May 20,1871.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
935 
an excess of about 20 per cent, of water, the cost of eva¬ 
porating which has to be taken into account. To balance 
ithis on the other side, the yield of juice by diffusion 
.(when reduced to the natural density of the juice of the 
eane) is about 82 per cent, against 70 per cent, obtained 
by the mill. Moreover, in consequence of its greater 
purity, a larger proportion of crystallizable sugar is ob- 
lained from it, amounting in some cases to 43 per cent. 
The capital and labour- required for the two methods are 
about the same. 
Herr Robert has recently invented a modification of 
his process by which it is carried on in one vessel. The 
fresh slices are introduced at the bottom of a single 
vessel, and gradually carried upwards, the solution as it 
becomes of greater specific gravity, in consequence of its 
increased richness in sugar, descending to the bottom, 
and being drawn off as concentrated juice. 
The above processes for sugar extraction are equally 
applicable for the production of spirits, since the saccha¬ 
rine juice so obtained is easily fermented and rendered 
fit for distilling. 
CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 
May 4th. — Dr. Warren de la Rue, F.R.S., Vice-Pre¬ 
sident, in the chair. The following gentlemen were 
elected FellowsR. S. Best, C. S. Cross, W. H. Darling, 
G. H. Ogston, J. Schweitzer, W. A. Smith. Dr. Volcker 
■delivered a lecture “ On the Productive Powers of Soils 
in Relation to the Loss of Plant Food by Drainage. ’ 
The lecturer began by showing the futility of the 
belief that a soil analysis could reveal whether a land 
was productive or not. To those who only imperfectly 
know the teachings of modern agricultural science, it 
appears very simple to remedy a deficient soil by finding 
out, through analysis, the wanting constituents, and 
then to supply them. But this is not so. Not only is it 
difficult exactly to analyse a soil, but many other condi¬ 
tions besides the composition of a land have to be ob¬ 
served. The state of combination in which the mineral 
constituents of a land are found, the physical condition 
of the soil, the presence or absence of some matter inju¬ 
rious to the growth of plants,—all these are as many im¬ 
portant points upon which soil analysis throw's no light 
whatever. The lecturer equally opposes the views of 
those who advocate that in a system of national farming 
there should be kept up a debtor and creditor account 
as regards the constituents wdiich are removed from the 
soil in the crop grown upon it, and the quantity of ferti¬ 
lizing matter restored to it in the shape of manure. The 
fertility of the soil cannot be maintained, much less in¬ 
creased, if only as much fertilizing constituents were 
applied to the land as were removed from it in the 
crops. 
Dr. Volcker then discussed the relative values of 
various mineral salts as manures, quoting in support of 
his views the results of the classical field experiments of 
Lawes and Gilbert, and this then led the lecturer to 
speak of the examination of land-drainage waters. 
Law r es and Gilbert throughout a long series of experi¬ 
ments on the growth of wheat have experienced a great 
loss of nitrogen. The amount of nitrogen supplied in 
the manures was greater than that recovered in the in¬ 
creased produce. It appeared to Dr. Volcker that the 
nitrogen lost might have passed into the drains. Care¬ 
ful collection of such drainage waters and their analysis 
proved Dr. Volcker s supposition to be correct. It be¬ 
came clear that in whatever form the nitrogen is applied 
to the soil, a large proportion of it is carried off chiefly 
in the form of nitrates. 
At all times of the year, but especially during the 
.active period of growth of the crops, nitrates are found 
in the watery liquid which circulates in the land, whereas 
-ammonia salts are never met in any appreciably large 
quantities. It may, Iherefoi’e, be assumed that it is 
chiefly, if not solely, from the nitrates that the crops 
build up their nitrogenous organic constituents. 
Dr. Volcker’s analyses of drainage waters further 
showed that potash and phosphoric acid, which certainly 
•are the most important mineral constituents for the 
plant, are almost entirely retained in the soil, whilst the 
less important, as lime or magnesia or sulphuric acid, 
pass wdth greater readiness out of the land. 
MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. 
Monday . Royal Geographical Society, at 1 p.m. An- 
May 22. niversary. 
Tuesday . Royal Institution, at 3 p.m. —“Animal Me- 
May 23. ckanics.” By the Rev. Professor Houghton. 
Royal Medical and Cliirurgical Society, at 
8.30 p.m. 
Wednesday ...Linnean Society, at 3 p.m. Annual Meeting. 
."Thursday . Royal Institution, at 3 p.m. —“On Sound.’* 
May 25. By Professor Tyndall. 
Royal Society, at 8.30 p.m. 
Friday . Royal Institution, at 8 p.m. 
May 26. Quekett Club, at 8 p.m. 
Saturday . Royal Botanic Society, at 3.45 p.m. 
VACANCIES AND APTPOINMENTS IN CONNEC¬ 
TION WITH PHARMACY. 
The Editor icill be glad to receive early notice of any 
vacancies of pharmaceutical offices connected with public 
institutions, and likewise of appointments that are made, 
in order that they may be published regularly in the Journal . 
APPOINTMENT. 
Mr. Frederick John Barrett, Pharmaceutical Chemist (late 
student in the School of Pharmacy), as Dispenser to the South 
Staffordshire General Hospital, Wolverhampton, in the place 
of Mr. T. Weaver, resigned. 
|arlramtnterj antr fato f mailings. 
Death from Overdose of Chloral Hydrate. 
The death of Dr. Bruce, resident surgeon in the 
Dundee Infirmary, consequent upon an overdose of 
chloral hydrate, is reported. It appears that Dr. Bruce 
was suffering much pain from a sw-ollen finger, arising, 
he thought, from an accidental puncture during a dis¬ 
section. As the swelling increased, he resorted to doses 
of chloral hydrate to deaden the pain, and on Mon¬ 
day, the 8th instant, he seems to have taken an extra 
quantity. He was seen by his colleague, Mr. Moon, to 
whom he complained of the continued swelling and pain. 
That gentleman desired an attendant to apply a poul¬ 
tice, and proceeded round the wards. Upon his icturn, 
he found Dr. Bruce dead. The deceased gentleman was 
tw r enty-seven years of age. He graduated last year, and 
had held the post in the infirmary but three weeks. 
Poisoning by Carbolic Acid. 
Dr. Gerrard reports inth q Lancet a case from Jamaica, 
in wffiich a sailor was poisoned by carbolic acid. . It ap¬ 
peared that the captain kept in a cupboard in his cabin 
two bottles similar in appearance, but one of them con¬ 
taining rum and the other carbolic acid. It is supposed 
that the deceased, searching for the rum, drank from 
the carbolic acid bottle instead, as it was found halfway 
out of the cupboard, but w r ith the cork in it. When dis- 
covered, lie was comatose, ■with, contracted pupils and 
intermittent pulse, stertorous breathing and frothing at 
the mouth. There w r as also a peculiar livid appearance 
about the eyelids, Bps and ears. The odour of carbolic 
acid was present. Medical aid was obtained, but dca 
followed wdthin three-quarters of an hour ot the sup¬ 
posed time of his taking the poison. It was said that 
the deceased, w'hilst searching for liquor on a previous 
voyage, had swallow r ed some lamp-oil m mistake loi lum. 
