm water, and shake it up with five parts of the carbolic acid. As before, the residue 
will indicate the amount of impurity. 
These tests are not given as having any pretension to scientific accuracy, but as afford¬ 
ing persons who are desirous of using carbolic acid a rough and ready means of seeing 
whether or not they possess the right article. 
