THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[February 15, 1873. 
050 
The density of phosphorus vapour is exceptional, and 
shows that its molecule in the free state instead of being 
P 2 , like most other elements, is P 4 . An inference from 
this is that phosphorus possesses the property of com¬ 
bining with itself in a greater degree than many other 
elements. Phosphorus like oxygen, carbon, etc., exists 
in several states. Thus we have red phosphorus quite 
different from the well-known yellowish, semitransparent, 
waxlike form of ordinary phosphorus. Now in the case 
of oxygen, we know that its peculiar form of ozone is 
produced by a condensation of the atoms into a heavier 
molecule. Ordinary oxygen has the density 16, and its 
molecule is 0 2 . Ozone has the density 24, and its mole¬ 
cule is 0 3 . The peculiar forms of phosphorus and other 
elements are probably susceptible of a similar explana¬ 
tion. 
Red phosphorus is a brittle, brick-red solid, obtained 
by heating ordinary phosphorus to 23o°-2o0° C. in 
carbon dioxide or other inert gas for many hours. A 
little iodine added greatly quickens the change. (Exp. 
showing the conversion of ordinary into red phosphorus 
by heating with a little iodine.) Red phosphorus changes 
back into the ordinary form when heated above 260°, 
and does not inflame under that temperature. Hence 
its use in “ safety matches.” It is also non-poisonous 
when purified from any mixture of ordinary phosphorus 
by 'washing with bisulphide of carbon, in which the 
latter is soluble—common phosphorus being exceedingly 
poisonous. 
Phosphorus exists in plants, especially in the seed or 
in parts such as the bulb of the turnip and other biennials, 
which are afterwards to supply nutriment for the de¬ 
velopment of seed. Besides the bone, it exists in the 
tissues and specially in the brain of animals. Some have 
associated its presence there with the thinking power of 
the brain, and others assert its presence wherever animal 
life in any form is generated. Phosphates are certainly 
widely diffused, in all rocks, soils, and hence in drinking 
water; and it has been shown that water, deprived of 
phosphates, does not develope animal life. 
The presence of phosphorus as phosphates is most 
readily shown by the molydic acid test. Arsenic acid 
being the only substance which gives similar indications. 
(Exp. showing the precipitation of the yellow phospho- 
molydate from a phosphate solution.) 
In the absence of iron and alumina, phosphates may 
be estimated by a standard solution of uranium, which 
gives a yellow phosphate insoluble in dilute acetic acid. 
The presence of the slightest excess of uranium salt is 
shown by the red-brown precipitate which a drop of the 
solution gives with a drop of prussiate of potash solution 
placed on a white plate. (Exp. showing the estimation 
of phosphoric acid in a solution of bone material.) 
The estimation of the nitrogen in bone materials is 
also a problem often occurring. The soda-lime process 
is that generally used. The weighed finely pounded 
substance is heated with a mixture of soda and lime, 
when all the nitrogen is given as ammonia, which is 
absorbed in an acid bulb apparatus. (Exp. showing the 
estimation of nitrogen by the soda-lime process, using a 
test-acid to absorb the ammonia.) 
The phosphates in food plants are used by animals, and 
again restored to plants to be used afresh. At one time 
this . and similar facts in the case of other elements 
furnished a serious difficulty to believers in the Christian 
doctrine of the resurrection, but if we remember that the 
resurrection must be miraculous quite as much as the 
creation itself, this difficulty disappears. The true 
scientific.spirit, consists in doing our duty to the utmost 
of our ability; in acknowledging that many things are be¬ 
yond our comprehension; in a sure faith that in due time 
we shall see all things clearly, and in cultivating the 
faith and childlike simplicity of the Christian student. 
A vote of thanks to the lecturer was proposed by Mr. 
George Ward, F.C.S., seconded by Mr. S. Taylor, and 
earned unanimously. 
BRISTOL PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION. 
The fourth general meeting of the present session was- 
held at the Museum and Library, Clifton, on the evening 
of Friday, the 24th of January. The announcement that 
a lecture on “ Musical and Sensitive Flames,” experimen- 
tally^illustrated, would be delivered by Thos. Wills, Esq., 
F.C.S., of the Royal Institution, London, attracted an 
attendance which filled the lecture-room to overflowing.. 
The audience included a large number of ladies and 
several prominent members of the medical profession, and 
of the literary and scientific world, of the neighbourhood. 
The President, Mr. Chas. Townsend, said he had 
much pleasure in introducing Mr. Thos. Wills, of the 
Royal Institution, London, who had kindly prepared a 
lecture upon “Musical and Sensitive Flames.” This- 
subject had of late attracted considerable notice in con¬ 
sequence of the interesting researches of Professor Tyn¬ 
dall, but he (the President) believed that it had never 
before been brought before a scientific audience in Bris¬ 
tol. Mr. Wills had at one time resided in the city, and 
on that account, also, they were glad to welcome him,, 
and hoped to derive both instruction and pleasure from 
his address. 
Mr. Wills, who was cordially greeted on coming for¬ 
ward, then delivered a lecture on “ Musical and Sensi¬ 
tive Flames,” of which the following is an abstract:— 
“ There are some natural facts and phenomena brought, 
to light by scientific inquiry and investigation which, 
though not occupying an important place in that “ In¬ 
terpretation of Nature ” which is called Science, nor, 
apparently, serving any useful or practical purpose,, 
may, nevertheless, be considered valuable as giving us a 
glimpse into the inner working, and more subtle in¬ 
fluences of nature. 
Such facts have already revealed a marvellous suscep¬ 
tibility of matter, when under certain conditions, to the- 
influence of even the weakest forces; the certain condi¬ 
tions, probably, being only necessary so to raise and 
exalt the effect as to make it perceptible to our some¬ 
what rough senses. 
Further, they have shown that the unity— the oneness 
—of nature is traceable, not to any uniformity in its. 
construction, but in reality to the dissimilarity of its 
various parts, this dissimilarity giving rise to and main¬ 
taining the truest form of harmony; this being so, we- 
may, without unduly exercising the imagination, con¬ 
ceive that every atom of the whole universe is influenc¬ 
ing and being influenced by every other atom. 
These few remarks will find an illustration in the 
present subject, and will, it is hoped, be a sufficient 
answer to any who may be inclined to value scientific- 
knowledge only by the direct practical results accruing 
therefrom, or to limit its scope to those particular- 
branches that bear most fruit to the commercial prosperity 
of mankind. 
“Musical Flames” is by no means a new subject, 
many eminent men having contributed to its history 
during the greater part of a century. So far as we- 
can make out, the first observations in this direction 
were made by a Dr. Higgins, of Dublin, in the 
year 1777, and were mentioned in a letter to the first 
volume of ‘Nicholson’s Journal,’ published in 1802. 
Dr. Higgins was a Professor of chemistry, engaged in 
the tuition of a class of students. While endeavouring,, 
at one of his demonstrations, to show the—at that time—- 
novel experiment of the production of water by the 
combustion of a “ slender stream of hydrogen gas ” un 
air, he inverted over this jet several glass vessels, in 
order to obtain an effective deposition of water; on doing; 
this with some of the vessels, “ several sweet tones were 
produced;” in fact, almost any vessel, provided it were- 
closed at one end, was found to be capable of giving a 
musical tone, the only condition, according to Dr. Hig¬ 
gins, being that the vessel should have only one opening ; 
this being fulfilled, the experiments might be repeated 
