136  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting. 
Researches  on  Chloral  and  on  its  Hydrate.  M.  Berthelot. — There  is  libera- 
tion of  heat  in  the  reaction  of  gaseous  chloral  upon  gaseous  water  with  formation 
of  a  gaseous  compound.  The  gaseous  hydrate  of  chloral  exists,  then,  veritably  as 
a  compound,  distinct  from  a  mere  mixture  of  the  two  vapors.  This  conclusion  is 
conformable  to  the  results  obtained  by  M.  Troost  from  the  study  of  the  tensions  of 
dissociation.  It  is  supported  by  this  fact  that  anhydrous  chloral  does  not  combine 
instantaneously  with  water,  but  condenses  in  it  first  in  the  form  of  an  oil  which  only 
dissolves  by  degrees  even  on  agitation  ;  whilst,  on  the  contrary,  chloral  hydrate  in 
vapor  condenses  under  water  in  the  state  of  a  crystalline  hydrate,  if  not  agitated, 
and  dissolves  at  once  on  stirring. — Chem.  News  [Lond.],  Jan.  11,  1878. 
To  Bronze  Iron  Articles. — According  to  a  process  by  M.  P.  Hess,  this  is  done 
by  the  articles  being  heated  in  the  air  after  being  coated  with  linseed  oil.  Objects 
which  cannot  be  exposed  to  a  high  temperature  may  be  steeped  in  a  slightly  acid 
solution  of  ferric  chloride,  plunged  in  hot  water,  and,  when  dry,  rubbed  with  linseed 
oil  or  wax.  To  preserve  iron  from  rust,  the  author  recommends  sulphide  of  copper. 
He  steeps  the  iron  for  a  few  minutes  in  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  copper,  and  then 
transfers  it  into  a  solution  of  hyposulphite  of  soda,  acidulated  with  hydrochloric 
acid.  The  result  is  a  blue-black  coating,  not  affected  by  air  or  water. — Ironmonger, 
from  Am.  Gas  Light  Jour.,  Jan.  2. 
Ink  that  Cannot  Be  Erased. — An  ink  that  cannot  be  erased,  even  with  acids, 
is  obtained  by  the  following  receipt :  To  good  gall  ink  add  a  strong  solution  of  fine 
soluble  Prussian  blue  in  distilled  water.  This  addition  makes  the  ink,  which  was 
previously  proof  against  alkalies,  equally  proof  against  acids,  and  forms  a  writing 
fluid  which  cannot  be  erased  without  destruction  of  the  paper.  The  ink  writes 
greenish-blue,  but  afterwards  turns  black. — Amer.  Gas  Light  Jour.,  Jan.  2,  1878, 
from  Ironmonger. 
MINUTES  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING, 
Philadelphia,  February  19,  1878. 
In  the  absence  of  the  President  and  Vice-President,  Prof.  Remington  was  called 
to  the  chair;  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved.  The  Chair- 
man expressed  the  hope  that  if  any  strangers  were  present  they  would  take  part  in 
the  proceedings,  and  extended  a  cordial  welcome  to  them. 
Prof.  Maisch  presented,  on  behalf  of  our  fellow-member  Mr.  Thomas  H.  Powers, 
a  number  of  volumes,  many  of  them  rare,  and  portion  from  the  library  of  the  late 
Dr.  Jno.  Redman  Coxe,  formerly  professor  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  with 
a  donation  to  cover  the  expense  of  rebinding  such  as  needed  it ;  the  list  of  the  vol- 
umes was  read,  and  included  the  folio  volume  of  the  treatise  on  the  "  Natural  order 
